Applebearing starapple
Chrysophyllum pomiferum

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 35-45 m tall. The trunk can be 60-90 cm across. It can have buttresses or flanges at the base. The twigs are grey and covered with rusty-brown hairs when young. The leaves are alternate and and angular oval shape. They are 5-14 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. The edges are curved back. The flowers are in tufts in the axils of leaves. The fruit occur singly or in pairs. The fruit is a berry. It is a flattened oval shape and 2-4 cm long by 2-3.5 cm wide. It is yellowish. The pulp is fleshy and edible. There are about 20 seeds.

There are about 80-150 Chrysophyllum species. They are mostly in tropical America. There are 44 species in tropical America.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on forested slopes and mountain savannah forest on granite. It is often near creeks.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is sweet and edible.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Abiurana, Aknon, Boesisoke, Capure, Capurillo, Felipe pena, Haimara-kushi, Kimboto, Kwikpa, Laurierkers, Limonaballi, Massarandubarana, Monkisoki, Paripiballi, Purguillo

Synonyms

Achrouteria pomifera Eyma; Pouteria pomifera (Eyma) Baehni, Planchonella guianensis van Royen