Balata pomier, Kimboto
Pradosia ptychandra

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 25 m high. The trunk is 55 cm across. The young shoots have soft flattened hairs. The leaves are clustered in spirals. They are 12-22 cm long by 5-8 cm wide. The flowers are in tufts on small twigs and on the trunk. The stalks are up to 2 cm long. They are brown and hairy. The fruit can occur singly or in groups. The fruit is a round or oval berry. It is 4 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. It is green and turns orange or yellow as it ripens. The pulp is pale yellow and edible. There are 1 or 2 large brown seeds. These are 2.5 cm long.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in semi-evergreen seasonal forest. It grows between 200-600 m altitude. It grows on clay or sand.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, South America, Suriname

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw.

The fruit is enjoyed.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Graines kouata. Kimboto, Kouatabobi, Kwatabobi, Malobi-weti, Weti-malobi

Synonyms

Capparis montana (Aubl.) Lemee; Neopometia ptychandra (Eyma) Aubreville; Pouteria ptychandra Eyma; Voyara montana Aubl.;