Bebelama
Sideroxylon palmeri

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A spreading tree. The crown is dense. It grows 15-25 m high. The young branches often have spines. The leaf stalks are slender. The leaves are arranged in spirals, and not clustered. They are 5.8-12 cm long by 3.5-5.6 cm wide. The flowers contain both sexes. They occur in the axils of leaves. There are 5-20 flowers in a group on branches coming from a common point. The flowers are white and have a smell. The fruit are 1.5-2 cm long and rounded. The fruit are purplish-black when ripe. The seeds are brown and shiny.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dry forest. It grows from sea level to 1600 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Central America, Mexico (country/location of origin), North America

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh or dried. The fruit are also cooked and eaten using a range of different methods. The fruit are also cooked and eaten using a range of different methods. The young fruit are pickled.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants take 5 years before fruiting.

Its other names

Local names

Bebelama, Caipoqui liso, Capulin prieto, Coma, Coma real, Cupia, Tempesquistle, Tempixquistle

Synonyms

Achras olivacea Sesse & Mocino; Bumelia laetevirens Hemsley; Bumelia mexicana Engler; Bumelia palmeri Rose; Lycoides laetevirens (Hemsley) Kuntze;