Caimitillo negro
Micropholis venulosa

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows up to 40 m high. The trunk can be 1 m across. It has buttresses 3 m high. The young shoots have soft golden-brown hairs. The leaves are spaced and usually alternate. Sometimes they are arranged in spirals. The leaves are 3.8-9.3 cm long by 1-3.4 cm wide. They are oval or sword shaped. The leaf stalk is 2-5 mm long. The flowers are of one sex. They occur in tufts of 3015 flowers in the axils of leaves. The flowers are pale green to cream coloured. The fruit is 1.2-3.2 cm long and rounded. The fruit matures yellow with a reddish tinge. The fruit is edible. There is one seed. The seeds is 1-1.5 cm long and wrinkled and shiny.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is often in non flooded forest from sea level to 700 m altitude. It also occurs in flooded forest. In some areas it grows up to 1200 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Andes, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Panama, Peru, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Abiu, Akayas, Bagassa, Bogenoemo, Bogiawe, Caimito, Capuli del monte, Capurillo, Chipiri sihica, Fogel kop, Kiudibushi, Menegowe, Menemo, Menigowae, Mimisa yek, Moraballi, Mulchi, Mulungu, Opoka bikina, Palo de chamanare, Palo peruana, Piramiry, Purquillo, Rosado, Sacha aviyu, Sachapua, Shaska-shakyas, Timuiri, Uvinha, Waitawa, Yarasillo, Yuquito, Zolive grand bois

Synonyms

Lucuma venulosa Spruce ex Martius & Eichler; Meioluma guianensis Baillon; Micropholis mucronata Pierre; Micropholis rigida Pierre; Platyluma calophylloides (Pierre) Baillon; Pouteria cataractae Baehni; Pouteria flava Baehni; Pouteria polyneura Baehni; Pouteria rivularis Baehni; Pouteria venulosa (Martius & Eichler) Baehni; Sideroxylon calophylloides (Pierre) Engler; Sideroxylon guianense (Baillon) Engler; Sideroxylon venulosum Martius & Eichler; Xantolis venulosa (Martius & Eichler) Baehni;