Cocuyo, Pigeon berry
Sideroxylon americanum

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A spreading shrub or small tree. It can be 10 m high. The young branches have soft brown hairs. They can have spines. The leaves are mostly opposite. They are 0.8-6.5 cm long by 0.4-4 cm wide. They are usually broadly sword shaped or wedge shaped. The flowers have both sexes. They are white or cream coloured. They occur in the axils of leaves. The flower stalk is 3-5 mm long. The flowers have a strong scent. The fruit are 0.7-1.5 cm long. They are round or oval. The fruit ripen black or violet. There is one seed. It is 0.5-1.3 cm long. The fruit is edible.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is a coastal plant. It grows on dunes and arid cliffs.

Countries/locations it is found in

Bahamas, Belize, Central America, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, North America, Panama, West Indies

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Milk berry, Wild saffron, Xpotzilil

Synonyms

Maurocenia americana Miller; Bumelia retusa Swartz; Achras retusa (Swartz) Poiret; Lyciodes retusa (Swartz) Kuntze; Bumelia retusa var. loranthifolia Pierre; Bumelia retusa subsp. neglecta Cronquist; Bumelia americana (Miller) Stearn.; Bumelia neglecta (Cronquist) Lundell;