Common balata, Bulletwood
Manilkara bidentata

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It can grow 35 m high. The trunk is large and there are small buttresses. The bark has vertical cracks. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaves are tightly bunched at the ends of the branches. The leaves are 6-30 cm long by 3-12 cm wide. The leaves are shiny green above and light brown underneath. The flowers are small and white or yellow. The fruit are round with a small tip. They turn orange when ripe. There are one or two seeds. The are dark brown with a light brown patch. They are a flattened oval shaped and 2 cm long by 1 cm wide.

There are about 70 Manilkara species. 30 in America, 20 in Africa and 15 in Asia/Pacific.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in wet lowland forest. It can be on sand or clay soil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Antilles, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Martinique, Mexico, North America, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, South America, St Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The latex has been used for chewing gum.

Fruit are enjoyed. Eating too many can cause constipation.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, flowers, latex

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

In Guyana flowering is May to August and fruiting February to April. Trees only fruit well every 3 - 4 years.

Its other names

Local names

Ausubo, Balata, Balata burue, Barata, Bully tree, Burue, Iriar, Kobero, Kube arau, Maparajuba, Nispero, Nispero de montana, Parata, Purue, Quinilla

Synonyms

Kaukenia globosa (C.F.Gaertn.) Kuntze Manilkara balata Dubard Manilkara balata var. cruegeri (Pierre) Dubard Manilkara balata var. gutta (Pierre) Dubard Manilkara balata var. hartii (Pierre) Dubard Manilkara balata var. melinonis (Pierre) Dubard Manilkara balata var. schomburgkii (Pierre) Dubard Manilkara balata var. sieberi (A.DC.) Dubard Manilkara bidentata subsp. bidentata Manilkara bidentata var. cruegeri (Pierre) A.Chev. Manilkara darienensis (Pittier) Standl. Manilkara williamsii Standl. Mimusops balata Crueg. ex Griseb. [Illegitimate] Mimusops balata var. cruegeri Pierre Mimusops balata var. gutta Pierre Mimusops balata var. hartii Pierre Mimusops balata var. melinonis Pierre Mimusops balata var. schomburgkii Pierre Mimusops balata var. sieberi (A.DC.) Pierre Mimusops bidentata A.DC. Mimusops darienensis Pittier Mimusops globosa C.F.Gaertn.; Mimusops sieberi A.DC.;