Green sapote
Pouteria viridis

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows up to 18 m tall. Young branches have dense brown hairs. The leaves are clustered at the tips of flowering branches and alternate on non fruiting branches. They are broadly sword shaped and pointed. They are 10-25 cm long by 5-7 cm wide. The leaves are hairy underneath. The flowers contain both sexes The flowers are 1.3 cm long and on leafless branches in the axils of the leaf scars. The fruit are large and smooth with a green skin. They are 12 cm across. The skin is thin and the flesh is red and juicy. The seeds are small.

There are about 150-320 Pouteria species. They grow in the tropics.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the tropical highlands. It grows on clay soils. It occurs between 1000 and 2300 m altitude in Guatemala. It tolerates 4-5° of frost. It grows in the highlands of Central America.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Belize, Brazil, Central America (country/location of origin), Costa Rica (country/location of origin), El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico (country/location of origin), Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh and raw. They are also used for preserves. They are also used for ice-cream. The latex is used as the base for chewing gum.

Edible parts

Fruit, kernel, nuts, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grow from seed. They can also be grown by grafting or air-layering.

A fruit weighs about 500 g. Fruit mature in about 12 months.

Its other names

Local names

Chokcho, Chong, Chulul, Injerto, Injerto verde, Raxtul, Red faisan, Sapota-verde,White faisan, Zapote injerto

Synonyms

Acradelpha viridis (Pittier) O. F. Cook; Calocarpum viride Pittier; Lucuma viridis F.;