Lechecillo
Chrysophyllum argenteum

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 5-8 m tall. The trunk is 10-20 cm across. The leaves vary in shape. They are oblong and are silvery grey underneath. They are alternate and 8-12 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. The flowers are bell shaped and greenish-yellow. They are in clusters at the base of the leaves. The fruit is the size of a plum. The pulp is bluish.

There are about 80-150 Chrysophyllum species. They are mostly in tropical America. There are 44 species in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in semi-evergreen seasonal forest. It is often by rivers. It grows on moist limestone soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Antigua, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hispaniola, Honduras, Martinique, Montserrat, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, South America, St Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit are milky and edible.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ayu wanpula, Bwi, Bwi kayamit, Caimito blanco, Caimito de mono, Ko piwa du chi, Kucha aviyu, Milky iron, Turu aviyu, Urku aviyu, Wild kaimit

Synonyms

Chrysophyllum dubium Steud.; Chrysophyllum glabrum Jacq.; Chrysophyllum immersum Urb.; and others