Obtuseleaf jungleplum
Sideroxylon obtusifolium

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It is usually less than 10 m tall. It can be higher in forest. The trunk of larger plants can be 1 m across and fluted. The bark is greyish or blackish-brown. The crown can be dense and spiny. The leaves at first are arranged in spirals. They are later in tufts. The leaves are rounded sword shaped and 2-3.5 times as long as broad. The flowers occur in loose flowered clusters. There are only a few flowers in a group. The flowers are greenish yellow and have a scent. The fruit ripen to reddish-black. The fruit are edible.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in semi-deciduous forests and on rocky and sandy coasts. It grows up to 900 m altitude in Argentina. It grows above the flood level in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South America (country/location of origin), Uruguay, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The sweet fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for cakes. They are also used to make an alcoholic drink.

The fruit are popular.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Ripe fruit are collected and the seeds removed. Seeds will still grow 8 months after collecting. Fresh seed are planted and germinate in 30-50 days.

Fruit can take 6-7 months to mature.

Its other names

Local names

Cacho de venado, Caimito, Chirimolle, Coca, Coronilha, Coronilha-da-praia, Guajaivirai, Guaranina, Guayavi, Ibiranhira, Lanza colorada, Laranjunha-preta, Macaranduba-da-praia, Miri, Niwariro, Olorco molle, Picurero, Puts'mucuy, Quixaba, Quixabeira, Rompe-gibao, Sacutiaba, Sapotiaba, Yeyt, Yvyra hu

Synonyms

Bumelia obtusifolia Roemer & Schultes; Sideroxylon pacurero Loefling; Bumelia sartorum Martius; Bumelia rhamnoides Casaretto; Bumelia excelsa A DC; Bumelia obtusifolia var. excelsa A DC; Bumelia rotundifolia Swartz senso Kunth.; Bumelia buxifolia Roem. & Schult.; Bumelia dunantii DC.; Bumelia cruegerii Griseb.; Bumelia nicaraguensis Loes.; Bumelia conglobata Standl.; Bumelia mayana Standl.; Bumelia sartorum var. latifolia Miquel; Bumelia sartarum F.Allemao; Bumelia fragrans Ridley; Lycoides buxifolia (Roem.) & Schult.) Kuntze; Lycoides dunantii (DC.) Kuntze; Lycoides obtusifolium (Roemer & Schultes)Kuntze; Lycoides sartorum (Martius) Kuntze; Bumelia obtusifoliua subsp. excelsa (A DC in A DC) Cronquist; Apterygia sartorum subsp. typica Cronquist;