Planchonella grandifolia

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tree up to 40 m tall. The bark is pale grey. The small branches are yellowish white and with a bloom over them. The leaves occur one after another along opposite sides of the stem. The leaf stalk is 1.4-4 cm long. The leaf blade is oval and 17-30 cm long by 6-10 cm wide. The leaves are thin and leathery. There are 6-12 pairs of side veins. The flowers occur in clusters of 3-10. The fruit is green but becomes yellow. It is round and 4-5 cm across. There are 2-5 seeds. Fruit sweet and edible.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In southern China it occurs in rain forests and thickets between 500-1200 m altitude. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit is eaten raw. It is sweet.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Alo, Long guo, Maibusan, Thei-pa-buan

Synonyms

Lucuma grandifolia (Wall.) Dubard; Planchonella kerrii Fletcher; Pouteria grandifolia (Wall.) Baehni; Pouteria kerrii (Fletcher) Baehni; Sideroxylon grandifolium Wallich;