Tepic jungleplum
Sideroxylon tepicense

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A spreading tree. It grows up to 25 m high. The young branches are hairy. The trees do not have spines. The leaves are arranged in spirals. They are clustered at the tip of the stems. The leaves are 8.5-16.6 cm long and 2.7-6.5 cm wide. They are narrow or broadly oblong. The leaf stalk is 1-2.6 cm long. The flowers are white. The flowers have both sexes. They occur in tufts of 2-10 flowers. The fruit are 3-3.5 cm long by 1.8-2 cm wide. The fruit are yellow. There is one or occasionally two seeds. They are 2 cm long. The fruit are edible.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in mountains and shady valleys. It grows between 500-1,500 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Central America, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, North America

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten, fresh or cooked.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Tempisque

Synonyms

Chrysophyllum tepicense Standl.; Mastichodendron angustifolium (Standl.) Cronquist; Sideroxylon angustifolium Standl.;