TreeCultivatedPerennialMedicinal

Manilkara zapota (L.) P.Royen

Chiku

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Description

Manilkara zapota is a medium-sized evergreen tree, usually 10–25 m tall, with a dense rounded crown and milky latex throughout the plant. The trunk is straight, with grey-brown rough bark. The bark contains chicle, a latex historically used as a natural chewing gum base. Leaves are simple, alternate, spirally arranged, and evergreen, usually clustered near branch tips. Leaf blades are 5–15 cm long, elliptic to oblong, thick, leathery, and glossy dark green. The margins are entire, apex acute to rounded, and veins are less prominent. Petioles are short. Flowers are small, bisexual, white to cream-coloured, fragrant, borne singly or in small clusters in the leaf axils. The flowers are drooping and possess a characteristic six-lobed perianth arranged in two whorls. Stamens are usually six, alternating with sterile staminodes. The ovary is superior and multicarpellary. The fruit is a large berry, usually 5–10 cm in diameter, round to oval, with a rough brown skin. The pulp is soft, sweet, and brownish-yellow when ripe, containing several shiny black seeds with a hook-like attachment.

Diagnostic Characters

Vegetative

Evergreen tree with milky latex. Thick leathery glossy leaves. Dense rounded crown.

Floral

Small cream-coloured axillary flowers. Six-parted perianth. Staminodes present.

Fruit & Seed

Brown rough-skinned sweet berry. Black shiny seeds.

Distribution

Native range: Native to Southern Mexico, Central America.

In Pakistan: Cultivated widely in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, Tropical America. In Pakistan grown, Subtropical orchards.

Phenology

Flowering

Fruiting

Flowering: Spring and autumn (often multiple cycles) Fruiting: Throughout the year under favourable conditions

Ethnobotany & Uses

Food Importance

Sapodilla is an important fruit crop. Fruits are consumed as Fresh fruit, Milkshakes, Desserts. Fruit contains Sugars, Vitamin C, Dietary fibre, Minerals.

Medicinal Importance

Fruits used traditionally for Digestive health, Nutritional support. Leaves used traditionally for Cough, Inflammation. Bark contains tannins and is traditionally used as Astringent.

Industrial Importance

Latex historically important source of Natural chewing gum (chicle).

Ornamental Importance

Cultivated for Evergreen foliage, Shade, Attractive tree form.

Ecological Importance

Provides Food for birds and wildlife, Habitat for insects.

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Where it grows on campus

West Campus1

individuals mapped across 1 zone

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Taxonomic Notes

Sapotaceae members are characterized by Milky latex, Simple leathery leaves, Sympetalous flowers, Superior ovaries. Manilkara zapota is distinguished by Edible sweet fruits, Latex production.