Manilkara zapota, commonly known as sapodilla (Spanish: [ˌsapoˈðiʝa]), sapote, chicozapote, chico, chicoo, chicle, naseberry, nispero, or soapapple, among other names, is an evergreen tree native to southern Mexico and Central America. An example of natural occurrence is in coastal Yucatán, in the Petenes mangroves ecoregion, where it is a subdominant plant species. It was introduced to the Philippines during Spanish colonization. It is grown in large quantities in Mexico and in tropical Asia, including India, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, as well as in the Caribbean.
Common names
Most of the common names of Manilkara zapota like "sapodilla", "chiku", and "chicozapote" come from Spanish meaning "little sapote". Other common names in English include bully tree, soapapple tree, sawo, marmalade plum and dilly tree.
The specific epithet zapota is from the Spanish zapote [saˈpote], which ultimately derives from the Nahuatl word tzapotl used for other similar-looking fruits.
Description
Sapodilla tree
A sapodilla tree can live up to one hundred years. It can grow to more than 30 m (98 ft) tall with a trunk diameter of up to 1.5 m (5 ft); but the average height of cultivated specimens is usually between 9 and 15 m (30 and 49 ft) with a trunk diameter not exceeding 50 cm (20 in). It is wind-resistant and the bark is rich in a white, gummy latex called chicle. Its leaves are elliptic to ovate 6–15 cm (2–6 in) long with entire margins on 1–3 cm (0–1 in) long petioles; they are medium green and glossy with brown and slightly furry midribs. They are arranged alternately.
The trees can survive only in warm, typically tropical environments (although it has low tolerance to drought and heat in its early years), dying easily if the temperature drops below freezing. From germination, the sapodilla tree will usually take anywhere from five to eight...
