Sapotaceae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Pouteria sapota
|
||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
See text |
Sapotaceae is a family of flowering plants, belonging to order Ericales. The family includes approximately 800 species of evergreen trees and shrubs in approximately 65 genera (35-75, depending on generic definition). Distribution is pantropical.
Many species produce edible fruits, and/or have other economic uses. Species noted for their edible fruits include Manilkara zapota (Sapodilla, Sapota), Manilkara chicle (Chicle), Chrysophyllum cainito (Star-apple or Golden Leaf Tree), Pouteria (Abiu, Canistel, Mamey sapote), Vitellaria paradoxa (Shea) and Sideroxylon australe (Australian native plum).
Trees of the genus Palaquium (Gutta-percha) produce an important latex with a wide variety of uses.
The seeds of the tree Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels produce an edible oil, traditionally harvested in Morocco.
The family name is derived from Zapotl, a Mexican vernacular name latinised by Linnaeus to Sapota, a name now treated as a synonym of Manilkara (also formerly known by the invalid name Achras).
- Genera
|
|
