The SAPOTACEAE family.
It is largely a tropical family of evergreen trees and shrubs with 53 genera and about 1,100 species.
🌷 Members are mostly trees and shrubs that produce latex
🌷 Leaves, flower buds and fruits are often clothed with brownish hairs
🌷Flower are he
rmaphrodite and radially symmetrical. These bear sepals in two whorls
Petals are united and 4-8 in number. Stamens attached to the petals and carpels are united. The ovary is superior and many chambered.
🌷Leaves are simple, alternate or opposite usually with smooth margins, leathery texture and sometimes stipulate and hair
🌷 Fruit:is a berry where the inner pulp may have latex when unripe.
🌷 Seeds few or one with hard shiny covering marked by a pale lining. The, endosperm is oily.
🌷Pollination is by insects or bats.
🌷Economic Importance of Sapotaceae:
1.FOOD
Several species yield juicy edible fruits like Chiku (Manilkara zapota), Spanish Cherry (Mimusops elengi), Cainito apple (Chrysophyllum Cainito)
2. OIL
The seeds of the Indian Butter tree (Diploknema butyracea) produce the vegetable butter called “phulwa” used as cold cream, lip salve leminant and as substitute for ghee and for soap-making.
An aromatic oil is obtained from the flowers of Mimusops elengi and is used in manufacture of perfumes.
3.LATEX / GUTTA PERCHA
Other than Hevea brasiliensis (Rubber Tree), Sapotaceae latex is collected for gutta-percha, balata, and chicle gum.
Gutta percha is obtained from latex of Mimusops, Palaquium gutta and Payena species.
4. MEDICINAL
The bark of Mahua tree (Madhuca longifolia) and Mimusops elengi is used in decoction as astringent and emollient and also as a cure for itches.
5.TIMBER
The wood of Sideroxylon, Chrysophyllum and Madhuca afford hard and useful timber.
🌷 Common plants of the family:
1. lndian butter tree (Diploknema butyracea)
2. Mahua Tree (Madhuca longifolia)
3. White gutta (Palaquium obovatum)
4. Sea Gutta (Planchonella obovata)
5. Tanjong Tree/ Spanish Cherry tree (Mimusops elengi)
6. Pouteria caimito
7.Chrysophyllum cainito (Star Apple)
8. Chiku (Manilkara zapota) and
9. Miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum)
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