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Manilkara zapota fruit
Mimusops,
Sapodilla (Naseberry, Chicle, Nispero),
Spanish-Cherry, Monkey’s-Apple
Mimusops and
Manilkara
species (see list below)
MIM-you-sops,
man-il-CARE-ah, ball-LAY-ta, core-ee-ACE-ee-ah,
el-LENG-eye, zah-POE-tah
Sapotaceae
Explanation of names:
Generic
name Mimusops comes from Greek for ape-face, referring to the appearance
of the flower. Manilkara comes from
Portuguese for Manilla (Philippines) and edible fruit.
Coriacea means leathery.
Bidentata means two-toothed, perhaps referring to the fringed
petals.
Zapota coems from a local name.
Elengi comes from an Arabic
name for the tree.
Recognition:
Mimusops coriacea
(A .DC.) Miq., Monkey’s Apple. From Madagascar.
Has escaped cultivation in Southeastern Florida.
The creamy flowers have four
conspicuous, leathery, lanceolate, undivided petals, each with a single
pointed tip. The golden fruits are
globose and on long pedicels.
Mimusops elengi
L. Spanish-Cherry, from India, has escaped cultivation a little in South
Florida. This small tree to 20’- potentially 100’ tall has
open, star-shaped white
flowers with the petals forming several pointy lobes.
The ripe fruits resemble large red cherries, although often somewhat
elongate or football-shaped. It
grows in full sun with ample water, and probably has a little freeze-tolerance.
Propagation is by seeds.
Manilkara bidentata
(A. DC.) Chev. (Mimusops
balata (Aubl.) C.F. Gaertn.),
sometimes called “Mimusops,” or Balata,
is a potentially large tree, native to
Tropical Americ, with a yellowish berry the size of a tennis ball.
The white flowers are round and
frilly, with the fringe on the petals resembling white fingers.
It will grow in sun or partial shade with ample moisture.
Cold-tolerance is probably near freezing. Propagation is by seeds.
Manilkara zapota
(L.) P. Royen, from
Mesoamerica, Sapodilla is potentially a large tree to 60’-70’.
The flowers are white and closed
urn-shaped without starry or fingerlike fringe.
It is regarded as an invasive exotic species, listed as Category I by
FEPPC. This species has drought
tolerance when established, and brief tolerance of mildly freezing conditions.
The trees require sun and well drained soils, and is alkaline tolerant.
Space them 25’ apart.
Propagation mostly by grafting, or by seeds. Fruiting
mostly summer and fall. The ripe
fruits are brown.
Landscape uses:
Fruiting
trees
Internet sources:
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=120757
http://www.asitghosh.com/MISC/1asitmbalatasm.jpg
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg057
http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/261
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/ausubo.htm
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/kabiki.htm
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st405
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/sapodilla.html
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