mamey apple

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• mamey
• mamme
• mammee-aple
• Mamaya
• Mami apple
• Mammee
• Mammee Apple
• mammee-apple
• mammy-apple
• tropical-apricot
• Mammee Apple Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Mammea emarginata
• Potamocharis mamei

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Mammea americana, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Malpighiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Calophyllaceae and is situated within the genus Mammea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide and diverse geographical distribution across several different global regions. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found specifically within the country of Guinea. Its presence extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, where it grows in the DR Congo. Moving to the Pacific islands, it is located in the Society Islands of the South-Central region and the Caroline Islands of the Northwest. Finally, its range reaches the Southeastern United States, specifically within the state of Florida.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Mammea americana is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1670 m AMSL. While it is naturally adapted to various tropical environments, its presence is notably recorded within Área Antrópica (anthropic areas), indicating a capacity to persist or thrive in landscapes modified by human activity. This adaptability across varying elevations and human-influenced habitats suggests a resilient ecological profile capable of navigating diverse topographical and anthropogenic gradients.

Elevational range max:

1670 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Mammea americana is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish a long-term presence within its tropical ecosystem. As it matures, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding period. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and evergreen deciduousness enables the plant to sustain continuous photosynthetic activity, supporting its robust growth and long-term survival in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Mammea americana is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. This terrestrial species grows as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a mean height of 17.5 m, with a recorded maximum height of 15 m, establishing a substantial presence in its ecosystem. As a non-epiphytic, strictly terrestrial plant, it maintains a robust, woody architecture typical of large tropical trees.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

17.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Mammea americana is characterized by a metabolic framework that utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism in many tropical woody species where carbon fixation occurs directly through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. In terms of nutrient acquisition and soil interaction, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms and must instead rely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Mammea americana is primarily facilitated through the production of large, fleshy drupes that serve as the primary dispersal mechanism. The plant produces relatively large seeds, which are characterized by a mean seed mass of 14.63 g. These seeds are encased within a thick, pulpy fruit that attracts various fauna, aiding in zoochory as animals consume the fruit and disperse the seeds away from the parent tree. Following successful pollination of the flowers, the development of these heavy seeds ensures a significant nutrient reserve for the developing embryo, which is crucial for establishing seedlings in the competitive tropical environments where the species typically thrives.

Seed mass mean:

14.63 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Mammea americana has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, stem.

Leaf

1. Biomedica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Seed

1. Biomedica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud
2. Preventive veterinary medicine

Stem

1. Biomedica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud

Chemicals

Mammea americana has 39 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1,5-Dihydroxyxanthone, 1,7-Dihydroxyxanthone, 19-Hydroxy-13-epimanoyl oxide, 2-Hydroxyxanthone, 2-Methoxyxanthone.

1,5-Dihydroxyxanthone

1. Dr. Duke

1,7-Dihydroxyxanthone

1. Dr. Duke

19-Hydroxy-13-epimanoyl oxide

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

2-Hydroxyxanthone

1. Dr. Duke

2-Methoxyxanthone

1. Dr. Duke

4-Hydroxyxanthone

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Coumarins

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Cyclomammein

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Mammea americana has 248 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Acidulant, Aggregant, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Amylase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Mammea americana has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Staphylococcus aureus, gallstones, gastric ulcer, gastrointestinal disorders.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations