sapodilla

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Mespel
• Misple
• Sapodille
• Sapotilla
• chicle
• naseberry
• Chiku
• chikoo

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Calospermum mammosum
• Calocarpum mammosum
• Gambeya mammosa
• Sapota zapotilla
• Lucuma zapota
• Achras tabogaensis
• Manilkariopsis striata
• Sapota achras
• Achras paludosa
• Achras zapota
• Achras dactylina
• Nispero achras
• Manilkara meridionalis
• Achras zapota var. major
• Mimusops grisebachii
• Manilkara zapotilla
• Manilkara tabogaensis
• Manilkara striata
• Sapota achras var. lobata
• Manilkara rojasii
• Lucuma zapota var. anguai
• Manilkara gaumeri
• Sapota achras var. sphaerica
• Manilkara meridionalis var. caribbensis
• Manilkara grisebachii
• Manilkara calderonii
• Manilkara conzattii
• Manilkara achras
• Manilkara breviloba
• Manilkariopsis tabogaensis
• Manilkariopsis lobulata
• Manilkariopsis meridionalis
• Manilkariopsis petenensis
• Manilkariopsis rojasii
• Lucuma mammosa
• Achras striata
• Achras tainteriana
• Achras tchicomame
• Achras verrucosa
• Achras zapota var. zapotilla
• Achras zapotilla
• Achras gaumeri
• Achras latiloba
• Achras lobulata
• Achras conzattii
• Achras coriacea
• Achras calderonii
• Achras meridionalis
• Achras occidentalis
• Achras petenensis
• Achras rojasii
• Achras sapatilla
• Achras zapota f. asperma
• Achras zapota var. candollei
• Achras zapota var. globosa
• Achras zapota var. lobata
• Achras zapota var. ovalis
• Achras zapota var. pedicellaris
• Achras zapota var. sphaerica
• Achras breviloba
• Achradelpha mammosa
• Vitellaria mammosa
• Pouteria mammosa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ericales, it is further categorized into the family Sapotaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Manilkara.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct tropical regions across the globe. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is noted around the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Its range extends to the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within the borders of Bangladesh. Within the Indo-China region, the species can be found inhabiting both the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands. Finally, its distribution reaches the Southwestern Pacific, where it is located in Vanuatu.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Manilkara zapota is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse range of forest ecosystems, spanning from sea level up to an elevation of 1600 m AMSL. It is commonly found inhabiting various forest types, including Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Estacional Perenifólia, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, and Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial). This wide distribution across both evergreen and semi-deciduous seasonal forests, as well as ombrophilous rain forests, highlights its adaptability to different moisture regimes and structural forest environments within its elevational gradient.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Estacional Perenifólia, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Manilkara zapota is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to maintain a long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant directs its primary biomass into elevated structures, with its buds protected above the ground level. This life form is further classified under the phanerophyte category, ensuring structural stability and longevity throughout its developmental stages. Throughout its existence, the species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage year-round without undergoing a seasonal shedding period, which supports continuous metabolic activity and photosynthetic capacity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Manilkara zapota is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, exhibiting a robust and independent structural habit. It is a terrestrial plant that does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining an independent existence within its ecosystem. The tree reaches significant dimensions, with a recorded mean plant height of 17.5 m and a maximum height of 12 m. In terms of its physical support and structure, it is categorized as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber, liana, or vine, ensuring its stability through its woody composition.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12 m

Plant height mean:

17.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Manilkara zapota is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process and metabolic efficiency in typical forest or tropical environments. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the enzyme RuBisCO to facilitate the initial fixation of carbon dioxide during the Calvin cycle, making its metabolic rate highly dependent on environmental temperature and moisture availability. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, necessitating the uptake of nitrogen directly from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Manilkara zapota is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits, a trait that facilitates its specific dispersal strategy. The plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to transport its seeds to new locations. The seeds themselves exhibit high uniformity in their physical dimensions, maintaining a consistent seed volume of exactly 1500 mm³ (with both minimum and maximum values recorded at this level) and a mean seed mass of 0.12674 g. This specific seed mass is constant across the observed range, with the minimum, maximum, and mean values all equating to 0.12674 g, ensuring a standardized reproductive output for the species.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass mean:

0.12674 g

Seed volume max:

1500 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Manilkara zapota 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, fruit, seed.

Leaf

1. PloS one
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Chemosphere

Fruit

1. PeerJ

Seed

1. Preventive veterinary medicine

Chemicals

Manilkara zapota has 37 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, CALCIUM, Ca2+, Caoutchouc, Cardiac Glycosides.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Ca2+

1. Protoplasma

Caoutchouc

1. Dr. Duke

Cardiac Glycosides

1. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences

DPPH

1. Pharmacognosy research

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoid

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Flavonoids

1. PeerJ

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Manilkara zapota has 256 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antipyretic, Antitumor, Absorbent, Acetylcholinergic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. PeerJ
3. Pharmaceutical biology
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. PeerJ

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. PeerJ

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Manilkara zapota has 16 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, Bacillus subtilis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations