''Manilkara'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Sapotaceae 240px, '' Madhuca longifolia'' var. ''latifolia'' in Narsapur, Medak district, India The Sapotaceae are a family (biology), family of flowering plants belonging to the order (biology), order Ericales. The family includes about 800 species of ev ...

. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an ...

, Australia, and

Latin America Latin America or * french: Amérique Latine, link=no * ht, Amerik Latin, link=no * pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived ...

, as well as various islands in the

Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...

and in the Caribbean. A close relative is the genus '' Pouteria''. Trees of this genus yield edible

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in partic ...

, useful

wood Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of ligni ...

, and

latex Latex is an emulsion (stable dispersion) of polymer microparticles in water. Latexes are found in nature, but synthetic latexes are common as well. In nature, latex is found as a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants (angiosper ...

. The best-known

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

are '' M. bidentata'' (''balatá''), '' M. chicle'' (chicle) and '' M. zapota'' (sapodilla). ''M. hexandra'' is the

floral emblem In a number of countries, plants have been chosen as symbols to represent specific geographic areas. Some countries have a country-wide floral emblem; others in addition have symbols representing subdivisions. Different processes have been used to ...

of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province in

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

, where it is known as ''rayan''. ''M. obovata'' shares the vernacular name of African pear with another completely different species, '' Dacryodes edulis'', and neither should be confused with ''

Baillonella toxisperma ''Baillonella toxisperma'' (also called African pearwood, djave nut, or moabi) is a species of tree in the family Sapotaceae, and the only species in the genus ''Baillonella''. It is found in Angola, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Demo ...

'', known by the very similar name, African pearwood. The generic name, ''Manilkara'', is derived from ''manil-kara'', a vernacular name for '' M. kauki'' in

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry ( Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam wa ...

. ''Manilkara'' trees are often significant, or even dominant species in their native

ecosystem An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Energy enters the syst ...

s, such as East Deccan dry evergreen forests,

Central America Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...

n premontane tropical wet forests, or together with '' Cynometra'', in the Arabuko Sokoke National Park. ''Manilkara'' fruit are an important food item for various

frugivore A frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts and seeds. Approximately 20% of mammalian herbivores eat fruit. Frugivores are highly dependent on the abundance an ...

s, in particular

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...

s. The red fruit bat (''Stenoderma rufum'') is the primary – and possibly the only –

seed disperser In Spermatophyte plants, seed dispersal is the movement, spread or transport of seeds away from the parent plant. Plants have limited mobility and rely upon a variety of dispersal vectors to transport their seeds, including both abiotic vectors, ...

of ''M. bidentata'' in parts of the Caribbean. ''

Tuckerella xiamenensis The peacock mites of the genus ''Tuckerella'' ( the only genus of the mite family Tuckerellidae) are a significant herbivorous pest in the tropics, for example on citrus fruit. Other species dwell in grasses, possibly as root feeders. The peaco ...

'', a species of

peacock mite The peacock mites of the genus ''Tuckerella'' ( the only genus of the mite family Tuckerellidae) are a significant herbivorous pest in the tropics, for example on citrus fruit. Other species dwell in grasses, possibly as root feeders. The peaco ...

, was described from a sapodilla tree. Several species are endangered due to

overexploitation Overexploitation, also called overharvesting, refers to harvesting a renewable resource to the point of diminishing returns. Continued overexploitation can lead to the destruction of the resource, as it will be unable to replenish. The term ap ...

and

habitat destruction Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...

. ''M. gonavensis'' of

Haiti Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...

and ''M. spectabilis'' of Costa Rica are almost extinct.

Species

Species accepted by the

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants ...

as of December 2022: *''

Manilkara adolfi-friederici ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara bequaertii ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *'' Manilkara bidentata'' *''

Manilkara boivinii ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. ...

'' *'' Manilkara bolivarensis'' *'' Manilkara butugi'' *''

Manilkara capuronii ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Car ...

'' *''

Manilkara casteelsii ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. ...

'' *''

Manilkara cavalcantei ''Manilkara cavalcantei'' is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is endemic to Brazil, where it is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natura ...

'' *''

Manilkara celebica ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. ...

'' *'' Manilkara chicle'' *''

Manilkara concolor ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara dardanoi ''Manilkara dardanoi'' is a tree species in the sapodilla family. It is endemic to Brazil, and only found in a small portion of Pernambuco. Here it grows in forests mostly along the coast, or elsewhere deeper inland where there is old secondary ...

'' *''

Manilkara dawei ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family (biology), family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and i ...

'' *''

Manilkara decrescens ''Manilkara decrescens'' is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is endemic to Brazil, and is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habi ...

'' *'' Manilkara discolor'' *'' Manilkara dissecta'' *''

Manilkara doeringii ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. ...

'' *''

Manilkara dukensis ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. ...

'' *''

Manilkara elata ''Manilkara elata'', also called the cow tree, is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is Endemic to the Amazon region in Brazil, where it is endangered by habitat loss. Uses The edible fruit resembles small apples, and its flesh ha ...

'' *''

Manilkara excelsa ''Manilkara excelsa'' is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is Endemism, endemic to Brazil, and threatened by habitat loss. References

Manilkara, excelsa Plants described in 1922 Vulnerable plants Flora of Brazil Taxonomy ar ...

'' *''

Manilkara excisa ''Manilkara excisa'' (known locally as either sapodilla bullet, sapodilla or simply sappa) is an endangered species of tall tree in the Sapotaceae, sapodilla family. It is Endemism, endemic to the extremely steep, forested limestone hills of Trel ...

'' *''

Manilkara fasciculata ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *'' Manilkara fischeri'' *''

Manilkara fouilloyana ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara frondosa ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. ...

'' *''

Manilkara gonavensis ''Manilkara gonavensis'' is a tree species in the sapodilla family, found nowhere else but Haiti. It has only ever been collected one time for study, when the type specimen was taken. This was in the early 20th century, before 1929, which is t ...

'' *'' Manilkara hexandra'' *''

Manilkara hoshinoi ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *'' Manilkara huberi'' *''

Manilkara ilendensis ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *'' Manilkara inundata'' *'' Manilkara jaimiqui'' *'' Manilkara kanosiensis'' *'' Manilkara kauki'' *''

Manilkara koechlinii ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara kribensis ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara kurziana ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara letestui ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. ...

'' *''

Manilkara letouzeyi ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family (biology), family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and i ...

'' *''

Manilkara littoralis ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America Latin America or * french: Amérique Latine, link=no * ht, ...

'' *''

Manilkara longifolia ''Manilkara longifolia'', commonly known as masseranduba, is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is endemic to Brazil, where it is threatened by habitat loss. References External links Picture: wood, cross section, as ''Mimusops l ...

'' *''

Manilkara longistyla ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara lososiana ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara mabokeensis ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. ...

'' *''

Manilkara maxima ''Manilkara maxima'' is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is endemic to Brazil, where it is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habi ...

'' *''

Manilkara mayarensis ''Manilkara mayarensis'' is a plant species in the family of sapodillas, which grows wild only in Cuba's Oriente Province. Here its members range in scale from shrubs to small trees. Its usual haunts are along creeks, ravines and other natura ...

'' *''

Manilkara microphylla ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Car ...

'' *''

Manilkara mochisia ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara multifida ''Manilkara multifida'' is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. The plant is endemic to the Atlantic Forest ecoregion in southeastern Brazil. It is an IUCN endangered species, threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also ...

'' *''

Manilkara nicholsonii ''Manilkara nicholsonii'' is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is endemic to South Africa ( Natal), and is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by whic ...

'' *''

Manilkara obovata ''Manilkara obovata'' is small to large sized evergreen tree within the Sapotaceae family. Its timber is sold under the name Nkunya in Uganda. The species has a wide distribution from Sierra Leone in West Africa moving east to Uganda in Eastern Af ...

'' *''

Manilkara paraensis ''Manilkara paraensis'' is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is endemic to Brazil, where it is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural ...

'' *''

Manilkara pellegriniana ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara perrieri ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. ...

'' *''

Manilkara pleeana ''Manilkara pleeana'', the zapote de costa, is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is endemic to Puerto Rico. References pleeana Plants described in 1891 Vulnerable plants Endemic flora of Puerto Rico Taxonomy articles ...

'' *''

Manilkara pobeguinii ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. ...

'' *''

Manilkara pubicarpa ''Manilkara pubicarpa'' is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is Endemism, endemic to Guyana. References

Manilkara, pubicarpa Plants described in 1952 Vulnerable plants Flora of Guyana Endemic flora of Guyana Taxonomy articl ...

'' *''

Manilkara roxburghiana ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. ...

'' *''

Manilkara rufula ''Manilkara rufula'' is a species of tree in the Sapodilla family. It is endemic to the northeastern submontane forests of Bahia, Sergipe, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Ceará and Piauí states of Brazil. Although this species exists in many places, ...

'' *''

Manilkara sahafarensis ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara salzmannii ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family (biology), family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and i ...

'' *''

Manilkara samoensis ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. ...

'' *'' Manilkara sansibarensis'' *''

Manilkara seretii ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara sideroxylon ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara smithiana ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Car ...

'' *''

Manilkara spectabilis ''Manilkara spectabilis'' is an uncommon species of tree in the sapodilla family. In 1997, the IUCN were mistakenly under the impression that a specimen in the US, collected in 1899 from a site near Limón in the Atlantic coastal forests of Co ...

'' *''

Manilkara staminodella ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara suarezensis ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara subsericea ''Manilkara subsericea'' is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is endemic to Brazil, and threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat ...

'' *''

Manilkara sulcata ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. ...

'' *'' Manilkara sylvestris'' *''

Manilkara triflora ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara udoido ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. ...

'' *''

Manilkara valenzuelana ''Manilkara valenzuelana'' is a species of tree or tall shrub in the Sapodilla family. It is found in coastal and subcoastal semi- deciduous forests of Cuba (Pinar del Río and Oriente), the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and possibly Puerto R ...

'' *''

Manilkara vitiensis ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

'' *'' Manilkara zapota'' *''

Manilkara zenkeri ''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. A ...

References

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q309947 Sapotaceae genera