''Manilkara'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

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, e.g., including only woody plants with secondary growth, only ...

s in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Sapotaceae 240px, '' Madhuca longifolia'' var. ''latifolia'' in Narsapur, Medak district, India The Sapotaceae are a family of flowering plants belonging to the order (biology)">order Ericales">family (biology)">family of flowering plants belonging to th ...

. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

, and

Latin America Latin America is the cultural region of the Americas where Romance languages are predominantly spoken, primarily Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese. Latin America is defined according to cultural identity, not geogr ...

, 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 the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is bounded by the cont ...

and in the

Caribbean The Caribbean ( , ; ; ; ) is a region in the middle of the Americas centered around the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, mostly overlapping with the West Indies. Bordered by North America to the north, Central America ...

. A close relative is the genus ''

Pouteria ''Pouteria'' is a genus of flowering plant, flowering trees in the gutta-percha family (biology), family, Sapotaceae. The genus is widespread throughout the tropical Americas, with outlier species in Cameroon and Malesia. It includes the canistel ...

''. Trees of this genus yield edible

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

, useful

wood Wood is a structural tissue/material found as xylem in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulosic fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin t ...

, and

latex Latex is an emulsion (stable dispersion) of polymer microparticles in water. Latices are found in nature, but synthetic latices are common as well. In nature, latex is found as a wikt:milky, milky fluid, which is present in 10% of all floweri ...

. The best-known

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

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 t ...

Prachuap Khiri Khan Province Prachuap Khiri Khan (, ) is one of the western Provinces of Thailand, provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. It is in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, some south of Bangkok. Neighboring provinces include Phetchaburi province, Phetchabu ...

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

, where it is known as ''rayan''. ''M. obovata'' shares the vernacular name of African pear with another completely different species, ''

Dacryodes edulis ''Dacryodes edulis'' is a fruit tree in the family Burseraceae native to Africa. Its various regional names include safou (Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola), messa, plum (Cameroon), atanga (Equatorial Guinea an ...

'', and neither should be confused with ''

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

'', known by the very similar name, African pearwood. ''Manilkara'' trees are often significant, or even dominant species in their native

ecosystem An ecosystem (or ecological system) is a system formed by Organism, organisms in interaction with their Biophysical environment, environment. The Biotic material, biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and en ...

s, such as

East Deccan dry evergreen forests The East Deccan dry evergreen forests is an ecoregion of southeastern India. The ecoregion includes the coastal region behind the Coromandel Coast on the Bay of Bengal, between the Eastern Ghats and the sea. It covers eastern Tamil Nadu, part ...

Central America Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually ...

n premontane tropical wet forests, or together with ''

Cynometra ''Cynometra'' (from Greek language, Greek calque of ''puki anjing'', local Malay name for ''Cynometra cauliflora, C. cauliflora'' according to Georg Eberhard Rumphius, Rumphius) is genus of tropical forest trees with a pantropical distribution. ...

'', in the

Arabuko Sokoke National Park The Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve is located on the coast of Kenya, 110 km north of Mombasa and is protected as a national Forest Reserve. The Arabuko Sokoke National Park, situated at the north-western edge of the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reser ...

. ''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 ...

s, in particular

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class (biology), class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the Oviparity, laying of Eggshell, hard-shelled eggs, a high Metabolism, metabolic rate, a fou ...

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

. ''

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.

Taxonomy

The generic name, ''Manilkara'', is derived from the

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

word ''manil-kara'', a vernacular name for '' M. kauki''; it combines ''Manil'' from ''Manilha'', the Portuguese name of

Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...

in the Philippines, and ''kara'' meaning "fruit".

Species

Species accepted by

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

as of December 2022: *'' Manilkara adolfi-friederici'' *'' Manilkara bequaertii'' *''

Manilkara bidentata ''Manilkara bidentata'' is a species of '' Manilkara'' native to a large area of northern South America, Central America and the Caribbean. Common names include bulletwood, balatá, ausubo, massaranduba, quinilla, and (ambiguously) " cow-tree". ...

'' *'' Manilkara boivinii'' *''

Manilkara bolivarensis ''Manilkara bolivarensis'' is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is endemic to Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a contine ...

'' *'' Manilkara butugi'' *'' Manilkara capuronii'' *'' Manilkara casteelsii'' *'' Manilkara cavalcantei'' *''

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. A ...

'' *''

Manilkara chicle ''Manilkara chicle'' is a tropical evergreen tree native to Mexico and Central America. The tree ranges from Veracruz in Mexico south to Atlántico in Colombia. It yields a natural gum known as chicle, traditionally used in making chewing gum a ...

'' *'' Manilkara concolor'' *'' Manilkara dardanoi'' *''

Manilkara dawei ''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 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 or habitat reduction) occurs when a natural habitat is no long ...

'' *''

Manilkara discolor ''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 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. A ...

'' *''

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. A ...

'' *''

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 endemic to Brazil, and threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss or habitat reduction) occurs when a natural habitat is no longer abl ...

'' *'' Manilkara excisa'' *'' Manilkara fasciculata'' *'' Manilkara fischeri'' *'' Manilkara fouilloyana'' *'' Manilkara frondosa'' *'' Manilkara gonavensis'' *''

Manilkara hexandra ''Manilkara hexandra'' is a tree species in the tribe Sapoteae, in the family Sapotaceae. It is native to much of the Indian subcontinent: Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka; Indo-China: Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Its vernacular nam ...

'' *'' Manilkara hoshinoi'' *''

Manilkara huberi ''Manilkara huberi'', also known as masaranduba, níspero, and sapotilla, is a fruit bearing plant of the genus ''Manilkara'' of the family Sapotaceae. Geographical distribution ''Manilkara huberi'' is native to large parts of northern South Ame ...

'' *'' Manilkara ilendensis'' *'' Manilkara inundata'' *'' Manilkara jaimiqui'' *'' Manilkara kanosiensis'' *''

Manilkara kauki ''Manilkara kauki'' is a plant in the subfamily Sapotoideae, and the tribe Sapoteae of the family Sapotaceae; and is the type species for the genus ''Manilkara''.''Species Plantarum'' 2 1753 It occurs in tropical Asia from Indo-China (Cambod ...

'' *'' Manilkara koechlinii'' *'' Manilkara kribensis'' *'' Manilkara kurziana'' *'' Manilkara letestui'' *'' Manilkara letouzeyi'' *'' Manilkara littoralis'' *''

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 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. A ...

'' *''

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 or habitat reduction) occurs when a natural habitat is no lon ...

'' *'' Manilkara mayarensis'' *'' Manilkara microphylla'' *'' Manilkara mochisia'' *''

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. By the IUCN , it is near threatened by habitat loss. See also * Pau Brasil National Park P ...

'' *''

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 or habitat reduction) occurs when a natural hab ...

'' *''

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 A ...

'' *'' Manilkara paraensis'' *'' Manilkara pellegriniana'' *'' Manilkara perrieri'' *''

Manilkara pleeana ''Manilkara pleeana'', the zapote de costa, is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is native to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands The Virgin Islands () are an archipelago between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean and north ...

'' *'' Manilkara pobeguinii'' *'' Manilkara pubicarpa'' *''

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. A ...

'' *''

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, whe ...

'' *'' Manilkara sahafarensis'' *'' Manilkara salzmannii'' *'' Manilkara samoensis'' *''

Manilkara sansibarensis ''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 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 smithiana'' *'' Manilkara spectabilis'' *''

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 ...

'' *'' Manilkara suarezensis'' *'' Manilkara subsericea'' *'' Manilkara sulcata'' *'' Manilkara sylvestris'' *'' Manilkara triflora'' *'' Manilkara udoido'' *'' Manilkara valenzuelana'' *'' Manilkara vitiensis'' *''

Manilkara zapota ''Manilkara zapota'', commonly known as sapodilla (), sapote, chicozapote, chicoo, chicle, naseberry, nispero, or soapapple, among other names, is an evergreen tree native to southern Mexico and Central America. An example natural occurrence is ...

'' *''

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 ...

'' Several species are endangered due to

overexploitation Overexploitation, also called overharvesting or ecological overshoot, 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 ...

and

habitat destruction Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss or habitat reduction) occurs when a natural habitat is no longer able to support its native species. The organisms once living there have either moved elsewhere, or are dead, leading to a decrease ...

. ''M. gonavensis'' of

Haiti Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and south of the Bahamas. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican ...

and ''M. spectabilis'' of

Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...

are almost

extinct Extinction is the termination of an organism by the death of its Endling, last member. A taxon may become Functional extinction, functionally extinct before the death of its last member if it loses the capacity to Reproduction, reproduce and ...

References

* * {{Authority control Sapotaceae genera Pantropical flora Taxa described in 1763 Taxa named by Michel Adanson