Monographs Details:
Authority:
Prance, Ghillean T. 1972. Chrysobalanaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 9: 1-410. (Published by NYBG Press)
Prance, Ghillean T. 1972. Chrysobalanaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 9: 1-410. (Published by NYBG Press)
Family:
Chrysobalanaceae
Chrysobalanaceae
Synonyms:
Moquilea platypus Hemsl.
Moquilea platypus Hemsl.
Description:
Species Description - Medium to large-sized tree to 30 m tall, sometimes buttressed, the young branches glabrous and lenticellate. Leaves oblong to oblong-lanceolate, coriaceous, 13.0-20.0 cm long (to 30.0 cm long on sterile branches), 3.5-8.0 cm broad, short-acuminate at apex, with acumen 2.0-10.0 mm long, rounded to subcuneate at base, glabrous on both surfaces, with two glands at base of lamina on underside; palisade glands rare or absent; midrib glabrous above, plane or slightly impressed; primary veins 15-22 pairs, prominulous beneath, level above or nearly so; petioles 9.0-14.0 mm long, glabrous, terete, eglandular. Stipules 2.0-4.0 mm long, ovate, persistent, intrapetiolar. Inflorescences terminal racemose panicles, the rachis and branches with a short sparse gray pubescence. Flowers 3.0-4.0 mm long, solitary or in small groups on primary and secondary branches of inflorescence. Bracts and bracteoles 1.0-6.0 mm long, caducous. Receptacle cupuliform, with short gray pubescence on exterior, densely hirsute within; pedicels o.5-2.0 mm long. Calyx lobes acute, pubescent on both surfaces. Petals 5, glabrous with ciliate margins, caducous. Stamens 15-20, inserted in a complete circle; filaments slightly exceeding calyx lobes, glabrous, free almost to base. Ovary inserted at base of receptacle, villous. Style villous on lower portion. Fruit ellipsoid to ovoid, up to 15.0 cm long at maturity; epicarp glabrous, verrucose; mesocarp thick, fibrous, and fleshy; endocarp hard and thin, glabrous within.
Distribution and Ecology - Forest, commonest near rivers, but also in forest away from rivers, from southern Mexico through Central America to Northern Colombia.
Species Description - Medium to large-sized tree to 30 m tall, sometimes buttressed, the young branches glabrous and lenticellate. Leaves oblong to oblong-lanceolate, coriaceous, 13.0-20.0 cm long (to 30.0 cm long on sterile branches), 3.5-8.0 cm broad, short-acuminate at apex, with acumen 2.0-10.0 mm long, rounded to subcuneate at base, glabrous on both surfaces, with two glands at base of lamina on underside; palisade glands rare or absent; midrib glabrous above, plane or slightly impressed; primary veins 15-22 pairs, prominulous beneath, level above or nearly so; petioles 9.0-14.0 mm long, glabrous, terete, eglandular. Stipules 2.0-4.0 mm long, ovate, persistent, intrapetiolar. Inflorescences terminal racemose panicles, the rachis and branches with a short sparse gray pubescence. Flowers 3.0-4.0 mm long, solitary or in small groups on primary and secondary branches of inflorescence. Bracts and bracteoles 1.0-6.0 mm long, caducous. Receptacle cupuliform, with short gray pubescence on exterior, densely hirsute within; pedicels o.5-2.0 mm long. Calyx lobes acute, pubescent on both surfaces. Petals 5, glabrous with ciliate margins, caducous. Stamens 15-20, inserted in a complete circle; filaments slightly exceeding calyx lobes, glabrous, free almost to base. Ovary inserted at base of receptacle, villous. Style villous on lower portion. Fruit ellipsoid to ovoid, up to 15.0 cm long at maturity; epicarp glabrous, verrucose; mesocarp thick, fibrous, and fleshy; endocarp hard and thin, glabrous within.
Distribution and Ecology - Forest, commonest near rivers, but also in forest away from rivers, from southern Mexico through Central America to Northern Colombia.
Discussion:
This species has an edible fruit which is much sought after by birds and animals, but little eaten by man.
This species has an edible fruit which is much sought after by birds and animals, but little eaten by man.
Distribution:
Mexico North America| Veracruz Mexico North America| Puebla Mexico North America| Guerrero Mexico North America| Oaxaca Mexico North America| Chiapas Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| Belize Central America| Honduras Central America| El Salvador Central America| Nicaragua Central America| Costa Rica South America| Panama Central America| Colombia South America| Bolívar Colombia South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America|
Mexico North America| Veracruz Mexico North America| Puebla Mexico North America| Guerrero Mexico North America| Oaxaca Mexico North America| Chiapas Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| Belize Central America| Honduras Central America| El Salvador Central America| Nicaragua Central America| Costa Rica South America| Panama Central America| Colombia South America| Bolívar Colombia South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America|
Common Names:
Zin zapote, Zapote Cabello, Zapote amarillo, Zapote borracho, Mesonsapote, Moshpin, Urraco, Monkey apple, Sunzapote, Sunza, Zapote, Sangre, Chupa
Zin zapote, Zapote Cabello, Zapote amarillo, Zapote borracho, Mesonsapote, Moshpin, Urraco, Monkey apple, Sunzapote, Sunza, Zapote, Sangre, Chupa