Chrysophyllum argenteum Jacq. subsp. argenteum

  • Authority

    Pennington, Terence D. 1990. Sapotaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 52: 1-750. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Sapotaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Chrysophyllum argenteum Jacq. subsp. argenteum

  • Synonyms

    Chrysophyllum glabrum Jacq., Chrysophyllum cainito var. caeruleum Jacq., Chrysophyllum microcarpum Sw., Chrysophyllum macrophyllum Mart., Chrysophyllum pyriforme Spreng., Chrysophyllum dubium Steud., Chrysophyllum argenteum var. lamarckii A.DC., Chrysophyllum immersum Urb., Chrysophyllum argenteum var. sphaerocarpum Urb., Cynodendron argenteum (Jacq.) Baehni

  • Description

    Subspecies Description - Small to medium-sized tree; indumentum of young parts closely appressed. Lower leaf surface thinly sericeous to sparsely appressed puberulous or subglabrous, hairs whitish; leaves variable but often elliptic, not thinly chartaceous, secondary veins usually slightly arcuate. Corolla tube 3-4 times as long as lobes, creases at base of corolla lobes short or absent, indumentum present on corolla tube and lobes. Fruit 1-2.5 cm long, usually ellipsoid, one-seeded. Field characters. A generally small tree to 15 m or rarely 25 m high and 30 cm diam., with grey slightly suberous bark containing milky latex. The greenish-white or cream-coloured flowers are followed by purple or black fruit. Most flowering occurs in the period Jun to Nov with fruit maturing Dec to Apr.

  • Discussion

    The fruit is eaten (Montserrat) and the timber valued for its hardness and durability (Montserrat, Antigua).

  • Common Names

    Bois kabi, bouie, buie, caimitillo, caimito, caimito cocuyo, macauabo, milky iron, wild kaimit, wild star apple

  • Objects

    Specimen - 1442423, E. C. Leonard 12945, Chrysophyllum argenteum Jacq., Sapotaceae (269.0), Magnoliophyta; West Indies, Haiti, Nord-Ouest

    Specimen - 1442431, H. F. A. von Eggers 2433, Chrysophyllum argenteum Jacq., Sapotaceae (269.0), Magnoliophyta; West Indies, Dominican Republic, Samaná

    Specimen - 01287472, N. Taylor 299, Dioscorea tamoidea Griseb., Dioscoreaceae (58.0), Magnoliophyta; West Indies, Cuba

    Specimen - 1442387, A. C. Smith 10587, Chrysophyllum argenteum Jacq., Sapotaceae (269.0), Magnoliophyta; West Indies, Virgin Islands (U.S.)

    Specimen - 1442443, A. Duss 2911, Chrysophyllum argenteum Jacq., Sapotaceae (269.0), Magnoliophyta; West Indies, Guadeloupe

  • Distribution

    Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Leeward and Windward Islands, Trinidad, Tobago and N Venezuela. A plant of seasonal forest and montane forest from sea level to 1200 m altitude, often over limestone in Hispaniola and Puerto Rico.

    Cuba South America| Haiti South America| Dominican Republic South America| Puerto Rico South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Virgin Islands South America| Antigua and Barbuda South America| Montserrat South America| Dominica South America| Guadeloupe South America| Martinique South America| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines South America| Venezuela South America| Barinas Venezuela South America| Monagas Venezuela South America| Sucre Venezuela South America| Táchira Venezuela South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America|