Manilkara zapota (L.) P.Royen

Trees, to 18 m. Leaves: petiole 10-30 mm; blade elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 60-140 × 20-50 mm, base cuneate to attenuate, margins sinuate, apex acute to acuminate (often folded on pressed specimens), surfaces brown-tomentose along midrib or glabrous abaxially, glabrous adaxially. Inflorescences solitary flowers. Pedicels 10-20 mm, rufous-tomentose Flowers: sepals ovate to lanceolate, 7-10 mm, apex acute to obtuse, tomentose; petals white, unlobed or irregularly 2-3-lobed, margins entire to irregularly 3-dentate apically, glabrous or sparsely hairy, corolla 7-11 mm, tube 4-6(-7) mm (equaling or exceeding lobes); staminodes petaloid; ovary hairy. Berries ellipsoid or depressed-globose to subglobose, 35-80 mm, surface roughened, scaly; pedicels slightly enlarged distally. Seeds 2-10, 15-25 mm. 2n = 26.

It is a tropical plant. It suits the hot, humid tropical lowlands. It will grow in subtropical climates. It needs a warm climate above 18°C to 24°C. Tree can stand temperatures down to freezing for short periods of time. Frost will kill young trees but mature trees can tolerate reasonable frosts. Good year round rainfall is needed especially for young trees. It will probably grow up to 1000 m in the tropics but is better at lower altitudes. It can tolerate some salt in the soil. They need good fertile soil. It can grow in heavy clay soils. It can grow in acid soils. Young trees need extra fertiliser for good growth. It does best in sunny positions. It cannot tolerate waterlogged soils but can withstand drought. It can stand strong winds. It can grow in arid places. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

The fully ripe fruit are eaten. The fruit are eaten fresh. They can be used for drinks, jams or jellies. They can be dried, preserved, or used in custards, sherberts, ice cream, pies and muffins. The unripe fruit can be pickled. The juice can be boiled into syrup or made into syrup or wine. The bark contains a gummy substance (chicle) used for chewing gum. The very young leaves are eaten. The very young shoots and leaves may be eaten, but older leaves contain an alkaloid poison. CAUTION The seeds are hooked and can catch in the throat so should be removed.

Trees can be grown from fresh seeds but they are not true to type. This has resulted in many varieties which vary in fruit shape and size. It is best to use grafted plants. Seed remain viable for several years. Better varieties should be grown by grafting or air-layering. Trees can be grown from cuttings of mature branches. Seedling trees tend to be taller. Growing from cuttings is not easy. A spacing of 8-9 metres is suitable. Thinning of fruit is rarely undertaken as sap discolours other fruit. Topping of the tree can be done if the tree becomes too tall. Trees need little pruning.