1.

Manilkara zapota (Sapotaceae)

Common name:

Aapodilla, Cuba, Costa Rica, Chikoo.

Distribution:

This plant is native to Guatemala, Honduras, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Cuba, El
Salvador, Panama and Venezuela. And exotic to the USA, Australia, India and Argentina and also
found in Pakistan.

Habitat:

This plant can survive only in warm areas and typically tropical environments and die if
temperature is less than freezing point.

Morphological description:

Alternate, elliptic to ovate. Medium green and glossy leaves are the recognition of this plant. Bark
is rich in white gummy latex called chicle. Flowers are inconspicuous and bell like with six lobbed
corolla. And its fruit is a large berry having saggy skin. Its flesh is pale yellow. Seeds are hard
glossy and black colored like beans having pointed end.
Uses:

It is mainly cultivated for its fruit which is used as raw and used in the jam manufacturing. Its
juice may be used in the vinegar and also in syrup.

Its wood known for its hardness and toughness so it’s suitable for the built-up the furniture’s, heavy
constructions and also carpentry. The milky latex produced by the plant was the essential of
chewing gum before the invention of synthetics.

Fruit Contain vitamin C and is a good antioxidant. Good source of essential nutrients. Treats gastric
and bowel disorders. Sedative and improves bones health. High vitamin A content. Activates
immune system. Excellent laxative. Great source of dietary fiber.

Leaf epidermis:

It was exposed by the microscopic study that the lower and the upper epidermis present in the leaf
structure and also the vascular bundles, collenchyma, mesophylls and trichrome. It was revealed
that upper epidermis having the asymmetrical and dense walled. Mesophyll was segregated into
the spongy parenchyma and the palisade.

Stomata: Paracytic stomata found.

Bark:

Its rich in white gummy latex called chicle.

Pollen:
Pollen grains generally radially symmetrical, isopolar, prolate, 5-colporate, sexine thinner than
nexine, colpi long with distinct ora

Pigments:

Alkaloids and flavonoids are mainly present.