Botanical Description
Chico (Manilkara zapota) is a relatively large tree that reaches around 20 m in cultivation but is known to be as big as 38 m in the wild. Its leaves are elliptical and arranged in a spiral phyllotaxy which are gathered towards the terminal ends of the tree. It has pale-green trimerous flowers which eventually develop into a fruit that is oval or ellipsoid in shape, each fruit containing around 3 to 12 hooked seeds.
Uses:
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Edible fruit, widely cultivated throughout the tropics primarily for this reason.
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The tree also exudes a latex which was historically used for chewing gum and even as dental fillings.