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Chrysophyllum
cainito L.
Synonym : Cainito pomiferum Tussac
Family
: Sapotaceae
Local Names
: Swarnapathri, Star apple,
Milk fruit
Flowering
and fruiting period:
July – September
Distribution: Native of West
Indies
Habitat: Cultivated, also
runs wild
IUCN
status:
Data Deficient
Endemic: No
Uses: Wood has been
utilized for heavy construction and for deluxe furniture, cabinetwork and
balustrades. The latex obtained by making incisions in the bark coagulates
readily and has been utilized as an adulterant of gutta percha. The ripe fruit,
because of its mucilaginous character, is eaten to sooth inflammation in
laryngitis and pneumonia. It is given as a treatment for diabetes mellitus, and
as a decoction is gargled to relieve angina
Key
Characters:
Chrysophyllum cainito are trees with bark greyish to dark brownish-black; young
parts golden-ferrugineous silky. Leaves simple, alternate , elliptic , margin
entire, glabrous and shining above, golden-ferrugineous silky beneath,
