Chrysophyllum cainito

Chrysophyllum cainito is a tropical tree of the family Sapotaceae. It is native to the Isthmus of Panama, where it was domesticated. It has spread to the Greater Antilles and the West Indies and is now grown throughout the tropics, including Southeast Asia. It grows rapidly and reaches 20 meters in height.

Description

An evergreen tree up to 12-25 m high. It spreads 4-8 m across. The stem is erect but the branches hang down. Leaves are small, hairy, shiny and dark green on top and red/yellow underneath. Young parts of the plant are hairy, with soft silky rust coloured hairs. The flowers are mauve and small. They occur in clusters scattered among the mature twigs. The fruit are smooth skinned and 5-10 cm across. Fruit are oval shaped, yellow at first and light purple when ripe. When the fruit is cut crossways the star shape can be seen. The fruit pulp is white and sweet. The flesh can be purple in some kinds. It contains up to 10 shiny dark seeds.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or made into preserves and has a sweet flavour with pleasantly acidic flesh that is high in carbohydrate. Fruits are about 10cm in diameter. The fruit must be left on the tree until fully ripe; immature fruit is astringent and contains a sticky white latex. The skin must be removed before eating, as biting into it leaves a persistent stickiness in the mouth, and care should be taken to prevent any bitter latex from the skin contacting the flesh. The best way to serve the fruit is to cut around its middle through the rind, then hold it stem-end down and gently twist the top back and forth until the flesh frees itself from the lower rind half, which pulls away along with most of the core. Alternatively, cut it in half and spoon out the flesh, leaving the seed cells and core. An emulsion of the slightly bitter seed kernels is used to make imitation milk-of-almonds, nougat, and other confections.

Traditional Uses

The flesh of the fruit is eaten fresh when fully ripe. The skin has a gummy substance so the flesh of the fruit should be spooned out. The flesh of the fruit is sometimes added to salads and drinks. The fruit can be parboiled and also made into preserves. The seeds are sometimes eaten in confectionary. An emulsion of the kernels can be made into a sweets. Caution: The seeds contain a cyanogenic glucoside.

Medicinal Uses

The ripe fruit is eaten to soothe inflammation in laryngitis and pneumonia, and is given as a treatment for diabetes mellitus. As a decoction it is gargled to relieve angina, and the fruit is used to treat haemorrhage or cooked and used for fever. A decoction of the rind or leaves is taken as a pectoral. The undersides of the leaves are grated and applied as a poultice to wounds, and a decoction of the leaves is taken orally to treat hypoglycaemia. A decoction of the tannin-rich, astringent bark is drunk as a tonic and stimulant and is taken to halt diarrhoea, dysentery, and haemorrhages, and as a treatment for gonorrhoea and catarrh of the bladder. The pulverized, bitter seed is taken as a tonic, diuretic, and febrifuge. The tree's latex is applied to abscesses and, when dried and powdered, is given as a potent vermifuge, and is also taken as a diuretic, febrifuge, and remedy for dysentery.

Known Hazards

The seeds contain a cyanogenic glucoside.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It suits the hot, tropical lowlands with medium to high rainfall. It is native to tropical America. They are suitable for damp districts probably below 400 m altitude. They are grown at Kerevat in Papua New Guinea. It is drought and frost tender. It suits well drained soils, in a protected sunny position. Humid atmosphere and high temperatures throughout the year, suit the tree best. It has been grown up to 1,000 m altitude in South India. Young trees need cold protection but mature trees can survive cool temperatures. In XTBG Yunnan. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Where It Grows

Africa, Amazon, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Central Africa, Central America*, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, El Salvador, Fiji, FSM, Ghana, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Laos, Liberia, Malaysia, Mariana Islands, Marquesas, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nicaragua, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, Samoa, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies*,

Cultivation

Star apple grows successfully in a range of tropical or near tropical areas. Throughout Southeast Asia it thrives in the lowlands, up to 400 metres elevation, and in areas with a distinct dry season. If the dry period is most pronounced, undue loss of leaves and less juicy or even shrivelled fruit are evident, which indicates that the drought is too severe and irrigation is needed. The temperature range for growth is reported to be 12 - 35c with the optimum between 22 - 38c. Mature trees are seriously injured by temperatures below -2c and recover slowly. Young trees may be killed by even short exposure to -0.5c. The annual rainfall range for growth is reported to be 800 - 2,200mm with the optimum between 1,000 - 1,400mm. Requires a moist, well-drained soil. Prefers a deep, rich loam. Fertile, well drained and slightly acid soils are ideal for good growth, though the plant can succeed on almost all types of soil. Prefers a sunny position. Established plants are tolerant of drought. Trees take about 5 - 10 years to produce fruit from seed. Grafted plants can start to fruit in 2 - 4 years. Some trees yield heavy crops of fruit, others bear little. Yields of 70 kg or fruit per tree per year have been recorded. The fruit do not drop and must be picked. They can be stored for 3 weeks at cool temperatures. Young trees are sensitive to water stress in their first year, and growth during that time is slow. Once the tree is established, growth rate and development become more rapid. Deep mulching with straw or lawn clippings, application of fertilizer and frequent dry-season watering all seem necessary for success with this species. The trees do not drop their fruit, making it necessary to climb the tree in order to harvest the crop. There are many named varieties. Star apple flowers are hermaphrodite, and the plants are usually self-fertile.

Propagation

Sow seed in a light, sandy loam. Germination rate is 70% and takes up to six weeks. Seed retains viability for several months, and seedlings bear fruit in 5–10 years. Greenwood cuttings taken from mature stems root well when placed over strong moist heat. Air layering takes 4–7 months. Grafted trees have been known to begin bearing fruit in their first year.

Other Uses

Suitable as a large shade tree, street tree, screening plant, specimen, backyard tree, large planter, or conservatory plant. It is also grown as an ornamental for the attractive golden undersides of its leaves. The branches serve as an orchid-growing medium. Good-quality paper can be obtained from the wood pulp, and tannins are extracted from the bark. The sapwood and heartwood are reddish-brown to dark brown, strong, hard but not durable, with fine to medium texture and fairly straight grain, and a specific gravity of 0.70. The wood is used for general indoor construction including planking, light framing, flooring, interior trim, lining, shelving, cladding, panelling, and partitioning, and is also suitable for mouldings, light tool handles, inlaying, carving, joinery, furniture, and cabinet making. Good-quality veneer and plywood can be obtained from it. The wood is sometimes used as fuel.

Production

It is a slow growing tree. Trees planted from seed come into bearing in 5-9 years. Grafted trees bear in 4-5 years. Fruit mature in about 180 days. Yields of 70 kg or fruit per tree per year have been recorded. The fruit do not drop and must be picked. They can be stored for 3 weeks at cool temperatures.

Other Information

It is a cultivated food plant. At present not widely grown or used in Papua New Guinea. It is cultivated throughout Thailand.

Notes

The tree is often grown as an ornamental because of the attractive golden underside to the leaves. There are about 80-150 Chrysophyllum species. They are mostly in tropical America. There are 44 species in tropical America.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Aguay, Ajara, Apra, Buis, Caimite, Caimitero, Caimitier, Caimito-roxo, Caimo, Caini, Cainit, Cainito, Caymito, Chicle durian, Damsel, Epal feleppin, Estrella, Guayabillo, Hnin-thagya, Isi, 'istal 'apel, Kaimit, Kenitu, Macoucou, Murucuja, Olivoa, Pied caimite, Pipi O Eva, Pohon sawo duren, Pomme surette, Rata lawulu, Star'apra, Sterappel, Star plum, Suli krie, Taroka phol, Thituy, Tuk dah koo, Vu sua

References (88)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 42
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 122
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 62
• Ashton, M. S., et al 1997, A Field Guide to the Common Trees and Shrubs of Sri Lanka. WHT Publications Ltd. pdf p 361
• Barwick, M., 2004, Tropical and Subtropical Trees. A Worldwide Encyclopedic Guide. Thames and Hudson p 112

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