| Moquilea platypus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Trunk of a largeMoquilea platypus tree | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Chrysobalanaceae |
| Genus: | Moquilea |
| Species: | M. platypus |
| Binomial name | |
| Moquilea platypus Hemsl. (1879) | |
| Synonyms | |
Moquilea platypus, also known assun sapote,sansapote, andmonkey apple, is a floweringtree in the familyChrysobalanaceae.[2] The specific epithet (platypus) isNeo-Latin for "flat-footed".
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dietary fiber | 0.9-2.5 g | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0.26-0.49 g | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0.230-0.291 g | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other constituents | Quantity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Water | 64.6-67.4 g | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Percentages estimated usingUS recommendations for adults.[3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moquilea platypus has many common names across its native range, includingsonzapote,sunzapote,sungano,zapote cabelludo,sapote,sangre,zapote amarillo,zapote borracho,zapote cabello,zapote de mico,zapote de mono,mesonsapote,mezonzapote,cabeza de mico,caca de nino,sonza,sunza,zunza,chaute jolobob,urraco, andchupa.[2]
Moquilea platypus is native to southernMexico south to northernColombia and grows wild in dense forests up to 2,000 feet (610 meters) in elevation. It has been introduced toIndia,[4] thePhilippines,Trinidad and Tobago,Florida, andHawaii.[2]
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The tree grows erect, sometimes reaching 100–160 feet (30–49 meters) in height. It has a thick, roundedcrown and is heavily foliaged. The bark is dark purplish to brown in color and is dotted with small white to reddish-whitelenticels. The trunk is sometimesbuttressed. The leaves aredeciduous andalternate, sometimesspiraled, andelliptic tolanceolate in shape. They are pointed at both ends and measure 4–12 inches (10–30 centimeters) in length and 1.25–3.5 inches (3.2–8.9 centimeters) in width, and have thickmidribs. Newfoliage is bronze or reddish-purple in color and is very showy. Theflowers, which are abundant and fragrant and are in broad terminal and branchedpanicles which measure 4–14 inches (10–36 centimeters) in length, are small and hairy and haverecurvedpetals with numerous protrudingstamens. Only 1–3 fruits form from each particle. Thefruit is edible and isobovoid topyriform in shape and measures 5–8 inches (13–20 centimeters) in length and 4–5.5 inches (10–14 centimeters) in width. It has a rather thin, sometimes warty rind which is dark brown to reddish in color and dotted with white lenticels. The flesh is orange-yellow to yellow in color, somewhat pumpkin-scented, soft, fibrous, and dry or juicy, and is said to have a mildly sweet flavor somewhat similar tosapodilla. It normally contains 1 seed which isovate tooblong and flattened in shape and measures 2.375–4 inches (6.03–10.16 centimeters) in length. It blooms from July to September and fruits from August to December the following year.[2] Fruiting begins when the tree is about 10 years of age.[5] It is hardy toUSDA zone 11 and does not tolerate frost or temperatures below 4.5 °C (40.1 °F).[6]
Moquilea platypus is surprisingly drought tolerant compared to that of many other species native to centralPanama. Experiments with 15-month-old seedlings showed slight wilting corresponding to leaf water potentials and relative water contents of −2.7 MPa and 0.85, and plants did not die until these values fell to −7.5 MPa and 0.14.[7]
The tree is planted as an ornamental and shade tree throughoutCentral America. The fruits, although held in low esteem, are eaten when no better fruits are available and are sometimes sold in local markets. They are eaten bytapirs andpeccaries when fallen on the ground. The wood of the tree is fine-grained, heavy, and strong, although not durable in contact with the ground. It is sometimes used in furniture making and cabinetwork, although not often as the tree is seldom felled.[2]
