View crop

View crop Data sheet EcoPort

Casimiroa edulis

Authority Llave & Lex. Family Magnoliopsida:Rosidae:Sapindales:Rutaceae Synonyms Fagara bombacifolia, Zanthoxylum araliaceum, Zanthoxylum bombacifolium Common names cacchique, casimiroa, ceaxmisttea, chapote, cochitzapoti, matasano, Mexican apple, sapote blanc, white sapote, zapote blanco Editor Ecocrop code 633

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A small to medium-sized spreading or erect, evergreen tree reaching 10-18 m in height. Bark first bright green, later ash-grey, leaves digitate with 3-7, usually 5 leaflets, small pale green to cream coloured flowers and fruit a greenish-yellow depressed-globose drupe, about 8 cm in diameter. USES The fruit is rich in vitamins A and C as well as carbohydrate and protein. It is usually eaten fresh. It can be used as a flavouring for dairy products such as milkshakes and ice-cream. The bark, leaves and seed contain casimirosine, a glucoside with medicinal properties. The tree can be planted as an ornamental. KILLING T Temperatures about -1 to -2°C may injure young growing shoots and cause fruit drop, whereas temperatures about -3 to -4°C may kill the tree to the ground. GROWING PERIOD Fast growing evergreen perennial tree. Fruits ripen gradually about 4 to 5 months after pollination occurs. Fruiting June-July (-August). COMMON NAMES Mexican-apple, White sapote, Casimiroa, Sapote blanc, Zapote blanco, Chapote, Matasano, Cacchique, Ceaxmisttea, Cochitzapoti. FURTHER INF Scientific synonyms: Zanthoxylum bombacifolium, Z. araliaceum, Fagara bombacifolia. In its native habitat in Mexico, Guatemala and south to Costa Rica mexican-apple can be found at elevations between 700 and 3000 m, but it is best grown between 1000 and 2000 m. In subtropical climate it can be grown at sea level.
Sources
SOURCES (C. edulis La Llave & Lex.) Popenoe W 1974 pp 445-448 [RAIN, DRA, TEXT, DEP, USE] Roecklein J 1987 pp 227 [USE, DEP, DRA] Duke J 1975 pp 11 [PH, RAIN, TEMP] Sims D (pers. comm.) Janick J 1991 pp 483 FAO For. Paper 67 pp 63 Purseglove J 1974 pp 493 [USE] Verheij E 1991 pp 113-114 [USE, KTMP, TEXT, DEP, DRA]