Manilkara huberi


Manilkara huberi, also known as masaranduba, níspero, and sapotilla, is a fruit bearing plant of the genus Manilkara of the family Sapotaceae.

Geographical distribution

Manilkara huberi is native to large portions of South America, Central America and the Antilles, at elevations below above sea level.

Description

Manilkara huberi is a large tree, reaching heights of. The leaves are oblong, approximately in length, with yellow undersides. The flowers are hermaphroditic; white with 3 sepals. The edible fruit is yellow and ovoid, in diameter, containing one seed.

Uses

The fruit of the M. huberi is similar to the sapodilla and is edible, with excellent flavor popular for use in desserts.
M. huberi produces an edible latex that can be harvested in a manner similar to the harvesting of the latex of the rubber tree. The latex dries to an inelastic rubber, which is considered inferior to gutta-percha.
The latex from M. huberi is sometimes used to make golf ball covers. It is considered a good, but short-lived, cover, requiring frequent recoating, yet it is popular in tournaments.
The tree is also used for lumber in Puerto Rico. The wood is red and very hard, and is popular for use in furniture making, construction, and railway ties. The wood is so dense to the point that it does not float on water, and requires pre-drilling before nailing. The specific gravity of M. huberi wood is between 0.85 and 0.95 g/cm3.

Synonyms

Manilkara huberi is also known as: