Sapotaceae

Shrubs or trees, deciduous or evergreen, sap milky. Leaves alternate or whorled (fascicled) on short shoots, simple; stipules present or absent; petiole with decurrent, adaxial wing forming channel or groove; blade margins entire; venation pinnate. Inflorescences axillary, fasciculate or solitary flowers at leafy or defoliated nodes on older growth. Flowers bisexual [unisexual]; perianth and androecium hypogynous; sepals [2–]4–8[–11], distinct; petals 4–8[–9], connate proximally, lobes not divided or divided into 1 median and 2 lateral [abaxial] segments, corolla rotate, cyathiform, or tubular; nectary disc present; stamens 4–8[–12], antipetalous, epipetalous; anthers dehiscent by longitudinal slits; pistils 1, [1–]3–12[–30]-carpellate; ovary superior, [1–]3–12[–15]-locular; placentation axile, basal, or basiventral; ovules anatropous or hemitropous, unitegmic, tenuinucellate; styles 1, terminal, exserted or included; stigmas 1, capitate or slightly lobed. Fruits baccate [capsular]. Seeds 1–10, brown to black, shiny, indurate; hilum prominent; embryo vertical, oblique, or horizontal; endosperm oily or absent.

Distribution

North America, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, Atlantic Islands, Indian Ocean Islands, Pacific Islands, Australia.

Discussion

Genera 53, species ca. 1100 (5 genera, 16 species in the flora).

The monophyly of the Sapotaceae (including Sarcosperma) is supported by molecular phylogenetic studies (A. A. Anderberg and U. Swenson 2003; Swenson and Anderberg 2005). Three subfamilies were proposed by Swenson and Anderberg in contrast to the five tribes recognized by T. D. Pennington (1991, 2004, 2004b) and R. Govaerts et al. (2001). The Sapotaceae are characterized by the presence of latex, malpighian hairs, fasciculate inflorescences, and antipetalous stamens. The family is widespread throughout the tropics and has economically important species. Manilkara zapota provides chicle for chewing gum, and some species provide edible fruits, e.g., Chrysophyllum cainito (star-apple), Pouteria mammosa (mamey), and P. campechiana (canistel or egg-fruit). Mature fruits of our species of Sideroxylon are edible, and have not been exploited economically. Chrysophyllum oliviforme and Mimusops elengi are handsome trees and often planted as ornamentals.

Selected References

Anderberg, A. A. and U. Swenson. 2003. Evolutionary lineages in Sapotaceae (Ericales): A cladistic analysis based on ndhF sequence data. Int. J. Pl. Sci. 164: 763–773.

Cronquist, A. 1945b. Studies in the Sapotaceae—II. Survey of the North American genera. Lloydia 9: 241–292.

Pennington, T. D. 1990. Sapotaceae. In: Organization for Flora Neotropica. 1968+. Flora Neotropica. 98+ nos. New York. No. 52.

Pennington, T. D. 1991. The Genera of Sapotaceae. Kew and New York.

Pennington, T. D. 2004. Sapotaceae. In: K. Kubitzki et al., eds. 1990+. The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. 9+ vols. Berlin, etc. Vol. 6, pp. 390–421.

Swenson, U. and A. A. Anderberg. 2005. Phylogeny, character evolution, and classification of Sapotaceae (Ericales). Cladistics 21: 101–130.

Wood, C. E. Jr. and R. B. Channel. 1960. The genera of Ebenales in the southeastern United States. J. Arnold Arbor. 41: 1–35.

Lower Taxa

Chrysophyllum, Manilkara, Mimusops, Pouteria, Sideroxylon

Illustrations

	Family ⠉	Taxon	Illustrator ⠉
	Crassulaceae Crassulaceae Penthoraceae Penthoraceae Sapotaceae Sapotaceae	Echeveria Echeveria strictiflora Penthorum Penthorum sedoides Mimusops Mimusops elengi	Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey
	Sapotaceae Sapotaceae Sapotaceae Sapotaceae Sapotaceae Sapotaceae Sapotaceae	Manilkara Manilkara jaimiqui Manilkara jaimiqui subsp. emarginata Sideroxylon Sideroxylon lycioides Pouteria Pouteria campechiana	Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey
	Sapotaceae Sapotaceae Sapotaceae Ebenaceae Ebenaceae Ebenaceae Theophrastaceae Theophrastaceae Theophrastaceae	Chrysophyllum Chrysophyllum oliviforme Chrysophyllum oliviforme subsp. oliviforme Diospyros Diospyros texana Diospyros virginiana Bonellia Bonellia macrocarpa Bonellia macrocarpa subsp. macrocarpa	Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi

Key

1	Sepals 6 or 8 in 2 whorls, outer valvate	> 2
1	Sepals 4-6 in 1 whorl, imbricate	> 3
2	Sepals 8 in 2 whorls of 4; hilum circular.	Mimusops
2	Sepals 6 in 2 whorls of 3; hilum linear.	Manilkara
3	Corolla lobes divided; stems not armed or armed with thorns; seeds 4-12 mm.	Sideroxylon
3	Corolla lobes undivided; stems unarmed; seeds 13-40 mm	> 4
4	Petioles 5-10 mm; leaves densely hairy abaxially; staminodes absent.	Chrysophyllum
4	Petioles 10-51 mm; leaves glabrous or glabrate abaxially; staminodes petaloid	> 5
5	Pedicels glabrous; sepals 1.5-2 mm; berries yellow to orange.	Sideroxylon
5	Pedicels densely hairy; sepals 4.5-11 mm; berries brown	Pouteria