Chrysophyllum
Chrysophyllum imperiale
Sapodilla family (Sapotaceae)
The endangered Brazilian
Chrysophyllum imperiale is native only to the Atlantic forests of eastern Brazil. The tropical tree grows rapidly and can reach a height of 20 m. The dark green leaves are almost 1 m long and have a shiny upper surface and a downy lower surface. The soft, round, yellowish fruit are edible. The habitat of Chrysophyllum imperiale has in recent years been significantly reduced due to the increasing urban sprawl of Rio de Janeiro. Since the species is only found in this small part of the world area, it is now threatened with extinction. An initiative to take seeds from the huge specimen that is planted in the Sydney Botanical Garden, Australia and sow them around this Brazilian city should, in the future, lead to an increase in numbers.
Themes
Crown jewel of Rotterdam Zoo.
The sticky pulp of the fruit can be eaten raw.
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for its timber and edible fruit, which are used locally. The wood is straight-grained, fine-textured, moderately heavy, with a low resistance to wood-eating organisms. It is suitable for making toys, carts, boxes etc.
Details
Description: | Tree, 10-20 m. |
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Distributions: | Brazil (atlantic coast) |
Habitat: | Lowland rainforest up to 800 m altitude. |
Year cycle: | Perennial (polycarpic evergreen) |
Hardiness: | Warmer than 59 f (heated glasshouse - tropical) |
Fruit color: | Yellow |
Notes on fruits: | The globose fruit is about 6 cm in diameter. |
Sources
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/35377/0,http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Chrysophyllum+imperiale,
Brazilian Trees. Volume 3 ISBN 85-86714-34-4,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysophyllum_imperiale