Plant Family: Belongs to the Sapotaceae or Sapodilla family, which includes Star Apple (Chrysophylum cainito) and Sapodilla (Achras zapota).

Description: Large, fast-growing, evergreen tree, to 65 ft tall with scaly reddish bark; wood heavy and strong, heartwood yellow-orange; leaves elliptical, bright green and shinny, up to 15 cm long and 8 cm wide; ripe fruit ovoid, yellow, 2.5 cm long, with 1-3 seeds; tree tends to flower and fruit on-and-off all year.

Natural Habitat: Grows naturally in dry, tropical forests; tree is drought resistant and salt tolerant; propagation by seed.

Origin and Distribution: Native to West Indies and Central America; in Dominica found as timber tree at lower elevations; used as specimen ornamental in Florida.

Uses: Gummy fruit edible fresh, but not popular; tree better known for its attractive, yellow-orange heartwood; strong, heavy wood once used extensively, but trees were logged out and species now scarce; in Dominica, was popular building timber with Caribs and Dominicans in general; with its pretty, yellow fruit, tree also makes attractive specimen ornamental, especially near seashore due to its salt tolerance, but fruit droppings make a mess.

Indigenous Legends: Mikasuki Indians of Florida use the wood ashes in a body cleansing ritual when someone is being a pain to all around them.

References:
Anon. [Joseph Jones?] Official Guide to the Botanic Gardens, Dominica. Kew Gardens, London 1924?
Robert A. DeFilipps. Useful Plants of the Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 1998
Dan H. Nicolson. Flora of Dominica, Part 2: Dicotyledoneae. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 1991
C.D. Adams. Flowering Plants of Jamaica. University of the West Indies, Mona, Glasgow University Press 1972
Penelope N. Honeychurch. Caribbean Wild Plants and Their Uses. Macmillan, London, 1986
Doug Scofield. Native Plants of South Florida. Univ. of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, 1996 (fig.cox.miami.edu)