Chikoo-Manilkara Zapota

Description

Manilkara Zapota commonly known as Chikoo trees are long-living evergreen trees. These are cultivated for their edible sweet fruits. With its native origin to Central America, Mexico & West Indies, but find its wide distribution throughout Southeast Asian countries. Chikoo trees have a tendency to grow about 5 – 20 m tall when cultivated at your home garden. This tree consists of glossy medium green leaves, which are alternate, elliptic to ovate with an entire margin. Manilkara Zapota also blooms inconspicuously with white flowers, that are of bell-like, with a six-lobed corolla. And the fruit that it bears is somewhat like a large berry (4 – 8 cm in diameter) with its colour turning from a pale yellow to an earthy brown as it gets ripened. With their attractive appearance and easy to care conditions, these trees are excellent for ground cover or other relevant ornamental purposes.