THE SAPODILLA FAMILY 



SAPOTACE.E Reichenbach 



APOTACE.^ comprise some 35 genera, including about 400 species of 

 trees or shrubs, the greater number of which are inhabitants of the 

 tropics. Their economic value depends upon the milky sap which 

 most of them contain. Gutta-percha is the concrete juice of Palaquium 

 Giitta (J. D. Hooker) Burke, of the Malay region; perhaps other trees also yield 

 it. Balata gum and Gum chicle are similar products; the juices of some are pala- 

 table and nutritious; several edible fruits are also produced by this family. 



The Sapotaceae have mostly alternate, entire leaves without stipules. The 

 flowers are usually perfect and complete, disposed in axillary or lateral clusters; 

 the calyx is 4- to 12-parted, the sepals imbricated; the corolla is 4- to 12-lobed, 

 deciduous, and sometimes furnished with appendages at the base of the lobes; 

 stamens attached to the corolla, either at its base or to the base of its lobes and 

 alternate with the usually conspicuous staminodes, their filaments distinct; anthers 

 opening lengthwise, variously attached; ovary sessile, 4-celled to 12-celled, the style 

 stigmatic tipped ; ovules i in each cavity. The fruit is a fleshy beriT, or drupe, 

 several-seeded, or often with but i seed; seeds large, usually shining; endosperm 

 fleshy or none; embryo straight. 



The 6 genera occurring in our area are all represented by arborescent species. 



Calyx and corolla 5-parted. 



Flowers without staminodes or corolla appendages. 

 Flowers with staminodes. 

 Corolla without appendages. 

 Corolla with appendages. 



Ovary smooth; endosperm copious. 

 Ovary hairy; endosperm scant or none. 

 Calyx and corolla 6- to 12-parted. 



Native Florida tree; seeds usually i or 2. 

 Introduced into Florida; seeds 4 or 5. 



1. Chrysophyllum. 



2. Sideroxylon. 



3. Dipholis. 



4. Bumelia. 



5. Miiniisops. 



6. Sapota. 



772 



