Chrysophyllum cainito L.

സ്വര്‍ണ്ണപത്രി

Family : Sapotaceae

Synonym : Cainito pomiferum Tussac

Common Names : Swarnapathri, Star apple, Milk fruit

Flowering Period : July – September

Distribution : Native of West Indies

Habitat : Cultivated, also runs wild

Uses : Wood has been utilized for heavy construction and for deluxe furniture, cabinet work and balustrades. The latex obtained by making incisions in the bark coagulates readily and has been utilized as an adulterant of gutta percha. The ripe fruit, because of its mucilaginous character, is eaten to sooth inflammation in laryngitis and pneumonia. It is given as a treatment for diabetes mellitus, and as a decoction is gargled to relieve angina.

Key Characters :

Chrysophyllum cainito are trees with bark greyish to dark brownish-black; young parts golden-ferrugineous silky. Leaves simple, alternate, elliptic, margin entire, glabrous and shining above, golden-ferrugineous silky beneath, silky pubescent. Flowers bisexual, white, axillary fascicles; Sepals 5, ovate. Corolla lobes 5, ovate, silky outside. Stamens 5, included; anthers extrorse. Ovary superior, silky, ovules many; style included. Fruit a berry, white to purplish-black.