Diospyros nigra (Black Sapote) Seeds
Diospyros nigra
| Diospyros nigra | |
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Scientific classification
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ebenaceae |
| Genus: | Diospyros |
| Species: |
D. nigra
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| Binomial name | |
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Diospyros nigra |
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Diospyros nigra, the black sapote, is a species of persimmon. Common names include chocolate pudding fruit, black soapapple and (in Spanish) zapote prieto. The tropical fruit tree is native to Mexico, Central America, and Colombia.[1] The common name sapote refers to any soft, edible fruit. Black sapote is not related to white sapote nor mamey sapote.
Description[edit]
Mature trees can grow to over 25 m (82 ft) in height and are evergreen. It is frost sensitive but can tolerate light frosts. The leaves are elliptic-oblong, tapered at both ends, dark green, glossy and 10–30 cm (3.9–11.8 in) long. Some trees bear only male flowers. Others have both male and female flowers, though some of these are self-incompatible.[3][4] Fruiting takes about 3–4 years from seed and the trees are heavy bearers.[citation needed]
Fruit[edit]
Black sapote fruit are tomato-like and measure 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) in diameter, with an inedible skin that turns from olive to a deep yellow-green when ripe and a pulp which is white and inedible when unripe but assumes a flavor, color and texture often likened to chocolate pudding when ripe. Fruits usually contain seeds, up to a maximum of 12.[4] The texture has been likened to that of a papaya. Boning (2006) describes the ripe fruit as having "the taste and consistency of chocolate pudding."[5]
Unripe fruits are astringent, caustic, bitter, irritating, and have been used as fish poison in the Philippines.[3]
