Chrysophyllum


Chrysophyllum is a group of trees in the Sapotaceae described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.
The genus is native to the tropical Americas, from Mexico to northern Argentina, including the Caribbean. One species, C. oliviforme, extends north to southern Florida.

Description

Chrysophyllum members are usually tropical trees, often growing rapidly to 10–20 m or more in height. The leaves are oval, 3–15 cm long, green above, densely golden pubescent below, from which the genus is named. The flowers are small, purplish white and have a sweet fragrant smell; they are clustered several together, and are hermaphroditic. The fruit is edible; round, usually purple skinned, often green around the calyx, with a star pattern in the pulp; the flattened seeds are light brown and hard. The fruit skin is chewy like gum, and contrary to some reports, is edible.
In 1990 and 1991 T.D. Pennington adopted a wide circumscription of Chrysophyllum, giving it a Pantropical distribution. Later morphological and phylogenetic studies confirmed that the genus defined by Pennington was polyphyletic, and in 2017 De Faria et. al. proposed that Chrysophyllum be more narrowly circumscribed, and some species placed in the revived genera Achrouteria, Cornuella, Martiusella, Nemaluma, Prieurella, and Ragala.

Species

, Plants of the World Online accepts the following 37 species:
Formerly included
  • Achrouteria durifructa
  • Achrouteria eximia
  • Achrouteria pomifera
  • Chloroluma gonocarpa
  • Chloroluma viridis
  • Cornuella venezuelanensis
  • Donella ambrensis Aubrév.
  • Donella analalavensis Aubrév.
  • Donella bangweolensis Mackinder
  • Donella capuronii Mackinder & L.Gaut.
  • Donella delphinensis Aubrév.
  • Donella fenerivensis Aubrév.
  • Donella guereliana Mackinder
  • Donella masoalensis Aubrév.
  • Donella perrieri Lecomte
  • Donella pruniformis Pierre ex Engl.
  • Donella viridifolia Aubrév. & Pellegr.
  • Donella ubangiensis Aubrév.
  • Englerophytum longepedicellatum L.Gaut.
  • Englerophytum magalismontanum T.D.Penn.
  • Englerophytum oblanceolatum T.D.Penn.
  • Gambeya africana - Pierre
  • Gambeya albida Aubrév. & Pellegr.
  • Gambeya azaguieana Aubrév. & Pellegr.
  • Gambeya beguei Aubrév. & Pellegr.
  • Gambeya boiviniana Pierre
  • Gambeya boukokoensis Aubrév. & Pellegr.
  • Gambeya gigantea Aubrév. & Pellegr.
  • Gambeya gorungosana Liben
  • Gambeya lacourtiana Aubrév. & Pellegr.
  • Gambeya lungi Aubrév. & Pellegr.
  • Gambeya muerensis Liben
  • Gambeya taiensis Aubrév. & Pellegr.
  • Jacquinia arborea Vahl
  • Martiusella imperialis
  • Micropholis rugosa Pierre
  • Palaquium philippense C.B.Rob.
  • Pouteria alnifolia Roberty
  • Pouteria gardneri Baehni
  • Pouteria macrophylla Eyma
  • Pouteria reticulata Eyma
  • Pradosia brevipes T.D.Penn.
  • Pradosia lactescens Radlk.
  • Prieurella colombiana
  • Prieurella cuneifolia
  • Prieurella manaosensis
  • Prieurella prieurii
  • Prieurella wurdackii
  • Ragala bombycina
  • Ragala sanguinolenta
  • Ragala scalaris
  • ''Ragala ucuquirana-branca''