Star apple

Apple star leaves

Star apple is native to tropical America, but nowadays grown in many tropical countries.

Fruits of the star apple are eaten fresh. The round fruits are usually 6 or 7 cm in diameter. The color is purple or green and inside is very sweet whitish flesh. If you cut the fruit in halves it looks like a star.

Star apples are beautiful trees. The leaves are evergreen and their underside has a golden color.

Names

Scientific
   Chrysophyllum cainito
Synonym
   Achras cainito
English
   Apple star
   Cainito
   Goldenleaf tree
   Star apple
Dutch
   Cainito
   Sterappel
Spanish
   Caimito
French
   Caïnite
   Caïnitier
   Pomme de lait
German
   Sternapfel
   Sternapfelbaum
Italian
   Cainetta

Taxonomy

Genus
   Chrysophyllum
Family
   Sapotaceae
Order
   Ericales

Basic information and facts

Origin:

Lowlands of Central America and the West Indies

Distribution:

Evergreen or deciduous:

Evergreen

Flowers:

Leaves:

The underside of the leaves has a golden color.

Fruits:

The round purple skinned fruits have the size of a baseball.
When cut the fruits show a core that looks like a star. The
fruit contains a soft and sweet pulp. Embedded in the pulp are
some flattened hard seeds.

Climate and weather:

Tropical and near tropical climates

Height:

10 – 20 meter

Propagation:

Propagated from seed

Insect pests:

Diseases:

Harvesting:

Proverbs and Quotes

Li chich kou kayimit (He/she is cheap like a kayimit). This is a Haitian proverb used when talking about somebody who is considered “cheap” or “stingy”, because the star apple would rather stay on the tree and dry up than falling and be eaten.

Crop categories

Fruits
Food crops
Tropical crops

Pictures