Casimiroa edulis (White sapote, Mexican apple)

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Rosids > Eurosid II > Order: Sapindales > Family: Rutaceae

A small tree native to Mexico and Central America. It is cultivated for the green to yellowish coloured fruit, which are eaten fresh or used in fruit salads, preserves, sauces, etc. It is is able to grow in areas with cold and drought and a number of cultivars have been developed. Nutritionally, fruit have reasonable levels of Vitamin C (30 mg per 100 g), niacin, calcium and phosphorus. In Mexico, an extract of the seeds is used as a sedative and seeds are said to reduce blood pressure and have sleep-inducing effects.

Publications

• van Wyk, B.-E. 2005. Food Plants of the World - Identification, Culinary Uses and Nutritional Value. Briza, Pretoria.