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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Chrysophyllum cainito''
| image = Chrusophyllum cainito.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Chrysophyllum cainito'' fruit
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ericales]]
| familia = [[Sapotaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Chrysophyllum]]''
| species = '''''C. cainito'''''
| binomial = ''Chrysophyllum cainito''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
'''''Chrysophyllum cainito''''' is a tropical tree of the family [[Sapotaceae]], native to the lowlands of [[Central America]] and the [[West Indies]]. It grows rapidly and reaches 20 m in height.
It has numerous common names including '''cainito''', '''caimito''', '''star apple''', '''golden leaf tree''', '''abiaba''', '''pomme de lait''', '''estrella''', and '''aguay'''. It is also known by the [[synonymy|synonym]] ''Achras caimito''.
[[Image:Chrysophyllum cainito0.jpg|left|thumb|Cainito fruit cut in half]]
The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[evergreen]], alternate, simple oval, entire, 5-15 cm long; the underside shines with a golden color when seen from a distance. The tiny [[flower]]s are purplish white and have a sweet fragrant smell. The tree is also hermaphroditic (self-fertile).
It has round, purple-skinned [[fruit]] that is often green around the calyx, with a star pattern in the pulp. Sometimes there is a greenish-white variety of the fruit. The skin is rich in latex, and both it and the rind are not edible. The flattened [[seed]]s are light brown and hard. It bears fruit year around after it reaches about seven years of age.
The fruits are delicious as a fresh dessert fruit; it is sweet and best served chilled. The flattened seeds are light brown and hard. Infusions of the leaves have been used against [[diabetes]] and articular [[rheumatism]]. The bark is considered a tonic and stimulant, and a bark decoction is used as an antitussive. The fruit also exist in two colors, dark purple and greenish brown. The purple fruit has a more dense skin and texture while the greenish brown fruit has a thin skin and a more liquid pulp.
==In Literature==
The [[Nobel Prize]]-winning poet [[Derek Walcott]] immortalizes the fruit as a symbol of the [[Caribbean]] itself in his 1979 collection, ''The Star-Apple Kingdom''.
==External links==
* [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/star_apple.html Dept. of Horticulture Purdue University]
* [http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/ipgri/fruits_from_americas/frutales/Ficha%20Chrysophyllum%20cainito.htm Fruits From America: ''Chrysophyllum cainito'']
* [http://www.quisqualis.com/09strapjoy.html Quisqualis Site Entry for C. cainito]
[[Category:Sapotaceae]]
[[Category:Trees of the Caribbean]]
[[Category:Trees of Central America]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Chrysophyllum cainito''
| image = Chrusophyllum cainito.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Chrysophyllum cainito'' fruit
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ericales]]
| familia = [[Sapotaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Chrysophyllum]]''
| species = '''''C. cainito'''''
| binomial = ''Chrysophyllum cainito''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
'''''Chrysophyllum cainito''''' is a tropical tree of the family [[Sapotaceae]], native to the lowlands of [[Central America]] and the [[West Indies]]. It grows rapidly and reaches 20 m in height.
It has numerous common names including '''cainito''', '''caimito''', '''star apple''', '''golden leaf tree''', '''abiaba''', '''pomme de lait''', '''estrella''', and '''aguay'''. It is also known by the [[synonymy|synonym]] ''Achras caimito''.
[[Image:Chrysophyllum cainito0.jpg|left|thumb|Cainito fruit cut in half]]
The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[evergreen]], alternate, simple oval, entire, 5-15 cm long; the underside shines with a golden color when seen from a distance. The tiny [[flower]]s are purplish white and have a sweet fragrant smell. The tree is also hermaphroditic (self-fertile).
It has round, purple-skinned [[fruit]] that is often green around the calyx, with a star pattern in the pulp. Sometimes there is a greenish-white variety of the fruit. The skin is rich in latex, and both it and the rind are not edible. The flattened [[seed]]s are light brown and hard. It bears fruit year around after it reaches about seven years of age.
The fruits are delicious as a fresh dessert fruit; it is sweet and best served chilled. The flattened seeds are light brown and hard. Infusions of the leaves have been used against [[diabetes]] and articular [[rheumatism]]. The bark is considered a tonic and stimulant, and a bark decoction is used as an antitussive. The fruit also exist in two colors, dark purple and greenish brown. The purple fruit has a more dense skin and texture while the greenish brown fruit has a thin skin and a more liquid pulp.
==In Literature==
The [[Nobel Prize]]-winning poet [[Derek Walcott]] immortalizes the fruit as a symbol of the [[Caribbean]] itself in his 1979 collection, ''The Star-Apple Kingdom''.
==External links==
* [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/star_apple.html Dept. of Horticulture Purdue University]
* [http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/ipgri/fruits_from_americas/frutales/Ficha%20Chrysophyllum%20cainito.htm Fruits From America: ''Chrysophyllum cainito'']
* [http://www.quisqualis.com/09strapjoy.html Quisqualis Site Entry for C. cainito]
[[Category:Sapotaceae]]
[[Category:Trees of the Caribbean]]
[[Category:Trees of Central America]]