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In this article we will discuss about Sapotaceae:- 1. Characters of Sapotaceae 2. Distribution of Sapotaceae 3. Economic Importance.
Characters of Sapotaceae:
Trees and shrubs with laticiferous vessels; Leaves, flowers and fruits often clothed with hairs; flower hermaphrodite, hypogynous, actinomorphic; sepals 2-8 in two isomerous whorls or 5 in one whorl; pelals 4-8 gamopetalous in one whorl, rarely double the sepals in two whorls; stamens epipetalous in 2-3 whorls, the outer antisepalous whorl reduced to staminodes or absent; carpels many, syncarpous; ovary superior, completely separated, many chambered, axile placentation.
A. Vegetative characters:
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Habit:
Trees or shrubs with laticiferous milky sap.
Root:
Tap, branched.
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Stem:
Erect, woody, branched.
Leaf:
Simple, alternate or opposite usually entire, coriaccous, sometimes stipulate, hairy leathery.
B. Floral characters:
Inflorescence:
Solitary or in cymose clustes in the leaf axils or on old stems.
Flower:
Actinomorphic, hermaphrodite, hypogynous, hairy bracteolate.
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Calyx:
Sepals 4-8, in two isomerous whorls or 5 in one whorl, free or slightly united at the base, imbricate persistent.
Corolla:
Petals 4-8, more or less united, in one whorl or more rarely double the number of sepals in two whorls, united in semi-funnel shaped rotate or lenceolate corolla, corolla lobes imbricate or contorted in bud, rarely petals with dorsal appendages which resemble corolla lobes.
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Androecium:
Stamens 4-5, sometimes more, in 2 or 3 whorls of 4-5 each but usually only the inner whorl fertile, epipetalous, the outer whorl of steames reduced to staminodes; another bithecous, introrse dehiscing longitudinally.
Gynoecium:
Carpels number is double that of stamens, syncarpous, superior ovary; with as many chambers as carpels, axile placentation, style simple; stigma inconspicuous and sticky ovule anatropous, integument one.
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Fruit:
Berry inner pulp lacticiferous.
Seed:
Seeds few or one testa hard, shiny, endosperm oily.
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Pollination:
Entomophilous.
Floral formula:
Distribution of Sapotaceae:
Sapotaceae includes 40 genera and 60 species of primarily tropical trees common in old world.
Economic Importance of Sapotaceae:
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1. Food:
Several species of Achras sapota (H. Chiku), Manilkara kauki (H. Khirini), Manilkara hexandra, Mimusops elengi (V. Maulsari), Bassia longifolia yield juicy edible fruits. (Note: the nomenclature of these species is unsettled and authorities on the family are not in accord to the identify or names to be used).
2. Oil:
The seeds of Madhuca butyracca produce the vegetable butter called “phulwa” used as cold cream, lip salve leminant and as substitute for ghee and for soap-making.
The latex of Manilkara achras yeilds ‘chickle’ used for making chewing gum.
An aromatic oil is obtained from the flowers of Mimusops elengi and is used in manufacture of perfumes.
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3. Gutta percha:
It is obtained from latex of Mimusops, Palaquium gutta and Payena species.
4. Medicinal:
The bark of Bassia longifolia and Mimusops elengi is used in decoction as astringent and emollient and also as a cure for itches.
5. Timber:
The wood of Sideroxylon, Chrysophyllum and Bassia afford hard and useful timber.
Common plants of the family:
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1. Dichopsis pentaphylla:
lndian butter tree.
2. Madhuca butyracea:
Mohwa tree.
3. Palaquiu gutta:
Common tree in Malaya and South India.
4. Mimusops elengi:
Bulbet-wood tree or the Indian medlar tree. Molsari.
5. Bassia:
Large handsome tree.
Division of the family and chief genera (After Engler):
Tribe I. Plaquieae:
Lobes of corolla with appendages e.g., Achras, Madhuca, Plaquium etc.
Tribe II. Mimusopeae:
Lobes of corolla with appendages, e.g., Mimusops (Manilkara) and Northea.
