Shrubs or trees. Leaves coriaceous, linear-oblong or obovate-oblanceolate, base cuneate-rounded, exstipulate; venation reticulate. Inflorescence axillary, fascicled. Flowers bisexual, sessile or pedicellate. Calyx 5 (-6)-lobed, lobes imbricate, entire, usually glabrous within. Corolla (4-) 5-11-lobed, tube as long as the lobes or shorter. Stamens (4-) 5-10; staminodes absent. Ovary vinous or glabrous, 1-10-celled, each locule 1-ovuled. Fruit a berry, fleshy, pericarp thick or very thin, 1-8-seeded; scar narrow or broad.

A genus of 23 species, distributed in tropical and subtropical America, tropical West Africa. 1 species is distributed in Asia, 3 in Australia, 3 in New Guinea and 16 in New Caledonia. Represented by 1 cultivated species in Pakistan.

The generic limits of this genus have varied considerably in respective publications (Baehni, Candollea 7:429. 1938) but recent authors like Hemsley, l.c. agree that Chrysophyllum is, characterized by 5-merous flowers without staminodes.

Lower Taxon

• Chrysophyllum cainito L.