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== Vernacular names ==
*Caimito, starapple (En). *Caimite, pomme surette (Fr)
*Indonesia: sawo ijo (Java), sawo hejo (Sunda), sawo kadu (Bantam)
*Malaysia: sawu duren, pepulut
*Philippines: caimito. *Singapore: chicle durian
*Thailand: sataa appoen (Bangkok).
== Description ==
*An evergreen tree, conforming to Troll's architectural model, up to 30 m tall, with white gummy latex. Branchlets numerous, plagiotropic, brown hairy, glabrescent; the upright basal parts of successive leading branches align to form the trunk. *Leaves alternate, spreading, oblong to obovate, 5-16 cm × 3-6 cm, leathery, reddish ferruginous-sericeous on both sides, quickly glabrescent above, almost parallel secondary nerves very characteristic; petioles 0.6-1.7 cm long. *Inflorescences axillary on current season's shoots, with 5-35 clustered, small, yellowish to purplish-white flowers; sepals 5, circular to ovate; corolla tubular, ca. 4 mm long, lobes 5, ovate; stamens 5; stigma 7-11-lobed. *Fruit an obovoid-globose berry, 5-10 cm in diameter, purplish-brown or yellowish-green; skin thin, glossy, glabrous, leathery; flesh purple or white, 3-12 mm thick, soft and juicy, surrounding the 4-11-celled endocarp, which is star-like when cut transversely. *Seeds 3-10, flattened obovoid, about 2 cm × 1 cm × 0.5 cm, purplish-black, with chartaceous testa and a large lighter-coloured hilum.
== Growth and development ==
== Other botanical information ==
The large genus ''Chrysophyllum'' L. is mainly native to tropical America, with only about 6 native South-East Asian species. ''C. oliviforme'' L. (Philippines: caimitillo) from tropical America has also been introduced in South-East Asia, but it is not as popular as ''C. cainito'' . The fruit is black, about 2 cm × 1 cm, with one large seed.
In ''C. cainito'' there is a clear distinction between trees with purplish and those with greenish fruits. Considerable diversity in green-fruited forms is found in Guatemala. A few cultivars have been named, including "Grimal", "Haitian", "New Combe" and "Weeping" introduced to Florida and Queensland; and "Lunti" and "Lila", both in the Philippines.
== Literature ==
* Galang, F.G., 1955. Fruit and nut growing in the Philippines. AIA Printing Press, Malabon, Rizal, the Philippines. pp. 392-393.
* Morton, J.F., 1987. Fruits of warm climates. Creative Resources Systems, Winterville, N.C. pp. 408-410.
* Sastrapradja, S., Sutisna, U., Panggabean, G., Mogea, J.P., Sukardjo, S. & Sunarto, A.T., 1980. Fruits. Projek Penelitian Potensi Sumber Daya Ekonomi - LIPI Publication Series No SDE-41. pp. 36-37.
== Authors ==