Pouteria

Pouteria is a genus of flowering trees in the gutta-percha family, Sapotaceae. The genus is widespread throughout the tropical regions of the world. It includes the Canistel (P. campechiana), the Mamey Sapote (P. sapota) and the Lucuma (P. lucuma). Commonly, this genus is known as pouteria trees or, in some cases, eggfruits.

Pouteria is related to Manilkara, another genus that produces hard and heavy woods (e.g. Balatá, M. bidentata) much used in heavy or outdoors construction, as well as edible fruit (such as Sapodilla, M. zapota).

Uses

Many species, like Pouteria maclayana have edible fruits and are important foods seasonally. Some are being commercially collected and sold on local markets or packed in tin cans.

Pouteria species yield hard, heavy, resilient woods used as firewood, timber, but particularly in outdoor and naval construction, such as dock pilings, deckings, etc. Some species like abiu (P. caimito), are considered to be shipworm resistant; however, this depends on the silica content which may vary from 0-0.9%. The weight by volume (at 12% moisture content) of Pouteria wood can be in excess of 1140 kilograms per cubic metre (71 pounds per cubic feet); thus, the wood sinks in water. The wood of Pouteria species is prone to considerable movement and warping when it dries out. But in its main use, naval construction, this is not a problem, since the wood never gets really dry.