Genus Manilkara
UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC
BI207- TROPICAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2012
Assignment 1 – Research Essay
Manilkara tree
Genus under study is the Manilkara tree from the family sapotaceae
Introduction
Manilkara is a genus of trees from the family Sapotaceae. Collectively known as manilkara trees and they occur throughout the tropics. Trees of this genus yield edible fruit, useful wood and latex. Manilkara trees are often significant or even dominant species in their native ecosystems. They are dominant in evergreen forests, tropical wet forests and also popular in the national parks. The best known species are M. bidentata (balata), M. chicle (Chicle), the M. zepota (sapodilla) and the M. hexandra (rayan) . The manilkara fruit are an important food item for various frugivores, in particular the birds. This particular essay will look in detail on the manilkara tree, focusing on its favorable climatic conditions, vegetative morphology and reproduction, the distribution and diversity in the tropics, as well as the special adaptations for tropics and for interactions with other organisms, the ethnobotany, which will focus on the human uses (traditional cultures and the modern commercial systems), it will also look on some significance and appropriate conservative status, and finally it will try and focus on other significant features regarding the plant genus.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: -Plantae
(Unranked): -Angiosperms
(Unranked): -Eudicots
(Unranked): -Asterids
Order: -Ericales
Family: -Sapotaceae
Subfamily: -Sapotoideae
Tribe: -Sapoteae
Genus: -Manilkara
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manilkara
Climatic condition
The manilkara tree can grow from sea level to 1,500 ft. (457m) in land, and it can vary for other environments, it depends on the environment at which it will grow. For instance in India it occurs up to 4, 000 ft. (1,220m), 3,937 ft. (1200 in) in Venezuela and in Ecuador at 9,186 ft. (2,800m)
BI207- TROPICAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2012
Assignment 1 – Research Essay
Manilkara tree
Genus under study is the Manilkara tree from the family sapotaceae
Introduction
Manilkara is a genus of trees from the family Sapotaceae. Collectively known as manilkara trees and they occur throughout the tropics. Trees of this genus yield edible fruit, useful wood and latex. Manilkara trees are often significant or even dominant species in their native ecosystems. They are dominant in evergreen forests, tropical wet forests and also popular in the national parks. The best known species are M. bidentata (balata), M. chicle (Chicle), the M. zepota (sapodilla) and the M. hexandra (rayan) . The manilkara fruit are an important food item for various frugivores, in particular the birds. This particular essay will look in detail on the manilkara tree, focusing on its favorable climatic conditions, vegetative morphology and reproduction, the distribution and diversity in the tropics, as well as the special adaptations for tropics and for interactions with other organisms, the ethnobotany, which will focus on the human uses (traditional cultures and the modern commercial systems), it will also look on some significance and appropriate conservative status, and finally it will try and focus on other significant features regarding the plant genus.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: -Plantae
(Unranked): -Angiosperms
(Unranked): -Eudicots
(Unranked): -Asterids
Order: -Ericales
Family: -Sapotaceae
Subfamily: -Sapotoideae
Tribe: -Sapoteae
Genus: -Manilkara
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manilkara
Climatic condition
The manilkara tree can grow from sea level to 1,500 ft. (457m) in land, and it can vary for other environments, it depends on the environment at which it will grow. For instance in India it occurs up to 4, 000 ft. (1,220m), 3,937 ft. (1200 in) in Venezuela and in Ecuador at 9,186 ft. (2,800m)
Bibliography: Avinoam Nerd, V. I. (1998, november 2). Economic Botany. Retrieved october 7, 2012, from Springerlink: http://www.springerlink.com/content/c620t236tl535357/ Flowering Fruit trees Manilkara. (2012, september 25). Retrieved october 7, 2012, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manilkara De groote, s Marshall, A. J. (2007). The ecology of the tropics. singapore: Periplus Editions. Morton, J. F. (1987, august 13). Manilkara tree. Retrieved october 7, 2012, from Climate out look (forestry division): http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/sapodilla.html#Climate Morton, J Mpeck, M. N., & Atangana, A. (2007). Rooting of the leafy stem cuttings of Baillonella toxisperma. Forest soils, 571-579. Royen, V. (2011, march 25). The Economic Botany of Manilkara zapota. Retrieved october 8, 2012, from 123 help me!.com: http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=38626