Ebenaceae

Native: Mexico and Central America

Systematic Position

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Streptophyta

Order: Ericales

Family: Ebenaceae

Common Names

English – Chocolate Pudding Fruit, Black Soapapple

Malayalam – കറുത്ത സപ്പോട്ട

Description: An evergreen tree grows up to 25m tall. Leathery leaves are about 10-30cm long and elliptic-oblong to lanceolate-shaped. Leaves are arranged alternately. Flowers are borne in the leaf axils in clustures and about 1-1.6cm in diameter. They are white in color. Fruit is a fleshy berry. 

Distribution:  Growing in most of the tropical countries.

Uses: Mature fruits are consumed fresh or made into ice cream and desserts. They are also used in drinks and liqueurs. Unripe fruits are astringent and nonedible. They are used as fish poison in some countries.