Chrysophyllum oliviforme L.

 
  • Family : SAPOTACEAE
    (Sapodilla Family)
  • Family (Hindi name) : CHIKOO FAMILY (चीकू फैमिली)
  • Family (as per The APG System IV) : Sapotaceae
  • Synonym(s) : Chrysophyllum oliviforme var. typicum Cronquist; Cynodendron oliviforme (L.) Baehni; Dactimala oliviformis (L.) Raf.; Guersentia oliviformis (L.) Raf.
  • Species Name (as per The IPNI) : Chrysophyllum oliviforme L.
  • Common name : Damson apple, Safrron tree
  • Habit : Shrub or Tree
  • Habitat : Cultivated, Mixed forests
  • Key identification features : Shrub or small tree, typically 3–5 meters tall; Twigs are slender, brown in color; Leaves simple, alternate, ovate, upper surface shiny dark green, lower surface light brown, 3-11cm in length, 2-5cm in width; Inflorescence in fascicles; Flowers small, creamy yellow, pentamerous; Calyx rusty brown sepal cup; 5 petals, 5 stamens; Fruit drupe-like fruit, dark purple when ripe.
  • Flower, Fruit : July-September
  • Distribution :
    • Tamil Nadu : Chennai district
    • Uttar Pradesh : Uttar Pradesh
  • Native : Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Florida, Haiti, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Southwest Caribbean, Turks-Caicos Islands, Windward Islands
  • Exotic/Native : Exotic
  • World Distribution : Mexico (San Luis Potosí, Chiapas), Florida to Caribbean
  • Literature :
    • Narasimhan, D. & Irwin, Sheeba. (2021). Flowering Plants of Tamil Nadu: A Compendium.
    • Rana, T. S., Agnihotri, P., & Prabhukumar, K. M. (2023). Plant Resources of Uttar Pradesh- A checklist. CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute.
  • Read more :
  • Permalink : https://indiatrees-ces.iisc.ac.in/plants.php?name=Chrysophyllum oliviforme
  • Citation : Sankara Rao, K., Deepak Kumar (2026). India Trees and Vegetation Types. Chrysophyllum oliviforme. Downloaded on 3 October 2026.

Distribution District wise

India Distribution

World Distribution

GBIF Distribution

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