An evergreen, upright to spreading tree, 5—20(—30)m tall, all parts rich in white gummy latex; trunk low-branched, bark rough, dark-brown, crown globose or pyramidal. Leaves alternate, ovate-elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, 3.5—15 cm x 1.5—7 cm, cuneate or obtusely acuminate at both ends, frequently emarginate, entire, glabrescent, glossy dark green, midrib prominent below, lateral nerves numerous, parallel; petiole 1—3.5 cm long. Flowers solitary in upper leaf axils, usually pendulous, up to 1.5 cm in diameter, brown-hairy outside; pedicel 1—2 cm long; calyx deeply 6-parted, usually in two whorls, densely grey or brown tomentose outside; corolla white, campanulate, 6 lobes about half as long as the tube; staminodes 6, petaloid; stamens 6; ovary 10—12-celled, villous; style subulate, exserted from the flower. Fruit a pendulous berry, globose, ovoid or ellipsoid, 3—8 cm x 3—6 cm, rounded or impressed at base, apex rounded and crowned by the remnants of the style; skin thin, dull reddish to yellow-brown, covered with a sandy brown scurf; flesh juicy, soft, yellow to red-brown, sweet. Seeds 0—6(—12), oblong, 2 cm long, brown or black, compressed laterally, hilum distinct.

Febrifuge (tea of bark); diuretic (crushed seeds); sedative and soporific (fluid extract of the crushed seeds).

Center for New Crops & Plant Products, at Purdue University
AgroForestryTree Database

Young fruits are boiled and the decoction taken to stop diarrhea. An infusion of the young fruits and the flowers is drunk to relieve pulmonary complaints. A decoction of old, yellowed leaves is drunk as a remedy for coughs, colds and diarrhea. A tea of bark to halt diarrhea and dysentery. Crushed seeds are useful to expel bladder and kidney stones. A combined decoction of sapodilla and chayote leaves is sweetened and taken daily to lower blood pressure. A paste of the seeds is applied on stings and bites from venomous animals.