Micropholis | |
---|---|
Micropholis crassipedicellata | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Sapotaceae |
Subfamily: | Chrysophylloideae |
Genus: |
Micropholis ( Griseb.) Pierre |
Synonyms [1] [2] | |
|
Micropholis is genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae, described in 1891. [3] [1] [4]
These trees are native to tropical South America, Mesoamerica, and the West Indies. [2] Most are locally known as "cafetos", literally meaning " coffee plants". But while both Micropholis and the coffeeplant genus Coffea are asterids, the present genus is part of the Ericales – a quite basal asterid lineage –, while Coffea belongs to the more advanced Gentianales.
They are valued for their wood, which is used as timber, for construction and as firewood; many species are threatened by overexploitation and habitat destruction. Also, they are often used as part of catuaba, a decoction from various tree's bark claimed to have aphrodisiac and stimulant properties.
Caimitillo verde (M. garciniifolia) is an important food source of the nearly- extinct Puerto Rican amazon bird (Amazona vittata).
Micropholis | |
---|---|
Micropholis crassipedicellata | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Sapotaceae |
Subfamily: | Chrysophylloideae |
Genus: |
Micropholis ( Griseb.) Pierre |
Synonyms [1] [2] | |
|
Micropholis is genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae, described in 1891. [3] [1] [4]
These trees are native to tropical South America, Mesoamerica, and the West Indies. [2] Most are locally known as "cafetos", literally meaning " coffee plants". But while both Micropholis and the coffeeplant genus Coffea are asterids, the present genus is part of the Ericales – a quite basal asterid lineage –, while Coffea belongs to the more advanced Gentianales.
They are valued for their wood, which is used as timber, for construction and as firewood; many species are threatened by overexploitation and habitat destruction. Also, they are often used as part of catuaba, a decoction from various tree's bark claimed to have aphrodisiac and stimulant properties.
Caimitillo verde (M. garciniifolia) is an important food source of the nearly- extinct Puerto Rican amazon bird (Amazona vittata).