Tropical Plant Database - Plant Details

Pouteria campechiana is an erect tree growing about 25 ft (8 m) tall although in favorable conditions could reach 90 to 100 ft (27-30 m) in height. The trunk has brown, wrinkled bark and abundant white, gummy latex. The evergreen leaves are lanceolate or obovate, thin and glossy. The young branches are velvety brown. Canistel produces bisexual flowers, solitary or in small bunches. They are cream in color with silky hair and fragrant. Canistel fruit is very variable in form and size, round, with or without a pointed beak, oval or ovoid. Unripe fruit is green, hard and gummy. As it ripens, the skin turns lemon-yellow, golden-yellow or pale orange-yellow and becomes smooth and glossy. The flesh is yellow with a pasty texture similar to the texture of a hard-boiled egg, hence the name Egg Fruit. It is sweet tasting with a flavor comparable with that of baked sweet potato. Inside there are 1 to 4 hard seeds, glossy and chestnut-brown in color.
(Morton, J. 1987. Fruits of Warm Climates.)

In Mexico, the astringent decoction of the bark is used as a febrifuge, while in Cuba is applied on skin problems. A preparation of the seeds is used to treat ulcers.
(Morton, J. 1987. Fruits of Warm Climates.)

Canistel timber is fine-grained, compact and strong and is valued for boards and beams in construction.
(Morton, J. 1987. Fruits of Warm Climates.)

(Information for this species compiled and recorded by Camelia Cirnaru, NTBG Consultant.)

Canistel occurs wild only in southern Mexico (including Yucatan), Belize, Guatemala and El Salvador. It is cultivated in these countries and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Cuba, the Bahamas, southern Florida and the Florida Keys.
(Morton, J. 1987. Fruits of Warm Climates.)

Canistel fruit can be enjoyed with salt, pepper and lime or lemon juice or mayonnaise, either fresh or lightly baked. The pureed flesh may be used in custards pancakes, cupcakes, jam, and marmalade or added to ice cream.

Canistel fruit is rich in niacin and carotene (provitamin A). Laboratory analyses proved that the Canistel excels the Carambola (Averrhoa carambola) in every nutritional value except in moisture, fiber content and riboflavin.
(Morton, J. 1987. Fruits of Warm Climates.)

We currently have 11 herbarium specimens for Pouteria campechiana in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.

• 001886 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
• 001885 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
• 014990 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1992
• 034925 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2001
• 056318 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2007
• 014888 - collected by Tim Flynn in 2007
• S078710 - collected by Tim Flynn in 2007
• 068488 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2013
• 076594 - collected by Kelsey Brock in 2016
• S078711 - collected by Tim Flynn in 2019
• 080410 - collected by Tim Flynn in 2019