Family: Sapotaceae
Pouteria macrophylla is a small to medium forest tree native to non-flooded lowland forests and secondary forests of Surinam and French Guiana, Amazonian and coastal Brazil, to Amazonian Peru and Bolivia. The edible fruits are consumed fresh by both people and animals, and the seeds are dispersed by monkeys in the tree’s native range. The fruits and seeds may be too large for many of the potential dispersers that occur in the Hawaiian Islands. It is not reported to be naturalized or invasive anywhere in the world, although records of cultivation outside its native range are limited.
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives and could spread in regions with tropical climates
- Potentially allelopathic
- Shade tolerant (could potentially invade intact forest).
- Reproduces by seeds.
- Seeds dispersed by fruit-eating animals, and through intentional cultivation.
- Larger trees capable of prolific fruit and seed production.
Low Risk Traits:
- No reports of naturalization or invasiveness, but there are limited reports of cultivation outside its native range.
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs).
- Non-toxic
- Reaches maturity in 7-10 years.
- Relatively large fruit and seeds may limit the risk of long-distance or accidental dispersal.
- Seeds reported to lose viability quickly (unlikely to form a persistent seed bank).
