Family: Sapotaceae
Pouteria torta is a species of tree native to Central and South America. The type subspecies Pouteria torta subsp. torta is found largely in the Brazilian cerrado. It is a deciduous tree with an open globose crown that grows 6 – 18 meters tall. The edible fruit is small, egg-shaped with a green to brownish skin and soft, white pulp. It is capable of being dispersed by frugivorous animals, although 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).
- Tolerates many soil types.
- Reproduces by seeds.
- Fast growth rate (but time to maturity unknown).
- Seeds dispersed by fruit-eating animals, and through intentional cultivation.
- Tolerates and resprouts after fires in its native range.
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
- Self-sterile
- Not documented to spread vegetatively.
- Relatively large fruit and seeds may limit risk of long-distance or accidental dispersal.
- Limited seed production under natural pollination.
- Seeds reported to lose viability quickly (unlikely to form a persistent seed bank).
- Sensitive to glyphosate. Herbicides would likely be effective if control was necessary.
