(species Pouteria sapota), plant of the sapodilla family (Sapotaceae), native to Central America but cultivated as far north as the southeastern United States. It grows to about 23 metres (75 feet) tall, bears small, pinkish white flowers, and has hard, durable, reddish wood. The edible fruit is rusty brown, rather spherical, and about 5–10 cm (2–4 inches) in diameter. The reddish flesh is spicy in flavour.