Family: Sapotaceae (Mahua family)
Chikoo is a fairly slow-growing, long-lived tree, upright and elegant. It grows up to to 18 m high in the open but reaching 30 m when crowded in a forest. It is strong and wind-resistant. Its leaves are highly ornamental, evergreen and glossy. The fruit may be nearly round, oblate or oval. When immature it is hard, gummy and very astringent. Though smooth-skinned it is coated with a sandy brown scurf until fully ripe. Some fruits are seedless, but normally there may be from 3 to 12 seeds which are easily removed as they are loosely held in a whorl of slots in the center of the fruit.