Wild Dilly
Manilkara jaimiqui
Plant Family: Sapotaceae
Leaves: Alternate, simple, stiff, oblong to elliptic, to 10 cm, top surface dull green, bottom surface with reddish-brown hairs; apices rounded or notched; broken leaves reveal a milky sap. The leaves cluster at the twig ends.
Bark: Dark gray, blocky on older trees.
Flowers: Small, yellow, with 6 petals, on stalks clustered in the leaf axils; spring to summer, sometimes at other times of the year.
Fruit: A light brown rounded berry, to 4 cm in diameter; typically summer to fall.
Habitat: The edges of coastal hammocks, more common on the Keys; salt tolerant.
Growth Form: Small tree.
Similar Species: Wild Dilly is related to Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) and the leaves are similar; but Sapodilla has larger fruits.
Comments: Other current references call this species Manilkara bahamensis. Wild Dilly is listed as a threatened species in Florida.
