Use of red maple in landscape plantings is gaining favor; how-
ever, best results will be obtained if planted in moist soils. Best land-
scape uses are as framing, shade, specimen or street trees and in
coastal plantings. Insects and disease pests are not a problem with
this maple in Florida.

 Achras zapota. Sapotaceae. Sapodilla or Chewing Gum Tree.
Southern area. Evergreen. Central America.
 Sapodilla grows to 60 feet, has a well-rounded, dense, evergreen
crown with simple, stiff, glossy dark-green obovate leaves up to 5
inches long appearing in rosette-clusters. Flowers are small-1/-inch
across cream-colored and solitary in leaf axils. A round to oval
edible fruit, 2 to 4 inches in diameter with a brown sandy surface,
matures throughout the year and contains a sweet, juicy brownish
pulp (Fig. 3). Sapodilla is frequently called "chewing gum tree" since
its resinous milky latex is the source of chicle used in manufacture
of chewing gum.
 Many sapodilla trees can be found in landscape plantings in
southern Florida. Qualities that make this tree valuable for orna-
mental plantings include salt spray tolerance, resistance to hurricane
winds and freedom from pests and diseases. Sapodilla serves best
as a shade or street tree and is suggested for seaside use. When
used as street trees they should be planted 30 to 40 feet apart.

 Fig. 3.-Leaves and fruit of the Sapodilla, Achras zapota.


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