Dilleniidae: Ebenales. The Sapotaceae are trees or shrubs with milky sap comprising about 70 genera and 800 species that are often further characterized by the presence of reddish-brown hairs on the leaf undersides and other plant surfaces. The leaves are simple, coriaceous, alternate or rarely opposite, usually entire, with or without stipules. The flowers are bisexual and actinomorphic. The calyx consists of 4-12 imbricate, biseriate or spirally disposed sepals that are usually basally connate. The corolla is gamopetalous and generally has 4-12 imbricated lobes that sometimes are appendaged. The androecium is adnate to the corolla and usually consists of an inner whorl of fertile stamens equal in number and opposite to the corolla lobes, and often 1 or 2 additional whorls that are frequently reduced to staminodes or are obsolete. The gynoecium comprises a single compound pistil, a single style, and a superior ovary typically with 4 or 5 locules but sometimes fewer or up to 14, each with a single axile ovule. The fruit is a berry.
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