Description: An evergreen tree with dense foliage, glossy leaves and small, strongly fragrant cream-coloured flowers.

Identification: Dense rounded crown; glossy simple leaves; fragrant star-like flowers; small oval fruits.

Habitat & distribution: Tropical Asia; commonly cultivated in gardens, avenues and temple landscapes.

Uses / importance: Ornamental, fragrant-flowering and traditionally important medicinal tree. Fruits are edible when mature.

Taxonomy:
Kingdom – Plantae
Clade – Angiosperms
Clade – Eudicots
Order – Ericales
Family – Sapotaceae
Genus – Mimusops
Species – M. elengi

Sources: Kew POWO; IPNI; India Biodiversity Portal.