Manilkara bidentata aka Bulletwood

Manilkara bidentata is a large evergreen tree in the Sapotaceae family. Its common names include balata, bulletwood, and bully tree. It comes from tropical America, including Panama and the Caribbean. Its range also covers northern South America and parts of Brazil. It grows in moist coastal woods and forests on limestone. It also reaches lower mountain forests, up to 1,969 feet [600 metres].

Garden references give a height of about 98 feet [30 metres]. They list a spread of 82 feet [25 metres]. Forest trees can reach 148 feet [45 metres]. The dense crown has branches that spread out sideways. Broad, rounded buttresses support the base of the trunk. Large trunks may lack branches for 59 feet [18 metres]. Leaves grow in an alternate pattern and have an oval shape. Their upper sides are glossy green, with pale brown undersides.

Small white or yellow flowers appear as the rainy season starts. The yellow fruits are round berries, about an inch across. Each fruit holds one or two seeds within sweet, sticky flesh. The seeds are shiny and black. People eat the fruit raw. Sources list no known hazards for this species. That does not establish that all parts are safe to eat. Claims about drinking sap from related species do not establish this tree's safety.

Balata suits warm, moist to wet tropical and subtropical sites. It cannot cope with frost. PFAF places it in USDA zones 10–12. Growth is slow, though sun helps it grow faster. The tree also tolerates deep shade and strong winds. It accepts loam and clay but dislikes pure sand. Moist soil with good drainage suits it best. It grows in mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline soil. Fresh seed loses viability fast and can germinate over a long period.

People grow balata for shade, timber, and its milky latex. The latex supplies balata gum, a firm rubber-like material. Some tapped trees have supplied latex for over 25 years. People shape the dried material into small craft items. The wood also serves for furniture. Traditional medicine uses the bark, leaves, and stem latex. These records describe folk use, not proof of safe treatment.