Lavulu (Pouteria campechiana (Kunth) Baehni), an underutilized but economically important fruit
tree species of the family Sapotaceae, is native to the Central American region. In Sri Lanka and
other south Asian countries, the species is grown in homegardens. The ripe Lavulu is
consumed as a dessert fruit. A number of processed food items, such as dessert, jam, marmalade,
pancakes and flour are made from the ripe fruit. As a fairly slow-growing, long-lived
species, Lavulu is also valued as an ornamental tree and used in tropical landscapes due to its
compact crown and glossy leaves (Plate 16.1). The high nutritional value of the fruit may attract
more interest and promote its wider cultivation in the future.