A tropical fruit tree native to the southern regions of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The fruit, seeds, stem bark, and leaves of the tree are known to be rich in phytochemicals such as alkaloids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, steroids, and glycosides. These compounds contribute to the plant's medicinal attributes​. Commercial cultivation is particularly extensive in coastal India and Mexico. It's also a source of chicle, a natural gum traditionally used as a base for chewing gum. In Colombia it is called Níspero, the fruit is eaten raw and is astringent if not eaten ripe. It is also made into a juice using milk.