Manilkara zapota, commonly known as the sapodilla (/ˌsæpəˈdɪlə/), is a long-lived, evergreen tree native to southern Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. An example natural occurrence is in coastal Yucatán in the Petenes mangroves ecoregion, where it is a subdominant plant species. It was introduced to the Philippines during Spanish colonization. It is grown in large quantities in India, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Mexico. The name "zapota" from the Spanish zapote [θaˈpote] ultimately derives from the Nahuatl word tzapotl.