balata tree

noun

Meaning

A tropical evergreen tree native to South America and the Caribbean, valued for its dense, heavy wood and its latex-like sap known as balata.

Examples

  • The balata tree grows slowly in the dense canopy of the rainforest.
  • Indigenous communities have traditionally harvested the sap of the balata tree for various tools.

Synonyms: bulletwood, Manilkara bidentata