This tropical fruit tree is Hogplum, Spondias mombin. It belongs to the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, along with mango, cashew and pistachio. It is native from Mexico through the Caribbean and much of tropical Central and South America.

Hogplum can grow into a large tree with a tall trunk and a broad, open crown. Mature trees may provide considerable shade, although the branches can become irregular and spreading with age.

The leaves are compound, made up of several pointed leaflets arranged in opposite pairs along a central stalk, with a single leaflet at the tip. During a pronounced dry season, the tree may shed much of its foliage before producing fresh leaves and flowers.

The flowers are small, fragrant and usually white or cream-colored. They appear in large, loose, branching clusters. Each individual flower is modest, but together they attract bees, flies and other pollinating insects.

After flowering, the tree produces oval fruits that hang in clusters. They begin green and ripen to yellow or golden-orange. The thin skin surrounds soft, juicy pulp and a large, fibrous stone.

The ripe fruit has a strong aroma and a sweet-tart flavor that can vary considerably from tree to tree. Some fruits are pleasantly sharp, while others may taste more acidic or resinous.

Hogplums may be eaten fresh, but they are also used for juices, preserves, jellies, sauces and fermented drinks. Unripe fruits are sometimes prepared with salt, spices or pepper.

The common name may come from the fact that fallen fruits have traditionally been eaten by pigs and other livestock. The tree is also known regionally as Yellow Mombin, Spanish Plum and Jobo.

Birds, bats and mammals feed on the fruit and help disperse the seeds. Fallen fruit may also attract wildlife beneath the tree, making it an important seasonal food source.

The tree has a long history of traditional medicinal use, and its wood, bark and leaves have been used for various practical purposes. Those historical uses should not be treated as recommendations for self-medication, particularly because members of the cashew family may contain irritating compounds. Kew records the species as having food, medicinal, environmental and other human uses.

Hogplum is therefore both a useful fruit tree and an important part of the tropical ecosystem. Its tiny flowers may be easy to overlook, but they are followed by conspicuous clusters of golden fruit enjoyed by people and wildlife alike.

When the fruit begins to ripen, the best clues are often not only the yellow clusters in the branches, but also the rich aroma and the fallen fruit scattered beneath the crown.