Trees often narrow and densely leafy, to 15(–20) m. Leaves: petiole stout, 10–15 mm; blade dark green, elliptic to obovate-elliptic, 9–25 × 5–11 cm, base cuneate to rounded, apex obtuse to rounded or retuse, tertiary reticulation dense. Inflorescences 3+-flowered (staminate) or 1-flowered (pistillate or bisexual). Pedicels 5–15 mm. Flowers: sepals orbiculate-concave, 1–1.5 × 1–1.5 cm; petals 4–6, imbricate, white, orbiculate, 1.5–2.5 cm; filaments basally expanded; ovary pyriform. Berries brown, globose or subglobose, 10–15 cm diam.; mesocarp fleshy, soft when ripe; endocarp reddish brown, fibrous. Seeds to 7 × 5.5 cm.

Flowering summer–fall (May–Oct). Wetlands; 0–40 m; introduced; Fla.; Mexico; West Indies (Greater Antilles, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Trinidad); Central America.

Mammea americana is widely grown for fruit and occasionally naturalized in southern Florida (Miami-Dade County and keys).