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Utilization: Seed eaten fresh, cooked. Flavor good. Limited potential because kernel difficult to ex-tract. Used more as ornamental tree than as food crop. Reference: Burkill 1935. Terminalia edulis Blanco Common name: dalison (English). Origin: Southeast Asia, Philippines. Distribution: Southeast Asia, Philippines, Hawaii. Cultural requirements: Tropical lowlands. Description: Tree to 35 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit 5 cm long; external color red. Utilization: Pulp eaten as preserves. Flavor sour. Little potential. Reference: Brown 1920. Terminalia kaernbachii Warb. Common name: okari nut (English). Origin: Papua New Guinea. Distribution: Southeast Asia, Hawaii. Cultural requirements: Tropical lowlands. Description: Large tree. Propagation by seed. Fruit 10 cm long; external color rose, internal white. Utilization: Seed eaten fresh, roasted. Flavor good; high appeal. Good source of protein. Good poten-tial for wider cultivation. Needs wider trial. CycadaceaeCycas circinalis L.Common name: queen sago. Origin: Asia, Africa. Distribution: Pantropic. Cultural requirements: Hot tropics and subtropics. Tolerant of light frost. Description: Tree to 7 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit ovoid, 4-4.5 cm long, exterior color brown. Utilization: Seed leached with water to remove toxins, dried meal used as starchy food. Locally important as food crop. More important in many areas as ornamental plant. Reference: Burkill 1935. |
DilleniaceaeDillenia indica L. Common names: elephant apple (English); chalba (India). Origin: India. Distribution: Widely introduced into Tropics. Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands with medium to high rainfall. Description: Tree to 12 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit 12-15 cm in diameter, solitary; exterior color green. Utilization: Fleshy sepals used as flavoring in curries, jams. Flavor has low appeal outside of native area. Little potential as food crop. References: Burkill 1935. Kennard and Winters 1960. EbenaceaeDiospyros discolor Willd.Common names: velvet apple, butter fruit (English); mabolo (Philippines). Origin: Philippines. Distribution: Introduced widely into Tropics but not common. Cultural requirements: Hot, humid tropical lowlands. Description: Tree to 10 m. Propagation mostly by seed; can be grafted. Flowers March-May (Florida). Dioecious, occasionally monoecious. Seedless selections known. Fruit matures in 150-180 days. Fruit ovoid, 6-10 cm in diameter, solitary; external color purplish red to orange, internal white to yellowish. Utilization: Pulp of fruit eaten fresh, preserved. Flavor sweet, aromatic; moderate appeal. Fair potential for wide cultivation. References: Popenoe 1939, Ruehle et al. 1958. Diospyros ebenaster Retz. (= D. digyna Jacq.) Common names: black sapote (English); zapote negro, zapote de mico (Spanish); barbacoa, bois d'ébène, sapote noir (French); ebano (Portuguese). Origin: Mexico, Central America. Distribution: Introduced elsewhere into Tropics but not common. Cultural requirements: Hot tropical climate, low to middle elevations, relatively high rainfall. Well adapted to calcareous soils. Description: Tree to 15 m. Propagation by seed, grafting. Fruit production in 5-6 years from seed, 2-3 years from grafts. Flowers March-May (Flor-ida). Fruit mature in 200-300 days. Fruit ovate, 7-12 cm in diameter, solitary; external color green to brown, internal brown to black. |
© MMIV - Volume 1 Number 4 Whole Number 4 Tropical Visions August 2004