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Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics


Chapter 2 Major Fruits


Baccaurea dulcis Muell. Arg.
Common names: rambai, chupa, kapundung (Malaya).

Origin: Malay Peninsula, Indonesia.

Distribution: Southeast Asia.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands.
 
Description: Tree, moderate size. Propagation by seed. Fruit in small clusters.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, stewed. Cultivated in native area but little potential for expansion.
 
Reference: Burkill 1935.


Baccaurea grifithii Hook. f.
Common names: larah, taban, rambai utan (Malaya).
 
Origin: Malay Peninsula.

Distribution: Malay Peninsula.

Cultural requirements: Hot, humid tropical lowlands.

Description: Medium tree. Propagation by seed. Dio-ecious. Fruit matures July and December. Fruit spherical, 2.5-6 cm in diameter, in clusters of 3-5; external color brownish, internal white.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, stewed. Flavor sweet to subacid. Good potential as food crop if selection done for improved varieties.

Reference: Molesworth Allen 1967.


Baccaurea motleyana Muell. Arg.
Common names: rambai (English); rambai, rambeh (Malaya).

Origin: Southeast Asia.

Distribution: Southeast Asia.

Cultural requirements: Hot, humid tropical lowlands.

Description: Tree to 20 m. Propagation by seed, grafting. Dioecious. Fruit ovoid, 2.5-4.5 cm long, in small clusters; external color brownish yellow, internal whitish.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, stewed, preserved. Flavor sweet. Good potential for expanded cultivation.

References: Burkill 1935, Molesworth Allen 1967.


Elateriospermum tapos Blume
Common names: tapos, kedui (Indonesia).

Origin: Southeast Asia.

Distribution: Southeast Asia.

Cultural requirements: Hot, humid Tropics.

Description: Large tree. Propagation by seed. Seed 5 cm long.

Utilization: Seeds eaten after roasting or boiling to remove toxins. Sometimes pickled. Little potential as cultivated crop.

Reference: Burkill 1935.

Phyllanthus acidus L.
Common names: Otaheite gooseberry (English); grosella (Spanish); chermai (Malaya).
 
Origin: India, Madagascar.

Distribution: Pantropic.

Cultural requirements: Hot, humid tropical lowlands. Tolerant of a variety of soils, seasonal dry period.

Description: Tree to 6 m. Propagation by seed, cuttings. Flowers February-April (Florida). Usually monoecious. Fruit matures in 90-100 days. Fruit oblate, conspicuously ribbed, 2-2.5 cm in diameter; exterior color yellow.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, stewed, preserved. Flavor very sour, refreshing. Locally important but little potential for widespread cultivation.

References: Molesworth Allen 1967, Ruehle et al. 1958.


Phyllanthus emblica Skeels
Common names: emblic (English); melaka (Malaya).

Origin: Tropical Asia.

Distribution: Tropical Asia; introduced elsewhere but rare.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands. Toler-ant of dry conditions.

Description: Tree to 20 m. Propagation by seed, cut-tings, layering, grafting. Flowers June-July (Florida). Monoecious, occasionally dioecious. Fruit spherical, 2.5-5 cm in diameter, solitary; external color greenish yellow or red, internal yellowish.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, stewed, preserved. Flavor very sour, sometimes bitter; little appeal. Very rich in vitamin C. Limited potential for devel-opment as food crop.

References: Molesworth Allen 1967, Morton 1955.


Flacourtiaceae

Dovyalis abyssinica Warb.
Common names: African dove plum (English); mukambura (Kenya).

Origin: Ethiopia, Kenya.

Distribution: Some introduction elsewhere but relatively rare.

Cultural requirements: Adapted to hot, dry tropical climate but tolerant of higher rainfall. Grows poorly in calcareous soil.

Description: Shrub or tree to 10 m. Propagation by seed, cuttings. Dioecious. Fruit ovoid, 2.5 cm in diameter; external color light orange, internal yellow.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, stewed, preserved. Flavor sour to subacid; limited appeal. Little potential for wider cultivation.

References: Eggeling 1940, Ruehle et al. 1958.




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© MMIV - Volume 1 Number 4 Whole Number 4 Tropical Visions August 2004

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