Tropical Visions Cover
Tropical Visions Contents


Back a Page
Turn Page
Next Article



Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics


Chapter 2 Major Fruits


D. abyssinica x D. hebecarpa   
Common name: hybrid dovyalis.

Origin: U.S.A. (Florida).

Distribution: Introduced into many tropical and sub-tropical areas.

Cultural requirements: Tropical or subtropical cli-mate. Tolerant of a great range of soil, tempera-ture, rainfall conditions,

Description: Shrub to 7 m. Propagation by seed, cut-tings, layering. Fruit production in 4-5 years from seed, 2 years from vegetative propagation. Several cycles of flowering and fruiting per year. Herma-phroditic or monoecious. Fruit matures in 30-40 days. Fruit ovoid, 3-3.5 cm in diameter; exterior color orange.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, stewed, in jams, jellies. Flavor subacid, pleasant. Good potential particu-larly for processing. Superior selections very productive, with good flavor.

References: Knight and Winters 1966, Ruehle et al. 1958, Sturrock 1959.


Dovyalis caffra (Hook. f. at Harv.) Warb.
Common names: kei apple (English); umkokolo (South Africa).

Origin: Southwestern Africa.

Distribution: Widely introduced into tropical and sub-tropical areas but not common.

Cultural requirements: Adapted to semiarid tropical and subtropical climates. Tolerant of high rainfall, hot weather, temperatures to -8° C.

Description: Shrub or tree to 6 m. Propagation by seed, cuttings, layering, grafting. Fruit production in 5-6 years from seed, 2-3 years from vegetative propagation. Flowers February and June (Florida). Dioecious. Fruit matures in 90 days. Fruit ovoid, 3-4 cm in diameter; exterior color yellow, solitary.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, cooked, preserved. Fla-vor sour to subacid, pleasant. Locally utilized but little potential for further development.

References: Burkill 1935, Ruehle et al. 1958.


Dovyalis hebecarpa Warb.
Common names: Ceylon gooseberry, kitambilla, ketembilla (English).

Origin: Sri Lanka.

Distribution: Widely introduced into Tropics but not common outside native area.

Cultural requirements: Hot, humid tropical lowlands. Tolerant of variety of soils, light frost.

Description: Shrub to 7 m. Propagation by seed, cut-tings. Dioecious. Fruit matures in May-June and October-November (Florida). Fruit ovoid, 2-2.5 cm in diameter, solitary, exterior color purple to black.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, cooked, preserved. Fla-vor sour; little appeal. Good source of vitamin C. Little potential as food crop.

References: Ruehle et al. 1958, Sturrock 1959.


Flacourtia indica Merr. (= F. ramontchi L'Her.)
Common names: governor's plum (English); ramontschi (India).

Origin: Tropical Asia, Madagascar.

Distribution: Pantropic.

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

Description: Shrub or tree to 6 m. Propagation by seed, layering, grafting. Flowers April-May (Florida). Dioecious. Fruit matures in 60-90 days. Fruit ovoid, 2-3 cm in diameter, solitary; external color purple, internal yellow.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, in jellies, jams. Flavor sweet, pleasant. Plant vigorous, useful for local and home garden production but little potential for commercial development.

References: Burkill 1935, Popenoe 1939, Ruehle et al. 1958.


Flacourtia inermis Roxb.
Common names: Martinique plum (English); Iovi-lovi (language unknown).

Origin: Southeast Asia.

Distribution: Introduced elsewhere into Tropics but rare.

Cultural requirements: Hot, humid tropical lowlands. Very susceptible to frost injury.

Description: Tree to 5 m. Propagation by seed. Flowers May-June (Florida). Fruit matures in 60 days. Fruit spherical, 2 cm in diameter; external color red, internal yellow.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, in jellies, jams. Flavor sour. Little potential for commercial development.

Reference: Burkill 1935.


Flacourtia jangomas Reausch. (= F. cataphracta Roxb.)
Common names: runeala plum (English); prunier malagache (French).

Origin: Tropical Asia.

Distribution: Introduced elsewhere into Tropics but not common.




28








Tropical Visions Cover
Tropical Visions Contents


Back a Page
Turn Page
Next Article




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

Spinning Macintosh apple