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Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics


Chapter 2 Major Fruits


Cultural requirements: Hot, humid tropical lowlands.

Description: Shrub or tree to 5 m. Propagation by seed, layering, grafting. Flowers May-June (Flor-ida). Dioecious. Fruit matures in 60-90 days. Fruit ovoid, 2-2.5 cm in diameter; external color purple, internal yellow.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, in jellies, jams. Flavor sweet, pleasant. Useful for local food production, but little potential for commercial development.

Reference: Burkill 1935.


Flacourtia rukam Zoll. et Mor.
Common names: rukam, Indian prune (English).

Origin: Philippines, Malaya Archipelago.

Distribution: Introduced elsewhere into Tropics but not common.

Cultural requirements: Hot, humid tropical lowlands.

Description: Tree to 7 m. Propagation by seed, graft-ing. Flowers May-June (Florida). Dioecious. Fruit matures in 60-90 days. Fruit ovoid, 2-2.5 cm in diameter; external color purple, internal yellow.

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

References: Burkill 1935, Sturrock 1959.


Gnetaceae

Gnetum gnemon L.
Common names: Spanish joint fir (English); meninjau (Malaya).

Origin: Malaysia.

Distribution: Tropical Asia.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical climate.

Description: Tree to 20 m. Propagation by seed, cut-tings. Fruit 3 cm long; exterior color yellow or red.

Utilization: Fruit eaten fresh, boiled, roasted. Leaves eaten fresh. Important in native area. Much poten-tial as food crop.

References: Burkill 1935, Molesworth Allen 1967.


Guttiferae

Garcinia cambogia Desrouss.
Common name: goraka (Sri Lanka)
.
Origin: Sri Lanka.

Distribution: Tropical Asia.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical climate.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, dried; used in curries. Flavor very sour. Little potential for development.

Garcinia dulcis Kurz
Common name: mundu (Malaya).

Origin: Philippines, Borneo, Java.

Distribution: Introduced elsewhere into Tropics but rare.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands.
Description: Tree to 13 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit conical, 5-7 cm in diameter, solitary; external color pale orange, internal orange yellow.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, in jams, as flavoring in other foods. Flavor sour to subacid. Rich in citric acid. Potential as home garden fruit in Tropics.

References: Burkill 1935, Molesworth Allen 1967.

Fig19P29.jpg Garcinia dulcis  

Figure 19. Garcinia dulcis, small but delicious.


Garcinia livingstonei T. Anders.
Common names: imbe (English); imbe (southeastern Africa).

Origin: Eastern tropical Asia.

Distribution: Introduced widely into Tropics but not common.

Cultural requirements: Originated in hot, dry tropical climate but grows well in more humid climate also.

Description: Tree to 6 m. Propagation by seed, graft-ing. Fruit production in 4-6 years from seed, 2-3 years from grafts. Flowers February-April, August-September (Florida). Dioecious. Fruit matures in 180-200 days. Fruit ellipsoid, 2.5-4 cm in diameter; external color orange, internal light orange.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh. Flavor sweet, pleasant. Pulp scant in most selections. Little potential for development.

References: Burkill 1935, Ruehle et al. 1958.




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

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