Perennial Edible Fruits C2P35

Description: Medium tree. Propagation by seed. Fruit 9-12 cm long, 4-5 cm wide; external color green, internal white.

Utilization: Aril eaten fresh. Seeds cooked. Flavor of pulp sweet. Used locally. Little potential as food crop.

Reference: Standley and Steyermark 1946.

Inocarpus edulis Forst.
Common names: Otaheite chestnut (English); gayam (Java).

Origin: Malaysia and Pacific islands.

Distribution: Southeast Asia and Pacific islands.

Cultural requirements: Hot, humid tropical lowlands.

Description: Small tree. Propagation by seed.

Utilization: Seeds roasted, boiled; moderate appeal.
Good source of protein. Potential for trial in other
areas.

Reference: Burkill 1935.

Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Benth.
Common name: African locust (English).

Origin: West Africa.

Distribution: Tropical Africa.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical climate; savanna, forest.

Description: Tree to 12 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit 15-20 long; external color brown, internal yellow.

Utilization: Pulp made into a drink, mixed with other foods as flavoring Seeds ground and fermented. Used in native area. Little potential for development.

References: Dalziel 1948, Irvine 1961.

Parkia speciosa Hod. ex Hassk.
Common names: peté. sindutan (Java); patai (Sumatra); sataw (Thailand).

Origin: Malaysia, Indonesia.

Distribution: Southeast Asia.

Cultural requirements: Humid tropical climate.

Description: Tree to 25 m. Propagation by seed. Pods to 50 cm long, turning black when ripe.

Utilization: Pulp of pods used as food, flavoring; pods pickled; seeds. leaves eaten fresh. Flavor strong, somewhat resembling garlic; esteemed in native area. Little potential for wider cultivation.

Reference: Burkill 1935.

Pithecellobium lobatum Benth.
Common names: jering (Java); jengkol, jaring (Sumatra) nieng, kanieng (Thailand).

Origin: Southeast Asia.

Distribution: Southeast Asia.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical climate.

Description: Tree to 20 m.

Utilization: Young pods, immature and mature seeds eaten after boiling to remove toxins. Used mostly as flavoring. Flavor appreciated in native area. Little potential for development.

Reference: Burkill 1935.

Tamarindus indica L.
Common names: tamarind (English); tamarindo (Spanish); tamarin (French); tamarindo (Portuguese).

Origin: Tropical Africa.

Distribution: Pantropic.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands. Tolerant of a variety of soils if well drained and dry conditions. Does not fruit well where rainfall high all year. Large trees tolerant of light frost. Grows well in calcareous soils.

Description: Tree to 25 m. Propagation by seed, layering, grafting. Fruit production in 7-8 years from seed, 3-4 years from vegetative propagation Flowers May-June (Florida). Fruit matures in 300-360 days. Fruit 8-15 cm long, 2.5-3 cm wide, in clusters, brown.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh. dried, candied, in beverages; flavoring in foods, sauces. Seeds cooked. Flavor of pulp sweet-sour, high appeal. Good source of calories, thiamine, minerals. Widely used but little potential for expansion.

References: Popenoe 1939, Ruehle et al. 1958.

Malpighiaceae

Bunchosia armeniaca DC.
Common names: ciruela, ciruela verde (Spanish); bunchosie des Andes (French); ameixa do Para (Portuguese).

Origin: South America.

Distribution: South America; some introduction elsewhere but rare.

Cultural requirements: Low to middle elevations, tropical climate.

Description: Shrub or tree to 10 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit production in 2 years. Several crops of fruit a year. Fruit ellipsoid, 3-4 cm long, in clusters of 8-10: external color orange, internal cream or red.

Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics

Malpighiaceae