Perennial Edible Fruits C2P44

Syzygium guineense A. DC.
Common names: Water berry (English); musombo (Africa).

Origin: Tropical Africa.

Distribution: Tropical Africa.

Cultural requirements: Tropical climate, varied condi-tions including seashore, streambanks, savanna, forest.

Description: Shrub or tree to 12 m. Fruit 1-1.5 cm long.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, made into a beverage. Limited appeal. Little potential for wider cultivation.

References: Dalziel 1948, Irvine 1961.

Syzygium malaccensis Merr. et Perry
Common names: Malay apple, Malay rose apple, mountain apple (English); jambu merah (Malaya).

Origin: Southeast Asia.

Distribution: Pantropic.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical climate; variety of soil types. Not tolerant of high-pH soils, frost.

Description: Tree to 15 m. Propagation by seed, layering, grafting. Fruit production in 5-6 years from seed, 3-4 years from vegetative propagation. Flowers May-June (Florida), often other seasons as well. Fruit matures in 30-40 days. Some selections seedless. Fruit pyriform, 5-8 cm long; external color yellow, pink, red, or purple; internal color white.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, stewed, preserved. Flavor sweet, insipid; moderate appeal. Good ornamental tree. Commercial production in Asia but little potential for expansion.
Reference: Molesworth Allen 1967.

Syzygium samarangense Merr. et Perry (= S. javanicum)
Common names: Java apple, wax jambu (English); jambu ayer rhio (Malaya); jamelac (French).

Origin: Southeast Asia.

Distribution: Introduced widely into Tropics but rare outside Asia.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands; variety of soil conditions.

Description: Tree to 12 m. Propagation by seed, layering (some forms seedless). Fruit production in 5-6 years from seed. Flowers April-June (Florida), sometimes other seasons. Fruit matures in 30-40 days. Fruit pyriform, 3-5 cm long; external color green, yellow, white, or pink; internal color white.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, preserved. Flavor sweet, insipid; moderate appeal. Marketed in Asia but little potential for expansion.

References: Burkill 1935, Molesworth Allen 1967.

Naucleaceae

Nauclea latifolia Smith (=N. esculenta, Merr., Sarcocephalus esculentus Afzel. ex Sabine)
Common names: African peach, country fig (English);
pecher des negres (French); doundake (West
Africa).

Origin: Africa.

Distribution: Introduced elsewhere into Tropics but rare outside Africa

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical climate. Adapted to conditions from savanna to moist forest.

Description: Shrub or tree to 30 m, depending on moisture conditions. Propagation by seed. Fruit production in 5-6 years. Flowers July-August (Florida). Fruit matures in 100-120 days. Fruit spherical to ellipsoid, 4-6 cm in diameter, solitary, red inside and out.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, dried. Flavor sweet, slightly bitter; limited appeal. Little potential for extensive cultivation.

References: Dalziel 1948, Irvine 1961.

Olacaceae

Coula edulis Baill.
Common names: African walnut (English); noyer du pays (French); bodwe (Ghana); emumu (Nigeria); kumen, kumini (Cameroon).

Origin: Tropical west Africa.

Distribution: Tropical west Africa.

Cultural requirements: Hot, humid tropical lowlands.
Description: Tree to 20 m. Propagation by seed. Flowers April-May, October-January. Fruit spherical to ellipsoid, 3 cm long; external color brown, edible portion brownish.

Utilization: Seed eaten fresh, boiled, roasted. Flavor good; general appeal. Very rich in oil. Locally important but little potential for wider cultivation.

References: Dalziel 1948, Irvine 1961.

Ximenia americana L.
Common names: tallowwood plum, hog plum (English); chocomico, manzanillo (Spanish); citron de la mer, prunier de mer (French); ameixa (Portuguese).

Origin: Pantropic; warm subtropics.

Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics

Naucleaceae

Olacaceae