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Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics


Chapter 2 Major Fruits


Distribution: Pantropic; warm subtropics.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowland or sub-tropical climate. Tolerant of great range in rainfall, soil conditions. Tolerant of light frost.

Description: Scandent shrub or tree to 10 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit production in 3-4 years. Flowers several times a year. Fruit matures in 50-60 days. Fruit ellipsoid, 2.5 cm long, exterior color yellow.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, preserved; seed eaten fresh, roasted. Flavor of pulp subacid, insipid: limited appeal. Little potential for wider cultivation.

Reference: Fatigue 1974.

Oleaceae

Noronhia emarginata Thou.
Common names: Madagascar olive (English); noronha (Madagascar).

Origin: Madagascar, Sri Lanka.

Distribution: Introduced around Tropics but not widely known.

Cultural requirements: Tropical climate, often near seashore. Tolerant of poor soils, saline condi-tions, wind.

Description: Small tree. Propagation by seed. Fruit ellipsoid, 2-3 cm long, external color greenish.

Utilization: Pulp preserved. Flavor sweet; moderate appeal. Little potential for cultivation as good food. Used as ornamental tree in coastal areas.

Oxalidaceae

Averrhoa bilimbi L.
Common names: bilimbi (English); bilimbi, grosella (Spanish); belimbing asam (Malaya).

Origin: Southeast Asia.

Distribution: Introduced throughout Tropics but not common outside Asia.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands. Tolerant of a variety of soil conditions, seasonal dry period. Very susceptible to frost injury.

Description: Tree to 10 m. Propagation by seed (can be grafted). Fruit production in 5-6 years from seed. Several cycles of bloom and fruit during year. Fruit matures in 90 days. Fruit cylindrical, 5-8 cm long, shallowly ribbed, in small clusters on trunk and limbs of tree, greenish yellow inside and out.
Fig 25 P 45 Bilimbi

Figure 25. Bilimbi. a sour fruit for cooking or for chutneys.


Utilization: Pulp used in curries, jellies, chutney, pre-serves, pickles. Flavor very sour; fair appeal. Good source of vitamin C. Important in home gardens and local marketing. Little potential for further commercial development.

References: Leon 1968, Molesworth Allen 1967, Popenoe 1939.


Averrhoa carambola L.
Common names: carambola, starfruit (English); carambola (Spanish, Portuguese); belimbing manis (Malaya).

Origin: Southeast Asia.

Distribution: Introduced throughout Tropics but not common outside Asia.



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© MMIV - Volume 1 Number 5 Whole Number 5 Tropical Visions September 2004

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