Perennial Edible Fruits C2P46

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands. Tolerant of a variety of soils if well drained and mildly acid. Tolerant of seasonal dry period and light frost. Grows well in warm subtropical areas.

Description: Tree to 10 m. Propagation by seed, layering, grafting. Fruit production in 6-8 years from seed, 2-3 years from grafts. Several cycles of bloom and fruit during year. Fruit matures in about 90 days. Fruit ellipsoid, conspicuously ribbed. 6-15 cm long, solitary or in small clusters on limbs and sometimes trunk of tree, yellow to orange inside and out.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, in preserves, jellies, sauces. Flavor sweet to very sour; improved varieties excellent, with wide appeal. Good source of vitamin C. Marketed widely in Asia. Commerical production in Florida; fair potential for further commercial development. Many varieties selected in Southeast Asia, U.S.A. (Florida).

References: Campbell and Maio 1972, Leon 1968, Molesworth Allen 1967, Popenoe 1939.

Palmae

Areca catechu L.
Common names: betel nut (English); aveline des Indes, noix d'arec (French).

Origin: Southeast Asia, Pacific islands.

Distribution: Introduced widely into Tropics but not economically important outside Asia and Pacific islands.

Cultural requirements: Hot, humid tropical lowlands; monsoon climate.

Description: Palm, single trunk, to 30 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit production in 6-10 years or more. Flowers throughout year. Fruit matures in 270-300 days. Fruit ovoid, 4-5 cm long, in clusters of 200-300, exterior color orange or red.

Utilization: Seed chewed as stimulant. Low appeal outside Asia. Little potential for further development.

Reference: Blatter 1926.

Astrocaryum tucuma Mart.
Common names: tucuma (English); cumare, tucuma (Spanish); aovara (French); tucum, tucuma açu (Portuguese).

Origin: Brazil.

Distribution: Brazil.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands; sandy soils in coastal areas.

Description: Palm, single trunk, to 14 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit 5-6 cm in diameter, 70 g; external color greenish yellow to orange, internal yellow.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, in confections. Seed and pulp a source of edible fats. Flavor of moderate appeal. Fruit good source of vitamins A, B„ and C. Locally important but limited potential for wider cultivation.

Reference: Fouqué 1974.

Attalea cohune Mart. (= Orbignya cohune (Mart.) Dahlgr. ex Stand.)
Common names: cohune palm (English); corozo (Spanish).

Origin: Central America.

Distribution: Tropical America.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands.

Description: Palm, single trunk, to 6 m. Propagation by seed. Flowers all year Fruit ellipsoid, 6 cm long, in large clusters, exterior color brown.

Utilization: Pulp candied. Seed a source of edible oil.
Locally important oil source. Little potential for
expansion.

Bactris minor Jacq.
Common name: tobago cane (English).

Origin: Northern South America.

Distribution: Tropical America.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical climate; coastal regions.

Description: Palm, multiple trunks, to 12 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit spherical to ovoid, 1.5 cm long, in clusters, exterior color purple to black.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh. Flavor subacid; moderate appeal. Little potential for cultivation as food crop.

Reference: Fouqué 1974.

Borassus flabellifer L.
Common names: Palmyra palm, African fan (English).

Origin: Southeast Asia, India.

Distribution: Asia; introduced into plant collections elsewhere.
Cultural requirements: Hot tropical climate; sandy soils in coastal areas.

Description: Palm, single trunk, to 30 m. Propagation by seed. Flowers March-April (India). Fruit matures in 120 days. Fruit 15-20 cm in diameter, in large clusters, external color brown.

Utilization: Mesocarp of fruit eaten fresh, dried. Endosperm of immature seeds eaten fresh. Sap from cut inflorescences made into sugar, wine, vinegar. Important food crop in India. Limited potential for cultivation outside Asia.

Reference: Slater 1926.

Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics

Palmae