Perennial Edible Fruits C2P49

Utilization: Sap from cut inflorescence fermented into wine. Endosperm of seed candied. Important only in native area. Little potential for wider cultivation.

Reference: Burkill 1935.

Orbignya martiana Barb.
Common names: babassu (English); babacu (Portuguese).

Origin: South America.

Distribution: South America.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical monsoon climate.

Description: Palm, single trunk, to 20 m. Fruit 6-12 cm long.

Utilization: Seed eaten fresh. extracted for edible oil. Little potential for wider cultivation.

Reference: Fouqué 1974.

Phoenix dactylicera L.
Common names: date, date palm (English); datil (Spanish); datile, tamareira (Portuguese).

Origin: Africa.

Distribution: Dry subtropical and tropical areas of world.

Cultural requirements: Hot, dry atmospheric conditions needed for proper fruit maturation, but irrigation needed for growth of plant. Tolerant of salinity in irrigation water, various types of soil, temperatures to about -5° C.

Description: Palm, multiple trunks, to 30 m (usually only one trunk allowed to grow large in cultivation). Propagation by seed or by suckers from base of trunk. Fruit production in 5-8 years from suckers. Dioecious. Fruit 5 cm long, 2.5 cm in diameter, in clusters of 1,000-1.500; yellow, greenish, orange, red, or brown.

Utilization: Pulp dried, mixed with other foods. Flavor sweet. nutty; universal appeal. Rich in carbo-hydrates. Important article of commerce. Cultiva-tion could be expanded. Many varieties in Middle East, California.

References: Ochse et al. 1961, Popenoe 1913, Popenoe 1939.

Phoenix reclinata Jacq.
Common names: Senegal date palm, dwarf date palm (English); dattier a feuille panchées (French).

Origin: Tropical Africa.

Distribution: Pantropic.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical climate with medium rainfall.

Description: Palm, multiple trunks, to 12 m. Propaga-tion by seed Fruit 2.5 cm long, 1 cm in diameter, in large clusters, brown when dry.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh. Trunk tapped for sap to make wine. Little potential as food crop. Widely used as ornamental plant

References: Dalziel 1949. Irvine 1961.

Salacca edulis Reinw.
Common names: Salak palm. salak (English).

Origin: Southeast Asia.

Distribution: Introduced elsewhere into Tropics but rare.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands.

Description: Palm, multiple trunks, to 4 m. Propagation by seed, suckers Dioecious. Fruit 5-7 cm long; external color brown, interior yellowish white.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh. Flavor sweet: high appeal. high potential for introduction into other areas of hot Tropics.

Reference: Leon 1968.

Pandanceae

Pandanus leram Jones
Common name: Nicobar breadfruit (English).

Origin: Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Distribution: Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Cultural requirements: Tropical lowlands.

Description Tree growing in coastal areas.

Utilization: Pulp boiled, pressed into cakes. Source of carbohydrate. Moderate appeal. Little potential for wider cultivation.

Pandanus tectorius Sol. ex Bait. I.
Common names: screwpine, Nicobar breadfruit.

Origin: Southeast Asia, South Pacific islands.

Distribution: Pantropic

Cultural requirements: Sandy soils at seashore, tropical climate.

Description: Tree to 7 m. Propagation by seed, cuttings. Fruit ovoid, 18 cm in diameter; exterior color red or yellow, yellowish inside.

Utilization: Soft portion of pulp cooked. Seeds eaten fresh, cooked. Terminal buds eaten fresh. Important locally in Asia and Pacific. little potential elsewhere.

Reference: Brown 1931.

Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics

Pandanceae