Perennial Edible Fruits C2P56

Vangueria madagascariensis J. F. Gmel.
Common names: Spanish tamarind (English); voavanga (Africa).

Origin: Africa, Madagascar.

Distribution: Introduced into many areas in Tropics but not common.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands. Not tolerant of frost.

Description: Shrub to 5 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit 2-3.5 cm in diameter, greenish yellow inside and out.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, in beverages, other foods. Flavor subacid, aromatic. Little potential for wider cultivation.

References: Burkill 1935, Wester 1925.

Rutaceae

Casimiroa edulis Llav. et Lee. (= C. tetrameria Millsp., a form of this species)
Common names: white sapote (English); matasano, sapote blanco, zapote (Spanish); matasano, pomme mexicaine, sapote blanche (French).

Origin: Mexico, Central America.

Distribution: Cool tropic areas and subtropics of the world but not common outside tropical America.

Cultural requirements: Subtropical or tropical highland climate with medium rainfall. Tolerant of variety of soil conditions, seasonal dry period, frost.

Description: Tree to 15 m. Propagation by seed, cuttings, layering, grafting. Fruit production in 7-8 years from seed, 3-4 years from vegetative propagation. Flowers January-February (Florida). Fruit matures in 120 days. Fruit spherical to oblate, 6-121 cm in diameter, in clusters of 2-3: external color greenish yellow or yellow, internal white to yellow.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, in preserves. Flavor sweet, often bitter; moderate appeal. Good potential for home garden and local marketing; little potential for commercial cultivation. Various named varieties in United States (California and Florida).

References: Fairchild 1939, Fouqué 1974, Popenoe 1939

Sapindaceae

Blighia sapida Koenig
Common names: akee (English); aki, seso vegetal (Spanish).

Origin: Tropical west Africa.

Distribution: Widely introduced into Tropics.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands. Grows well where rainfall is well distributed or where seasonal dry period occurs. Well adapted to a variety of soils, including infertile rocky soils. Tolerant of light frost.

Description: Tree to 15 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit production in 3-4 years. Flowers April-May. often at other times (Florida). Fruit matures in about 90 days. Fruit pyriform, 7-8 cm long, 4-5 cm in diameter. in clusters of 3-10; external color red and yellow, internal cream; black seeds.

Utilization: Aril eaten fresh, cooked. Immature fruit very toxic. Flavor rich, nutty; general appeal. Seeds not eaten. Little potential for expansion of commercial production, partly because of toxicity. Cultivated in Africa, India, tropical America.

References: Dalziel 1948, Irvine 1961, Leon 1968, Popenoe 1939.

Erioglossum rubiginosum Blume
Common names: katilaju (Java); pancovier (French), mertajam (Malaya).

Origin: Southeast Asia to Australia.

Distribution: Introduced elsewhere into Tropics but rare outside native area.

Cultural requirements: Hot. wet tropical lowlands.

Description: Large tree. Propagation by seed. Flowers March-May (Florida). Fruit matures in about 100 days. Fruit ovoid, 1.5 cm long, in large clusters; external color red to purple, internal whitish.

Utilization: Aril eaten fresh. Flavor subacid. astringent; low appeal Little potential for wider cultivation.

References: Burkill 1935.

Euphoria longana Steud. (= Nephelium Iongana (Lam.) Carm.)
Common names: longan (English); oeil de dragon (French); lungan (Malaya); lam yai (Thailand).

Origin: Southern China to Thailand.

Distribution: Introduced into cool tropical and subtropical areas of the world.

Cultural requirements: Cool tropical lowland or warm subtropical climate with well-distributed medium to high rainfall. Does not fruit well in hot lowland Tropics.

Description: Tree to 15 m. Propagation by seed, layering, grafting. Fruit production in 7-10 years from seed, 3-5 years from vegetative propagation. Flowers March-April (Florida). Polygamous, usually self-fertile. Fruit matures in 120-150 days. Fruit globose to ovoid, 2-4 cm in diameter, 15-30 g, in clusters of 5-50 or more; external color yellow to brown: internal color whitish, translucent. Erratic in bearing.

Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics

Rutaceae

Sapindaceae