Perennial Edible Fruits C2P59

Talisia olivaeformis Radlk.
Common names: yellow genip (English); cotoperiz, cotopriz, mamón de mico, tapal jocote (Spanish); pitoulier a fruits oliviformes (French).

Origin: West Indies, Central and South America.

Distribution: Introduced elsewhere to small extent but rare outside tropical America.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands with poor to good soils, low to high rainfall. Not tolerant of frost.

Description: Tree to 18 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit production in 7-10 years from seed. Flowers in April (Florida). Dioecious or hermaphroditic. Fruit matures in 120 days Fruit globose to ovoid, 2.5-3.5 cm long, in clusters of 6-10; external color yellowish green; internal color yellow, orange, or pink.

Utilization: Aril eaten fresh, in jellies. Flavor sweet or subacid; moderate appeal. Marketed in local areas. Little potential for wider cultivation.

References: Fouqué 1974.

Sapotaceae

Bequaertiodendron magalismontanum (Sond.) Heine et J. H. Hemsley
Common name: wild plum (English).

Origin: Africa.

Distribution: Africa.

Cultural requirements: Lowland tropical or subtropical climate. Adapted to wide range of environmental conditions.
Description: Tree to 30 m. Propagation by seed.

Utilization: Pulp of fruit widely used. Moderate appeal. Little potential for cultivation outside Africa.

Reference: Irvine 1961.

Butyrospermum paradoxum (Gaertn. f.) Hepper (= B. parkii (Don.) Kotschy.)
Common name: Shea butter tree (English).

Origin: Tropical West Africa.

Distribution: Africa.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands with low rainfall and definite dry season. Grows well in poor lateritic soils.

Description: Tree to 13 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit production in 12-15 years. Flowers December-February (Ghana). Fruit matures in 90 days. Fruit ovoid, 5 cm long, solitary. Edible fat extracted from seed used in cooking, soapmaking. Important source of edible fat. Good potential in Africa in areas where oil palm does not grow.

References: Dalziel 1948, Irvine 1961.

Calocarpum sapota Merr. (= C. mammosum Pierre)
Common names: mamey sapote (English); mamey, mamey colorado, zapote (Spanish); lucume, mamey, sapote mamey (French); sapota (Portuguese).

Origin: Mexico, Central America.

Distribution: Introduced into many areas in Tropics but rare outside tropical America.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands with medium rainfall and seasonal dry period. Adapted to a variety of soil conditions. Not tolerant of frost, prolonged drought.

Description: Tree to 20 m. Propagation by seed, grafting. Fruit production in 8-12 years or more from seed, 4-5 years from grafts. Most flower in Florida April-July but some bloom all year. Hermaphroditic but yields generally improved by cross pollination. Fruit matures in 12-15 months. Fruit ovoid to ellipsoid, 10-18 cm long, 300-1,300 g or more, solitary; external color brown, internal orange to red. Seeds 1-3.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, in preserves, marmalades, various desserts. Seed used to prepare material similar to chocolate. Flavor very sweet; general appeal. Good potential for commercial development in hot Tropics. Some varieties selected in Central America, West Indies, Florida.

References: Almeyda and Martin 1976b, Campbell 1967, Fouqué 1974, Maio 1970, Popenoe 1939.

Calocarpum wide Pitt.
Common names: green sapote (English); injerto (Spanish).

Origin: Central America.

Distribution: Tropical America.

Cultural requirements: Cool tropical climate with well-distributed medium rainfall. Not tolerant of frost or very hot conditions.

Description: Tree to 20 m. Propagation by seed, grafting. Fruit matures in about 12 months. Fruit ovoid to ellipsoid, 5-12 cm long, solitary; external color green, internal orange to red.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, preserved, in desserts. Flavor sweet; general appeal. Moderate potential. Less widely adapted than the mamey sapote.

Reference: Popenoe 1939.

Chrysophyllum cainito L.
Common names: star apple (English); caimito, cauje (Spanish); caimito, caimitier, pomme étoile (French); cainito (Portuguese).

Origin: Central America, West Indies.

Distribution: Widely introduced into lowland Tropics.

Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics

Sapotaceae