Perennial Edible Fruits C2P61

Origin: India, Southeast Asia.

Distribution: Introduced widely into Tropics.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands. Adapted to a variety of soil types.

Description: Tree to 16 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit ovoid, 2-3 cm long; external color yellow or orange, internal yellow.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh. Flavor sweet, insipid; low appeal. Little potential as food crop.

References: Molesworth Allen 1967, Neal 1965.

Pouteria caimito Radlk.
Common names: abiu (English, French); caimo, cauje (Spanish); abiu, abeiro (Portuguese).

Origin: South America.

Distribution: Introduced elsewhere but rare outside tropical America.

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

Description: Tree to 12 m. Propagation by seed, grafting. Fruit production in 7-10 years from seed, 3-4 years from grafts. Flowers June-August (Florida) Flowers hermaphroditic. Some trees self fruitful, others evidently require cross-pollination. Fruit matures in 180 days. Fruit ellipsoid to spherical, 5-10 cm long, solitary; external color yellow, internal whitish.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, in desserts. Flavor sweet; wide appeal. Good potential for commercial production in hot Tropics.

References: Cavalcante 1974, Fouqué 1974, Popenoe 1939.

Pouteria campechiana Baehni (= Lucuma nervosa DC., L. salicifolia H.B.K.)
Common names: canistel, eggfruit, yellow sapote (English); canistel, fruta huevo, sapote amarillo (Spanish); canistel, janne d'oeuf (French).

Origin: Central America, West Indies.

Distribution: Widely introduced into Tropics.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands with medium to high rainfall. Well adapted to seasonal dry period, variety of soil types. Tolerant of light frost.

Description: Tree to 12 m. Propagation by seed, grafting. Fruit production in 5-7 years from seed, 3-4 years from grafts. Flowers June-August (Florida). Fruit matures in about 180 days. Fruit ovoid to conical, 4-12 cm in diameter, solitary on young shoots, yellow to orange inside and out.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh: used in beverages, desserts. Flavor very sweet: moderate appeal. High in niacin, vitamins A and C, proteins, carbo-hydrates. Good potential for development because of productivity, adaptability, and nutrient content.

References: Fairchild 1943, Popenoe 1939.

Pouteria obovata Baehni (= Lucuma obovata H.B.K.)
Common names: lucmo, lucumo, lucma, lucuma (Spanish); lucmo (French).

Origin: South America (Andes).

Distribution: Tropical America.

Cultural requirements: Cool tropical climate with medium rainfall. Not well adapted to hot tropical lowlands.

Description: Tree to 12 m. Propagation by seed, grafting. Flowers June-August (Florida). Fruit matures in about 180 days. Fruit ovate, 4-8 cm long, solitary, yellow inside and out.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, dried, powdered; used to flavor desserts, beverages. Flavor sweet; moderate appeal. Fair potential for commercial production but less widely adapted than the canistel.

References: Fouqué 1974, Popenoe 1939.

Synsepalum dulcificum Daniell
Common names: miracle fruit, miraculous berry (English).

Origin: Tropical west Africa.

Distribution: Widely introduced into Tropics but not common outside native area.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands with acid soils having organic content. Grows well in light shade. Not tolerant of frost.

Description: Shrub or tree to 6 m. Propagation by seed, cuttings. Fruit production in 4-5 years from seed. Flowers several times a year (Florida). Fruit ellipsoid, 2-3 cm long; external color red, internal white.

Utilization: Pulp eaten with other foods to counter sour or bitter flavors; used to flavor palm wine. Flavor of pulp sweet, insipid. Not important as a food crop Attempts to exploit the striking effect on perception of sour flavors in development of artificial sweeteners have not been successful but are continuing.

References: Dalziel 1948, Irvine 1961, Montagut 1972.

Simaroubaceae

Irvingia gabonensis Baill.
Common names: wild mango, duiker nut, dika, dika nut (English).

Origin: West Africa.

Distribution: West Africa.

Cultural requirements: Tropical monsoon climate.

Description: Tree to 40 m. Propagation by seed. Flowers December-January (Africa). Fruit 5 cm in diameter, exterior color yellow.

Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics

Simaroubaceae