<Economic Plants Index Bibliography Pooled References
<Home Page>
Fruits of
Tropical & Sub-Tropical Regions
(Contacts)
Please CLICK on Underlined
Categories to view:
[To search for Subject Matter, depress
Ctrl/F ]:
===========================================================================================================
|
This section continues with the
discussion of fruits from the previous Fruits of Temperate Regions. There are thousands of tropical
fruits. Many of them are consumed
locally on a daily basis. There are
over 250 edible fruits in the Philippines alone. The tropics have the capacity to produce large quantities of
fruit and international trade is adding new kinds as rapid shipment
possibilities increase. Some tropical
frutis such as the banana, mango and pineapple are now as familiar as the
apple and pear in temperate regions.
In comparison with fruits of temperate regions, many tropical species
have been much neglected in international markets. Tropical edible fruits are particularly important in the
families Anacardiaceae, Annonaceae, Myrtaceae, Eutaceae, Sapotaceae and
Sapindaceae. Of these the Rutaceae is
the best known and most important for it includes the citrus fruits. Citrus was domesticated from wild
ancestors in Eastern and Southern Asia in ancient times. Some species have been cultivated since
before 1,000 B.C. They were at times
grown for other reasons than as food.
Citron, for example, was planted in the famous Hanging Gardens of
Babylon for use in toilet water and pomades.
These fruits were early introduced into the Mediterranean region where
they have always been an important crop.
There are over 100 species of Citrus described, many of which are undoubtedly of
hybrid origin. However, only a few
ever became of commercial importance. Citrus trees are thorny aromatic
with leathery evergreen leaves that are dotted glandularly. Although they appear simple, they are
actually unifoliate compound leaves with a joint between the leaf blade and
the stalk. The white or purplish
flowers are solitary, but produced in great abundance, and they are often
very fragrant. The fruit is a
modified berry known as a hesperidium.
This type has a thick leathery rind with numerous oil glands. The flesh is very juicy with many juice
sacs. A notable feature of these
plants is the fact that they do not develop root hairs and are dependent on
mycorrhiza. These are fungi that are
closely associated with the roots and are for the absorption of liquids. Citrus cultivation is carried out
on a large scale. It is usually grown
at sea level where sufficient moisture is readily available, or under
irrigation. Any well-drained soil,
except an extremely sandy one, is suitable.
The various species differ in their resistance to cold, but generally
a temperature ranging from 14-120 deg. Fahrenheit
is best. Mostly budding
propagates them. The species
hybridize readily both in the wild and in cultivation, and there is a great
tendency to form “sports.” Citrus is grown worldwide although
they are tropical plants so that most of the commercial groves are in
subtropical regions. The fruits ripen
at different times of the year depending on the species and variety. Oranges and grapefruit are allowed to
ripen on the trees, while lemons and limes are picked green. The United States has led the
world in the production of citrus fruits.
Florida and California are the principal states, while Texas, Arizona,
Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia have a small acreage. The Mediterranean countries are second
with Spain, Portugal, Italy and Palestine being the most important. The West Indies, Mexico and Central
America are of increasing importance.
Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, China and Japan are also
large producers. Grapefruit and oranges are highly
prized as table fruits. Apart from
their palatability, they constitute a valuable addition to the human
diet. All citrus fruits contain
considerable quantities of the essential Vitamin C, the antiscorbutic
vitamin, as well as fruit acids. They
are also made into marmalade and various confections. Canned products, especially in the case of
the grapefruit, have been developed.
Both the flesh and the juice are preserved in this way. Frequently the juice of citrus fruits is
more important than the fruit itself and it is widely used both in alcoholic
and nonalcoholic beverages. Frozen
juice is readily available. The rind
of nearly all citrus yields a valuable essential oil. The dried waste pulp is an excellent
cattle feed. Other by-products
include citric acid, various glucosides and pectin. Citrus sinensis is indigenous to
Southeastern Asia, most likely China or Cochin China. It was first cultivated sometime between
1,500 and 1,000 B.C. It arrived in
India very early in history and was carried to Europe by Genoese traders
early in the 15th Century. Spain was
responsible for its introduction into America. It reached Florida in 1565 and California in 1769. The tree is a small evergreen with
slender blunt spines. It grows upward
to 20 ft. in height under cultivation.
The leaves have narrow-winged petioles and the flowers are white and
very fragrant. The fruit is almost
round, with an abundant, sweet, solid pulp and spindle-shaped juice
sacs. Seeds are usually present but
may be sparse or absent. The orange
is the hardiest member of the genus and can be grown in any warm dry climate
where the soil is fertile and well watered.
At first it was grown from seed, but today most plants are budded or
grafted. Several types of sweet
oranges have been developed: Spanish
oranges, with large coarse-grained fruits; Mediterranean varieties, with
fine-grained fruits; blood oranges with a red pulp, or streaked red and
white; and the navel oranges, which are mostly seedless and characterized by
the navel at one end. This is formed
by the protrusion of additional carpels produced inside the flesh. Oranges contain 5-10 percent sugar, 1-2
percent citric acid and Vitamin C. In the United States California
leads in the production of oranges.
The cultivation of two different varieties enables harvest the year
round. The most important of these is
the Washington Navel or Bahia
Orange. This mostly seedless
orange originated in Brazil, but in the California climate has become the
great commercial orange of the world.
It is the largest variety, with a thick bright-orange skin, and bears
during the winter months. Another variety,
the Robertson Navel has a thin skin but is not as
productive. There is also a Summer Navel Orange that does well in cooler
weather. The three types have
slightly different growth habits, with the Summer Navel being the fastest
grower and very prolific bearer with large fruit. A smaller Valencia Orange, a Spanish
type with seeds is grown in California and also in Florida, Texas, Arizona
and Louisiana. Sweet orange
production is also high in Brazil, Spain, Italy, Palestine and Mexico. In California during the latter 20th
Century some new varieties of Valencia orange were developed that had large
fruits with easily peeled skins. Also
a sport of the Navel Orange, the Trovita Orange,
which bears off and on year round, is very sweet with large fruit and seeds. The principal use of sweet oranges
is for fresh fruit and juice. The
peel is candied and oil of orange is extracted from the rind. This essential oil is used in the perfume
and soap industries, in medicine and for flavoring. Dissolving a small amount of the oil in alcohol makes orange
extract. Orange trees are
occasionally grown for ornamental purposes. Sour orange, Citrus aurantium, also called the
Bitter, Bigarade or Seville orange, is also native
to Southeastern Asia, but is more drought resistant. This plant was brought to Spain by the
Arabs in ancient times and was cultivated there several thousand years before
the sweet orange. It is a small tree,
20-30 ft. in height with blunt spines.
The petioles have broad wings.
The flowers are exceedingly fragrant and are the source of the oil of
neroli, used in perfumery. The large,
globose, orange-red fruits are rough and have a very acid pulp. However, the flesh is of good quality with
small spindle-shaped juice sacs. A
hollow core develops at the center when the fruit is ripe. In America the sour orange is grown
chiefly for ornamental purposes and as stock in grafting. It is grown in Spain extensively where the
fruits are used for marmalade, orangeade and candied orange peel. The essential oil obtained from the rind
is used in perfumery, medicine, and in the manufacture of the liqueur Curaçao. Bergamot
Orange, Citrus
aurantium subsp. bergamia, is a small spiny tree with golden-yellow pear-shaped
fruit. The pulp is very acid and
inedible. This variety is grown in
the Mediterranean region as a source of the essential oil of bergamot. Mandarin Orange, Citrus reticulata, comprises the
so-called glove oranges: the
orange-yellow mandarins and the reddish-orange tangerines. The tree is native to China and Cochin
China. The small round fruits have a
peel that is easily removed and segments that separate readily. They are widely grown in Japan, South Europe
and the Gulf States of America, mainly Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. The Satsuma orange is a small very hardy
type with a deep-orange pulp and few seeds.
In California during the late 20th Century several new varieties of
mandarin or tangerine had been developed with a variety of excellent flavors. Often named as a separate species,
Citrus
nobilis,
the King
Orange is
probably a hybrid between a sweet orange and a mandarin. It was introduced into the United States
in 1882. It bears heavily, is frost
tolerant and the sweet slightly acid flesh with broad blunt juice sacs is
very palatable. This fruit has
nevertheless not been very much in demand. The origin of the Grapefruit, Citrus paradisi, is somewhat
doubtful. But there is some consensus
that it originated in Barbados, West Indies as a sport of the shaddock or
possibly as a hybrid with the sweet orange.
Nevertheless, there is the possibility that it may have been
introduced from the Old World. Grapefruit is a vigorous tree,
20-40 ft. in height with winged petioles.
The round or pear-shaped, pale-yellow, smooth fruits are produced in
clusters. They are the larges of the
edible citrus fruits, weighing from 2-12 lbs. and with a diameter of 4-6
in. The skin is thin with many
inconspicuous oil glands. The flesh
is acid or sub acid and mildly bitter, with large spindle-shaped juice sacs. The plant was brought to Florida
from the West Indies in 1809 and was used as an ornamental tree until
1880. In the United States Florida,
Texas, Arizona and California produce the major portion of the crop. There are different varieties, with the
Florida Indian River and California Coachella White varieties having the best
quality. The Rio Red Grapefruit with excellent flavor was
developed for South Texas, but it also does very well in Southern
California. The Oro
Blanco variety was developed for California’s cooler climatic zones where
other varieties did not sweeten adequately.
Variable acreage occurs in the West Indies, Middle East and South
Africa. Lemon, Citrus limon, is believed to be native
to Southeastern Asia where it has been grown since ancient times. It reached India at an early date as
witnessed by the existence of a Sanskrit word for it. It has been grown in the Mediterranean
region since the days of the Greek and Roman civilizations, and ahs always
been especially well adapted to that area.
The tree is small, 10-20 ft. in height with short spines and large
white and purple flowers. The small,
light-yellow oval fruits end in a blunt point. The fruit should be picked when yellow when it has peaked in
flavor. However, commercial sources
often pick the fruit green and later it is ripened in storage. lemons contain 1/2 percent sugar and 5
percent citric acid. The juice is
used for lemonade and other beverages and as a flavoring, bleaching agent and
stain remover. Commercial production
is restricted to climates with low-frost winters. California has produced the majority of lemons with Spain and
Argentina following. The rind is the
source of oil of lemon. Lime, Citrus aurantifolia, was first
domesticated in the East Indies. it
is very susceptible to cold and is a distinctly tropical plant. It is a low straggling shrub or small tree
with numerous very sharp spines and small white flowers. The fruits vary in sice from 1.25 to 3 in.
in diameter depending on the variety.
They are thin skinned with an abundant acid pulp and oval pointed
juice sacs. The lime is one of the
sourest fruits and is not eaten directly.
it is grown mainly for the juice that is often extracted and shipped
in a raw or concentrated form. Lime
juice is used in beverages, as a source of citric acid and medicinally to
prevent scurvy. Although famous for
the latter purpose, lime juice contains only one-quarter as much Vitamin C as
either grapefruit or oranges. Limes
are grown to some extent throughout the tropics and are of commercial
importance in Egypt, Mexico, The West Indies, Florida and California. The Barss Lime or Tahitian Lime is a large seedless variety that has some
frost resistance. Oil of lime is
expressed from the rind. Kumquats, Fortunella
spp.,
are the smallest of the citrus fruits.
They are small evergreen shrubs with white flowers that smell like
ants, and golden-yellow fruits produced in clusters. The fruits vary from 1-2 inches in
diameter with a thick spicy rind, acid flesh and small seeds. They are grown for ornamental purposes and
for their fruit, either eaten whole or preserved. Two species that are commercially grown are F.
japonica
with globose fruits and F. margarita with oval fruits. Citron, Citrus medica, is the oldest of the
citrus fruits and the first to be known in Europe as early as the 4th Century
B.C. It is believed to have
originated in Northern India and has long been cultivated in Southeastern
Asia. It was described by
Theophrastus from Babylon (Hill 1952).
The citron is a small thorny tree with attractive purple and white
flowers and a fruit that resembles a large lemon. It is fragrant, greenish yellow in color, oblong in shape and
from 6-9 inches in length. The skin
is thick and tough and the acid pulp is low in volume. Commercial citron is the candied
rind. It is prepared by treating the
fruit with brine to remove the bitter oil.
This also brings out the flavor and aroma and prevents decay. The rind is then candied in a sugar and
glucose solution. Citron is one of
the best and most expensive of the condiments. Citron is cultivated mainly in Corsica, Sicily, Greece and the
West Indies. The essential oil of
cedrat used in perfumery is expressed from the rind. Citrus
grandis,
also known as Pomelo, is indigenous to Malaya and Polynesia. Several varieties are grown in Southern
Asia. The fruit appears like a
grapefruit, but it is much larger, sometimes growing to the size of a
watermelon and weighing 10-20 lbs. It
is more pear-shaped, with larger juice sacs and a hollow core, and it has a
coarse thick rind and thick leathery septa.
The reddish flesh is aromatic and spicy, but quite bitter. Captain Shaddock, for whom it was named,
introduced it into the West Indies.
It is believed that the shaddock gave rise to the grapefruit. Poncirus trifoliata is indigenous in China
and Japan. It is a low tree with
large spines and trifoliate deciduous leaves. For this reason it was segregated from Citrus. The white flowers are produced before the
leaves. The rough hairy orange fruits
have a bitter, gummy, inedible pulp.
The plant is very hardy and is used to form hybrids and as a rootstock
for grafting the other citrus fruits.
It has been cultivated as an ornamental as far north as New York. Efforts to produce edible citrus
fruits that are hardier than oranges led to the formation of many
hybrids. Some of these such as the Citrange, a hybrid between the trifoliate
and the sweet orange, may be grown in the Southern United States. Others include the Tangelo
(grapefruit
X tangerine), Limequat (lime X kumquat), Orangequat
(orange
X kumquat), Citrangequat (kumquat X citrange), Tangor
(tangerine
X orange), tangerona and orangelo. Banana, Musa paradisiaca subsp. sapientum, is one of the most
important of all tropical fruits. It has
spread all over the tropical world from its original home in the humid
tropics of Malaya or India. It is one
of the world’s oldest cultivated crops.
It was important in Assyria in 1,100 B.C., and it was well known to
all the other early civilizations. It
reached Polynesia at a very early date and was brought to the West Indies in
1,500. Banana is one of the tallest of
the herbaceous plants. Its robust
treelike stem is made up of the sheathing spiral leaf bases that contain
fibers of sufficient strength to make possible this erect growth. At the top of the stem, which can vary in
height from 10-30 ft., there is produced a crown of large oval deep green
leaves. These may be up to 12 ft. in
length and 2 ft in width with a prominent midrib. A single inflorescence is
produced that consists of clustered flowers which are nearly surrounded by
large, fleshy, reddish, spathelike scales and which drop off as the fruits
mature. The flower stalk develops
from the rootstalk and pushes its way up through the hollow stem, emerging in
the center of the crown. It soon
curves over owing to its great weight. These
drooping inflorescences develop into the “bunches” of bananas. Marketable bunches may weight from 80-140
pounds and consist of from 6-15 clusters, known as “hands” or “combs.” Usually each hand contains 10-20
individual bananas, or “fingers.”
Bunches with as many as 22 hands and 300 individual bananas have been
produced, but these are not common.
The fruit of cultivated varieties is a modified berry and lacks
seeds. Wild species do occur that
produce normal seeds. As soon as the
tree bears it dies or is cut down, and suckers develop from the rhizome that
give rise to new plants. A single
clump may be productive for several years.
Bananas grow rapidly and have a very high yield. Of course, this varies with the locality
and may be as low as 125 or as high as 300 to 400 bunches to the acre. The same area of land that can produce
4,400 lbs. of bananas only may produce 33 lbs. of wheat and 98 lbs. of
potatoes. Leading exporters are
Jamaica, Mexico, Central America and Ecuador. Over 300 varieties of banana are
known. Only a few of these reach
markets of the world, the principal type being the Gros Michel. Tropical American markets have about 15
kinds, but the majority are grown in tropical Asia. There are other species of banana, one of which, the Dwarf banana, Musa nana, is occasionally
exported. This species is especially
important in Southern Asia, Africa and the Pacific islands. Red bananas,
Musa velutina,
are quite common. Musa cavendishii is a dwarf that is
especially suited to home gardens Bananas for export are picked and
shipped green. When thoroughly ripe,
as indicated by brown blotches on the yellow skin, they constitute a very
healthy and nourishing food. They
have a high content of carbohydrates with some fats and proteins. Their food value is three times that of
wheat. Bananas are usually eaten raw,
but may be cooked, especially when still green. Banana flour is made from dried green fruits. Banana ‘figs” are dried slices of ripe
fruits. A wine is also made from the
ripe fruit. The high potassium
content may be unsuitable for some diets, however. Plantain Musa paradisiaca is a close relative of
the banana and one of the great food plants of the tropics. Indigenous to Southern Asia, it has
furnished food for the inhabitants since ancient times. There are over 80 varieties; many so old
that seed has never propagated them within recorded time. Plantains are allowed to ripen and then
are always consumed cooked, fried or made into flour and are very digestible. Several tropical American fruits in
the genus Annona have been called
"Custard
Apples". In all species the fruit is a fleshy
syncarp that is formed by the fusion of numerous ripened ovaries and the
receptacle. The family Annonaceae
includes over 600 species most of which have edible fruits. It affords promise for future development. Annona cherimolia is a favorite dessert
fruit. It was known from ancient
times in the Andes of Ecuador and Peru.
It is now grown in Central America, Mexico, the West Indies,
California, Florida, Africa and India.
The tree is small and shrubby with very fragrant flowers that have the
odor of tropical fruit such as pineapple and coconut. The light green fruits are globular or
conical and from 4-10 in. long. The
delicious white or yellowish flesh is very aromatic with a soft and custard
like consistency. Efforts to enhance
pollination are required such as maintaining a high humidity during flowering
or by hand pollination. The pollen
matures in the evening while the pistel is receptive in the morning. Annona squamosa, also known as Sugar
Apple, is
indigenous in South America and the West Indies. The yellowish-green tuberculate fruit is 2-3 inches in
diameter. It has white custard like
pulp and is the most highly prized of the group. Pollen matures in the
evening but successful pollination is usually successful only in the
morning. Maintaining a high relative
humidity during the night allows for self-pollination. In drier situations the pollen must be
gathered in the evening and mechanically administered in the morning. Annona muricata, also known as Guanabana, is a small slender
tree of the West Indies. It bears
large ovoid spiny fruit that are deep green in color. Some fruits may weight as much as 8-10
pounds and be a foot in length. The
white juicy flesh is very aromatic and is unrivaled for sherbets and drinks. Annona reticulata, also known as Bullock’s
Heart, is
very common in the tropics. The fruit
is heart shaped, 4-6 in. long and brownish or reddish in color. The soft white or cream-colored sweetly
aromatic pulp is somewhat glandular toward the rind and rather insipid and
cloying. It is indigenous in the West
Indies. Phoenix dactylifera is an ancient crop that
was known before 3,000 B.C. Its
origin is either in Arabia or India, but it has been domesticated throughout
Southwestern Asia and Northern Africa.
It was of great importance in Babylonia and had reached Egypt long
before the Christian era. The date is a palm tree with slender trunk that can reach
70-100 ft in height. It produces
offshoots from its base and is therefore often found growing in clumps. It has a crown of stiff, pinnate,
ascending and descending leaves of 20-20 ft in length. The numerous flowers, sometimes 10,000 to
an inflorescence, are surrounded by a spathe. Male and female flowers are produced on different trees, and in
cultivation 90 percent of the male trees are removed. The fruit is a nearly round drupe or
one-seeded berry. It is hard and
green at first but later turns yellow or red. The flesh is thick and very sweet, soft or dry and hard,
according to the variety. The date
palm is very drought resistant, but in arid regions grows best in areas where
there are springs or subterranean water sources (oases). It often serves as a staple food as well
as the main source of fruits and sugar in dry regions of the world. Typically it is a plant of hot sunny
climates with low humidity. Seeds or
cuttings propagate dates. They are
very long-lived, often reaching an age of over 200 years. There are over 1,000 varieties grown. Unripe fruits are consumed a month or more
before harvest as a crunchy, sweet delicacy.
Fruits that are ripened on the tree command a higher price than those
that are picked unripe and subjected to a steam ripening process. Unlike most fruits they have a high food
value, with 54 percent sugar and 7 percent protein as well as pectin and
gums. Dates are consumed as a table
fruit and in jams, pastes, cooking and alcoholic beverages. In some desert regions there ore more than
800 uses made of this plant. Every
part of the plant is utilized and the fruits have even served as
currency. Iraq has produced over 80
percent of the commercial crop.
Arabia and Northern Africa are also large producers. Although date palms have been grown in
California since the 18th Century, they did not become commercially important
until 1890. By the 21st Century
commercial dates, including over 20 varieties, were being grown in both
California and Arizona. There they
are hand pollinated and the ripening clusters are protected from birds and
rain by special paper sacs. Durian, Duria zibethinus, is indigenous to
Malaya and occurs locally in that area and west to Burma and south to the
East Indies. It is rarely
cultivated. It is a tall handsome
tree that reaches 80 ft in height with large conical spiny fruits, 6-8 in. in
diameter. The leaves are densely
covered with golden hairs on their undersides. The flowers are yellow or creamy white. The custard like flesh has an exquisite
flavor and is at the same time aromatic and sweet with a unique balsamic
taste. However, the odor can be
extremely offensive to persons with a particular gene so that the fruit has
been banned in certain hotels and public places. Durians are nevertheless highly prized by people and
animals. It has been associated with
rejuvenating powers. The Edible fig, Ficus carica, has been under
cultivation since ancient times. It
is indigenous to Southern Arabia and had spread to the Mediterranean region
in prehistoric times. It is often
mentioned in the Bible. Theophrastus
was familiar with many varieties and his “Enquiry into Plants” gives a
detailed account of fig cultivation (Hill 1952). Today figs are grown worldwide where the climate is
suitable. In colder winter climates
(e.g., Illinois) the fig trunk may be bent horizontally and covered with
gunny sacks and dry leaves in autumn to reduce frost damage. The fig is a shrub or small tree
with typically lobed leaves. The
fruit is a synconium, a fleshy hollow receptacle with a narrow aperture at
the tip. The true fruits, which are
small achenes, are borne on short stalks on the inside of the synconium. There are several different kinds of
edible figs: Smyrna, Caprifigs,
Common Figs and San Pedro Figs. Figs are used fresh, dried, canned
or preserved. A large amount is used
in baking and ground up for fig coffee.
Additional to their food value they have definite laxative properties
and are important in medicine. In the
United States most of the fig crop comes from California and Texas. These have no
staminate flowers and thus the fruits develop without pollination and have no
seeds. Two crops are produced
annually. The first crop (brebas) is
larger and juicier and is usually consumed fresh. They are borne on the old wood. The second crop is produced in the axils of the leaves. They are used fresh or dried. There are over 800 varieties of common
figs. Propagation is by cuttings. These are
wild figs that grow naturally in the Mediterranean region and in Western Asia
and are thought to represent the primitive type. There is no commercial value for the fruit but cultivation is
essential to the development of the Smyrna fig. The life history of the Capri Fig is closely related with that
of a small wasp, Blastophaga psenes, which affects
pollination. Three crops of fruit are
produced yearly. The spring crop
(profichi) contains staminate flowers and the so-called gall-flowers. These are similar to pistillate flowers
but they have short styled ovaries.
The fig wasp enters the young figs and lays eggs in the gall
flowers. After about two months the
new generation of wasps hatches and emerges from the fig, becoming covered
with pollen in the process. By this
time the summer crop of figs (mammoni) has been produced that contain mainly
gall flowers. The wasps enter these
and deposit eggs in most of them.
Although the wasp pollinates these, the presence of the larvae
inhibits seed development. Flowers in
which eggs were not placed are able to develop fertile seed. There is usually a continual crop of these
summer figs until cold weather, and figs and wasps can be found in all stages
of development. Later in the season
the winter crop of figs (mamme) is developed and after being visited by the
wasps remains on the tree over winter.
The larvae mature in April when a new crop of profichi figs is ready
to receive the wasps and the annual cycle is resumed. There are no staminate flowers
produced in Smyrna Figs, and thus these figs are completely dependent on
cross-pollination from Capri Figs.
The process is called Caprification and is
carried out artificially. Branches of
Capri figs of the profichi crop are suspended on the Smyrna tree. The wasps on emerging enter the partly
developed Smyrna figs and pollinate them.
Unlike the Capri figs, the ovaries have styles so long that the wasp
is unable to deposit eggs in the correct location. Therefore the ovules are able to develop normally after
fertilization. The wasps then emerge
from the fig or die within the cavity.
Smyrna figs have a superior nutty flavor due to the presence of the
fertile seeds. They are the most
important commercial fig and are extensively grown in Asia Minor, Algeria,
Greece and some sections of Portugal and California. These are
grown in California with two crops annually.
The first develops without pollination, while the second fails to
mature and falls from the tree, unless it is caprified. Granadillas
are the edible fruits of several species of passionflower. These are woody tendril-bearing vines with
solitary showl flowers and a many-seeded berry. They are indigenous to tropical America. The Purple Granadilla, Passiflora edulis, is native to Brazil
but has been cultivated worldwide. In
Australia it is of considerable economic importance. it is also grown in Sri Lanka, The
Mediterranean area and the southern United States. The flowers are white with a white and purple crown. The deep-purple fruit is about 3 in. long
and is used as a table fruit and in sherbets, candy and beverages. Other common species are the Giant
Granadilla,
Passiflora
quadrangularis,
with greenish-yellow flowers that reach 10 in. in length; and the Sweet Granadilla, Passiflora ligularis. Guava, Psidium
guajava,
is native to tropical America where it has been cultivated for
centuries. It was known to the Incas
and had spread all over tropical America before the European
colonization. It is now common in the
tropics everywhere and is of especial importance in Florida and California. The small tree or shrub has white
flowers. The yellow berrylike fruit
is about 4 in. long with variously colored flesh. The aromatic, sweet and juicy fruit is highly flavored with a
fine balance between the content of acid, sugar and pectin. It is a rich source of Vitamins A, B. and
C and of ascorbic acid. It is usually
used for preserves, pastes and jellies and for beverages. The powder from dehydrated fruits is used
to fortify other jellies and jams. Strawberry
Guava, Psidium littorale, is native to Brazil
and cultivated elsewhere. It has small
red fruits with a very sweet juicy pulp.
They are used fresh or in beverages. Other
Myrtaceae <Photos> The
family Myrtaceae, which includes guavas, probably has as many, if not more,
species with edible fruits than any other family. Besides guavas of which there are at least 155 species, there
are the eugenias and syzgiums with almost 700 species. Some of these are of great importance. The Rose
Apple, Syzygium jambos, is indigenous to tropical
Asia but has spread worldwide. It is
grown in Florida for its greenish-yellow fruits that are used in preserves
and candy. The Pitanga
or Surinam Cherry, Eugenia uniflora, is grown in Florida
and California for use as a fresh fruit and in jellies and sherbets. The Grumichama, Eugenia dombeyi, The Jambolan
or Java
Plum, Syzygium cumini, and the Chia
or Mountain
Apple, Syzygium malaccensis, are all native to
South Eastern Asia but may be found growing in other tropical countries. Other related species are the Feijoa, Feijoa sellowiana, and the Jaboticaba, Myrciaria cauliflora. The Jaboticaba is a very beautiful tree
native to Brazil. It is frequently
planted as an ornamental. The grapelike
fruits are borne on the branches and trunk and are used for fresh fruit,
jellies, wines and cordials. Jujube, Zizyphus jujuba, is indigenous to
China and has been cultivated there since before 2,000 B.C. It is one of the principal fruits consumed
in China and is also grown elsewhere in the subtropics worldwide. The plant is remarkably free of pests. It is a large bush or small spiny tree
with small dark-brown fleshy drupes that have a white, crisp, rich
flesh. It is consumed fresh, dried or
preserved and is also used in cooking and making candy. Lychee, Litchi chinensis, is indigenous to
Cochin China and Thailand. It has been
an important fruit in Southeastern Asia since before 100 B.C. The plant is now widely grown in the
tropics and subtropics. The tree is
also a valuable ornamental. It
reaches a height of 35-40 ft. and has a broad round-topped crown and leathery
shiny leaves. The fruits are
distinctively round, 1-2 in. in diameter and are borne in loose
clusters. Fruit set can be enhanced
by twisting a thin copper wire around the base of the florescence, but the wires must be removed once the
immature fruits are formed or the tree will die. The pericarp is bright red and leathery, turning brown and
brittle on drying. The translucent
white flesh surrounds a single large seed.
In the dried fruit, the so-called “Litchi Nuts,” the flesh is very
aromatic and has a raisin like consistency.
Litchis produced in China and Taiwan are canned for the export market. Loquat, Eriobotrya japonica, is one of the few tropical
fruits that belong to the Rosaceae, a family which has such a large number of
edible fruits in temperate regions.
The tree is native to China but is now grown in most tropical and
subtropical areas. It has flourished
in California, The Gulf States and Florida.
It is a small evergreen tree with broad leaves and fragrant white
flowers that appear in autumn. The
small, round, downy, yellow-orange fruits area produced in the spring. The flesh is lightly acid and not as sweet
and rich as most tropical fruits. It
is highly valued in the Orient and has been grown there since antiquity. Japan and Australia produce the largest
crop. The fruit is used fresh and is
made into jellies, sauces and pies. Chrysobalanus icaco L occurs on the sandy shores of southern Florida to the West
Indies and Brazil. it has plumlike
fruits that make excellent conserves but which are too acid for consuming
fresh. Mango, Mangifera
indica,
is one of the oldest and most important of tropical fruits. It was cultivated since before 4,000
B.C. It is a sacred tree in
India. Indigenous to Southern Asia,
it is now widely grown in all tropical and some subtropical areas. Mango is one of the few tropical plants
that have been improved under cultivation and there are over 515
horticultural varieties grown. The
tree is a handsome evergreen, reaching 90 ft. in height with small pink
flowers in large panicles. The fruit
is a fleshy drupe with a thick yellowish-red skin and a large seed. The size, shape, and quality mangos vary
greatly. The lengths are 3-5 in. The pulp is orange, yellow or red and when
ripe has a rich, aromatic flavor with a perfect blending of sweetness and
acidity. Young and inferior fruits
are often fibrous and unpleasantly acid. Mangos are of much greater
importance tropical climates than apples are in temperate zones. They furnish food for at least one-fifth of
the world’s inhabitants. Most of the
harvest is consumed fresh. They are
also used in preserves, sauces, and salads and as chutney. They may also be cooked, dried and canned. The related genus Spondias includes three species
that furnish fruits often found in tropical markets. The Golden Apple, Otaheite Apple or Ambarella, Spondias cytherea, is native to the
Society Islands and is cultivated in both hemispheres. Although inferior to the mango, it is
consumed fresh, cooked and in sherbets and beverages. The Yellow
Mombin or Hog
Plum, Spondias mombin, and the Red Mombin or Spanish Plum, S. purpurea, are natives of
tropical America where they are widely distributed as both wild and
cultivated trees. The fruits are
consumed raw, cooked or in jams and jellies. Mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana, has been called The
World’s Best Flavored Fruit. It is
highly valued in areas where it can be grown. Native to Malaya it is common in the East Indies, Cochin China
and Ceylon. It has also spread to
other tropical areas of the world.
The tree is small and rarely exceeds 30 ft. in height. It has deep-green foliage and the fruit is
a dark purple berry, 2-3 in. in length with adherent sepals at the base. The rind is one-half inch thick and the
flesh is so delicate that it melts almost like ice cream. The pulp is white or yellowish, with
crimson veins and exudes a yellow juice of exquisite flavor There are more than 200 species
of Garcinia, about two-third of
which have edible fruits. The Mamey or Mammee Apple, Mammea americana, is a close
Neotropical relative that is an important fruit in the West Indies and
tropical America. The aromatic flesh
is magenta colored with the consistency of an avocado. Olive, Olea europaea, is one of the oldest
of fruits and had been grown from prehistoric time. It is actually used more like a vegetable
and an edible oil, however.
It was known in Egypt in the 17th Century B.C. and is often mentioned
in the Bible and in Roman and Greek writings. It is now cultivated everywhere throughout the tropics and
subtropics. It has been grown in
California since 1769. The tree is a small evergreen
25-40 ft in height with leathery entire leaves. It bears whitish flowers and a one-seeded drupe. The fruit is shiny purplish black when
ripe. Although they live to a great
age under favorable conditions, olive trees require careful cultivation. A deep fertile soil and a temperature
averaging 57 degrees Fahrenheit, and no lower than 14 deg. Fahrenheit
are preferred. Irrigation is often
required for a good crop. Cuttings
propagate the tree. The fruit contains a bitter
glucoside and has to be processed before it is palatable. After a heavy frost some fruits may be
eaten directly from the tree. The
processing is done by pickling and heating with sodium hydroxide. Ripe olives have high food content for
they are one of the few fruits rich in oil.
They are cultivated for eating, but more especially as a source of
olive oil. Green olives are also a
favorite preparation. These are
picked by hand when fully grown but still unripe. They are cleaned, and treated with lye, which softens them and
removes the bitter contents that are present, or merely soaked for a few
weeks in salt solution before being pickled in brine. Stuffed olives, with the pit removed and
replaced by a pimiento or nut, are a familiar product. The best quality olives are grown in the
Mediterranean area, especially Greece and southern Italy. The oil that is extracted from California
grown olives lacks the flavor of that from Mediterranean crops. Papaya, Carica papaya, is indigenous to the
West Indies and Mexico. It is now
grown worldwide in the tropics and subtropics. The fruit is valuable for food and medicinal purposes. The tree is in reality a giant herb that
will grow to 25 ft. in height.
Varieties may be either dioecious or monocious. The straight stem is rather succulent,
with a crown of large deeply 7-lobed leaves and yellow flowers. The fruits are fleshy berries that
resemble melons. They are
yellow-orange in color and may weight up to 20 lbs. They are borne on long stalks just below the crown of
leaves. The growth rate is very rapid
and the yield high and can be grown in subtropical areas with some frost
protection. Papaya is an excellent
breakfast fruit especially when served with the juice of limes. It is also used for salads, pies, sherbets
and confections. Unripe fruits are
cooked like squash or preserved. The
fruit and other parts of the plant contain a latex that is used in
chewing-gum manufacture. One of the
constituents of the latex is a digestive ferment, Papain that
acts on proteins in a manner similar to pepsin. This ferment is important in medicine and is also used for
tenderizing meat. Papaw, Asimina triloba, is native to
temperate North America. The tree is deciduous
with drooping leaves, axillary purple flowers that show before the leaves,
and edible fruits. It grows from New
York to Florida and Texas. American
Persimmon,
Diospyros
virginiana,
is a hardy small tree of the southeastern United States. The fruits ripen after a frost and are of
high quality and delicious flavor.
The unripe fruits are very acid but the ripe fruits do not hold up
well in storage and have more pulp. Japanese
Persimmon,
Diospyros
kaki, is
indigenous to China but has spread from there worldwide. There have been over 810 varieties grown
in Japan. The tree is cultivated in
France and other Mediterranean countries and is common in California,
Florida, Texas and the Gulf States.
It is a large tree, 20 ft or more in height, with orange-red fruits
about 3 in. in diameter. Persimmons
are edible berries with an enlarged calyx at the base. They are consumed fresh or dried. Intestinal allergic reactions may occur in
some who eat this fruit. Pineapple, Ananas comosus, is one of the first
tropical fruits to be grown commercially.
No other tropical crop except rubber has had a more rapid rise in
international commerce. This is due
in large part to good luck and management as well as to its own high quality. Pineapples are indigenous to
Northern South America. It was widely
grown in the West Indies in Pre-Columbian times. Wild varieties still exist in Brazil. The ananas, as they were called, were carried by the Europeans
to the Old World and from there spread all over tropical Asia, Africa, the
East Indies and Polynesia. The plant is a biennial, with a
short stem and rosette of stiff leaves, 3 ft. in length, with spiny tips and
prickly margins (Hill 1952). The
flowers occur in dense beads and are crowned by a tuft of leaves. The large fruits, weighting from 1-20
lbs., are syncarps. These are
multiple accessory fruits formed from the whole inflorescence. The individual ripened ovaries are
embedded in a fleshy mass formed from the bracts, sepals, petals and axis of
the inflorescence. The cultivated
varieties are mostly seedless.
Pineapple is a very dependable crop.
Propagation is by suckers, slips or by planting the crown. They can be grown in a poor dry sandy
soil, but often require iron supplements.
There are many varieties. Few fruits with better flavor or
more wholesome qualities are known.
Besides the content of sugar and fruit acids, a valuable digestive
ferment, Bromelin, is present. Pineapples must ripen on the plant to develop the best
flavor. However, most of the fruits
that are exported are picked before maturity and often tend to be too acid
and are not as full flavored.
Pineapples have been preserved in cans since 1900, either as juice or
slices. A fiber called Piña
is obtained from the leaves. The principal commercial areas are
Hawaii, Central America, the West Indies and Southeast Asia. Garden plantings are common in California,
Florida and some Gulf States. Pomegranate, Punica granatum, is native to
Iran. It has been grown for centuries
and very early spread throughout the Mediterranean region and Southern
Asia. It grew in the Hanging Gardens
of Babylon. The plant is a bush or
low tree with orange-red flowers. The
round berry-like brownish-yellow or reddish fruits are 2-4 in. in diameter
and are crowned with a thick persistent calyx. A leathery rind encloses the pulp with amethyst colored juice
surrounding many seeds. The segments
enclosing the seeds are very bitter so that some experience is necessary in
eating this fruit. Pomegranates are
very refreshing and are used as a table or salad fruit and in beverages. The roots, rind and seeds are
medicinal. In the United States
California, Arizona and New Mexico lead the production. Sapodilla, Achras zapota, is a delicious
dessert fruit of tropical America.
The tree is a stately evergreen, 75 ft. in height, with a dense crown
and horizontal branches. The flowers
are white and the fruit is rough brown and 3-4 in. in diameter. The yellowish-brown flesh is translucent
and very sweet. Young fruits contain
tannin and are unpalatable. The tree
is grown in Florida and in the tropics and subtropics of the Old World. The principal commercial product from this
tree is not the fruit but the milky latex that is the chief source of chicle
for making chewing gum. There are over 400 species in the
family Sapotaceae, most of them being edible. Of these the sapote, star apple and canistel are most
important. Sapote, Calocarpum
sapota,
and other species, are common in Central America and the West Indies. The russet-brown fruit, 3-6 in. long, has
a sweet spicy flesh and is important in the local diet. It is consumed fresh, in salads or as a
conserve. Canistel or
Egg Fruit, Lucuma
nervosa and
other species, is a beautiful tree with orange-yellow fruit and a sweet and
aromatic pulp. Native to Northern
South America, it is cultivated in Brazil and has been naturalized in Florida
and the West Indies. The fruit is
consumed fresh, in salads, or for pies, puddings and jam. Tamarind, Tamarindus indica, may have originated
in tropical Africa or Southern Asia.
It is a large tree, 80 ft. in height, with a dense crown and is often
grown for shade and ornamental purposes in semiarid regions. The fruits are brown pods, 3-8 in.
long. The sour pulp contains 12
percent tartaric acid, 30 percent sugar.
Tamarinds are extensively used in India and the Orient as fresh fruit,
in beverages, for preserving and in medicine. The fruits were used in Europe during the Middle Ages. Tamarinds are common in Florida, the West
Indies and some Gulf States. Bilimbi
and Carambola <Photos> Bilimbi, Averrhoa bilimbi, and Carambola, Averrhoa carambola, are indigenous in
Southeastern Asia but are grown in the tropics worldwide. The small fruits are acid so they are
cooked with sugar before eating. Otaheite or
Star Gooseberry <Photos> Phyllanthus acidus, has yellow cherrylike
fruits that are excellent when eaten with sugar. The small tree is ornamental but has developed wild in Florida and
the West Indies. Governor’s or
Madagascar Plum <Photos> Flacourtia indica is an Asiatic species
with excellent fruits. Carissa grandiflora and other species of
South Africa are spiny ornamentals that are often used as a hedge plant in
subtropical areas. The small scarlet
fruits are consumed raw or cooked or used for jellies and preserves. Malpighia
glabra of
the West Indies is commonly grown from Texas to Northern South America. It has juicy red cherry like fruits that
are high in Vitamin C and are usually cooked or used for beverages. The plants are sensitive to pruning and
will not set fruit if pruning is severely done. Ceriman
or Pine Tree
Fruit <Photos> Monstera deliciosa is an ornamental aroid
often planted in greenhouses. It has
long conelike fruits with a pleasant pineapple-like flavor when ripe. Casimioa edulis is indigenous to the
highlands of Mexico and Central America.
It was introduced into California, the southern United States and the
West Indies. The apple like fruits
have a soft, yellow, sweet, custard like pulp. Proper ripening is required to preclude bitterness. Cyphomandra
betacea,
is native to Peru but it is extensively cultivated throughout the Andean
region. It was introduced into Puerto
Rico and Southeastern Asia. The oval,
reddish-orange fruits are consumed raw or cooked, but do not compete in quality
with bush tomatoes. Naranjilla or Lulu <Photos> Solanum
quitoense
is a robust herb with very large leaves and orange fruits that are produced
in abundance throughout the year. It
is common in the high Andes from Peru to Colombia. The fruit has a very delicious and refreshing juice that is
rich in protein and minerals. |
========================================================================================