Perennial Edible Fruits C2P15

Sclerocarya caffra Sond.
Common names: kaffir plum, cat thorn, marvala plum or nut (English).

Origin: Eastern and southern Africa.

Distribution: Africa, Madagascar, Australia.

Cultural requirements: Tropical and subtropical dry savanna.

Description: Tree. Propagation by seed, cutting. Fruit exterior yellow.

Utilization: Pulp squeezed for juice, sometimes fer-mented. Seed edible. Little known outside Africa. Limited potential.

Reference: Jardin 1967.

Semecarpus anacardium L. f.
Common names: marking nut, oriental cashew (English); bhilarva (India).

Origin: Northern India.

Distribution: Asia, east Africa.

Cultural requirements: Adaptable to variety of tropi-cal and subtropical conditions.

Description: Small to medium tree. Propagation by seed. Fruit 2.5 cm long, exterior black. Enlarged pedicel yellow.

Utilization: Pulp of pedicel roasted. Young fruit pickled. Seed roasted. Limited potential as food crop.

References: Burkill 1935, Dastur 1951.

Spondias cytherea Sonn. (= Spondias dulcis Parkins)
Common names: ambarella, Otaheite apple, golden apple (English); pomme cythère (French).

Origin: South Pacific.

Distribution: Pantropic.

Cultural requirements: Best adapted to hot tropical lowlands with monsoon climate. Tolerant of a variety of soils.

Description: Tree to 15 m. Propagation by seed, cut-tings. Fruit production in 4-5 years from seed, 2-3 years from cuttings. Flowers March-May (Florida). Fruit matures in 200 or more days. Fruit ellipsoid, 5-8 cm long, in clusters of 8-12, exterior yellow.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, cooked in jam, chutney. Green fruit pickled. Flavor sweet to subacid, spicy; wide appeal. Good potential for local culti-vation in Tropics.

References: Molesworth Allen 1967, Ruehle et al. 1958.

Spondias mombin L. (= Spondias lutea)
Common names: hog plum, yellow mombin (English); ciruela, jobo (Spanish); mombin, mombin jaune (French); caja mirim (Portuguese).

Origin: Tropical America.

Distribution: Pantropic.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands with high rainfall or with marked dry season. Tolerant of a variety of soils.

Description: Tree to 10 m or more. Propagation by seed, large cuttings. Fruit production in 4-6 years from seed, 2-3 years from cuttings. Flowers in March-April (Florida). Fruit matures in 180 days. Fruit ellipsoid, 2.5-4 cm long, solitary, yellow exterior.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, used in jellies, sherbets. Flavor sweet, pleasant; general appeal. Good potential for cultivation in lowland Tropics.

References: Fouqué 1974, Ruehle et al. 1958.

Spondias pinnata Kurz
Common names: hog plum (English); ambra (Laos); buah amara (Malaya).

Origin: Tropical Asia.

Distribution: Tropical Asia.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands.

Description: Tree to 8 m. Propagation by seed, cut-tings. Fruit ellipsoid, small.

Utilization: Pulp pickled or used as flavoring in cooked foods. Flavor sour, strong. Little potential for cultivation outside native area.

Reference: Burkill 1935.

Spondias purpurea L.
Common names: red mombin, purple mombin (English); jocote, ciruela roja (Spanish); mombin rouge (French); caja, ciriguela (Portuguese).

Origin: Tropical America.

Distribution: Pantropic.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands, wet to relatively dry. Tolerant of a variety of soils.

Description: Tree to 7 m. Propagation by seed, cut-tings. Fruit production in 4-5 years from seed, 2-3 years from cuttings. Flowers in March-April (Flor-ida). Fruit matures in 120 or more days. Fruit 2.5-5 cm long, solitary; external color red, internal yellow.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, used for beverages, jellies. Flavor sweet, pleasant; general appeal. Good potential for cultivation in lowland Tropics.

References: Fouqué 1974, Ruehle et al. 1958.

Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics