Tropical fruits & subtropical fruits
Citrus Fruits ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Citrus was domesticated from wild ancestors in Eastern and   Southern Asia in ancient times.ï¿½ Some   species have been cultivated since before 1,000 B.C.ï¿½ They were at times grown for other reasons   than as food.ï¿½ Citron, for example,   was planted in the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon for use in toilet water   and pomades.ï¿½ These fruits were early   introduced into the Mediterranean region where they have always been an   important crop.ï¿½ There are over 100   species of Citrus described, many of which are undoubtedly of hybrid   origin.ï¿½ However, only a few ever   became of commercial importance.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Citrus trees are thorny aromatic with leathery   evergreen leaves that are dotted glandularly.ï¿½ Although they appear simple, they are actually unifoliate   compound leaves with a joint between the leaf blade and the stalk.ï¿½ The white or purplish flowers are   solitary, but produced in great abundance, and they are often very   fragrant.ï¿½ The fruit is a modified   berry known as a hesperidium.ï¿½ This   type has a thick leathery rind with numerous oil glands.ï¿½ The flesh is very juicy with many juice sacs.ï¿½ A notable feature of these   plants is the fact that they do not develop root hairs and are dependent on   mycorrhiza.ï¿½ These are fungi that are   closely associated with the roots and are for the absorption of liquids.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Citrus cultivation is carried out on a large   scale.ï¿½ It is usually grown at sea   level where sufficient moisture is readily available, or under   irrigation.ï¿½ Any well-drained soil,   except an extremely sandy one, is suitable.ï¿½ The various species differ in their resistance to cold, but generally   a temperature ranging from 14-120 deg. Fahrenheit is best.ï¿½ Mostly budding propagates them.ï¿½ The species hybridize readily both in the   wild and in cultivation, and there is a great tendency to form ï¿½sports.ï¿½
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Citrus is grown worldwide although they are tropical   plants so that most of the commercial groves are in subtropical regions.ï¿½ The fruits ripen at different times of the   year depending on the species and variety.ï¿½ Oranges and grapefruit are allowed to ripen on the trees, while lemons   and limes are picked green.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The United States has led the world in the production   of citrus fruits.ï¿½ Florida and   California are the principal states, while Texas, Arizona, Alabama,   Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia have a small acreage.ï¿½ The Mediterranean countries are second   with Spain, Portugal, Italy and Palestine being the most important.ï¿½ The West Indies, Mexico and Central   America are of increasing importance.ï¿½ Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, China and Japan are also   large producers.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Grapefruit and oranges are highly prized as table   fruits.ï¿½ Apart from their   palatability, they constitute a valuable addition to the human diet.ï¿½ All citrus fruits contain considerable   quantities of the essential Vitamin C, the antiscorbutic vitamin, as well as   fruit acids.ï¿½ They are also made into   marmalade and various confections.ï¿½ Canned products, especially in the case of the grapefruit, have been   developed.ï¿½ Both the flesh and the   juice are preserved in this way.ï¿½ Frequently   the juice of citrus fruits is more important than the fruit itself and it is   widely used both in alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.ï¿½ Frozen juice is readily available.ï¿½ The rind of nearly all citrus yields a   valuable essential oil.ï¿½ The dried waste   pulp is an excellent cattle feed.ï¿½ Other by-products include citric acid, various glucosides and pectin.
 
Oranges ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½< Photos >
 
Sweet Orange
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Citrus sinensis is indigenous to Southeastern   Asia, most likely China or Cochin China.ï¿½ It was first cultivated sometime between 1,500 and 1,000 B.C.ï¿½ It arrived in India very early in history   and was carried to Europe by Genoese traders early in the 15th Century.ï¿½ Spain was responsible for its introduction   into America.ï¿½ It reached Florida in   1565 and California in 1769.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The tree is a small evergreen with slender blunt   spines.ï¿½ It grows upward to 20 ft. in   height under cultivation.ï¿½ The leaves   have narrow-winged petioles and the flowers are white and very fragrant.ï¿½ The fruit is almost round, with an   abundant, sweet, solid pulp and spindle-shaped juice sacs.ï¿½ Seeds are usually present but may be   sparse or absent.ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ At first it was grown from seed, but today most plants are budded or   grafted.ï¿½ Several types of sweet   oranges have been developed:ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ This is formed   by the protrusion of additional carpels produced inside the flesh.ï¿½ Oranges contain 5-10 percent sugar, 1-2   percent citric acid and Vitamin C.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ In the United States California leads in the production   of oranges.ï¿½ The cultivation of two   different varieties enables harvest the year round.ï¿½ The most important of these is the Washington   Navel or Bahia Orange .ï¿½ This mostly seedless orange originated in Brazil, but in the   California climate has become the great commercial orange of the world.ï¿½ It is the largest variety, with a thick   bright-orange skin, and bears during the winter months.ï¿½ Another variety, the Robertson Navel has a thin skin but is not as   productive.ï¿½ There is also a Summer Navel Orange that does well in cooler   weather.ï¿½ The three types have   slightly different growth habits, with the Summer Navel being the fastest grower   and very prolific bearer with large fruit.ï¿½ A smaller Valencia Orange , a Spanish type   with seeds is grown in California and also in Florida, Texas, Arizona and   Louisiana.ï¿½ Sweet orange production is   also high in Brazil, Spain, Italy, Palestine and Mexico.ï¿½ In California during the latter 20th   Century some new varieties of Valencia orange were developed that had large   fruits with easily peeled skins.ï¿½ 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.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The principal use of sweet oranges is for fresh fruit   and juice.ï¿½ The peel is candied and   oil of orange is extracted from the rind.ï¿½ This essential oil is used in the perfume and soap industries, in   medicine and for flavoring.ï¿½ Dissolving a small amount of the oil in alcohol makes orange   extract.ï¿½ Orange trees are   occasionally grown for ornamental purposes.
 
Sour Orange
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Sour orange, Citrus aurantium, also called the   Bitter, Bigarade or Seville orange , is also native   to Southeastern Asia.ï¿½ This plant was   brought to Spain by the Arabs in ancient times and was cultivated there   several thousand years before the sweet orange.ï¿½ It is a small tree, 20-30 ft. in height with blunt spines.ï¿½ The petioles have broad wings.ï¿½ The flowers are exceedingly fragrant and   are the source of the oil of neroli, used in perfumery.ï¿½ The large, globose, orange-red fruits are   rough and have a very acid pulp.ï¿½ However, the flesh is of good quality with small spindle-shaped juice sacs.ï¿½ A hollow core develops at the center when   the fruit is ripe.ï¿½ In America the   sour orange is grown chiefly for ornamental purposes and as stock in   grafting.ï¿½ It is grown in Spain   extensively where the fruits are used for marmalade, orangeade and candied   orange peel.ï¿½ The essential oil   obtained from the rind is used in perfumery, medicine, and in the manufacture   of the liqueur Curaï¿½ao
 
Bergamot Orange
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Bergamot Orange, Citrus aurantium subsp.   bergamia, is a small spiny tree with golden-yellow pear-shaped fruit.ï¿½ The pulp is very acid and inedible.ï¿½ This variety is grown in the Mediterranean   region as a source of the essential oil of bergamot.
 
Mandarin Orange
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Mandarin Orange, Citrus reticulata, comprises   the so-called glove oranges:ï¿½ the   orange-yellow mandarins and the reddish-orange tangerines.ï¿½ The tree is native to China and Cochin   China.ï¿½ The small round fruits have a   peel that is easily removed and segments that separate readily.ï¿½ They are widely grown in Japan, South   Europe and the Gulf States of America, mainly Florida, Alabama and   Mississippi.ï¿½ The Satsuma orange is a   small very hardy type with a deep-orange pulp and few seeds.ï¿½ In California during the late 20th Century   several new varieties of mandarin or tangerine had been developed with a   variety of excellent flavors.
 
King Orange
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Often named as a separate species, Citrus nobilis,   the King Orange is probably a hybrid between a sweet orange and a   mandarin.ï¿½ It was introduced into the   United States in 1882.ï¿½ It bears   heavily, is frost tolerant and the sweet slightly acid flesh with broad blunt   juice sacs is very palatable.ï¿½ This fruit   has nevertheless not been very much in demand.
 
Grapefruit ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The origin of the grapefruit, Citrus paradisi,   is somewhat doubtful.ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ Nevertheless, there is the possibility   that it may have been introduced from the Old World.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Grapefruit is a vigorous tree, 20-40 ft. in height with   winged petioles.ï¿½ The round or   pear-shaped, pale-yellow, smooth fruits are produced in clusters.ï¿½ They are the larges of the edible citrus   fruits, weighing from 2-12 lbs. and with a diameter of 4-6 in.ï¿½ The skin is thin with many inconspicuous   oil glands.ï¿½ The flesh is acid or sub   acid and mildly bitter, with large spindle-shaped juice sacs.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The plant was brought to Florida from the West Indies   in 1809 and was used as an ornamental tree until 1880.ï¿½ In the United States Florida, Texas,   Arizona and California produce the major portion of the crop.ï¿½ There are different varieties, with the   Florida Indian River and California Coachella White varieties having the best   quality.ï¿½ The Rio Red Grapefruit with excellent flavor was   developed for South Texas, but it also does very well in Southern   California.ï¿½ The Oro   Blanco variety was developed for Californiaï¿½s cooler climatic zones where   other varieties did not sweeten adequately.ï¿½ Variable acreage occurs in the West Indies, Middle East and South   Africa.
 
Lemon ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Lemon, Citrus limon, is believed to be native to   Southeastern Asia where it has been grown since ancient times.ï¿½ It reached India at an early date as   witnessed by the existence of a Sanskrit word for it.ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ The tree is small, 10-20 ft. in height with short spines and large   white and purple flowers.ï¿½ The small,   light-yellow oval fruits end in a blunt point.ï¿½ The fruit should be picked when yellow when it has peaked in   flavor.ï¿½ However, commercial sources   often pick the fruit green and later it is ripened in storage.ï¿½ lemons contain 1/2 percent sugar and 5   percent citric acid.ï¿½ The juice is   used for lemonade and other beverages and as a flavoring, bleaching agent and   stain remover.ï¿½ Commercial production   is restricted to climates with low-frost winters.ï¿½ California has produced the majority of lemons with Spain and   Argentina following.ï¿½ The rind is the   source of oil of lemon.ï¿½
 
Lime ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Lime, Citrus aurantifolia, was first   domesticated in the East Indies.ï¿½ it   is very susceptible to cold and is a distinctly tropical plant.ï¿½ It is a low straggling shrub or small tree   with numerous very sharp spines and small white flowers.ï¿½ The fruits vary in sice from 1.25 to 3 in.   in diameter depending on the variety.ï¿½ They are thin skinned with an abundant acid pulp and oval pointed   juice sacs.ï¿½ The lime is one of the   sourest fruits and is not eaten directly.ï¿½ it is grown mainly for the juice that is often extracted and shipped   in a raw or concentrated form.ï¿½ Lime   juice is used in beverages, as a source of citric acid and medicinally to   prevent scurvy.ï¿½ Although famous for   the latter purpose, lime juice contains only one-quarter as much Vitamin C as   either grapefruit or oranges.ï¿½ Limes   are grown to some extent throughout the tropics and are of commercial   importance in Egypt, Mexico, The West Indies, Florida and California.ï¿½ The Barss Lime or Tahitian Lime is a large seedless variety that has some   frost resistance.ï¿½ Oil of lime is   expressed from the rind.
 
Kumquat ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Kumquats, Fortunella spp.,   are the smallest of the citrus fruits.ï¿½ They are small evergreen shrubs with white flowers that smell like   ants, and golden-yellow fruits produced in clusters.ï¿½ The fruits vary from 1-2 inches in   diameter with a thick spicy rind, acid flesh and small seeds.ï¿½ They are grown for ornamental purposes and   for their fruit, either eaten whole or preserved.ï¿½ Two species that are commercially grown are F. japonica with globose fruits and F. margarita with oval fruits.
 
Citron
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ï¿½ It is believed to have   originated in Northern India and has long been cultivated in Southeastern   Asia.ï¿½ It was described by   Theophrastus from Babylon (Hill 1952).ï¿½ The citron is a small thorny tree with attractive purple and white   flowers and a fruit that resembles a large lemon.ï¿½ It is fragrant, greenish yellow in color, oblong in shape and   from 6-9 inches in length.ï¿½ The skin   is thick and tough and the acid pulp is low in volume.ï¿½ Commercial citron is the candied   rind.ï¿½ It is prepared by treating the   fruit with brine to remove the bitter oil.ï¿½ This also brings out the flavor and aroma and prevents decay.ï¿½ The rind is then candied in a sugar and   glucose solution.ï¿½ Citron is one of   the best and most expensive of the condiments.ï¿½ Citron is cultivated mainly in Corsica, Sicily, Greece and the   West Indies.ï¿½ The essential oil of   cedrat used in perfumery is expressed from the rind.
 
Shaddock
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Citrus grandis, also known as Pomelo ,   is indigenous to Malaya and Polynesia.ï¿½ Several varieties are grown in Southern Asia.ï¿½ The fruit appears like a grapefruit, but   it is much larger, sometimes growing to the size of a watermelon and weighing   10-20 lbs.ï¿½ It is more pear-shaped,   with larger juice sacs and a hollow core, and it has a coarse thick rind and   thick leathery septa.ï¿½ The reddish   flesh is aromatic and spicy, but quite bitter.ï¿½ Captain Shaddock, for whom it was named, introduced it into the   West Indies.ï¿½ It is believed that the   shaddock gave rise to the grapefruit.
 
Deciduous Orange
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Poncirus trifoliata is indigenous in China and   Japan.ï¿½ It is a low tree with large   spines and trifoliate deciduous leaves.ï¿½ For this reason it was segregated from Citrus.ï¿½ The white flowers are produced before the   leaves.ï¿½ The rough hairy orange fruits   have a bitter, gummy, inedible pulp.ï¿½ The plant is very hardy and is used to form hybrids and as a rootstock   for grafting the other citrus fruits.ï¿½ It has been cultivated as an ornamental as far north as New York.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Efforts to produce edible citrus fruits that are   hardier than oranges led to the formation of many hybrids.ï¿½ Some of these such as the Citrange , a hybrid between the trifoliate and the sweet   orange, may be grown in the Southern United States.ï¿½ 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 ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Banana, Musa paradisiaca subsp. sapientum,   is one of the most important of all tropical fruits.ï¿½ It has spread all over the tropical world   from its original home in the humid tropics of Malaya or India.ï¿½ It is one of the worldï¿½s oldest cultivated   crops.ï¿½ It was important in Assyria in   1,100 B.C., and it was well known to all the other early civilizations.ï¿½ It reached Polynesia at a very early date   and was brought to the West Indies in 1,500.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Banana is one of the tallest of the herbaceous   plants.ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ These may be up to 12 ft. in length and 2   ft in width with a prominent midrib.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ The flower stalk develops from the   rootstalk and pushes its way up through the hollow stem, emerging in the   center of the crown.ï¿½ It soon curves   over owing to its great weight.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ These drooping inflorescences   develop into the ï¿½bunchesï¿½ of bananas.ï¿½ Marketable bunches may weight from 80-140 pounds and consist of from   6-15 clusters, known as ï¿½handsï¿½ or ï¿½combs.ï¿½ï¿½ Usually each hand contains 10-20 individual bananas, or   ï¿½fingers.ï¿½ï¿½ Bunches with as many as 22   hands and 300 individual bananas have been produced, but these are not   common.ï¿½ The fruit of cultivated   varieties is a modified berry and lacks seeds.ï¿½ Wild species do occur that produce normal seeds.ï¿½ As soon as the tree bears it dies or is   cut down, and suckers develop from the rhizome that give rise to new   plants.ï¿½ A single clump may be   productive for several years.ï¿½ Bananas   grow rapidly and have a very high yield.ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ Leading exporters are Jamaica, Mexico, Central America and   Ecuador.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Over 300 varieties of banana are known.ï¿½ Only a few of these reach markets of the   world, the principal type being the Gros Michel.ï¿½ Tropical American markets have about 15 kinds, but the majority   are grown in tropical Asia.ï¿½ There are   other species of banana, one of which, the dwarf banana, Musa nana, is   occasionally exported.ï¿½ This species   is especially important in Southern Asia, Africa and the Pacific   islands.ï¿½ Red bananas, Musa   velutina, are quite common.ï¿½ Musa   cavendishii is a dwarf that is especially suited to home gardens
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Bananas for export are picked and shipped green.ï¿½ When thoroughly ripe, as indicated by   brown blotches on the yellow skin, they constitute a very healthy and   nourishing food.ï¿½ They have a high   content of carbohydrates with some fats and proteins.ï¿½ Their food value is three times that of   wheat.ï¿½ Bananas are usually eaten raw,   but may be cooked, especially when still green.ï¿½ Banana flour is made from dried green fruits.ï¿½ Banana ï¿½figsï¿½ are dried slices of ripe   fruits.ï¿½ A wine is also made from the   ripe fruit
 
Plantain
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Musa paradisiaca is a close relative of the   banana and one of the great food plants of the tropics.ï¿½ Indigenous to Southern Asia, it has   furnished food for the inhabitants since ancient times.ï¿½ There are over 80 varieties; many so old   that seed has never propagated them within recorded time.ï¿½ Plantains are allowed to ripen and then   are always consumed cooked, fried or made into flour and are very digestible.
 
Custard Apples ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½Several tropical American   fruits in the genus Annona have been called Custard Apples.ï¿½ In all species the fruit is a fleshy   syncarp that is formed by the fusion of numerous ripened ovaries and the   receptacle.ï¿½ The family Annonaceae   includes over 600 species most of which have edible fruits.ï¿½ It affords promise for future development.
 
Cherimoya ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Annona   cherimolia is a favorite dessert fruit.ï¿½ It was known from ancient times in the Andes of Ecuador and Peru.ï¿½ It is now grown in Central America,   Mexico, the West Indies, California, Florida, Africa and India.ï¿½ The tree is small and shrubby with very   fragrant flowers that have the odor of tropical fruit such as pineapple and   coconut.ï¿½ The light green fruits are   globular or conical and from 4-10 in. long.ï¿½ The delicious white or yellowish flesh is very aromatic with a soft   and custard like consistency.
 
Sweetsop ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Annona squamosa, also known as Sugar Apple , is indigenous in South America and the West   Indies.ï¿½ The yellowish-green   tuberculate fruit is 2-3 inches in diameter.ï¿½ It has white custard like pulp and is the most highly prized of the   group.
 
Soursop ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Annona muricata, also known as Guanabana , is a small slender tree of the West   Indies.ï¿½ It bears large ovoid spiny   fruit that are deep green in color.ï¿½ Some fruits may weight as much as 8-10 pounds and be a foot in length.ï¿½ The white juicy flesh is very aromatic and   is unrivaled for sherbets and drinks.
 
True Custard Apple ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Annona reticulata, also known as Bullockï¿½s Heart , is very common in the tropics.ï¿½ The fruit is heart shaped, 4-6 in. long   and brownish or reddish in color.ï¿½ The   soft white or cream-colored sweetly aromatic pulp is somewhat glandular   toward the rind and rather insipid and cloying.ï¿½ It is indigenous in the West Indies.
 
Dates ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Phoenix dactylifera is an ancient crop that was   known before 3,000 B.C.ï¿½ Its origin   has been thought to be either in Arabia or India, but it has been   domesticated throughout Southwestern Asia and Northern Africa.ï¿½ It was of great importance in Babylonia   and had reached Egypt long before the Christian era.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The date is a palm tree with slender trunk that can   reach 70-100 ft in height.ï¿½ It   produces offshoots from its base and is therefore often found growing in   clumps.ï¿½ It has a crown of stiff,   pinnate, ascending and descending leaves of 20-20 ft in length.ï¿½ The numerous flowers, sometimes 10,000 to   an inflorescence, are surrounded by a spathe.ï¿½ Male and female flowers are produced on different trees, and in   cultivation 90 percent of the male trees are removed.ï¿½ The fruit is a nearly round drupe or   one-seeded berry.ï¿½ It is hard and   green at first but later turns yellow or red.ï¿½ The flesh is thick and very sweet, soft or dry and hard,   according to the variety.ï¿½ The date   palm is very drought resistant, but in arid regions grows best in areas where   there are springs or subterranean water sources (oases).ï¿½ It often serves as a staple food as well   as the main source of fruits and sugar in dry regions of the world.ï¿½ Typically it is a plant of hot sunny   climates with low humidity.ï¿½ Seeds or   cuttings propagate dates.ï¿½ They are   very long-lived, often reaching an age of over 200 years.ï¿½ There are over 1,000 varieties grown.ï¿½ Unripe fruits are consumed a month or more   before harvest as a crunchy, sweet delicacy.ï¿½ Fruits that are ripened on the tree command a higher price than those   that are picked unripe and subjected to a steam ripening process.ï¿½ Unlike most fruits they have a high food   value, with 54 percent sugar and 7 percent protein as well as pectin and   gums.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Dates are consumed as a table fruit and in jams,   pastes, cooking and alcoholic beverages.ï¿½ In some desert regions there ore more than 800 uses made of this   plant.ï¿½ Every part of the plant is   utilized and the fruits have even served as currency.ï¿½ Iraq has produced over 80 percent of the   commercial crop.ï¿½ Arabia and Northern   Africa are also large producers.ï¿½ Although date palms have been grown in California since the f18th   Century, they did not become commercially important until 1890.ï¿½ By the 21st Century commercial dates,   including over 20 varieties, were being grown in both California and   Arizona.ï¿½ There they are hand   pollinated and the ripening clusters are protected from birds and rain by   special paper sacs.
 
Durian ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½Durian, Duria zibethinus,   is indigenous to Malaya and occurs locally in that area and west to Burma and   south to the East Indies.ï¿½ It is   rarely cultivated.ï¿½ It is a tall   handsome tree that reaches 80 ft in height with large conical spiny fruits,   6-8 in. in diameter.ï¿½ The leaves are   densely covered with golden hairs on their undersides.ï¿½ The flowers are yellow or creamy   white.ï¿½ The custard like flesh has an   exquisite flavor and is at the same time aromatic and sweet with a unique   balsamic taste.ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ Durians are nevertheless highly prized by   people and animals.ï¿½ It has been   associated with rejuvenating powers.
 
Fig sï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The edible fig, Ficus carica, has been under   cultivation since ancient times.ï¿½ It   is indigenous to Southern Arabia and had spread to the Mediterranean region   in prehistoric times.ï¿½ It is often   mentioned in the Bible.ï¿½ Theophrastus   was familiar with many varieties and his ï¿½Enquiry into Plantsï¿½ gives a   detailed account of fig cultivation (Hill 1952).ï¿½ Today figs are grown worldwide where the climate is suitable.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The fig is a shrub or small tree with typically lobed   leaves.ï¿½ The fruit is a synconium, a   fleshy hollow receptacle with a narrow aperture at the tip.ï¿½ The true fruits, which are small achenes,   are borne on short stalks on the inside of the synconium.ï¿½ There are several different kinds of   edible figs:ï¿½ Smyrna, Caprifigs,   Common Figs and San Pedro Figs.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Gigs are used fresh, dried, canned or preserved.ï¿½ A large amount is used in baking and   ground up for fig coffee.ï¿½ Additional to   their food value they have definite laxative properties and are important in   medicine.ï¿½ In the United States most   of the fig crop comes from California and Texas.
 
Common Figs
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ These have no staminate flowers   and thus the fruits develop without pollination and have no seeds.ï¿½ Two crops are produced annually.ï¿½ The first crop (brebas) is larger and   juicier and is usually consumed fresh.ï¿½ They are borne on the old wood.ï¿½ The second crop is produced in the axils of the leaves.ï¿½ They are used fresh or dried.ï¿½ There are over 800 varieties of common   figs.ï¿½ Propagation is by cuttings.
 
Capri Figs
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ These are wild figs that grow   naturally in the Mediterranean region and in Western Asia and are thought to   represent the primitive type.ï¿½ There   is no commercial value for the fruit but cultivation is essential to the   development of the Smyrna fig.ï¿½ The   life history of the Capri Fig is closely related with that of a small wasp, Blastophaga psenes , which affects   pollination.ï¿½ Three crops of fruit are   produced yearly.ï¿½ The spring crop   (profichi) contains staminate flowers and the so-called gall-flowers.ï¿½ These are similar to pistillate flowers   but they have short styled ovaries.ï¿½ The fig wasp enters the young figs and lays eggs in the gall   flowers.ï¿½ After about two months the   new generation of wasps hatches and emerges from the fig, becoming covered   with pollen in the process.ï¿½ By this   time the summer crop of figs (mammoni) has been produced that contain mainly   gall flowers.ï¿½ The wasps enter these   and deposit eggs in most of them.ï¿½ Although the wasp pollinates these, the presence of the larvae   inhibits seed development.ï¿½ Flowers in   which eggs were not placed are able to develop fertile seed.ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ The larvae mature in April when a new crop of profichi figs is ready   to receive the wasps and the annual cycle is resumed.
 
Smyrna Figs
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ There are no staminate flowers produced in Smyrna Figs,   and thus these figs are completely dependent on cross-pollination from Capri   Figs.ï¿½ The process is called Caprification and is carried out artificially.ï¿½ Branches of Capri figs of the profichi   crop are suspended on the Smyrna tree.ï¿½ The wasps on emerging enter the partly developed Smyrna figs and   pollinate them.ï¿½ Unlike the Capri   figs, the ovaries have styles so long that the wasp is unable to deposit eggs   in the correct location.ï¿½ Therefore   the ovules are able to develop normally after fertilization.ï¿½ The wasps then emerge from the fig or die   within the cavity.ï¿½ Smyrna figs have a   superior nutty flavor due to the presence of the fertile seeds.ï¿½ They are the most important commercial fig   and are extensively grown in Asia Minor, Algeria, Greece and some sections of   Portugal and California.
 
San Pedro Figs
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ These are grown in California with   two crops annually.ï¿½ The first   develops without pollination, while the second fails to mature and falls from   the tree, unless it is caprified.
 
Granadilla ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Granadillas are the edible fruits   of several species of passion flower.ï¿½ These are woody tendril-bearing vines with solitary showl flowers and   a many-seeded berry.ï¿½ They are   indigenous to tropical America.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The Purple Granadilla , Passiflora   edulis, is native to Brazil but has been cultivated worldwide.ï¿½ In Australia it is of considerable   economic importance.ï¿½ it is also grown   in Sri Lanka, The Mediterranean area and the southern United States.ï¿½ The flowers are white with a white and   purple crown.ï¿½ The deep-purple fruit   is about 3 in. long and is used as a table fruit and in sherbets, candy and   beverages.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 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 ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Guava, Psidium guajava, is   native to tropical America where it has been cultivated for centuries.ï¿½ It was known to the Incas and had spread   all over tropical America before the European colonization.ï¿½ It is now common in the tropics everywhere   and is of especial importance in Florida and California.ï¿½ The small tree or shrub has white   flowers.ï¿½ The yellow berrylike fruit   is about 4 in. long and has a variously colored flesh.ï¿½ The guava is very aromatic and is sweet   and juicy and highly flavored with a fine balance between the content of   acid, sugar and pectin.ï¿½ It is a rich   source of Vitamins A, B. and C and of ascorbic acid.ï¿½ It is usually used for preserves, pastes   and jellies and for beverages.ï¿½ The   powder from dehydrated fruits is used to fortify other jellies and jams.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Strawberry Guava , Psidium   littorale, is native to Brazil and cultivated elsewhere.ï¿½ It has small red fruits with a very sweet   juicy pulp.ï¿½ They are used fresh or in   beverages.
 
Other   Myrtaceaeï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The family   Myrtaceae, which includes guavas, probably has as many, if not more, species   with edible fruits than any other family.ï¿½ Besides guavas of which there are at least 155 species, there are the   eugenias and syzgiums with almost 700 species.ï¿½ Some of these are of great importance.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The Rose Apple , Syzygium jambos, is indigenous to   tropical Asia but has spread worldwide.ï¿½ It is grown in Florida for its greenish-yellow fruits that are used in   preserves and candy.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The Pitanga or Surinam Cherry , Eugenia   uniflora, is grown in Florida and California for use as a fresh fruit and   in jellies and sherbets.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ Other related species are the Feijoa , Feijoa   sellowiana, and the Jaboticaba , Myrciaria   cauliflora.ï¿½ The Jaboticaba is a   very beautiful tree native to Brazil.ï¿½ It is frequently planted as an ornamental.ï¿½ The grapelike fruits are borne on the branches and trunk and   are used for fresh fruit, jellies, wines and cordials.
 
Jujube ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Jujube, Zizyphus jujuba, is indigenous to China   and has been cultivated there since before 2,000 B.C.ï¿½ It is one of the principal fruits consumed   in China and is also grown elsewhere in the subtropics worldwide.ï¿½ The plant is remarkably free of   pests.ï¿½ It is a large bush or small   spiny tree with small dark-brown fleshy drupes that have a white, crisp, rich   flesh.ï¿½ It is consumed fresh, dried or   preserved and is also used in cooking and making candy.
 
Lychee (Litchi) ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Lychee, Litchi chinensis, is indigenous to Cochin China and   Thailand.ï¿½ It has been an important   fruit in Southeastern Asia since before 100 B.C.ï¿½ The plant is now widely grown in the tropics and   subtropics.ï¿½ The tree is also a   valuable ornamental.ï¿½ It reaches a   height of 35-40 ft. and has a broad round-topped crown and leathery shiny leaves.ï¿½ The fruits are distinctively round, 1-2   in. in diameter and are borne in loose clusters.ï¿½ The pericarp is bright red and leathery, turning brown and   brittle on drying.ï¿½ The translucent   white flesh surrounds a single large seed.ï¿½ In the dried fruit, the so-called ï¿½Litchi Nuts,ï¿½ the flesh is very   aromatic and has a raisin like consistency.ï¿½ Litchis produced in China and Taiwan are canned for the export market.
 
Loquat ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ The tree is native to China but is now grown in most tropical   and subtropical areas.ï¿½ It has   flourished in California, The Gulf States and Florida.ï¿½ It is a small evergreen tree with broad   leaves and fragrant white flowers that appear in autumn.ï¿½ The small, round, downy, yellow-orange   fruits area produced in the spring.ï¿½ The flesh is lightly acid and not as sweet and rich as most tropical   fruits.ï¿½ It is highly valued in the   Orient and has been grown there since antiquity.ï¿½ Japan and Australia produce the largest crop.ï¿½ The fruit is used fresh and is made into   jellies, sauces and pies.
 
Coco Plum ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Chrysobalanus icaco L occurs on the sandy shores   of southern Florida to the West Indies and Brazil.ï¿½ it has plumlike fruits that make excellent conserves but which   are too acid for consuming fresh.
 
Mango ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Mango, Mangifera indica, is one of   the oldest and most important of tropical fruits.ï¿½ It was cultivated since before 4,000 B.C.ï¿½ It is a sacred tree in India.ï¿½ Indigenous to Southern Asia, it is now   widely grown in all tropical and some subtropical areas.ï¿½ Mango is one of the few tropical plants   that have been improved under cultivation and there are over 515   horticultural varieties grown.ï¿½ The   tree is a handsome evergreen, reaching 90 ft. in height with small pink flowers   in large panicles.ï¿½ The fruit is a fleshy   drupe with a thick yellowish-red skin and a large seed.ï¿½ The size, shape, and quality mangos vary   greatly.ï¿½ The lengths are 3-5 in.ï¿½ The pulp is orange, yellow or red and when   ripe has a rich, aromatic flavor with a perfect blending of sweetness and   acidity.ï¿½ Young and inferior fruits   are often fibrous and unpleasantly acid.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Mangos are of much greater importance among tropical   fruits than apples are among temperate fruits, and they furnish food for at   least one-fifth of the worldï¿½s inhabitants.ï¿½ Most of the harvest is consumed fresh.ï¿½ They are also used in preserves, sauces, and salads and as   chutney.ï¿½ They are also cooked, dried   and canned.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The related genus Spondias includes three   species that furnish fruits often found in tropical markets.ï¿½ The Golden Apple , Otaheite Apple or Ambarella , Spondias   cytherea, is native to the Society Islands and is cultivated in both   hemispheres.ï¿½ Although inferior to the   mango, it is consumed fresh, cooked and in sherbets and beverages.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½The 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.ï¿½ The fruits are   consumed raw, cooked or in jams and jellies.
 
Mangosteen ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana, has been called   The Worldï¿½s Best Flavored Fruit.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ It   is highly valued in areas where it can be grown.ï¿½ Native to Malaya it is common in the East Indies, Cochin China   and Ceylon.ï¿½ It has also spread to   other tropical areas of the world.ï¿½ The tree is small and rarely exceeds 30 ft. in height.ï¿½ It has deep-green foliage and the fruit is   a dark purple berry, 2-3 in. in length with adherent sepals at the base.ï¿½ The rind is one-half inch thick and the   flesh is so delicate that it melts almost like ice cream.ï¿½ The pulp is white or yellowish, with   crimson veins and exudes a yellow juice of exquisite flavor
 
Mamey ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ There are more than 200 species of Garcinia,   about two-third of which have edible fruits.ï¿½ The Mamey or Mammee Apple, Mammea americana, is a close   Neotropical relative that is an important fruit in the West Indies and   tropical America.ï¿½ The aromatic flesh   is magenta colored with the consistency of an avocado.
 
Olive ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Olive, Olea europaea, is one of the oldest of   fruits and had been grown from prehistoric time.ï¿½ It is actually used more like a vegetable and an edible oil , however.ï¿½ It was known in Egypt in the 17th Century   B.C. and is often mentioned in the Bible and in Roman and Greek   writings.ï¿½ It is now cultivated   everywhere throughout the tropics and subtropics.ï¿½ It has been grown in California since 1769.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The tree is a small evergreen 25-40 ft in height with   leathery entire leaves.ï¿½ It bears   whitish flowers and a one-seeded drupe.ï¿½ The fruit is shiny purplish black when ripe.ï¿½ Although they live to a great age under favorable conditions,   olive trees require careful cultivation.ï¿½ A deep fertile soil and a temperature averaging 57 degrees Fahrenheit,   and no lower than 14 deg. Fahrenheit are preferred.ï¿½ Irrigation is often required for a good crop.ï¿½ Cuttings propagate the tree.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The fruit contains a bitter glucoside and have to be   processed before they are palatable.ï¿½ After a heavy frost some fruits may be eaten directly from the tree.ï¿½ The processing is done by pickling and   heating with sodium hydroxide.ï¿½ Ripe   olives have high food content for they are one of the few fruits rich in   oil.ï¿½ They are cultivated for eating,   but more especially as a source of olive oil.ï¿½ Green olives are also a favorite preparation.ï¿½ These are picked by hand when fully grown   but still unripe.ï¿½ They are cleaned,   heated with lye, which softens them and removes the bitter contents that are   present, and pickled in brine.ï¿½ Stuffed olives, with the pit removed and replaced by a pimiento or   nut, are a familiar product.ï¿½ The best   quality olives are grown in the Mediterranean area, especially Greece and   southern Italy.ï¿½ The oil that is   extracted from California grown olives lacks the flavor of that from   Mediterranean crops.
 
Papaya ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Papaya, Carica papaya, is indigenous to the West   Indies and Mexico.ï¿½ It is now grown   worldwide in the tropics and subtropics.ï¿½ The fruit is valuable for food and medicinal purposes.ï¿½ The tree is in reality a giant herb that   will grow to 25 ft. in height.ï¿½ Varieties may be either dioecious or monocious.ï¿½ The straight stem is rather succulent,   with a crown of large deeply 7-lobed leaves and yellow flowers.ï¿½ The fruits are fleshy berries that   resemble melons.ï¿½ They are   yellow-orange in color and may weight up to 20 lbs.ï¿½ They are borne on long stalks just below the crown of   leaves.ï¿½ The growth rate is very rapid   and the yield high.ï¿½ Papaya is an   excellent breakfast fruit especially when served with the juice of   limes.ï¿½ It is also used for salads,   pies, sherbets and confections.ï¿½ Unripe fruits are cooked like squash or preserved.ï¿½ The fruit and other parts of the plant   contain a latex that is used in chewing-gum manufacture.ï¿½ One of the constituents of the latex is a   digestive ferment, Papain that acts on proteins in a   manner similar to pepsin.ï¿½ This   ferment is important in medicine and is also used for tenderizing meat.ï¿½
 
Papaw
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Papaw, Asimina   triloba, is native to temperate North America.ï¿½ The tree is deciduous with drooping leaves, axillary purple   flowers that show before the leaves, and edible fruits.ï¿½ It grows from New York to Florida and   Texas.
 
Persimmon ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ American Persimmon , Diospyros   virginiana, is a hardy small tree of the Eastern United States.ï¿½ The fruits ripen after a frost and are of   high quality and delicious flavor.ï¿½ The unripe fruits are very acid but the ripe fruits do not hold up   well in storage and have more pulp.ï¿½
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Japanese Persimmon , Diospyros   kaki, is indigenous to China but has spread from there worldwide.ï¿½ There are over 810 varieties grown in   Japan.ï¿½ The tree is cultivated in   France and other Mediterranean countries and is common in California,   Florida, Texas and the Gulf States.ï¿½ It is a large tree, 20 ft or more in height, with orange-red fruits   about 3 in. in diameter.ï¿½ Persimmons   are edible berries with an enlarged calyx at the base.ï¿½ They are consumed fresh or dried.ï¿½ Intestinal allergic reactions may occur in   some who eat this fruit.
 
Pineapple ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Pineapple, Ananas comosus, is one of the first   tropical fruits to be grown commercially.ï¿½ No other tropical crop except rubber has had a more rapid rise in   international commerce.ï¿½ This is due in   large part to good luck and management as well as to its own high quality.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Pineapples are indigenous to Northern South   America.ï¿½ It was widely grown in the   West Indies in Pre-Columbian times.ï¿½ Wild varieties still exist in Brazil.ï¿½ 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.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 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).ï¿½ The flowers occur in dense   beads and are crowned by a tuft of leaves.ï¿½ The large fruits, weighting from 1-20 lbs., are syncarps.ï¿½ These are multiple accessory fruits formed   from the whole inflorescence.ï¿½ The   individual ripened ovaries are embedded in a fleshy mass formed from the   bracts, sepals, petals and axis of the inflorescence.ï¿½ The cultivated varieties are mostly   seedless.ï¿½ Pineapple is a very   dependable crop.ï¿½ Propagation is by   suckers, slips or by planting the crown.ï¿½ They can be grown in a poor dry sandy soil, but often require iron   supplements.ï¿½ There are many   varieties.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Few fruits with better flavor or more wholesome   qualities are known.ï¿½ Besides the   content of sugar and fruit acids, a valuable digestive ferment, Bromelin , is present.ï¿½ Pineapples must ripen on the plant to develop the best flavor.ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ Pineapples have   been preserved in cans since 1900, either as juice or slices.ï¿½ A fiber called Piï¿½a is   obtained from the leaves.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ The principal commercial areas are Hawaii, Central   America, the West Indies and Southeast Asia.ï¿½ Garden plantings are common in California, Florida and some Gulf   States.ï¿½
 
Pomegranate ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Pomegranate, Punica granatum, is native to   Iran.ï¿½ It has been grown for centuries   and very early spread throughout the Mediterranean region and Southern   Asia.ï¿½ It grew in the Hanging Gardens   of Babylon.ï¿½ The plant is a bush or   low tree with orange-red flowers.ï¿½ The   round berry-like brownish-yellow or reddish fruits are 2-4 in. in diameter   and are crowned with a thick persistent calyx.ï¿½ A leathery rind encloses the pulp with amethyst colored juice   surrounding many seeds.ï¿½ The segments   enclosing the seeds are very bitter so that some experience is necessary in   eating this fruit.ï¿½ Pomegranates are   very refreshing and are used as a table or salad fruit and in beverages.ï¿½ The roots, rind and seeds are   medicinal.ï¿½ In the United States   California, Arizona and New Mexico lead the production.
 
Sapodilla ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Sapodilla, Achras zapota, is a delicious dessert   fruit of tropical America.ï¿½ The tree   is a stately evergreen, 75 ft. in height, with a dense crown and horizontal   branches.ï¿½ The flowers are white and   the fruit is rough brown and 3-4 in. in diameter.ï¿½ The yellowish-brown flesh is translucent and very sweet.ï¿½ Young fruits contain tannin and are   unpalatable.ï¿½ The tree is grown in   Florida and in the tropics and subtropics of the Old World.ï¿½ 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.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ There are over 400 species in the family Sapotaceae,   most of them being edible.ï¿½ Of these   the sapote, star apple and canistel are most important.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Sapote , Calocarpum   sapota, and other species, are common in Central America and the West   Indies.ï¿½ The russet-brown fruit, 3-6   in. long, has a sweet spicy flesh and is important in the local diet.ï¿½ It is consumed fresh, in salads or as a   conserve.
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Canistel or Egg Fruit , Lucuma nervosa and other   species, is a beautiful tree with orange-yellow fruit and a sweet and   aromatic pulp.ï¿½ native to Northern   South America, it is cultivated in Brazil and has been naturalized in Florida   and the West Indies.ï¿½ The fruit is   consumed fresh, in salads, or for pies, puddings and jam.
 
Tamarind ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Tamarind, Tamarindus indica, is believed to have   originated in tropical Africa or Southern Asia.ï¿½ 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.ï¿½ The fruits are brown pods, 3-8 in.   long.ï¿½ The sour pulp contains 12   percent tartaric acid, 30 percent sugar.ï¿½ Tamarinds are extensively used in India and the Orient as fresh fruit,   in beverages, for preserving and in medicine.ï¿½ The fruits were used in Europe during the Middle Ages.ï¿½ Tamarinds are common in Florida, the West   Indies and some Gulf States.
 
Bilimbi and Carambola ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Bilimbi, Averrhoa bilimbi, and Carambola, Averrhoa   carambola, are indigenous in Southeastern Asia but are grown in the   tropics worldwide.ï¿½ The small fruits   are acid so they are cooked with sugar before eating.
 
Otaheite or Star Gooseberry ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Phyllanthus acidus, has yellow cherrylike fruits   that are excellent when eaten with sugar.ï¿½ The small tree is ornamental but has developed wild in Florida and the   West Indies.
 
Governorï¿½s or Madagascar Plum ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Flacourtia indica is an Asiatic species with   excellent fruits.
 
Natal Plum ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Carissa grandiflora and other species of   South Africa is a spiny ornamental that is often used as a hedge plant in   subtropical areas.ï¿½ The small scarlet   fruits are consumed raw or cooked or used for jellies and preserves.
 
Barbados Cherry ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Malpighia glabra of the West Indies is commonly grown   from Texas to Northern South America.ï¿½ It has juicy red cherrylike fruits that are usually cooked or used for   beverages.ï¿½ï¿½
 
Ceriman or Pine Tree Fruit ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Monstera deliciosa is an ornamental aroid often planted   in greenhouses.ï¿½ It has long conelike   fruits with a pleasant pineapple-like flavor when ripe.
 
White Sapote ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Casimioa   edulis is indigenous to the highlands of Mexico and Central America.ï¿½ It was introduced into California, the   southern United States and the West Indies.ï¿½ The apple like fruits have a soft, yellow, sweet, custard like pulp.
 
Tree Tomato ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Cyphomandra betacea, is   native to Peru but it is extensively cultivated throughout the Andean   region.ï¿½ It was introduced into Puerto   Rico and Southeastern Asia.ï¿½ The oval,   reddish-orange fruits are consumed raw or cooked.
 
Naranjilla or Lulu ï¿½ < Photos >
 
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Solanum quitoense is a   robust herb with very large leaves and orange fruits that are produced in   abundance throughout the year.ï¿½ It is   common in the high Andes from Peru to Colombia.ï¿½ The fruit has aï¿½ very delicious   and refreshing juice that is rich in protein and minerals.