Alok ji , For me, I have seen the following species in India. not sure about other species..
*Annona squamosa* *Artocarpus altilis* *Nephelium lappaceum* *Morinda citrifolia* *Rubus spectabilis* *Aegle marmelos* *Chrysophyllum cainito* *Averrhoa carambola* Bread fruit and Bael (we call it as Koovalam in Kerala) is quiet common here in Kerala. Anyway, I didn't knew that the fruits of Aegle marmelos can be eaten..!!! regards On Mon, Jul 25, 2011 at 12:09 PM, Pinki <[email protected]> wrote: > Fantastic mail Madhvan ji. can you guide me as to how many of these > fruits are available in India....of course not as imported stuff.... > > Alok > > > On Jul 24, 10:55 pm, manudev madhavan <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Got this forwarded mail from my friend.... > > > > *Top 20 Fruits You Probably Don’t Know* > > > > 192 > > I was playing a game the other day, in which you have to come up with > fruit > > that starts with every letter of the alphabet. Apple, banana, cherry…. > and > > that is about where I hit a blank. My epic failure at this game made me > do > > some research and what I discovered was a whole world of delicious > looking > > fruit that I had never even known about! I was completely shocked to find > > that there are actually hundreds of different types of fruit (no need to > > include them all as omissions in the comments), most of which I had never > > even heard of. This list is not to rank the fruit, but rather just to > inform > > you about them. The only fruit on this list I consider ranked is No: 1, > as > > it deserves the spot, in clearly being the coolest fruit on the planet. > How > > many of these exotically delicious fruit have you tried? > > > > *20* > > > > Sugar Apple > > > > *Annona squamosa* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Sugar Apples or Sweetsop, is native to the tropical Americas, but is also > > widely grown in Pakistan, India and the Philippines. The fruit looks a > bit > > like a pine cone, and are about 10 cm in diameter. Under the hard, lumpy > > skin is the fragrant, whitish flesh of the fruit, which covers several > seeds > > inside, and has a slight taste of custard. > > > > *19* > > > > Mammee Apple > > > > *Mammea americana* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Mammee Apple, Mamey Apple or Santo Domingo Apricot is an evergreen tree, > > native to South America, which was introduced to various other regions of > > the world including West Africa and South East Asia. They can also be > found > > in Florida and Hawaii. The Mammee apple is actually a berry and gets up > to > > 20 cm in diameter. It has a thick outer rind, with soft orange to yellow > > pulp on the inside. It usually had one seed in the centre, but larger > fruit > > have been known to carry up to 4. The pulp is sweet and fragrant. > > > > *18* > > > > Cherymoya > > > > *Annona cherimola* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Cherymoya, or custard apple, is a deciduous plant found in the high lying > > mountainous areas of South America. The fruit is vaguely round and is > found > > with 3 types of skin – Impressa (indented), Tuberculate (covered in > nodules) > > or intermediate (a combination of the first two). The flesh inside the > skin > > is very fragrant, white, juicy and has a custard like consistency. It is > > said that the fruit tastes like a combination of banana, passion fruit, > > papaya and pineapple. Mark Twain said in 1866 “ the most delicious fruit > > known to men, cherimoya” > > > > *17* > > > > Platonia > > > > *Platonia insignis* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Platonia or Bacuri is a large tree (reaching 40m) found in the rain > forests > > of Brazil and Paraguay. The fruit become the size of a orange, and have a > > thick yellow peel which oozes a yellow latex when pressed. Inside there > is a > > sticky white pulp, wrapped around several black seeds, which tastes > pleasant > > and has a sweet and sour flavor. > > > > *16* > > > > Cocona > > > > *Solanum sessiliflorum* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Cocona fruit is another tropical fruit found in the mountainous regions > of > > South America. It grows on a small shrub, and can miraculously grow from > > seed to fruit in less than 9 months, after which the fruit will take > another > > 2 months to ripen. The fruit is a berry and comes in red, orange or > yellow. > > It has a similar appearance to tomatoes, and is said to taste like a > mixture > > between tomatoes and lemons. > > > > *15* > > > > Breadfruit > > > > *Artocarpus altilis* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Breadfruit is a large tree, in the mulberry family, found native to the > > Philippines and all the islands in Southeast Asia. The fruit is similar > to > > bananas, as they can be eaten raw when ripe, and cooked when unripe. The > > ripe fruit is soft and sweet, while the unripe fruit is harder and > starchy, > > which is where it got the name breadfruit from, as it tastes similar to > > freshly baked bread when cooked. > > > > *14* > > > > Duku > > > > *Lansium domesticum* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Duku or lungsat are two very similar fruits found throughout Asia. They > come > > from the same family, look and taste identical, with one difference. The > > skin of the lungsat contains a latex substance, which is not poisonous, > but > > causes the skin to stick slightly to the fruit, whereas the duku has no > > latex and the peel is removed with more ease. Inside, the fruit has 5 > > segments, some of which has bitter seeds inside. It is a very sweet fruit > > and can be prepared in a number of different ways, including being canned > in > > syrup or being dried like raisins. > > > > *13* > > > > Safou > > > > *Dacryodes edulis* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Safou is an evergreen tree found in the humid tropical forests of Africa, > as > > far south as Angola, and as far north as Nigeria. The fruits are also > known > > as African pears and are oblong dark blue to violet fruits up to 14cm in > > length, with pale green flesh inside. These fatty fruits have been said > to > > have the ability to put an end to starvation in Africa, as 48% of the > fruit > > is made up of essential fatty acids, amino acids, Vitamins and > > triglycerides. The have estimated that a one hectare plantation would be > > able to produce 7-8 tons of oil, and all parts of the plant can be used. > > > > *12* > > > > Jabuticaba > > > > *Myrciaria cauliflora* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Jabuticaba, or the Brazilian grape tree, is a very strange plant native > to > > the South Eastern parts of Brazil. What makes this plant so strange is > that > > it fruits from its trunk. No, I did not make that up, and no the picture > has > > not been photo shopped. Initially, yellowish white flowers will appear > all > > over the trunk and main branches, these flowers will then turn into > fruit, > > about 3 – 4cm in diameter. Inside the thick purple skin is the soft > > gelatinous flesh of the fruit, along with 1 – 4 black seeds. The fruit is > > sweet and can be eaten as is or made into a wine or liqueur. > Unfortunately, > > the fruit does not keep long when off the tree and will start to ferment > > after about 3 or 4 days. > > > > *11* > > > > Rambutan > > > > *Nephelium lappaceum* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Rambutan is an odd fruit that looks like a furry strawberry from the > > outside, and much like a lychee on the inside. It is native to South East > > Asia, but has been spread and a smaller “wild” version can be found in > Costa > > Rica, where it is called a Chinese sucker. The fruit is an oval shape and > > about 3-6 cm in diameter. Inside the slightly hard, but easily peal able > > skin, you can find a soft fruit that tastes slightly sweet, with a > possible > > sour tinge. > > > > *10*Noni > > > > *Morinda citrifolia* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Noni, otherwise known by many different names around the world, including > > the great moringa, Indian mulberry, dog dumpling and pace, is related to > the > > coffee bean plant and is native throughout South East Asia and > Australasia, > > but is cultivated throughout the tropics. The tree carries fruit > throughout > > the year and the fruit tend to have a very pungent odour when ripening > (also > > known as the cheese fruit or vomit fruit). Despite the smell, the fruit > is > > high in fibre, vitamin A, protein, Iron and calcium, and is the staple > diet > > on many Pacific Islands. The fruit can either be cooked into a stew or > eaten > > raw with salt. > > > > *9* > > > > Marula > > > > *Sclerocarya birrea* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > The Marula is a deciduous tree native to Southern and Eastern Africa. The > > distribution of the tree throughout Africa, follow the migratory patterns > of > > the Bantu people, as it was an important source of food, and they planted > > more trees along their way. The green fruit ripens and turns yellow, the > > white flesh inside is succulent and has a very distinct flavor. After > > falling off the tree, the fruit will start to ferment and these draw in > > animals, like elephants and baboons, for a slightly alcoholic treat. The > > fruit is also used to make a popular liqueur called Amarula, which can be > > found at any duty-free liquor store at airports. > > > > *8* > > > > Salmonberry > > > > *Rubus spectabilis* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Salmonberrys are native to the west coast of North America, stretching > from > > midway through Alaska, all the way down to California. They are found in > > moist forests and create dense thickets. The fruit looks similar to > > raspberries, but are more orange in color. They are sweet when eaten raw, > > but are often processed into juice, wine, candies and jams. > > > > *7* > > > > Salak > > > > *Salacca zalacca* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Salak fruit, also known as the snake fruit, comes from a species of palm > > native to Indonesia. These fruit grow at the base of the palm, and gained > > the name snake fruit from their red brown, scaly skin. The skin is easily > > removed, and inside are 3 white, sweet segments that each contain a large > > black inedible seed. When eaten, the fruit have a slightly acidic but > sweet > > flavor, and the consistency of apples. > > > > *6* > > > > Bael > > > > *Aegle marmelos* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Bael, wood apple or stone apple is a species native to India, but found > > throughout Southeast Asia. Bael is a smooth fruit with a woody peel that > is > > colored yellow, green or grey. The hard, woody, outer peel is so hard > that > > it has to be cracked with a hammer. Inside is an aromatic yellow pulp > with > > several hairy seeds. The flesh can be eaten either dried or fresh. From > the > > fresh fruit, a juice called sharbat can be made, adding water, sugar and > > lime juice to the pulp. It takes just one large fruit to make 6 liters of > > sharbat. > > > > *5* > > > > Star Apple > > > > *Chrysophyllum cainito* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > The Star apple is a fruit native to the low-lying areas of Central > America > > and the West Indies. The underside of the evergreen leaves shine with a > > golden color from a distance, and the tree carries small white to purple > > flowers with a sweet fragrance. The fruit is round, purple and has a > thick, > > latex filled skin. If the fruit is cut horizontally, a clear star pattern > > can be seen in the white purple pulp. The fruit is delicious fresh, with > a > > intense sweet taste. > > > > *4* > > > > Star fruit > > > > *Averrhoa carambola* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Star fruit or carambola is a fruit tree native to the Philippines, but > can > > be found throughout Southeast Asia, East Asia, South America, Florida and > > Hawaii. This fruit has five ridges running down its length, which when > cut > > sideways, makes the star pattern after which it is named. The fruit is > rich > > in Vitamin C, and Antioxidants. The fruit turns a bright yellow when > ripe, > > has a waxy skin and the entire fruit is edible, juicy and crunchy. > > > > *3* > > > > Horned melon > > > > *Cucumis metuliferus* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > The horned melon, also known as African cucumber or jelly melon, is an > > annual vine native to Africa, but can now be found grown in California, > > Australia, New Zealand and Chile as well. When ripe, the melon has a > thick > > spiky yellow outer skin, with bright green, jelly like flesh. The flesh > is > > often compared to the taste of a banana, with the texture of the seedy > part > > of a cucumber or tomato. The thick skin can be eaten and is a good source > of > > vitamin C and fibre. > > > > *2* > > > > Pitaya > > > > *Hylocereus* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > Pitaya, or dragon fruit, is a cactus fruit that can be found throughout > > Asia, Australasia, North America and South America, even though they are > > believed to be native to Mexico originally. There are two main types of > > pitaya, the sour types, typically eaten in the Americas, and sweet types > > found across Asia. The fruit comes in 3 different color varieties, > Labelled > > as red, yellow and Costa Rican pitayas. The “red” fruits are generally a > > bright magenta color on the outside, with yellow flesh. The Yellow Pitaya > is > > yellow inside and out, and the Costa Rican pitayas are magenta on the > > outside and the inside. They smell deliciously fragrant and most have a > > sweet flavor similar to a kiwi fruit. > > > > *1* > > > > Miracle Fruit > > > > *Synsepalum dulcificum* > > > > [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> > > > > The miracle fruit, or sweet berries, is a very strange berry native to > West > > Africa. What makes the fruit strange and miraculous, is miraculin (a > sugar > > substitute), which is found in large quantities in the fruit, combined > with > > a glycoprotein. The fruit itself does not contain a lot of sugar, and > tastes > > only mildly sweet but when eaten, the glycoprotein binds to the tongues > > taste buds, which, for about an hour after eating the fruit, distorts any > > other taste into sweetness. With that effect you could technically eat a > > lemon, and it would taste like a ball of syrup. Although the definite > reason > > for this occurrence is not fully understood, it would seem as if the > > miraculin distorts the shape of the sweetness receptors in the tongue so > > that they pick up on acid instead of sweetness. The sweetness receptors > on > > your tongue then transmit to the brain to taste sweetness when they come > in > > contact with any acidity. In the 70s attempts were made to commercialize > and > > sell the fruit as a diet aid, as it has the potential to turn any meal > > sweet, without affecting your calorie intake. These attempts were > shattered > > when the FDA declared it a food additive, due to pressure from sugar > > companies who could foresee big losses in profits. In the last two years > the > > berries have been making a comeback, by being the guest star of many > tasting > > parties in the states. The berries are dried and exported, and the party > > guests each have one and then taste all kinds of common foods to > experience > > a new taste sensation with every bite. > > > > -- > > *Manudev K Madhavan* > > Junior Research Fellow > > Systematic & Floristic Lab, > > Department of Botany, > > Centre for Postgraduate Studies & Research > > St. Joseph's College, Devagiri > > Kozhikode- 673 008 > > Mob: 9496470738 > -- *Manudev K Madhavan* Junior Research Fellow Systematic & Floristic Lab, Department of Botany, Centre for Postgraduate Studies & Research St. Joseph's College, Devagiri Kozhikode- 673 008 Mob: 9496470738
