Article 24373 of rec.gardens:
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From: Bob.Batson@mtask.omahug.org (Bob Batson)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Tropical Fruits
Message-ID: <66.2cf1edc2@axolotl>
Date: 22 Nov 93 12:55:31 CST
Reply-To: bob.batson@mtask.omahug.org
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ramirez@julia.math.ucla.edu (Alice Ramirez) writes:

 > I have come across a couple fruit species that I have never heard of and
 > would appreciate anyone with information about any of the following, 
 > particularly in regard to eating quality and cultivation requirements:

 > Azanza garckeana (snot apple)
According to _CORNUCOPIA: A Source Book of Edible Plants_ by Stephen
Facciola (ISBN 0-9628087-0-9), this is also known as the RHODESIAN TREE
HIBISCUS. "The sweet, mucilaginous pulp of the fruit is eaten, usually
before it is quite ripe. Dried fruits are used for jellies. Southern
Tropical Africa." The ONLY source I can find is as follows.

        B & T ASSOCIATES                        [CAT - 2 IRC]
        Whitnell House, Fiddington
        Bridgwater, Somerset
        TA5 1JE
        England
        United Kingdom

Oh yes, other reference works to check are _Food from the Veld_ by F.W.
Fox and M.E. Norwood Young, et al (1982, Delta Books, Johannesburg and
Cape Town) and _Plants for Human Consumption_ by Gunther Kunkel (1984,
Koeltz Scientific Books, Koenigstein, Germany).

 > Erythrina latissima (lucky bean)
There's no mention of this particular Latin binomial in _CORNUCOPIA_, but
is described in in _Hortus III_ as a small tree from Southern Africa.
HOWEVER, this might be a plant called Basul or Erythrina edulis, and
described in _Lost Crops of the Incas_ by the National Research Council
(ISBN 0-309-04264-X). See pages 164 to 171.

 > Seminole
This could possibly be the Seminole Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata). It's
described as "Small, globular fruit, 6 to 8 inches in diameter; slightly
furrowed; skin hard, light buff-colored; flesh orange-red, fine-grained,
sweet. Good boiled or steamed, excellent when baked. Stores extremely
well, a waxy covering forming over the fruit. Highly productive vine;
resistant to insects, drought and heavy tropical rains. Adapted to Deep
South growing conditions. Found growing wild in Florida by early explorers
and settlers. Now confined to the remote everglades." For further
information, see "The Seminole Pumpkin" by A.T. Erwin and E.P. Lana.
_Economic Botany_ 10(1): 33-37.

 > Bunchosia
There are 2 plants in this genus. There's Ciruela del monte (Bunchosia
argentea) with reddish-orange fruits that are not very juicy and are about
the size of a quail egg. Also, there's Ciruela verde (Bunchosia armeniaca)
with round, light green to orange fruits that have cream-colored, very
sweet, rather cloying pulp that is eaten out of hand or made into
preserves. For further reading, see:
"Hancornia-Bunchosia" by Crafton Clift. _Rare Fruit Council International
        Newsletter_ 15. 46.
_Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics: An Inventory_ by Franklin W.
        Martin, Carl W. Campbell, and Ruth M. Ruberte. (1987, U.S. Dept.
        of Agric. Handbook No. 642).

 > Sapodilla
Manikara zapota is eaten fresh, preserved, dried, in custards, sherbets,
ice cream, pies and muffins, or made into syrup, jams, or vinegar. The
very young, leafy shoots are eaten raw or steamed. For cultural
information, see:
_Fruits of Warm Climates_ by Julia F. Morton, 1987.
_Manual of Tropical & Subtropical Fruits_ by Wilson Popenoe. 1920
        (Reprinted in 1974 by Hafner Press).

 > Seagrape
Coccoloba uvifera may be eaten out of hand or used for juice, jams, drinks
or syrup. Sea grape jelly has an attractive musky odor. A potent wine of
good flavor can also be made from the fruits. For culture & culinary info,
see:
_The Gardener's Handbook of Edible Plants_ by Rosalind Creasy (ISBN
        0-87156-758-X, Sierra Club Books, 1986), pages 265-266.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
You might also contact:

        RARE FRUIT COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
        c/o Carolyn Welch Betts
        P.O. Box 561914
        Miami, FL 33256

                                  AND/OR

        INDOOR CITRUS & RARE FRUIT SOCIETY
        9283 Mason Avenue
        Chatsworth, CA 91311


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Bob Batson
bob.batson@p3.f322.n280.z1.fidonet.org          |       Primary address
bob.batson@mtask.omahug.org                     |       Backup address
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Under the most controlled conditions, the experimental apparatus will do
exactly as it pleases.




