Rambutan Fruit, Fruits name starts with the letter R

Rambutan Fruit

Rambutan [The “Hairy” Fruit]

Scientific Name:  Nephelium lappaceum (Sapindaceae).

Origin: A native of Malaysia and Indonesia.

Other names: Ramboutan, ramboutanier, ramboetan, ramboostan, shao tzu, chom chom, vai thieu, ser mon, chle sao mao.

Distribution:  Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Burma, SriLanka, Central America, Philippines, Hawaii, Madagascar, Africa, Cambodia and Caribbean islands also produce rambutan.

This fruit colour may also be orange, red or yellow

There are other local names in the various dialects of Southeast Asia and the East Indies.   Rambutan is commonly marketed all over Malaysia, Indonesia and Southeast Asian countries and is recognized by different names in certain countries.

The rambutan is a medium sized tree producing a red, orange or yellow fruit round to oval in shape. Its thin, leathery rind is covered with tubercles from each of which extends a soft, fleshy, red, pinkish, or yellow spine The fruit is oval-shaped and approximately 1 - 2 inches long. It is an evergreen tree growing to a height of 5–10 m (grafted tree).

Rambutan fruit is a tropical fruit that is known as one of the best fruit from Southeast Asian that has a delicious taste and benefits of good health to the body. Rambutan fruit inIndonesia, Philippines, and Malay literally means hairy caused by hair that covers this fruit. The fruit is usually sold fresh, used in making jams and jellies, or canned.

The term rambutan is derived from the Malay word “hair”, which describes the numerous, characterizing, long, soft, red or red and green colored spine-like protuberances on the surface of the peel. The pericarp of this attractive oval-shaped fruit can be red, orange, or yellow in color and is removable by a twist of the hands. The edible, pearlish white, juicy, crispy, sweet and sub-acid flavored flesh conceals a single seed with a thin, fibrous seed coat.

The rambutan is not a well-known fruit, but it has great potential for its establishment and development because of the good agro-ecological conditions for its production.

The rambutan skin, which may be yellow, orange or red when ripe, is covered with many curved or fleshy whiskers, giving the fruit a hairy appearance. The fruit is usually oval to round and are borne on bunches. The skin separates easily from the flesh. Rambutan flesh is firm, white and translucent and is sweet and juicy. Preferred varieties have flesh that does not stick to the skin of the seed.

Fruits name starts with the letter " U "

Ugli fruit

This is a fruit of many names - Uniq Fruit, Unique Fruit, and Ugli Fruit.

Ugli fruits are also called “ Exotic tangelos ”.

In Jamaicathey pronounce it as “hugli” or “hoo-glee” and worldwide the fruit is called “uh-glee.”

This is a Jamaican citrus fruit that was created by hybridizing a grapefruit with a tangerine. Its name derives from the unsightly appearance of its rough, wrinkled, greenish-yellow skin that is loosely wrapped around an orange pulpy citrus fruit inside. The green surface blemishes turn orange or yellow when the fruit is ripe.  Ugli fruits are larger than grapefruits and they have fewer seeds. Ugli fruits are also called “exotic tangelos”.

UGLI is the registered trade mark under which Cabel Hall Citrus Ltd.  Headquartered in George Town, Grand Cayman, in the Cayman Islands, markets its brand of tangelos from Jamaica. This tangelo is a variety of citrus fruit grown exclusively in Jamaica and exported by Trout Hall Ltd. to markets all over the world. It was discovered growing wild in Jamaicaover 80 years ago and has been developed by the family of the owners of Trout Hall Ltd. into the commercial variety now in production. The original tree is believed to have been a hybrid formed from the Seville orange, the grapefruit and the tangerine (mandarin) families. Since 1924 when it was first discovered several improved scions have been used by Trout Hall Ltd. to produce the current variety which is so popular.

The fruit is large, ranging in diameter from 10 cm to 15 cm.   The colour varies from green to greenish-yellow, to yellow, and some even orange. It is widely cultivated for their juicy edible fruits which have tough aromatic rinds. The taste is more likely to be a lemon-tangerine hybrid.

For more information and images go to the link -- Ugli Fruit 

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Fruits name starts with the letter " S "

STRAWBERRY

About Strawberry

Strawberry fruit (commonly known as strawberries) is an aggregate accessory fruit of the Fragaria genus of plants in the family Rosaceae. An accessory fruit (or often called spurious fruit / false fruit / pseudocarp) is a fruit in which the fleshy part is derived not from the plant's ovaries (achenes) but from the receptacle that holds the ovaries. Because of that, strawberries are not called true berries. The strawberry is also termed an aggregate fruit because it is formed from many separate carpels of a single flower. Other aggregate fruits are raspberry and blackberry. More than 20 different Fragaria species are found worldwide. The most common strawberries grown commercially are cultivars of the garden strawberry, a hybrid known as Fragaria ananassa. Strawberry fruit has a bright red color, juicy texture, sweetness, and characteristic aroma. 

It is a very beautiful berry fruit. The interesting thing about Strawberry is its seed are on the outer side of the fruit. It is a red coloured human heart shaped berry fruit. It did not need a lot of water to grow. There is a story behind the name of this fruit. . When little boys of nearby areas went to play in the plane grounds, sometimes they found the plants of Strawberry. Boys pluck the berries in raw form and hide them in the straws. After some days they check them then they find them ripen red colored juicy berries. For that, now everyone knows this fruit as the name of strawberry. The berry which ripen in the straws. It is very sensitive fruit. It can not live without very cool temperature. In the early time of its discovery there was very short varieties of Strawberry but now with the time there are a lot of varieties of Strawberries which are different in colour shape and taste also.

Strawberries are well suited for planting in the home garden since they produce fruits very quickly, and require a relatively small amount of space.  Each plant may produce up to one quart of fruit when grown in a matted row during the first fruiting year. Twenty-five plants will normally produce enough strawberries for an average sized family. Production usually declines during the second and third years of fruiting; therefore a new planting should be established after strawberry plants produce fruits for more than 3 to 4 years for maximum production.

While there are more than 600 varieties of strawberries that differ in flavour, size and texture, one can usually identify a strawberry by its red flesh that has small seeds piercing its surface, and a small, regal, green leafy cap and stem that adorn its crown. Most commercially grown strawberries come from the genus-species Fragaria ananassa. Cultivation of this particular genus-species has been taking place for nearly 300 years. Much older still, however, are wild strawberries that typically below to the genus-species Fragaria vesca. Wild strawberries are known to have existed for more than 2,000 years. While typically smaller in size than cultivated strawberries, wild strawberries often feature a more intense flavour. 

No wonder if strawberries are the most popular type of berry fruit in the world. This healthy edible fruit contains antioxidants that provide protection by neutralizing free radicals. Many sources also note that after raspberries and grapes, strawberries also rank as the best fruit source of manganese among the World's Healthiest Foods. They are extensively used in food stuffs ice-creams, jams, jellies, squashes, syrups, confectionaries, bakeries, chocolates and even medicines for their extraordinarily rich flavour, taste and colour. They are also consumed fresh.  All fruits, particularly berries and those with exotic colours are rich in anti oxidants. Strawberries are no exceptions. In addition to anti oxidants, they have many other nutrients and can be efficiently used to prevent many diseases.

The best-tasting strawberries are the most eye-catching: vibrant red with no mushy-looking or dark spots. Fine strawberries are aromatic, plump and firm.

Since they are very perishable, strawberries should not be washed until right before eating or using in a recipe. Do not remove their caps and stems until after you have gently washed the berries under cold running water and patted them dry. This will prevent them from absorbing excess water, which can degrade strawberries' texture and flavour. To remove the stems, caps and white hull, simply pinch these off with your fingers or use a paring knife.

Strawberry Cultivation

Strawberry cultivars vary widely in size, shape, color, foliage, flavour, degree of fertility, and more. There are several cultivation models of strawberry cultivation such as a garden using the plasticulture method, a perennial system of matted rows or mounds, and grown in compost socks. The bulk of modern commercial production uses the plasticulture system. Strawberries can be grown indoors in strawberry pots, and also be propagated by seed which is not widely practiced commercially. Strawberries can be grown almost anywhere including as a potted plant. Planting strawberries needs somewhat sandy soil and preferably in full sun. During the time that the plant is forming fruit, enough water is needed.

Strawberries are very good for skin. It is very good for balancing the PH level of skin. The skin which shows pale colour, strawberry fruit-mask repairs it. Skin get glow and get pink texture after using strawberry mask.  Paste of strawberry with its seeds is a very good scrub for skin. The phenol in strawberry is very effective for skin it repairs tan skin, it reduce acne spots, it reduce freckles on skin and nourishes elastic collagen cells of the outer layer of the face skin. 

A key part of the health benefits of strawberries is this fruit’s high water content. Like many nutritious fruits, strawberries are composed of more than 75 percent water. This means that by eating strawberries, feel fuller on a smaller amount of calories than foods with less water content. Strawberries, therefore, are an excellent food for losing weight or maintaining your current weight. Another health benefit to strawberries’ high water content is that they help keep your skin hydrated, which leads to healthy, glowing skin. Hydration can also help you stay energized and satisfied throughout the day.

For more information and images -- go to  the link ---    Strawberry fruit




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Fruits name starts with the letter " A "

Abiu fruit, Acai fruit


1. Abiu  Fruit 

Abiu  Fruit - Emperor's Golden Fruit

Abiu is an attractive, bright yellow fruit with a sweet, caramel flavoured, creamy-white pulp.

The fruit is round to oval in shape, sometimes pointed, with smooth bright yellow skin. It has creamy sweet, succulent flesh which tastes like mango mixes with persimmon. Cut in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. A young grafted plant grows in abundant sun light can expect first harvest in about 18 months. It is a hardy plant and needs very little care. It bears fruits all year round. This is a garden plant, it provides shade as well as fruits to eat. The tree is best grown in the ground as the roots are 'friendly'. It does not damage adjacent cemented area after years of growing.

It has successfully grown and marketed the fruit in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. The fruit was renamed “Wong Kum Kuo” which means Emperor’s Golden Fruit and it was very well received by consumers in the region.

Abiu fruit tree originates from the Amazon. 

This fruit is a berry, with a smooth, leathery skin, 3-5 mm thick, containing an irritant latex when the fruit is green. When mature the fruit turns bright yellow. It varies in shape from ellipsoidal to spherical and may have a pointed end (nipple). It is 60-100 mm in diameter and weighs 100-600 gm, with some fruit reaching 1,500 gm. A yield of 10-30 kg/tree/year may be obtained from three year old trees and up to 200 kg/tree/year from older trees. At spacings of 200 trees/ha (10 m by 5 m ) yields of up to 40 tons/ha /year can be obtained.

The flesh is soft, gelatinous, translucent-white and each fruit has 1-4 large dark brown seeds. Abiu is eaten slightly chilled by halving the fruit and scooping out the flesh or by cutting the fruit into segments and eating alone or in a fruit salad. It can also be used for juice and in ice-cream. The fruit is rich in vitamins and minerals: thiamine 0.2 mg, ribiflavin 0.2 mg, niacin 3.4 mg, vitamin C 49 mg, calcium 22 mg and iron 1.8 mg.

 THE TREE

Abiu is an evergreen tree, reaching heights of five to fifteen metres in its natural habitat. The commercial varieties are usually less than 7 m high. It has alternate, longish, leathery leaves with a short stalk, arranged spirally on the branch. The flowers are small and white and appear singly or in clusters at the axil of the leaf or leaf scar, and a branch may have up to 280 flowers. They open in the morning. They are usually cross pollinated by insects. In Queensland (Queensland is a state of Australia)  flowering occurs three times a year and may overlap with fruit set, but in the Northern Territory two flowerings are usual, in February-March and July-August. Abiu does not appear to need a dry period to trigger flowering.

The tree grows best in tropical areas and in places that have a warm moist climate all year long. Propagation is nearly always by seeds. The new seeds will germinate quickly if they are fresh. After the seeds are planted, the tree will bear fruit in three or more years. Grafting and air layering will also be used to reproduce the upper strains of the plant.

The tree that has just been planted will be fragile and needs protection from wind and cold weather. It only requires light pruning and should be fed frequently, but lightly.

For more information and images go to the link --  Abiu  Fruit

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2.  Acai  Fruit

Acai  Fruit ( acai berry )

Acai is a palm tree that grows naturally in Central and South America. This palm is particularly abundant in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil and produces a fruit berries. The Acai fruit is a staple diet of members of indigenous tribes of the Amazon. The Acai palm and Acai berry fruit can be found as far north as Belize (Belize City is the largest city in the Central American nation of Belize ), where it grows in swamps and along the flood plains. The Acai berry has recently become an important component of the local economy in these regions. Since the rise of popularity of the Acai fruit, now the trees are grown specifically for harvest and export.

It is a small round black purple, grape-sized that is grown in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil. The fruit has a single large seed about 0.25-0.40 inches (7-10mm) in diameter. Acai Berry ripe fruits are deep purple color, or violet, depending on the type of acai berry as well as its maturity, depending on the species and the exact conditions under which it is grown. The Acai fruit has a large pit which is about 80 percent of the mass. They grow on the trees that produce special called panicles of 500 to 900 fruits each.  The endocarp of the acai berry fruit takes approximately 80% of the fruit while the mesocarp that contains the pulp which is uniform thickness. For the Amazon people of Brazil, Acai Berries are a very important food component, it occupies up to 42% of the total food intake by weight and the juice and pulp of acai berry have been seen to be very useful fruit and is used in various juice blends, smoothies, sodas, and different beverages. The juice has also been used in a flavored liqueur.

 It is the fruit of a palm tree that grows in the Amazon rain forests of Brazil.  Two or three crops of fruit are produced each year.  The Acai fruit is loaded with antioxidants that protect health and give energy. In fact, it delivers 33 times more antioxidant power than both red grapes and red wine. The Acai Fruit also contains amino acids, important vitamins and trace minerals. Since acai loses it’s nutritional value rapidly after harvesting, outside the growing region, popular forms of acaí are frozen, dried or freeze-dried.  Several companies now manufacture juices, health drinks, and sorbets with these little berries (often times with other berries and fruits included with it).

For mor information and images go to the link -- >  Acai fruit



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Fruits name starts with the letter " W "

Watermelon

Scientific name      :   Citrullus lanatus

English                  :   Watermelon

Origin                    :   Southern Africa

Distribution            :    Now grown in most tropical and sub-tropical regions  of the world.  
                                 

Watermelon fruit is very large, smooth, and oval to round. The big round or oval fruits have a thick rind and a fleshy center, usually with many dark brown to black seeds. The skin can be solid green or green striped with yellow. The flesh inside is usually red, but color variations include type with yellow, pink, white or orange flesh.  Seedless varieties also exist. There are more than 1200 varieties of watermelon, ranging in weight from less than a pound to more than two hundred pounds, depending on the variety. [1 lb = 0.4536 kg ].

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus, family Cucurbitaceae) is both a fruit and a vegetable and plant of a vine-like (climber and trailer) herb originally from southern Africa and one of the most common type of melon. Watermelon is believed originated from the Kalahari desert, Africa. According to the researchers, the fruit is harvested the first time 5000 years ago in Egypt and according to ancestral beliefs at the time, the fruit is used for the burial of kings so that they get nutrition spirits in the afterlife. And from where the melon was brought round to the countries in the world. 

This flowering plant produces a special type of fruit known by botanists as a pepo, which has a thick rind (exocarp) and fleshy center (mesocarp and endocarp), pepos are derived from an inferior ovary and are characteristic of the Cucurbitaceae. The watermelon fruit, loosely considered a type of melon (although not in the genus Cucumis), has a smooth exterior rind (green and yellow) and a juicy, sweet, usually red or yellow, but sometimes orange, interior flesh. The flesh consists of highly developed placental tissue within the fruit.

Watermelons were primarily grown on lighter soils in regions with warmer climates. Watermelons were a warm season crops consumed as dessert fruits and the rinds were used for making pickles and preserves. However, with increased market acceptance, better edible quality and long distance shipping adaptability, the growth of watermelons has increased worldwide. Certain breeds of watermelons have been developed to be more specific to regions of the world. The breeding has resulted in improved quality, which involves maximum sugar content, excellent flavor, and firm flesh with deep red color pigment due to the presence of lycopene.

The sweet, juicy watermelon is actually packed with some of the most important antioxidants in nature. It reduces the risk of fatal diseases like asthma, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer, and arthritis. Watermelon is rich in the B vitamins necessary for energy production. Watermelon is a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin B1, magnesium, and potassium. Watermelon has a high nutrient density due to the higher water content and lower calorie content than many other fruits. A rich source of vitamins A and C, watermelon also contains lycopene. Lycopene is a red pigment that occurs naturally in certain plant and algal tissues. In addition to giving watermelon and tomatoes their color it is an excellent anti-oxidant that can help prevent heart disease and some forms of cancer.

Horticulturalists believe that watermelons originated in South Africa, and their name refers not only to the fruit but also to the specific plant, Citrullus lunatus. Considering genus is important. Most melons belong to the genus, Cucumis, but watermelons are classified differently in the genus Citrullus. Citrullus includes a variety of vine plants that tend to originate in desert conditions. A variant on the standard melon is Tsamma melon, which has a much higher pectin count, and grows wild in the Kalahari Desert.

Watermelons and Tsamma melons both have a much thicker rind than do melons of the genus Cucumis. This is called an exocarp. What is inside the melon’s flesh is made up of endocarp and mesocarp, or the fruit’s flesh. Early watermelons, and still many today contain numerous black seeds that are also edible. However in the 20th century, seedless varieties of the plant were engineered, which resulted in watermelons with far fewer seeds, and what seeds are present are usually not as hard and pale white, as opposed to the typical black.

Since watermelon thrives in warm conditions, it’s not surprising that cultivation of the plant spread to places like Egypt. China soon became an avid cultivator of Citrullus lunatus, by at least the 10th century, though there are some that contend that the first Asian country to cultivate the watermelon was   Vietnam. When the Moors invaded China, or established trade, watermelon cultivation spread across Asia, the Persian Gulf, and thence to Europe, and Early American settlers were growing the fruit by the 17th century, though some suggest explorers of the New World introduced the plant to native Americans in the early 16th century.

Watermelon is the tasty and flavored fruit that we usually eat during summer in order to keep our bodies hydrated and refreshed, as it contains 90% water. This fruit has been used since ancient times by various peoples to protect the body from losing the necessary amount of water and from getting dehydrated during periods of drought. Watermelon was also used extensively when water sources were polluted. For instance, ancient Egyptians used to welcome tired and thirsty travelers that reached their regions with watermelons. They traditionally offered the visitors big slices of watermelons on trays in order to help them quench their thirst in the most natural and pure way. 

Climate and weather:  Tropical and sub-tropical climates. Watermelon prefers a hot, dry climate (daily temperatures between 22 to 30°C). It can survive desert conditions when groundwater is available.



for more information and images   -  go to the link   --   Watermelon  fruit





                                           

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