Mammea americana
Mammiapfel ( Mammea americana)
The Mammiapfel ( Mammea americana), also known as the American Mammeiapfel, is a flowering plant in the family of Calophyllaceae. The Mammiapfel comes from the Caribbean islands and in Central America and is known for its tasty fruits.
Description
The Mammiapfel grows achieved as evergreen tree, the growth heights of up to 20 meters and trunk diameter of 0.9 to 1.2 meters. It has a short trunk and a slender, leafy treetop.
The constantly against arranged on the branches leaves have a 1 to 2 cm long petiole and leaf blade one. The simple leaf blade is thick and leathery, dark green, with a length of 15 to 25 centimeters and a width of 8 to 10 inches wide elliptic, the blade rounded end of the Spreitenbasis broadly wedge -shaped and the blade edge smooth. The lower leaf surface is covered with glands.
When Mammiapfel female, male and hermaphrodite flowers can be on an individual or on different individuals occur ( polygamy ). The 1 inch long stalked flowers are in pairs, individually or in groups of up to third in the axils of young branches. The fragrant flowers have a diameter of 2.5 to 4 centimeters and a double perianth. The two tough sepals are wide - round with a length of 1.5 inches and a width of 2 inches. The four to six white petals are obovate with a length of 1.5 to 2 inches. The numerous stamens are orange. The short style ends in a wide, two-lobed stigma.
On thick and up to 4 cm long peduncles are the berries. The round, sometimes slightly tapered berry has a diameter of 10 to 20 centimeters. The two sepals remain until the fruit ripening at the base of the berry. The brown, dull and rough fruit rind is thick up to 6 millimeters and is soft leathery when ripe fruit. Under the bark is a whitish, dry and very bitter skin. The orange to golden yellow flesh is soft fibrous, juicy and sweet and sour of aromatic flavor, reminiscent of mango and apricot. The fruit of one to four about 7 centimeters in size, roundish to oval, flat seeds are formed. The seeds have a woody, brown, reticulate veined shell, on which a layer of the flesh adheres firmly.
Distribution and ecology
The original distribution area of Mammiapfels extends through the Caribbean Islands and southern Central America. He is also widely cultivated as a fruit tree. It is found rarely in other tropical America, and very rare in the tropics of the Old World. It grows in high rainfall tropical lowland climate at altitudes between sea level and 1000 meters. It prefers deep, nutrient-rich and well-drained soils, but also grows on shallow sandy or calcareous soils.
Systematics and name origin
The first publication of Mammea americana was in 1753 by Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, 1, p 512 A synonym for Mammea americana L. emarginata is Mammea Moc. & Sessé ex Choisy. The Mammiapfel ( Mammea americana ) is a species of the genus in the tribe Mammea Calophylleae within the family of Calophyllaceae; it was previously assigned to the Clusiaceae family.
The genus name Mammea was introduced by Carl Linnaeus and is derived from the English word " Mammey ", which originates on the French " mameis " and the Spanish " mamey " from the Arawak, a language family of the Caribbean Area. The specific epithet refers to the origin americana from America.
Use
The mature pulp of good varieties is very tasty and is eaten raw as a fruit. One uses it to her jams and jellies or used it for the production of juices. Large amounts of the fruit pulp can cause intestinal discomfort and also of poisoning is reported. The bitter fruit bark and the underlying skin must be removed before use. The seeds are poisonous and can not be used. From the fermented flowers a liqueur is distilled. The seeds are pulverized due to their antiseptic effect against skin diseases, but also used as an insecticide. Infusions from the leaves to be antipyretic and help against malaria.
The fruit trees are grown from seed and, on the Caribbean islands and to plantations, cultivated in gardens. The trees bear with 7 to 13 years, first fruits that are fully ripe harvested, usually by placing them picks up from the ground. The trees can be up to twice a year to bear fruit. The tree can be 150 to 200 fruits are harvested, resulting in an annual yield of up to 400 fruits.