FRUIT TREES, BERRIES AND BEVERAGES.
ACCA.
Acca sellowiana: Pineapple Guava or Guavasteen,
BOTANICAL NAME: Acca sellowiana, Common Name, Feijoa (synonym Feijoa sellowiana), also known as Pineapple Guava or Guavasteen, is an evergreen shrub 1-7 m in height. It comes from the highlands of southern Brazil, parts of Colombia, Uruguay, Paraguay and northern Argentina. It is a warm-temperate to subtropical plant that will not fruit in the tropics. In the northern hemisphere it has been cultivated as far north as western Scotland but does not fruit every year, as winter temperatures below about -11°C will kill the flower buds. A lot of feijoa are grown in New Zealand, where the shrub is a popular garden fruit tree, and the fruit is commonly available in season. The fruit matures in autumn and is green, and about the size and shape of an egg. It is a popular desert and jam, as well as being eaten fresh from the bush. It has a sweet, aromatic flavour. The flesh is juicy. The fruit drops when ripe, but can be picked from the tree before to prevent bruising. Feijoa fruit have a distinctive smell. The chemical methyl benzoate smells strongly of feijoas and the aroma of the fruit is caused mostly by this and other closely related chemicals. F. sellowiana fruits heavily in the north of New Zealand, where you can often see the fruit discarded on the ground. Photographs taken in Western Hills Drive, Whangarei, & Second Avenue.
ACTINIDIA.
Actinidia hybrid: Kiwifruit.
BOTANICAL NAME: Actinidia hybrid: Common Name - kiwifruit or Chinese Gooseberry (often shortened to kiwi overseas), is the edible fruit hybridisedfrom the berry of a woody vine in the genus Actinidia. The most common cultivar group of kiwifruit ('Hayward') is oval, about the size of a large hen's egg (5–8 cm (2.0–3.1 in) in length and 4.5–5.5 cm (1.8–2.2 in) in diameter). It has a fibrous, dull greenish-brown skin and bright green or golden flesh with rows of tiny, black, edible seeds. It was developed in New Zealand, where a Golden variety with a smooth skin has been grown for the last several seasons. The fruit has a soft texture and a sweet but unique flavor, and today is a commercial crop in several countries, such as Italy, New Zealand, Chile, Greece, and France.
CARICA.
BOTANICAL NAME: Carica papaya: Common Name - Pacific Pawpaw. A shrub or small tree that grows on almost every island in the Pacific. The fruit of the pawpaw is one of the tastiest and healthiest foods found in the islands. People eat pawpaw almost every day and it is a popular breakfast fruit in many countries. Ripe pawpaw contains plenty of Vitamin A, which is needed for proper growth, healthy eyes and protection from disease. Green pawpaws do not contain as much Vitamin A. Pawpaw is also a good source of Vitamin C, which keeps the body tissues strong, helps the body use iron and assists chemical actions in the body, but in some islands, people let the pawpaw rot, leave it for the birds, or feed it to the pigs. Pictured is a Pacific Pawpaw growing in Whangarei, but they do not do well this far south and better results are obtained in the Far North, or is glasshouses.
CITRUS.
Citrus is a common term for the group of citrus fruit trees commonly grown in home and commercial orchards. The pictures are of a grapefruit tree growing in Whangarei. Citrus trees grow very well in Northland, where they are grown commercially in some areas eg Bay Of Islands. The genus is Citrus and it is in the family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia. Citrus fruit has been cultivated in an ever-widening area since ancient times; the best-known examples are the oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and limes.
Citrus was grown commercially in Whangarei until city expansion gobbled up the orchards. The centre for citrus growing in the north of New Zealand, had by then moved to the Far North town of Kerikeri.
Whangarei has such a perfect climate for Citrus trees, that excess fruit is collected and transported to Christchurch. Home gardeners drop it of at the council buildings, 'Forum North' (Photograph taken on the 6th of July, 2014).
GRAPEFRUIT.
Citrus X (Hybrid) paradise: Grapefruit.
BOTANICAL NAME: Citrus hybrid paradise: Common Name - Grapefruit, is a subtropical citrus tree known for its sour to semi-sweet fruit. It was first hybridised in the 18th-century in Barbados. When found, it was named the "forbidden fruit", and it has also been misidentified with the pomelo or shaddock (C. maxima), one of the parents of this hybrid, the other being sweet orange (C. × sinensis). An evergreen tree that usually grows to about 6 meters (16–20 ft) tall, although they can reach 13 meters or 43. The leaves are dark green, and the flowers white, four-petalled. The fruit is larger than the Orange, and is yellow to orange skinned and largely an oblate spheroid, ranging in diameter from 10–15 cm. The flesh is segmented and only semi-sweet. It is commonly used as an entre, served cut in half longitudinally, with sugar added for extra sweetness. The pulp is then dug out with a teaspoon. The common cultivar in New Zealand has a semi-sweet pulp, and the fruit is as large as a softball. Grapefruit juice is sold commercially, and can be blended with orange or apple juice. The photographs were taken in Manse Street, Whangarei.
ORANGE.
Citrus X (hybrid) sinensus: Orange - Sweet Orange.
BOTANICAL NAME: Citrus x sinensus: Common Name - orange or the sweet orange. Orange is the fruit of the citrus species C. hybrid (×) sinensis, from the family Rutaceae. The fruit of the Citrus sinensis is considered a sweet orange. Another species, C. aurantium is known as the bitter orange. The orange is a hybrid, possibly between Citrus maxima and mandarin Citrus reticulata, which has been cultivated since ancient times, probably originating in Southeast Asia. Oranges were already cultivated in China as far back as 2500 BC. Spaniards introduced the sweet orange to the American continent in the mid-1500s where it has been developed successfully into a commercial fruit sold worldwide. Orange trees are widely grown in tropical and subtropical climates for their sweet fruit. The fruit of the orange tree can be eaten fresh, or processed for its juice. The fragrant peel is used in cooking. Sweet oranges currently account for approximately 70% of citrus production. In 2010, 68.3 million metric tons of oranges were grown worldwide, production being particularly prevalent in Brazil and the US states of California and Florida.
Citrus x (hybrid) aurantium: Seville Orange.
BOTANICAL NAME: Citrus x urantium: Common Name Seville Orange. A bitter orange used in the making of marmalade. Bitter orange, Seville orange, sour orange, bigarade orange, or marmalade orange all are names which refer to Citrus × aurantium and its fruit. It is hybrid between Citrus maxima (pomelo) and Citrus reticulata (mandarin). Many varieties of bitter orange are used for their essential oil, which is used in perfume, as a flavoring and as a solvent. The Seville orange variety is used in the production of marmalade.Bitter orange is also been employed in herbal medicine as a stimulant and appetite suppressant, due to its active ingredient, synephrine. Bitter orange supplements have been linked to a number of serious side effects and deaths, and consumer groups advocate avoiding medicinal use of the fruit.
Citrus reticulata: Mandarin.
BOTANICAL NAME: Citrus reticulate: Common Name - Mandarin Orange. A small citrus tree with fruit resembling other oranges. Mandarin oranges are usually eaten plain or in fruit salads. Specifically reddish-orange mandarin cultivars can be marketed as tangerines, but this is not a botanical classification. When exporting began, local Mandarin oranges were named after their port of origin. The tree is drought-tolerant, but needs a steady fainfall for fruiting. It can be grown in tropical and subtropical areas such as Northland, New Zealand. According to molecular studies, the mandarin, the citron, the pomelo, and the papeda were the ancestors of all other citrus species and their varieties, through breeding or natural hybridization; mandarins are therefore all the more important as the only sweet fruit among the parental species. It is said to be native to Japan, and the fruit is known for its free peeling and division of fruit segments.
LEMON.
Citrus X Limon: Lemon Tree.
BOTANICAL NAME: Citrus × limon. Common Name - Lemon. A small evergreen tree native to Asia. The tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world, primarily for its juice, though the pulp and rind (zest) are also used in cooking and baking. The juice of the lemon is about 5% to 6% citric acid, which gives lemons a sour taste. The distinctive sour taste of lemon juice makes it a key ingredient in drinks and foods such as lemonade. It's origin is a mystery, though it is thought that lemons first grew in Assam in Northeast India, northern Burma, and China. It is thought to be a hybrid between sour orange and citron. They were noted in Europe near southern Italy no later than the 1st century AD, during the time of Ancient Rome. However, they were not widely cultivated. The first substantial cultivation of lemons in Europe began in Genoa in the middle of the 15th century. The lemon was later introduced to the Americas in 1493 when Christopher Columbus brought lemon seeds to Hispaniola on his voyages. Spanish conquest throughout the New World helped spread lemon seeds. It was mainly used as an ornamental plant and for medicine. In the 19th century, lemons were increasingly planted in Florida and California. In 1747, James Lind's experiments on seamen suffering from scurvy involved adding lemon juice to their diets, though vitamin C was not yet known. The origin of the word lemon may be Middle Eastern. One of the earliest occurrences of "lemon" appears in a Middle English customs document of 1420–1421. The word draws from the Old French limon, thence the Italian limone.
COFFEA.
Coffea arabica or C. canephora : Coffee.
BOTANICAL NAME: Coffea Arabica: Common Name - Coffee. A species of Coffea originally found in the mountains of the southwestern Ethiopia. It is also known as the "coffee shrub of Arabia", "mountain coffee" or "arabica coffee". Coffea arabica is believed to be the first species of coffee to be cultivated, being grown in southwest Ethiopia for well over 1,000 years. It is said to produce better tasting coffee than the other major commercially grown coffee species, Coffea canephora syn.C. robusta, because robusta cherries contain twice as much caffeine as arabica. Caffeine itself has a bitter taste, making robusta more bitter. C. arabica contains less caffeine than any other commercially cultivated species of coffee. The flowers are white, 10–15 mm in diameter and grow in axillary clusters. The fruit is a drupe, 10–15 mm in diameter, maturing bright red to purple and typically contains two seeds (the coffee seeds). The dried drupes are called 'Beans'. Photographs taken at Botanica, Second Avenue, Whangarei.
FICUS
Ficus carica: Common Fig. A species of small deciduous tree from the Family Moraceae, that can grows to about 5 metres in cultivation, although it can grow up to 10 metres. It is the source of the fruit called the fig, although the name fig is also given to a number of other members of the genus Ficus. It is native to the Middle-east and Asia. Fig trees grow very well in Whangarei. The photograph below (right), was taken in Lawrie Hall Park, Whangarei, in September when the young figs appear before the new season's foliage.
MALUS.
Malus domestica: Apple.
BOTANICAL NAME: Malus domestica: Common Name - Apple. A member of the rose family (Rosaceae), the common apple is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus. It originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor, Malus sieversii, is still found today. Apples have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe, and were brought to North America by European colonists. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples, resulting in a range of desired characteristics. Different cultivars are bred for various tastes and uses, including cooking, fresh eating and cider production. Domestic apples are generally propagated by grafting, although wild apples grow readily from seed. Trees are prone to a number of fungal, bacterial and pest problems, which can be controlled by a number of organic and non-organic means. About 69 million tons of apples were grown worldwide in 2010, and China produced almost half of this total. The United States is the second-leading producer, with more than 6% of world production. Turkey is third, followed by Italy, India and Poland. Apples are often eaten raw, but can also be found in many prepared foods (especially desserts) and drinks. Many beneficial health effects are thought to result from eating apples; however, two forms of allergies are seen to various proteins found in the fruit. An interesting green coloured apple is the Granny Smith, which was raised in Australia and is very popular in New Zealand.
MUSA.
BOTANICAL NAME: Musa acuminate: Common name - Wild Banana. Musa belongs to the family Musaceae, which includes bananas and plantains. There are around 70 species of Musa with a broad variety of uses. Though they grow as high as trees, banana and plantain plants are not woody and their apparent "stem" is just the bases of the huge leaf stalks. Thus they are technically gigantic herbs. However, we have classified them as a tree for the home garden in this site. The genus Musa was first named by Carl Linnaeus, a botanist, in 1753. Edible bananas (Musa nana is one example), have an extremely complicated origin involving hybridization, mutation and finally selection by humans. Most edible bananas are seedless and hence sterile, so they are propagated vegetatively. Other species hybridised are Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana). Photographs taken in The Avenues, Whangarei.
PASSIFLORA.
Passiflora edulis: Passion Fruit - Passion Flower.
BOTANICAL NAME: Passiflora edulis: Common Name - Passion Flower, Passion Fruit. A fruiting vine, native to Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina. It is cultivated both in the home garden and commercially in New Zealand, and does very well in Northland. Photographs taken in The Avenues, Whangarei. The passion fruit is round to oval, either yellow or dark purple at maturity, with a soft to firm, juicy interior filled with numerous seeds. The brilliant, tropical flavoured fruit is both eaten and juiced; passion fruit juice is often added to other fruit juices to enhance the aroma.
PRUNUS.
Prunus species and cultivars - The plum is a drupe fruit, the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one side and a smooth stone (or pit). Mature plum fruit may have a dusty-white coating that gives them a glaucous appearance, which is a wax coating and is known as "wax bloom". Dried plum fruits are called dried plums or prunes, although prunes are a distinct type of plum, and may have antedated the fruits now commonly known as plums.Plums are a diverse group of species. The commercially important plum trees are medium sized, usually pruned to 5-6 meters height. The tree is of medium hardiness. Without pruning, the trees can reach 12 meters in height and spread across 10 meters. They blossom in early spring in Northland. Fruits are usually of medium size, between 1 to 3 inches in diameter, globose to oval. The flesh is firm and juicy. The fruit's peel is smooth, with a natural waxy surface that adheres to the flesh. The fruit has a single large seed. Photographs taken in Kensington, Whangarei.
PSIDIUM.
Psidium guajava: Apple Guava - Common Guava..
BOTANICAL NAME: Psidium guajava: Common Name - Apple Guava or common guava. An evergreen shrub or small tree native to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. A popular home garden fruit tree as opposed to a home orchard fruit tree. Grows very well in Northland, fruit appears in the late summer and autumn. Widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, guava fruits can range in size from as small as an apricot to as large as a grapefruit, however, the larger fruiting species are happier in tropical regions. Various cultivars have white, pink, or red flesh, and a few also feature red (instead of green) skin. Cuttings and grafting are more commonly used as a propagation method in commercial groves. Highly adaptable, guavas can be easily grown as container plants in temperate regions such as The North Island of New Zealand, though their ability to bloom and set fruit is somewhat greater north of Auckland.
VASCONCELLEA.
Vasconcellea pubescens: Mountain Pawpaw.
BOTANICAL NAME: Vasconcellea pubescens: Common Name - mountain pawpaw. A species of the genus Vasconcellea, in the family Caricaceae. It is native to the Andes of South America from Colombia to central Chile. It grows at altitudes of 1,500–3,000 metres (4,900–9,800 ft) m. It has also been known as Carica pubescens. V. pubescens is an evergreen small tree growing to 10 metres (33 ft) tall. The fruit is 6–15 cm long and 3–8 cm broad, with five broad longitudinal ribs from base to apex; it is green, maturing yellow to orange. The fruit pulp is edible, similar to papaya, and is usually cooked as a vegetable. It is also eaten raw. Photographs taken in Whangarei.