Mystery fruit tree in Santa Barbara, CA

[Miguel.pt]

 I would have a hard time naming a fruit that I really dislike, except this one.

 It's hideous.

Hello Sergio,
didn't know you have one fruiting... is it the narrow or large leaf type?


I remember to have seen one of these trees on a Botanical garden in Lisbon some time ago... it was a big tree and it should have fruits right now.
Do you know this tree?

I'd say mine is a broad leaf type, probably from Helton, although I'm not sure.
It refused to die when I tried to remove it and planted an avocado next to it.
It does not even show the signs of chlorosis that pretty much every other Eugenia shows
with the soil I have...Grrr.

Don't recall noticing this species in the botanical garden. Which one do you mean, exactly?

Hi Sergio

It was at the "Jardim Botânico Tropical", or "Jardim Museu Agricola Tropical"... the garden close to "Mosteiro dos Jerónimos"... As far as I remember it was close to the "duck's lake"
I visited it in October 2007 so no fruits then, but I remember the tree having a "Hexaclamis edulis" tag.... did not return there since then so no idea if it is still there

[marklee]

I have the same tree in Chula Vista. I got my seedling from an old guy in Vista a few years ago. The fruit has the garlic smell that permeates through anything. I haven't put it in the ground, it is in a 25 gallon. I gave another seedling to Steve at Exoctica, I don't know if he has planted it. The old guy I got it from calls it "skunk fruit".

[FlyingFoxFruits]

I guess someone in CA still thinks this tree could be a mystery hybrid of some sort!

At this point I'm trying not to take offense.

read this recent post from edhat.com

http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?nid=154202

 "Now with that kind if annual wind fall I began to wonder why there were no volunteer trees sprouting? Seems likely that this is a sterile hybrid, that would explain why the fruits are close to one tree, leaves match another and the shape and growth match even another. If that is the case...
Can I name it after my dog? He's the reason I started paying attention to it in the first place.??
I think Orpet or Francheschi left us a riddle.
I wonder if they even knew."
 

[chiwoowa9]

marklee:  Did I miss something?  Have you given me the i.d. for this tree here in Santa Barbara?  Your photos and description have me very excited, as I know you are writing about the very same kind of tree.  What is it?  (The smell in my kitchen from several of the fruits is nearly obnoxious.)  Please tell me if you know the correct name.  Thank you.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

marklee:  Did I miss something?  Have you given me the i.d. for this tree here in Santa Barbara?  Your photos and description have me very excited, as I know you are writing about the very same kind of tree.  What is it?  (The smell in my kitchen from several of the fruits is nearly obnoxious.)  Please tell me if you know the correct name.  Thank you.

Yes you missed it!

It was finally identified as a new hybrid!

We're calling it a "garlic truffle pear"

The arborist at the university here says it's a sterile cross between a loquat and a quince!

[JF]

marklee:  Did I miss something?  Have you given me the i.d. for this tree here in Santa Barbara?  Your photos and description have me very excited, as I know you are writing about the very same kind of tree.  What is it?  (The smell in my kitchen from several of the fruits is nearly obnoxious.)  Please tell me if you know the correct name.  Thank you.

Yes you missed it!

It was finally identified as a new hybrid!

We're calling it a "garlic truffle pear"

The arborist at the university here says it's a sterile cross between a loquat and a quince!

LOL 😀

[chiwoowa9]

Seriously? I will not be able to sleep tonight, thinking marklee knows the name and will not say.

And I just had to pour some baking soda into my kitchen scraps pail, where I'd put that fruit.  I love skunk smell, but cannot stand the smell of this fruit. Gah.

[fruitlovers]

I suggest you read through the whole 3 pages of this thread. It's only been positively identified about 5 times now, starting with about the third post.

[chiwoowa9]

Dear Oscar.  Thanks for the kind and patient reply.  Much appreciated.

[marklee]

marklee:  Did I miss something?  Have you given me the i.d. for this tree here in Santa Barbara?  Your photos and description have me very excited, as I know you are writing about the very same kind of tree.  What is it?  (The smell in my kitchen from several of the fruits is nearly obnoxious.)  Please tell me if you know the correct name.  Thank you.

Yes you missed it!

It was finally identified as a new hybrid!

We're calling it a "garlic truffle pear"

The arborist at the university here says it's a sterile cross between a loquat and a quince!

Good one Adam. Yes Chiwoowa it has been Id'd. I suppose the seeds went around California a while back. The fruit is nasty and if someone in  southern California wants a nice size fruiting one in a 25 gallon pot, and has something to trade send me a pm.

[fruitlovers]

Dear Oscar.  Thanks for the kind and patient reply.  Much appreciated.

If you find any other unusual fruiting trees in Sta. Barbara please post it here first for ID. It was great to see all your photos.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

why does it seem like the fruits that taste like garbage always fruit prolifically?
I guess jaboticabas are one of the exceptions. 

[fruitlovers]

why does it seem like the fruits that taste like garbage always fruit prolifically ?

Answer: because nobody wants to eat them, not even the birds. And you will find big piles under those trees.
There are excellent fruits that are prolific, but then people and animals will also prolifically eat them. Ergo, no piles of fruit under those trees. And they will just seem less prolific.
Being jack of all jabos you should know some good fruits are prolific!  What excellent fruit is more prolific than a healthy jaboticaba tree?

[siafu]

 
 Why is it that crappy fruit are also some of the toughest?

 

[FlyingFoxFruits]

 
 Why is it that crappy fruit are also some of the toughest?

i guess everyone's got their strong points and weak points!

[CherimoyaDude]

I just tried fruit from the Orpet tree, was not good. Had the garlicky weird taste, and was just sweet and sour with no other identifiable tastes besides the bad one. Here is an article about it:
https://www.smgrowers.com/info/Eugenia_myrcianthesOrpet.asp#:~:text=Eugenia%20myrcianthes%3A%20the%20Mystery%20Tree%20in%20Orpet%20Park,-Randy%20Baldwin%2C%20San&text=This%20tree%20in%20the%20Myrtle,in%20late%20winter%20into%20spring.

Article implies they might taste good underripe so I may go back and try a less ripe one. A shame it didn't taste good as fruit looks nice, was very juicy and tree was pretty and productive.

[Bush2Beach]

But some people selling seeds have told me they taste really good. Haha

[Jack, Nipomo]

Planted one on my fence line so fruit-loving neighbor can appreciate the fruit.  No fruiting yet.

[K-Rimes]

I visited the Orpet tree a few times this year. The fruit is "ok" when it is underripe, kind of like an apple or something I guess. When it's ripe, it's garlic as heck - pass. I did gather seeds and plant seedlings for whatever reason though.

Miguel.PT has a variety that doesn't have the garlic flavor he says and I'll grow that one as an experiment.

[CherimoyaDude]

Someone is selling seeds from Orpet in the for sale section and saying it tastes delicious lol. They must love garlic...