The Tropical Fruit Forum

Oops, PM, you beat me to it while I was typing about the greenhouse thing.

Richard did you find any source that states S. urceolata = C. urceolata?  I was under the impression that the C. urceolata is an African species (I recall its being mentioned in Roy Danforth's Congo native fruits book).  Roy mentions "the edible aril is sweet and good, very similar in taste to the ice cream bean tree (Inga spp.)".  He mentions no stimulant effects from eating the aril.  If these are the same, good news for me, I was looking for it.

John

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Great picture.  I've been trying to find information on this species.  I've had better luck searching under "Cola urceolata" versus Sterculia urceolata.  Apparently, it is considered by some as part of the cola family, or at least closely related.  The whole group makes caffeine and related alkaloids, but you probably already know all this. I thought it was interesting that those compounds might be in the edible pulp.  Perhaps another way to get my morning caffeine.   ;-)

From what I've read,  these trees stay small (2-3 meters) and don't require much light.  How much light is the tree in the picture getting?


Richard
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It is a tasty fruit but not everyone takes to the texture -- different than any temperate fruits.  Info here:
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/canistel.html

John

Hi DL,

I actually had so-so luck with Tradewinds.  I tried them after a fruit grower in Puerto Rico told me that they weren't too bad.  A few items had zero germination but I did get about 50% germination with genip and 2 out of 8 with Dialium schlecterii.  So, if you are lucky & get fresh seeds from them, you may get a few to germinate but again, not a real good source.

John

Has anyone had any positive results from seeds from Sunshine seeds in Germany?  ( http://www.sunshine-seeds.de/index.php?language=en )  I didn't see much positive about them in the "on line seed sources" discussion but wanted to see if there is any other or newer information.  I made a sizable order about a year ago for a number of different fruit trees / shrubs & got zero germination.  They list some really interesting things from time to time that I have not seen offered anywhere else. 

John

Jim West at Guaycuyacu in Ecuador now offers D. kutenjensis.  I have generally had good luck with Jim.

John

In your last sentence, if you meant seed to fruit, Roy Danford estimated a minimum of 10 yrs.  He also suggests it may be dioecious. (see Congo Native Fruits: 25 of the best by Roy Danforth & Paul Noren)

Sounds like these are pretty slow to germinate but if you look at one of its relatives (kepel), not so bad.  I got fresh seed from Oscar & the first didn't germinate for 10 months and it was about 15 months before all that were going to germinate, did.  So the slow germination for junglesop is probably not too surprising.

John

Quote from: BMc on March 10, 2013, 10:43:42 PM

I have my first true shoot emerge over the weekend, so thats a full 6 months after planting in August.

thanks for the info...glad to hear u got a shoot!  I wonder how long to fruit from seed? 6 yrs?

Although there are trees that can be propagated by cuttings, in some, the lack of a tap root when propagated this way makes them poorly anchored (in the event of heavy winds).  Not sure if that is the case w/ white sapote.

John

I had 20 or so seeds ~1 1/2 yrs ago.  I found one method that recommended boiling water for something like 30 minutes as a pretreatment.  That seemed a little excessive -- I think I treated 1/2 with maybe 10 minutes of boiling water (until all the seeds just sank).  I also tried to treat the remainder with a "kinder, gentler" -- a series of soaks in water w/ detergent, water w/ peroxide, hot water, etc to try to break down the seed coat in a less aggressive manner.  None germinated from either procedure.  I don't know if the methods were not appropriate or if I just got bad seeds.

John

Checking to see if anyone has tips on germinating the calabash nutmeg?  GB, other acid, hot water?

Thanks,

Mark

Thanks, guys.  Right now, I had not been considering cherimoya -- I have heard that they like it a bit cooler and I am not sure if I am high enough elevation (600-700') for them to be really happy here -- so atemoya seems a safer bet.

John

I may be visiting the Orlando area in early Dec.  What fruit is typically in season then?  Any suggestions on where to visit that is a reasonable drive from Orlando?  Are the FL Botanical Garden in Largo and Marie Selby in Sarasota worth a visit for their fruit (if any)?

Thanks,
John

Juglans neotropica is supposed to occur in Ecuador & surrounding areas so I doubt that it is what is in your area, Luc, if it is indigenous.  I tried it a couple of times from Jim West.  First time, only one germinated and I lost that when the taproot went through the nursery bag & it "resented" being moved.  I tried a second time & got no germination (from just a few seeds).  I will probably try again ...

I have heard the flavor is similar to the American black walnut but sweeter.

John

Ok, I tried the search again just for Malesiana, not Flora Malesiana & I hit the jackpot.  Thanks!