The Tropical Fruit Forum

I must just be thick.  I see three listings but they are all the same volume of Flora Malesiana so I guess I am doing something wrong...

John

Hi Derek,

I believe that the seeds are generally the edible part of Sterculias.  I tried to do a quick search, since if the fruit were useful as well, it might be more interesting.  The only reference I see that refers to its edibility is here:
http://www.mekonginfo.org/assets/midocs/0001684-environment-edible-nuts.pdf
on page 45 where it refers to it having edible seeds.  Not sure if the rest of the fruit is supposed to be edible.  Evidently its Indonesian name is jebung, so maybe inquiring with locals about this fruit may shed more light on it.

Too bad, Derek.  The fruit sounded / looked interesting.  Did you offer any of your "mystery fruit" for sale earlier?  It would be good to know some got distributed elsewhere (increases the odds of solving the mystery).

John

Hey HFG, where in Hakalau is your dad's place?  (not exact address but about where) Maybe we were neighbors; we used to rent in Hakalau while we were having our house built -- off of Kauniho on Old Mamalahoa Hwy.

John

Welcome to the group, HFG!  I don't know if where you are on Maui tends to get as wet as here but you will be able to "enjoy" the soggy winters if you are coming to UHH.  I live in Hilo area, Pauka'a, just 5 miles outside of the city.  I am just in the process of beginning to replant so I don't have an orchard established at present.

John

Derek,

I have never tried any of the Dialium species but it sounds like they are legumes with edible pulp that surrounds the seed.  Is that the case with these as well?  Is there much pulp in this species?

Thanks,
John

RD, I looked around on the site but only saw this issue there.  How do you access the other issues?

Thanks,
John

Not growing it but looking for it for a while.  It sounds like a really interesting fruit and sounds like it might be good for erosion control (I was thinking of planting some in the pali (steep slope).

Where did you find seeds?  I had been looking for it as Chrysophyllum soboliferum.  Maybe I would have more luck using the Prodosia species name. 

Hi Thera,

The place I am talking about locally is in Hilo & I am not sure if they ship.  It is Birds & Buds (808) 959-5750; I think the owner is David if I recall correctly.  I don't recall him telling me the clonal name was Maroochy Gold but it is probably unlikely that there is more than one atemoya x squamosa clone readily available. 

John

I recall reading in the past about work on interspecific hybrids in Annona (or even intergeneric with Rollinia or Duguetia).  I believe that work was being done in the US, Australia, South Africa, & Israel however, all I ever saw was vague references to work being done.  Does anyone know any good resources on this or can anyone shed any light on things that may have been introduced as a result?  One of our local nurseries will graft trees with a atemoya backcrossed onto squamosa.  I plan on picking up a tree or two of that be I am wondering if there is anything else out there...

John

I noticed a string on kepel (Stelechocarpus burahol) a while back but it was WAY late to comment on that.  If anyone is starting kepel, be sure to give them PLENTY of time to sprout.  I got my seed from Oscar at Fruitlovers so it was fresh.  It took 10 months for the first couple to break the surface.  Then nothing for 2 months.  Then 2 more.  Then, again, another lag and then by about 15 months the rest germinated.  I think I ordered 25 seed and about 1/2 germinated.  So, don't pitch those ungerminated kepel seeds too quickly.

John

Hi Oscar,

What specie(s) do you have?  Have you tried these before?  I know that the sour aspect varies a lot from species to species and even within some species so that some are quite good and others are almost inedible. 

John

I joined the group recently but it has just occurred to me that I never did an intro posting.  My name is John Jusczak and my wife and I live in Paukaa, HI at about 600-700 feet elevation  (we are about 5 miles outside of Hilo on the big island of Hawaii).  We bought our land about 10 years ago but have only been on island about 2 1/2 years or so.  We have just recently completed our house and will hopefully begin planting our 20 acres in earnest soon.  I have been starting a variety of seed for about 2 years now so I have an assortment of things to plant out.  If I think of it, I will take an inventory of what sort of stuff I have coming along (although most many years from fruiting).

I am hoping that the forum will help me to find some more unusual fruits to try.  Unfortunately, I joined right as Red Durian was nearing the end of the big fruit season (VERY interested in fruits from Borneo) so missed most of that.

John