Wild Mangoes & Wangoes

[roblack]

Hello fruit lovers!

Does anyone have info on mangifera mempalam? I have 2 fruits, which are ripening, and planning on growing out the seeds. Was wondering if anyone has info on this species, fruit, etc. Thanks.

[shot]

?? can't find info with that spelling??

I was eating some Mariam plums today.

[David H]

 "Mempalam" is a an Indonesian word for "Mango".   I've just checked Kosterman's " The Mangoes",and there is no listing for a Mangifera mempalam.

[roblack]

From Sarawak

Think it is actually mangifera pentandra. Mempalam appears to be a local name.

[David H]

A few excerpts from Kostermans on M. pentandra if it's any help.
Tree: up to 28m. tall and 90cm dbh. . Crown wide,massive with drooping gnarled thick limbs.
Distribution: In the Malay Peninsula,a formerly common village tree,more rare in North Borneo,perhaps also in Thailand. Wet,evergreen tropical forest,lowlands.
Fruit : oblong,7.5-10 x 5-6.5 cm,green at maturity,rather fragrant,pulp watery,pale orange,sweet,not very fibrous,in young fruit no visible beak Seed small.oblong, 4-5 x 3-3.5 x 1.5-2 cm.flattened with deep furrows and few short fibres.
Notes : In general habit it resembles M. indica but the conspicuous leaf reticulation makes it easy to distinguish.but should not be mistaken for that of M.odorata. The very dense indumentum of the panicles is outstanding.

[roblack]

Cool, thanks David! Might be good for juice. Will report on the fruit asap.

[fliptop]

roblack, definitely let us know how it tastes, fiber content, etc. Also, if it's polyembryonic and growth habit, once you plant out the seed. Thanks!

[roblack]

Might be good for breeding projects. Does well in humid areas.

[roblack]

Here is a link with some info/same info David posted:

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/6/7/6787

[roblack]

Mempalam Update:

130 grams.

First fruit tasted too funky. Had rotten spot inside, and was like overripened m. kasturi.

2nd fruit was juicy and delicious. A bit of fiber, and not a ton of flesh, but really sweet and spicy, little acid. Interesting and definitely not bland. The juice is great. I like it better than m. kasturi.

Here are the fruits:

[roblack]

?? can't find info with that spelling??

I was eating some Mariam plums today.

How were those maprang? Were they just sweet, or was there any acidity? Looking forward to trying soon.

[fliptop]

roblack, would you say the fruit is more like kasturi as opposed to indica?

[roblack]

roblack, would you say the fruit is more like kasturi as opposed to indica?

It reminded me more of a pronounced Indian m. indica than kasturi. A good kasturi reminds me of a spicy Indian mango too, but with some other weirdness to it, which is quite strong. I can't eat an overripe kasturi; in fact I think I like them a little underripe.  M. pentandra seemed more like indica, with spicy and fruity complexity. Strong sweetness, the other flavors were more subtle. Larger fruit than kasturi, and more flesh, but juicy and hard to cut without making a mess. More fiber than I usually like. I had a great time eating around the seed lemur style. Might be best as a mango novelty for eating, and more of a staple juice-wise. Move over OJ

[fliptop]

Great review, roblack!

[roblack]

Thanks fliptop!

Sampled fruit #3 this morning. Approached from a strictly juice standpoint. The fruit was small, pretty soft, and green (others had yellow/orange in them when ripe). Put the squeeze on each half, and collected a couple of ounces of light orangish juice. The fiber hung on to the skin, but broke up easily. Was nice to add some fiber to the juice as their was some pulp hanging on with juice and flavor. Couple of strings between the teeth, totally worth it.

Tastewise, this one was more sour than the previous 2, and less pronounced resin/spice. It reminded me of a good mango - orange juice blend. Quite sweet and tart, needed nothing added. Could drink this everyday.

I'm definitely growing these seeds out, and will add a tree or scions to our collection.

[ben mango]

Do you think this may be considered a wetland mango like foetida and kasturi?

[roblack]

Do you think this may be considered a wetland mango like foetida and kasturi?

I'm not sure, but think it comes from Sarawak. Local climate is warm and humid, with drier spell during winter. My guess is it likes hot and humid. Grown locally here (Miami area), so seems to do well with our climate. Poor mango season this year, but seeing lots of these.

I will ask my source and see what they know.

[roblack]

Update:

The mangifera species I've been posting about (mempalam) is not mangifera pentadra. Just received fruits of m. pentandra, and was told that mempalam is a yet to be named species. Will post pics and give review on m. pentandra shortly.

Here is the fruit, not yet ready for consumption:

[fliptop]

The plot thickens . . .

[roblack]

Add 2 more.

M. zeylanica
Tried a few days ago and difficult to recall the taste in detail. Similar to mempalam and pentandra, sweet with some complexity. Need to try more. Perhaps tallest of mango relatives.

M. laurina
small to medium sized. Not much fiber, not a ton of flesh. Flavor is very good. Sweet, good acid balance, with some complexity, citrus and resin. Fairly juicy, noted to be very juicy when all the way ripe. Probably my favorite of the 4 discussed so far in this thread, sweetest. Tree reportedly gets very tall.

Wonder how vigorous these will be grafted onto indica. Growing all seeds out.

[elouicious]

The real question is where are you getting all these rare mangoes? 

[roblack]

[roblack]

m. pentandra





Pentandra was similar to mempalam. Some fiber, juicy, sweet/sour mix with some spice and complexity. Not as powerful flavor, but good. Another good juice source.

[Future]

For those of us absent dry seasons and no appreciable cool season, these could be interesting prospects beyond kasturi. Keen to hear more b

[roblack]

I agree Future, potentially useful genetics in these little treats.

Tried m. altissima this morning. Small fruit with a little fiber, not bad. Sweet, not much complexity. Worth eating.





Not sure what the other one is.