Scientific Name: Pometia Pinnata (also known as: tava)
Size: typically 39-66 ft. Varies greatly, from a small to very large tree
(I love the very large tree part).Canopy diameter: 33-66 ft
Habitat: Grows naturally in warm to hot,
humid subtropical (awesome) and tropical zones,
elevation 0-5580 ft (great! where I'm at, we're only a few feet above sea level). With annual rainfall of 60-200 in.
Vegetation: Occurs mainly in evergreen or shortly deciduous,
lowland (again, great, this is where I'm at), closed forest and secondary forest.
Soils:
Grows on a wide range of soils (fantastic!) with best growth on slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5-8), well drained, fertile loams and clays.
Growth rate: Grows rapidly, typically 3.3-6.6 ft per year (I mean, is there any bad news when it comes to this fruit tree? This is awesome, I almost can't take it).Main agroforestry uses: Mulch, improved fallows,
homegardens (alright! thank you).Main Products: Timber, fruit.
The greatest utilization of fruits occurs in New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji, which are associated with the selection and domestication of superior fruit types and the absence, until recently, of related Asian fruit trees such as rambutan and lychee. The areas where superior, large fruit types are reported from include the following:
Forma pinnataPNG New Guinea Islands; Tanga (small island located east of New Ireland) has large, sweet-tasting fruits 3-4 times larger than those around Lae, with very thin, red skin.
Solomon Islands; Tevai/Santa Cruz Group, Temotu Province.
Vanuatu; Many localities, including Banks Group, Santo, Malo, Epi, Aneityum.
Fiji; Many localities, including SE Viti Levu, Gau, Kadavu.
Forma glabraIrian Jaya; Near Jayapura – vars. ‘Kablauw’ and ‘Iwa’ (Sentani language) – thick sweet flesh, tasting like rambutan.
Mike T, Quote: "Most are not as good as longans but some bigger fruiting cultivars are at least on par with more flesh." Yes, this is what I am looking for, and I suspect you and others are also. What are we waiting for, we have to locate and get it/them, specially the high quality variety ones.
http://agroforestry.net/tti/Pometia-tava.pdf