Biol 1300 Fruit Chart.docx

**Biol 1300 Fruit Chart** ------------------------- **EUDICOTS** ------------ **ROSE FAMILY** +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ | **Subfamily | **Examples* | **Features* | **Native | **Economic | | ** | * | * | Region** | i...

**Biol 1300 Fruit Chart** ------------------------- **EUDICOTS** ------------ **ROSE FAMILY** +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ | **Subfamily | **Examples* | **Features* | **Native | **Economic | | ** | * | * | Region** | importance* | | | | | | * | +=============+=============+=============+=============+=============+ | **ROSOIDAE* | Raspberry | -All | Not | See | | * | (Rubus | produce an | mentioned | examples; | | | idaeus), | aggregate | | these are | | | blackberry | fruit | | economicall | | | (R. | (which | | y | | | fruticosus) | contradicts | | important | | | and | definition | | members | | | strawberry | of true | | | | | | berry, | | | | | | which | | | | | | produces a | | | | | | single | | | | | | fruit for | | | | | | every | | | | | | flower) | | | | | | | | | | | | -Two main | | | | | | genus: | | | | | | | | | | | | genus | | | | | | Rubus | | | | | | (raspberry, | | | | | | blackberry) | | | | | | : | | | | | | the | | | | | | receptacle | | | | | | stays | | | | | | behind when | | | | | | picked, so | | | | | | the portion | | | | | | eaten is | | | | | | \"hollow\". | | | | | | Botanically | | | | | | , | | | | | | these are | | | | | | aggregate | | | | | | fruits | | | | | | consisting | | | | | | of many | | | | | | small | | | | | | **drupelets | | | | | | **; | | | | | | each seed | | | | | | is encased | | | | | | in a sweet | | | | | | pulp. | | | | | | | | | | | | genus | | | | | | Fragaria | | | | | | (strawberry | | | | | | ): | | | | | | the | | | | | | receptacle, | | | | | | which turns | | | | | | fleshy and | | | | | | sweet, is | | | | | | also eaten. | | | | | | Botanically | | | | | | , | | | | | | this is an | | | | | | aggregate | | | | | | fruit | | | | | | consisting | | | | | | of tiny | | | | | | **achenes** | | | | | | or nutlets | | | | | | (colloquial | | | | | | ly | | | | | | strawberry | | | | | | \"seeds\", | | | | | | but | | | | | | actually | | | | | | tiny | | | | | | nut-like | | | | | | simple | | | | | | fruits) | | | | | | attached to | | | | | | reddish, | | | | | | fleshy | | | | | | receptacle | | | | | | tissue. | | | +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ | **PRUNOIDAE | Plum (P. | Produce a | Most of | See | | ** | domestica), | \"stone\" | these | examples; | | | peach and | fruit known | species are | these are | | | nectarine | as a | native to | economicall | | | (P. | **drupe**, | Eastern and | y | | | persica), | which | Central | important | | | apricot (P. | develops | Asia | members | | | armeniaca), | from an | | | | | cherry (P. | ovary with | | | | | avium) and | a single | | | | | almond (P. | ovule; | | | | | dulcis). | thus, there | | | | | | is a single | | | | | | seed per | | | | | | fruit. | | | | | | Generally, | | | | | | the exocarp | | | | | | (the | | | | | | \"skin\" of | | | | | | the fruit) | | | | | | and | | | | | | mesocarp | | | | | | (the sweet | | | | | | fleshy | | | | | | portion) | | | | | | are eaten, | | | | | | while the | | | | | | \"stone\" | | | | | | (the woody | | | | | | endocarp, | | | | | | which | | | | | | encloses | | | | | | the seed) | | | | | | is thrown | | | | | | away. A | | | | | | notable | | | | | | exception | | | | | | is the | | | | | | almond, | | | | | | which is a | | | | | | roasted | | | | | | seed (the | | | | | | inedible | | | | | | pericarp is | | | | | | woody and | | | | | | bitter | | | | | | tasting). | | | +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ | **MALOIDAE* | Apple | Members of | Most apple | See | | * | (Malus | this | and pear | examples; | | | domestica), | subfamily | varieties | these are | | | pear (Pyrus | produce a | derived | economicall | | | communis) | unique | from | y | | | and quince | fruit known | species | important | | | (Cydonia | as a | native to | members. | | | oblonga) | **pome**, | Eastern and | The most | | | | which | Central | economicall | | | | develops | Asia, | y | | | | from an | although | important | | | | inferior | some pear | member of | | | | ovary. The | varieties | this | | | | sweet | are thought | subfamily | | | | portion | to be | is the | | | | that is | native to | apple. All | | | | eaten | Europe. | apple | | | | arises from | | varieties | | | | non-floral | | (there are | | | | hypanthium | | hundreds) | | | | (receptacle | | are derived | | | | ) | | from the | | | | tissue, | | same | | | | which | | species, | | | | enlarges to | | Malus | | | | envelop the | | domestica. | | | | maturing | | The fruit | | | | inferior | | develops | | | | ovary. The | | from a | | | | pericarp | | five-parted | | | | (the | | inferior | | | | portion of | | ovary. | | | | the fruit | | Older apple | | | | derived | | varieties | | | | from the | | are diploid | | | | ovary wall) | | and produce | | | | is the | | viable | | | | inedible | | seeds, but | | | | \"core\" | | most modern | | | | containing | | cultivars | | | | the seeds. | | are | | | | | | triploid | | | | | | and | | | | | | therefore | | | | | | sterile | | | | | | (since the | | | | | | chromosomes | | | | | | cannot pair | | | | | | at | | | | | | meiosis). | | | | | | Triploid | | | | | | cultivars | | | | | | are | | | | | | propagated | | | | | | vegetativel | | | | | | y, | | | | | | usually by | | | | | | grafting. | +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ **TOMATO FAMILY** +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ | **Fruit** | **Features* | **Native | **Other | **Economic | | | * | Region** | facts** | Importance | | | | | | and Uses** | +=============+=============+=============+=============+=============+ | **TOMATO** | True berry | Central | The tomato | Very | | | (single | America and | was not | economicall | | | fruit for | was first | initially | y | | | every | domesticate | accepted in | important | | | flower) | d | parts of | | | | | by the | Europe, | | | | | Mayans | since most | | | | | | European | | | | | | species of | | | | | | the Tomato | | | | | | Family are | | | | | | poisonous | | | | | | (e.g. | | | | | | henbane, | | | | | | deadly | | | | | | nightshade | | | | | | and | | | | | | belladonna) | | | | | |. | | | | | | Indeed, the | | | | | | tomato was | | | | | | once known | | | | | | as the | | | | | | \"devil\'s | | | | | | food\" in | | | | | | southern | | | | | | Europe. The | | | | | | wild | | | | | | progenitor | | | | | | of the | | | | | | modern | | | | | | cultivated | | | | | | tomato was | | | | | | small | | | | | | (similar in | | | | | | size to a | | | | | | cherry | | | | | | tomato) and | | | | | | much more | | | | | | pungent | | | | | | than modern | | | | | | cultivars. | | | | | | Recent | | | | | | plant | | | | | | breeding | | | | | | programs | | | | | | have tended | | | | | | to | | | | | | emphasize | | | | | | size and | | | | | | keeping | | | | | | qualities, | | | | | | often at | | | | | | the expense | | | | | | of flavour. | | +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ | **SWEET AND | There are | Central | -They are | -Very | | CAPSICUM | many | America | mostly | economicall | | PEPPERS** | cultivars | | hybrids | y | | | with | | from | important | | | varying | | closely | | | | sizes and | | related | -Peppers | | | levels of | | species | are widely | | | "hotness," | | within the | used in | | | which is | | genus | global | | | due to | | Capsicum | cuisines, | | | capsaicin | | | including | | | concentrate | | -It is | Hungarian, | | | d | | hypothesize | Italian, | | | in the | | d | Spanish, | | | fruit's | | that | Chinese, | | | placental | | pungent | Indonesian, | | | tissue. | | spices like | Southeast | | | | | capsicum | Asian, | | | | | pepper were | African, | | | | | initially | and Central | | | | | used to | and South | | | | | mask the | American | | | | | smell and | cooking | | | | | taste of | | | | | | unrefrigera | | | | | | ted | | | | | | meats and | | | | | | other foods | | +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ | **EGGPLANT | There is | The egglant | | While not | | or | considerabl | originated | | particularl | | AUBERGINE** | e | in India, | | y | | | variation | where it | | popular in | | | in the | remains an | | North | | | size, shape | important | | America, | | | and colour | dietary | | eggplant is | | | of eggplant | item | | used | | | fruit, with | | | commonly in | | | colour | | | India and | | | ranging | | | parts of | | | from pure | | | Europe | | | white to | | | (e.g. Greek | | | deep purple | | | mousaka). | | | | | | The flesh | | | | | | of the | | | | | | fruit is | | | | | | generally | | | | | | fried or | | | | | | baked. | +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ **PUMPKIN (CUCURBITACEAE) FAMILY** +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **Features** | **Examples** | **Other Facts** | **Economic | | | | | Importance and | | | | | Uses** | +=================+=================+=================+=================+ | Most are vines | Important food | This family is | The fruit flesh | | with separate | crops in this | highly mutable | and seeds are | | male and female | family include | and was | important food | | flowers (may be | the following | significant in | sources, and | | on the same or | genera: | agricultural | early | | different | | development in | civilizations | | plants). The | genus | both the Old | used dried and | | female flower's | Cucurbita: | (Europe, | hollowed fruits | | inferior ovary | members include | Africa, Asia) | for water | | develops into a | pumpkin (C. | and New Worlds | storage and as | | pepo, a | maxima), | (Americas). | drinking | | modified | butternut | | vessels. | | berry-type | squash (C. | | | | fruit. | moschata), | | | | | gourd (C. | | | | | ficifolia), and | | | | | zucchini or | | | | | summer squash | | | | | (C. pepo). All | | | | | are native to | | | | | the Americas | | | | | (Mexico and/or | | | | | Peru). | | | | | | | | | | genus | | | | | Cucumis: | | | | | important | | | | | commercial | | | | | crops are | | | | | melons (C. | | | | | melo) and | | | | | cucumber (C. | | | | | sativus). Both | | | | | are native to | | | | | Africa. | | | | | | | | | | genus | | | | | Citrullus: | | | | | watermelon (C. | | | | | lanatus) | | | | | belongs to this | | | | | genus; it is | | | | | native to the | | | | | deserts of | | | | | south-west | | | | | Africa. | | | | | | | | | | Several other | | | | | species are | | | | | important in | | | | | tropical areas; | | | | | these include | | | | | the | | | | | single-seeded | | | | | chayote | | | | | (Sechium edule) | | | | | used in | | | | | Caribbean and | | | | | Malaysian | | | | | cooking, the | | | | | luffa gourd | | | | | (Luffa | | | | | acutangula) | | | | | used to produce | | | | | a natural | | | | | scrub-brush, | | | | | and the bottle | | | | | gourd | | | | | (Lagenaria | | | | | siceraria) used | | | | | to produce | | | | | drinking | | | | | vessels. | | | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ **HEATH (ERICACEAE) FAMILY** +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **Features** | **Examples** | **Distribution* | **Other facts** | | | | * | | +=================+=================+=================+=================+ | Most species | -This family | The Heath | Blueberries are | | are woody | includes many | Family | cultivated in | | shrubs that | important | (Ericaceae) is | the northern | | thrive in | ornamental | a large eudicot | United States | | acidic soils | shrubs like | family found | and both | | and rely on | rhododendrons, | worldwide, | eastern Canada | | fungal | heathers, and | especially in | (Maritimes, | | mycorrhizal | heaths. | north temperate | Quebec, and | | associations. | | regions | Ontario) and | | Their leaves | -The genus | | coastal British | | are often | Vaccinium | | Columbia. | | evergreen, | includes | | Bilberries are | | thick, and | several | | like | | waxy. | significant | | blueberries, | | | edible berries | | but are usually | | | such as | | darker, | | | blueberry (V. | | rounder, and | | | corymbosum), | | smaller. | | | bilberry (V. | | Cranberry bogs | | | myrtillus), | | are found in | | | lingonberry or | | the eastern | | | patridgeberry | | United States, | | | (V. | | Oregon, | | | vitisidaea), | | Washington, and | | | and cranberry | | British | | | (V. | | Columbia. | | | macrocarpon). | | | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ **CITRUS (RUTACEAE) FAMILY** **Features** **Examples** **Distribution** **Uses and Other Facts** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Most produce large, showy and fragrant insect-pollinated flowers. The economically important fruit-producing species belong to the genus Citrus, and all produce a large, modified berry known as hesperidium, which means it has leathery outer skin(the exocarp and mesocarp) surrounding the pulp or juice sacs (endocarp). Citrus fruits include important species like lemon (C. limon), lime (C. aurantiifolia), orange (C. sinensis), mandarin or tangerine orange (C. reticulata), grapefruit (C. paradisi), and pomelo or shaddock (C. maxima). Other locally used species are kumquat (Fortunella margarita), Seville or sour orange (C. aurantium), and makrut lime (C. hystrix). This eudicot family is mostly restricted to tropical and subtropical regions; few members of the family are frost tolerant. Citrus fruits produce aromatic oils for cosmetics, perfumes, and food additives. They are a vital source of vitamin C, preventing scurvy, a condition causing skin blotches, gum deterioration, and mucous membrane bleeding. In 1753, it was discovered by Dr. James Lind that scurvy could be treated with citrus fruits, leading British naval vessels to carry lemons or limes, earning British sailors the nickname "limeys." **SOAPBERRY (SAPINDACEAE) FAMILY** +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | **Examples** | **Uses** | **Other Facts** | +=======================+=======================+=======================+ | Asiatic fruits such | Jamaica's national | Most of the akee | | as longan (Dimocarpus | dish, "akee and | fruit is dangerously | | longan), litchi or | saltfish," features | poisonous, with only | | lychee (Litchi | salted cod sautéed | the fleshy arils | | chinensis), and | with boiled akee, | around the seeds | | rambutan (Nephelium | onions, peppers, | being edible if the | | lappaceum). The akee | tomatoes, and herbs. | fruit is fresh and | | (Blighia sapida), | | has opened naturally. | | native to tropical | Guarana (Paullinia | Consuming immature or | | West Africa, is | cupana) is a species | over-ripe akee arils | | widely grown in | from the Amazonian | can cause "Jamaican | | Jamaica and other | region of South | vomiting sickness," | | Caribbean countries. | America. Its fruit | characterized by | | | contains significant | severe vomiting and | | | amounts of caffeine | hypoglycemia | | | and is used to make a | (deficiency of | | | popular South | glucose in the | | | American caffeinated | blood). | | | beverage. Guarana is | | | | also a key ingredient | | | | in energy drinks sold | | | | in Europe and North | | | | America. | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ **MULBERRY (MORACEAE) FAMILY** Examples Other ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- White and black mulberries are minor temperate crops (Morus alba and M. nigra, respectively). Figs (Ficus carica), produced by a large subtropical tree, are commercially significant. Breadfruit and jackfruit, rarely seen in North America and Europe, are important carbohydrate sources in the tropics and produce large greenish fruits. Breadfruit is starchy and must be cooked before eating. Jackfruit's sweet fleshy segments have a pineapple-melon flavor and are eaten fresh or canned. Captain Bligh was transporting breadfruit seedlings during the famous *Mutiny on the Bounty*, discouraging further exportation. **OTHER TEMPERATE FRUITS** **Fruit** **Description** **Uses** ----------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **GRAPE** The wine grape is a large perennial woody vine native to the Eastern Mediterranean region. While some grapes are grown commercially to be eaten fresh (or dried to form raisins), the vast majority are used to produce wine. **POMEGRANATE** The pomegranate is a small tree native to the Middle East (Southwest Asia). It is a multi-seeded fruit; each seed is surrounded by a bright red pulp known as the aril. This pulp is juiced to produce the beverage grenadine. **KIWI** Although indigenous to China, the kiwi or Chinese gooseberry was first commercialized in New Zealand, where it remains an important export crop. This vine species is also grown in California. **OLIVE** The olive is a large, long-lived tree native to the Mediterranean region. The fruit is an important source of cooking oil. Olives may also be processed as a food; the fruit must be treated with a caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) to remove a bitter chemical alkaloid. Following this treatment, the fruit is either dried or pickled. **OTHER TROPICAL FRUITS** **-Passion fruit:** native to Brazil **-Guava:** common in Central America and Asia **-Cherimoya:** native to Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia **-Starfruit**: native to Southeast Asia **-Dragon fruit:** native to Southern Mexico **-Mangosteen:** a tropical evergreen tree with edible fruit native to Island Southeast Asia **OTHER COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT DICOTS** **Fruit** **Description** **Taste/Uses** ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **DURIAN** The durian is a tall tree native to western Malaysia (Southeast Asia). It produces a very large (up to 5 kg) prickly fruit that is very popular in Southeast Asia. The portion eaten is the fleshy pulp (arils) that surround the seeds. This fruit is known for its highly pungent sulphurous aroma, complex taste (an odd mixture of bananas, caramel, vanilla and garlic) and creamy texture. **AVOCADO** The mesocarp of the avocado fruit is rich in oil (like olive oil), an unusual feature in flowering plants. Avocados are very nutritious: they are high in calories and a good source of vitamins A and C, niacin and riboflavin. Guacamole, of Aztec origin, is mashed avocado paste mixed with various spices. **MANGO** The mango, a large tropical tree native to India and Malaysia (Southeast Asia), has been cultivated for at least 4,000 years. Mango belongs to the same family as the cashew and pistachio. The ripened fruit is widely available in North American supermarkets as a sweet dessert fruit. Unripe mango fruit, which has a sharp acidic taste, is widely used in Asian and Indian cooking (e.g. mango chutney). **PAPAYA** The papaya is a small tropical tree indigenous to Central America. The large, yellow fruit is popular in many tropical countries. It is now commonly available in European and North American supermarkets. **NUTS** **Fruit** **Native region** **Features** **Uses/Other Facts** ------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **WALNUT** The walnut is a large tree indigenous to Southeast Europe and Western Asia (a related North America species, J. nigra, is also used) The species produces a bitter-tasting, drupe-like fruit. The ripe fruits are harvested and processed by removing the exocarp and mesocarp: the \"nut\" sold commercially consists of the woody endocarp (the \"shell\" of the walnut) which is cracked open to extract the mealy edible seed. The seeds can also be processed into a high-quality cooking oil. **PECAN** The pecan is a large tree indigenous to the southern United States and adjacent Mexico; it belongs to the same family as the walnut. The fruit splits open at maturity to reveal the \"nut\", which (like the walnut) is the woody endocarp containing a single edible seed. **ALMOND** The almond, a small tree native to Western Asia, is a member of the Rose family Like other commercially important species of the genus Prunus (e.g. cherry, peach, plum), the fruit is a single-seeded drupe. The bitter, inedible mesocarp of the almond fruit is removed during processing. Almonds are often marketed with the \"shell\" (endocarp), which is cracked open to extract the edible seed. *This is the only member of the Rose family where the seed is edible.* **HAZELNUT** The hazelnut is a tall shrub native to Eurasia The ripe fruit, a woody indehiscent pericarp which has a single seed, is botanically a \"true\" nut **CASHEW** The cashew is a large evergreen tree native to northeast Brazil The seeds are roasted to remove irritant oil. The swollen fruit stalks, known as \"cashew apples\", are used locally to produce jams, candied fruit, and a popular Brazilian drink known as cajuado. Thus, both the cashew fruit (cashew apple) and the seeds (cashew nuts) are edible. **PISTACHIO** The pistachio, a small tree indigenous to central Asia, is related to the cashew (both part of cashew family) It produces a fleshy drupe-like fruit with a woody endocarp (the \"shell\") that splits open when dry to reveal a single edible, greenish seed. **BRAZIL NUT** The brazil nut is an enormous tree (up to 40 m high) native to Amazonian rain forest (South America) The fruit, a large (to 2.5 kg) woody capsule that takes 15 months to mature, contains an endocarp with 10-25 large edible seeds. The wild-harvested nuts (gathered after they fall to the ground) are an important source of income for indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin. In recent years some commercial Brazil nut plantations have been established. **MACADAMIA NUT** The macadamia tree is native to south-east Australia The round, green-coloured fruit splits at maturity to reveal a thick shell (the endocarp) containing a single, white, waxy edible seed. It was introduced to Hawaii in 1930, where it became an important commercial crop. Some consider the macadamia to be the tastiest of all gourmet nuts. They are highly toxic to dogs. **COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT MONOCOT FRUIT** ---------------------------------------- +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **Fruit** | **Native | **Features** | **Uses/Other | | | Distribution** | | Facts** | +=================+=================+=================+=================+ | PINEAPPLE | The pineapple | It produces a | It is grown | | | is a monocot | large multiple | commercially as | | | species native | fruit derived | a dessert | | | to the Americas | from the fusion | fruit, and to | | | | of 100-200 | produce a | | | | separate | natural | | | | fruits, each | protein-degradi | | | | from a single | ng | | | | flower | enzyme. | | | | | Pineapple | | | | | leaves are also | | | | | a source of | | | | | coarse plant | | | | | fiber used to | | | | | manufacture | | | | | mats and sacks. | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **BANANA** | Eastern Asia | These sterile | Cultivated in | | | and northern | triploid plants | various forms, | | | Australia | are propagated | including sweet | | | | from stem | dessert types | | | | cuttings and | and starchy | | | | hence produce | plantains. To | | | | seedless fruit. | prevent | | | | Female flowers | spoilage, | | | | form large | bananas are | | | | inflorescences, | harvested | | | | allowing bunch | unripe, | | | | harvesting. | transported at | | | | | cool | | | | | temperatures, | | | | | and | | | | | artificially | | | | | ripened with | | | | | ethylene gas | | | | | | | | | | The United | | | | | Fruit Company | | | | | popularized | | | | | bananas in | | | | | North America, | | | | | controlling | | | | | Central | | | | | American | | | | | economies and | | | | | politics, | | | | | leading to the | | | | | problematic | | | | | term "banana | | | | | republics" for | | | | | producer | | | | | countries like | | | | | Nicaragua and | | | | | Costa Rica. | | | | | | | | | | Bananas are | | | | | vulnerable to | | | | | black sigatoka | | | | | fungus on | | | | | mostly their | | | | | leaves, which | | | | | can affect | | | | | yield by 50% or | | | | | more. | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **DATE PALM** | This tree-like | The date fruit | | | | palm is thought | is rich in | | | | to be | vitamins and | | | | indigenous to | contains 75% | | | | the Near East | carbohydrates | | | | (Mesopotamian | (mainly sugars) | | | | valley, | and 25% | | | | Southwest Asia) | protein. | | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **COCONUT** | a large palm | Produces one of | The hard | | | native to South | the world's | endosperm, | | | Pacific Islands | largest seeds | known as | | | (Philippines, | | coconut "meat" | | | Malaysia New | | or copra, was a | | | Guinea) | | vital energy | | | | | source for | | | | | South Sea | | | | | islanders. | | | | | Today, copra is | | | | | used to produce | | | | | coconut oil, a | | | | | common | | | | | ingredient in | | | | | chocolate and | | | | | candies, and as | | | | | a food | | | | | flavoring and | | | | | dessert. The | | | | | liquid portion, | | | | | known as | | | | | coconut milk, | | | | | is also | | | | | endosperm | | | | | tissue. The | | | | | coconut is | | | | | highly | | | | | versatile, | | | | | historically | | | | | providing | | | | | clothing, | | | | | building | | | | | materials, and | | | | | drinking | | | | | vessels for | | | | | early South Sea | | | | | islanders. | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+