Mango Trees Information

A mango fruit

Not only cultivated for their fruit, mango trees (Mangifera indica L.) make beautiful landscaping trees in warmer regions of the world. India leads the world's production of mangoes and demand has risen for this juicy, sweet tropical fruit. Both the wood and fruit from a mango tree have been used throughout its long history. Two main types of mango trees grow with many varieties available commercially.

History

Indigenous to Southeast Asia and India, mango trees now grow in tropical and subtropical regions through the world. Records state places in India have cultivated these trees for over 4000 years, according to the Florida State University Extension. Then, during the 1500s, mango trees began making their way across the world, eventually reaching the Americas 200 years later. Today, leading producers of mangoes include India, Mexico, Brazil, Pakistan and Indonesia.

Types

While various varieties of mango trees exist, many fall into one of two main types: the Indian or Indochinese forms of the mango trees. The differences between the two varieties is mainly in color and seed type. According to Florida State University Extension, Indian mango trees bear brightly colored fruits that contain monoembryonic seeds. The Indochinese mango tree, on the other hand, has dull-colored fruit, usually green or yellow, and possesses polyembronic seeds.

Tree Description

An evergreen tree that reaches heights of up to 100 feet, the mango bears a rounded canopy ranging from low and dense to open and upright. Glossy, leathery leaves form alternately on long branches, turning from pale green and amber to dark green as they mature. These leaves grow between 6 and 16 inches in length.

Flowers

The end of shoots bear panicle of small, white pink flowers. According to Florida State University Extension, the shoots themselves grow 2 1/2 to 16 inches long and produce anywhere from 550 to 4000 miniscule flowers.

Fruit

The fruit of a mango tree falls into the category of a drupe, meaning an outer layer of skin covers a pulpy inside and a single seed enclosed in a hard shell. The shape of the mango varies in size from oval to oblong, as well as varying in skin color from green to yellow to red and even to purple. The pulp, or edible part surrounding a kidney-shaped seed appears yellow to orange.

Uses

According to the University of Hawaii, mango fruit carries more vitamin A than many other fruits. The sweet fruit creates delicious desserts and works well processed into juices, jellies and dried fruit. In traditional Indian cooking, powdered mango becomes an ingredient in amchoor and flour is made from the seeds. Mango tree timber goes into things like boats, furniture and flooring.

References

• University of Florida Extension: Mango Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
• University of Hawaii: Mango

Resources

• Purdue University: Mango