How to Identify Fruit Trees

Fruit trees are diverse, and fairly easy to identify by the fruit that they bear, characteristics of the tree and how it grows. Once you know what characteristics to look for, it's easy to identify a variety of fruit trees.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Identify a drupe fruit tree. Drupe fruit trees produce fruit with a hard outer shell, such as coconut and mango trees.

2. Determine if the fruit can be separated into sections. Hesperidium fruit trees grow this type of fruit, are are usually of the citrus variety--including grapefruit, orange, lemon and lime trees.

3. Determine how the tree grows. If it develops without fertilization and pollination, it is a bacate fruit tree. The fruits of these types of fruit trees often don't have seeds. Examples include banana and avocado trees.

4. Look for trees that produce berry-like fruits. Berry trees grow fleshy, soft fruit that is easily damaged. Examples include grape vines, tomato plants, papaya and guava trees.

5. Feel the outside of the fruit. Trees that produce fruit with a thick rind are considered pepo fruit trees. These trees mainly product fruit from the gourd family, but can also include cantaloupe and watermelon plants.