Mango Leaf Varieties
The mango tree (Mangifera indica) is deciduous and grows to heights of 30 to 100 feet, with a round canopy of evergreen leaves that grow in an alternating pattern. Given the popularity of the mango fruit, the species has been bred to produce hundreds of varieties, which are grown throughout southern and southeastern Asia, South America, Central America, the Caribbean and southern areas of North America. Does this Spark an idea?
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Mango Varieties
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Of the hundreds of mango varieties in existence, only about six constitute the majority of mango fruit sold in the United States and of these, the Tommy Atkins variety is the most popular. Varieties differ in the coloring of their peels, which range from pinks to yellows to greens. The size of the fruit and the seed also vary widely, with mangoes with high fruit-to-seed ratios especially valued for eating. The leaves of various mango varieties are generally indistinguishable.
Variation in Mango Leaves
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Though different varieties of mango trees have very similar leaves, some subtle differences do occur. For example, the leaves of the 'Kensington Pride', a widely produced cultivar grown in Australia, have an especially sweet aroma. More notable differences are apparent among mango leaves at different stages of development. Young leaves may be pink, wine-red, yellow or pale green, whereas mature leaves turn deeper green.
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Uses of Leaves
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While the mango tree is principally valued for its fruit, the leaves also serve purposes in many cultures. In India, where mangoes are a common crop, the leaves are used to pack the fruits for train transport. A traditional Indian practice was to feed mango leaves to the cows, as the euxanthic acid in the leaves would turn their urine a brilliant hue, making it serve as a useful dye. However, upon determining that continuous consumption of mango leaves could poison cows, the practice was outlawed. In the Philippines and Indonesia, the tender young leaves are eaten. The leaves are high in vitamin A and 100 grams of leaves contain 29 mg of calcium.
Mango Leaves and Toxicity
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Although the fruit of the mango tree is edible, the plant does belong to the anacardiaceae family, a tropical group of plants well known for including several poisoning species. In the mango tree, toxicity manifests in its sap, leaves and the skin of unripe fruit, all of which contain substances that may irritate the skin, such as mangiferen, resinous acid, mangiferic acid and mangiferol. The sap does not affect all individuals in the same manner; one person may handle unripe fruit or oozing twigs without problems, whereas contact can cause swelling among hypersensitive individuals. If you are concerned about a sensitivity, avoid handling the leaves or unripe fruit. After cutting off a ripe mango's peel, wash your hands and use a new knife to chop up its flesh.
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