Fruits of the Hawaiian IslandsWilder, Gerrit Parmile
Science
Fruits of the Hawaiian Islands
Wilder, Gerrit Parmile
Fruit-culture -- Hawaii
_Tamarindus indica._
TAMARIND.
The name is derived from Tamar, Arabic for Date, and Indus, Indian; thus
literally meaning Indian Date. It is a native of the Indies, Egypt and
Arabia. The tree is never leafless, and the foliage is graceful,
pinnated and acacia like. It bears one crop a year, the season varying
somewhat according to the location and elevation. It yields a handsome,
hard and close-grained furniture wood, which is yellowish-white, with
occasional red streaks in it; the heart-wood is dark brownish-purple.
The pods are thick, linear, dark brown in color, and from 3 to 6 inches
long. The seeds vary in number. The pulp surrounding the seeds has a
pleasant acid flavor, and when made into syrup, forms the basis of a
delicious, cooling beverage. This pulp is called the fruit, while the
pod is spoken of as the shell. The Tamarind is propagated from both
seeds and cuttings, and is undoubtedly one of the noblest of our
tropical trees.
[Illustration: PLATE XXIX.--_Tamarind._
One half natural size.]
_G. P. W. Collection._ PLATE XXX
_Durio zibethinus._
DURION.
This fine tree attains a height of from 60 to 80 feet; it derives its
name from the Malay word "dury," a thorn, in reference to the prickly
covering of the fruit. The leaves, which are a light, glossy green on
the upper surface, are alternate, entire, elliptical and acute. The
yellowish-white flowers are large. The fruit, which is either globular
or oval, sometimes measures 10 inches in length. It has a hard rind,
covered with thorny warts or spines, and externally looks not unlike a
breadfruit. When ripe, it is brownish-yellow, and, when opened at its
lower end, shows five longitudinal sections or cells, each containing
from 1 to 4 seeds about the size of a pigeon's egg. The edible pulp
surrounding the seeds is firm and cream-colored. The Durion is
remarkable for its combination of an absolutely delicious flavor and an
abominably offensive odor. To my knowledge there is but one tree in
bearing in the Hawaiian Islands, and that is growing in private grounds
at Lihue, Kauai.
[Illustration: PLATE XXX.--_Durion._
One third natural size.]
_G. P. W. Collection._ PLATE XXXI
_Coffea arabica._
ARABIAN COFFEE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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