Tag: Fruit identification

Over 55 million tonnes of guavas were produced globally in 2019, but few people realize that the name 'guava' can actually refer to several different fruits, with regional variations and other closely related species. The most common species is the apple guava, but the term 'guava' is also a popular alias for other distinct fruits, leading to some confusion among consumers.

Over half of plant poisoning cases in Kerala, India, between 1989 and 1999 were attributed to the poisonous pong pong tree. This startling fact underscores a critical point: while many fruits are delicious and nutritious, it is a dangerous misconception that all fruits are meant to be eaten. The purpose of fruit in nature extends far beyond human consumption, encompassing clever strategies for seed dispersal and self-protection.

Did you know that over 7,500 varieties of apples exist, including many that are naturally small? The most common answer for what is a small apple like fruit called is the crabapple, a tart relative of the standard apple that thrives in many temperate regions.

Native to South India, the Elaichi banana—also known as Yelakki—is a beloved variety known for its miniature size and intense sweetness. Understanding the unique characteristics of this fruit can help you select the best ones for your culinary needs, whether for a quick snack, dessert, or a ritual offering.

Despite the common name, the fruit known locally as *agbalumo* or *udara* in West Africa is most accurately called the African star apple in English. This delicious tropical fruit is often confused with a true cherry but is botanically distinct, belonging to the Sapotaceae family.

The Red Delicious apple held the title of the most produced apple cultivar in the United States from 1968 until 2018. This universally recognized fruit, with its iconic deep red skin and tapered shape, is the specific variety known as red delicious. While its modern reputation focuses on its appearance, its history is a tale of selective breeding and commercial influence.

While some dogwood species produce delicious edible fruit, others are ornamental and mildly toxic to humans. The answer to "can you eat the fruit from a dogwood tree?" is not a simple yes or no, as it depends entirely on correctly identifying the tree's species.

While often confused due to their similar name, Indian jujube ($Ziziphus mauritiana$) and regular (Chinese) jujube ($Ziziphus jujuba$) are distinct species with different characteristics. The most fundamental difference is their climate preference, with Indian jujube thriving in tropical and subtropical regions while its Chinese counterpart prefers temperate climates.

The term 'beri beri fruit' is a source of widespread confusion, primarily because no real-world fruit carries this name. The query likely conflates the fictional Devil Fruit from the manga *One Piece* with the vitamin deficiency disease Beriberi and the real Indian Jujube, or 'Ber' fruit.

While most people call any small, edible fruit a 'berry', botanically speaking, the classification is much more precise. This means that some common 'berries' like strawberries are not true berries at all, while what is a small fruit called might sometimes be a banana or a tomato.