| Description: A spectacular fruit native to the Amazon region of northwest Brazil. INFLORESCENCE (flowers): Borne singly or in a clusters of 2–5 in leaf axils on long, thin shoots, the flowers are hermaphroditic, small, 4- to 5-lobed, cylindrical, and white to greenish in colour. The flowers open during the morning and stay open for about 2 days. Fruit take 100–130 days from flowering. FRUIT: Ovoid to round, 1.5–4" (3.8–10.2 cm) in diameter, 10–25 oz (283–708 g), commonly with a short nipple at the apex, and contain 1–5 brown seeds. As fruit mature, the smooth & tough peel changes from green to light green and then pale to bright yellow when ripe and ready to pick. Overripe fruit have a dark golden colour. Fruit picked before fully mature contain a large amount of sticky, white latex, making consumption unpleasant. Allow mature fruit 1-5 days kept at room temperature to fully ripen. Once fully ripe, fruit may be stored in a refrigerator for several days prior to consumption. The white, translucent, mild-flavoured pulp has a smooth, creamy texture and tastes like caramel flan. |
