Category: Biodiversity

The King of Fruits, and it earns both the title and the reputation. The Basics Durian, Durio zibethinus, is a large tropical tree in the mallow family, Malvaceae (in older classifications it was placed in its own family, Bombacaceae). Origin and Habitat Native to Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia, where it grows into a…

Another Amazonian fruit that barely has any information about it online, courtesy of Joe Hewitt again. The Basics Envira caju is a fruit tree in the Annonaceae family, the same family as soursop, rollinia, and sugar apple. Origin and Habitat It comes out of the Amazon, and it’s very new to Hawaii — one of…

Figs are genuinely hard to establish here — we lost more than one before figuring out what they actually needed, and even now it’s a mixed bag. The Basics Fig, Ficus carica, is a deciduous tree in the mulberry family, Moraceae, the same family as our mulberry, breadnut, and breadfruit. Origin and Habitat Native to…

A novelty citrus more than a serious crop — the caviar-like pearls inside are the whole appeal, when there’s fruit to show for it at all. The Basics Finger lime, Citrus australasica, is a small citrus tree in the family Rutaceae. Ours was the pink-fleshed variety. Origin and Habitat Native to the rainforests of Queensland…

One of the most useful trees on the whole property, even though nobody eats anything off it. The Basics Gliricidia, Gliricidia sepium, is a medium-sized, fast-growing tree in the legume family, Fabaceae. Origin and Habitat Native to Mexico and Central America, where it’s long been used as a living fence and shade tree throughout the…

When it blooms, the whole tree goes bright yellow, impossible to miss. Ours just hasn’t gotten there yet. The Basics Golden trumpet tree, Handroanthus chrysanthus, is a flowering tree in the family Bignoniaceae. Origin and Habitat Native to Mexico, Central America, and parts of northern South America. What It Looks Like A medium tree that,…

One of the many trees in the running count from partway through the one-tree-a-day year. I don’t have much more of a story on this one yet, just glad it’s in the ground and growing. The Basics Gourka, Garcinia dulcis, is a fruit tree in the mangosteen family, Clusiaceae. It also goes by names like…

Another one that’s more of a quiet presence in the food forest than a headline tree. The Basics Governor’s plum, also known as ramonchi, is Flacourtia indica, a shrub or small tree in the family Salicaceae (older references place it in Flacourtiaceae). Origin and Habitat Native to tropical Africa, Madagascar, and parts of Asia, where…

Tucked into the food forest more as an experiment than a plan. The Basics Green tea comes from Camellia sinensis, an evergreen shrub in the family Theaceae — the same plant that black, oolong, and white teas all come from too, just processed differently. Origin and Habitat Native to East and Southeast Asia, particularly southwestern…

Five trees planted about four years back, and they’ve filled in bushy enough to work as a hedge, one that now needs a serious haircut. The Basics Grumichama, Eugenia brasiliensis, is a fruit tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Origin and Habitat Native to the Atlantic coastal forests of Brazil, where it grows as a…