Mabolo
Encyclopedia
Mabolo, Velvet Apple or (locally) kamagong (Diospyros blancoi) is a plant of the genus
of ebony
trees and persimmon
s, Diospyros
. Its edible fruit has a skin covered in a fine, velvety fur which is usually reddish-brown, and soft, creamy, pink flesh, with a taste and aroma comparable to fruit cream cheese(the aroma of the fruit itself, however, is unpleasant, comparable to rotten cheese or cat feces; inspiring names like the french "Caca de Chat" in Reunion). It is native to the Philippines
, where kamagong usually refers to the entire tree, and mabolo is applied to the fruit.
Junior synonyms of D. blancoi are:
In Puerto Rico it produces through the months of August and October. In Cebu, Philippines there is a barangay named after the fruit itself. In Bangladeshi it is known as 'bilati gab' (=foriegn gab).
The fact that fruits vary greatly - in shape, color, hairiness and taste - suggest that there is a great deal of genetic variation in the plant. Seedless cultivars exist, and are highly favored since in the normal varieties the large seeds occupy a considerable volume of the fruit.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of ebony
Ebony
Ebony is a dense black wood, most commonly yielded by several species in the genus Diospyros, but ebony may also refer to other heavy, black woods from unrelated species. Ebony is dense enough to sink in water. Its fine texture, and very smooth finish when polished, make it valuable as an...
trees and persimmon
Persimmon
A persimmon is the edible fruit of a number of species of trees in the genus Diospyros in the ebony wood family . The word Diospyros means "the fire of Zeus" in ancient Greek. As a tree, it is a perennial plant...
s, Diospyros
Diospyros
Diospyros is a genus of about 450–500 species of deciduous and evergreen trees. The majority are native to the tropics, with only a few species extending into temperate regions. They are commonly known as ebony or persimmon trees...
. Its edible fruit has a skin covered in a fine, velvety fur which is usually reddish-brown, and soft, creamy, pink flesh, with a taste and aroma comparable to fruit cream cheese(the aroma of the fruit itself, however, is unpleasant, comparable to rotten cheese or cat feces; inspiring names like the french "Caca de Chat" in Reunion). It is native to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, where kamagong usually refers to the entire tree, and mabolo is applied to the fruit.
Junior synonyms of D. blancoi are:
- Cavanillea philippensis Desr.
- Diospyros discolor Willd. (nom. illeg.)
- Diospyros philippensis (Desr.) Gürke (nom. illeg.)
Cultivation
It is a dioecious tropical tree that grows well in in a diversity of grounds, from the sea level to the 2,400 feet above sea level. Seed trees are normally planted 30 or 45 feet from each other; this one can be planted from 25 to 30 feet from each other. It needs a good distribution of rainfall through the year. Trees that were planted by seeds could take 6 or 7 years to give out fruit, but trees that were propagated by cuttings produce fruit in 3 or 4 years. It is a very productive tree.In Puerto Rico it produces through the months of August and October. In Cebu, Philippines there is a barangay named after the fruit itself. In Bangladeshi it is known as 'bilati gab' (=foriegn gab).
The fact that fruits vary greatly - in shape, color, hairiness and taste - suggest that there is a great deal of genetic variation in the plant. Seedless cultivars exist, and are highly favored since in the normal varieties the large seeds occupy a considerable volume of the fruit.