Osteen (mango)
Encyclopedia
The 'Osteen' mango is a commercial mango cultivar that originated in Merritt Island, Florida
.
', which pedigree analysis later supported. The tree first fruit in 1940 and was named after the well known Osteen family that lived in the Lotus subdivision on South Tropical Trail in Merritt Island, Florida since the late 19th century. The descendants still live there to date.
'Osteen' was evaluated for commercial use and later adopted as a commercial cultivar due to its colorm production characteristics, and flavor. Today it is a favored cultivar in Europe and is still grown on a small commercial scale in Florida on Merritt Island.
'Osteen' trees are planted in the collections of the USDA's germplasm repository in Miami, Florida
and the Miami-Dade Fruit and Spice Park
in Homestead, Florida
.
'Osteen' trees are vigorous growers and produce dense canopies.
Merritt Island, Florida
Merritt Island is a census-designated place in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is located on the east coast of the state on the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2000 census, the population was 36,090. It is part of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
History
The original tree grew from a seed planted in 1935 on the property of S.A. Osteen, the first County Commissioner of Brevard County, Florida. 'Osteen' was reportedly a seedling of 'HadenHaden (mango)
The Haden' mango is a named mango cultivar that became one of the most widely cultivated in the world after it was introduced in the early 20th century through south Florida. It would ultimately become the parent of many other mango cultivars later developed in Florida.- History :In 1902, Captain...
', which pedigree analysis later supported. The tree first fruit in 1940 and was named after the well known Osteen family that lived in the Lotus subdivision on South Tropical Trail in Merritt Island, Florida since the late 19th century. The descendants still live there to date.
'Osteen' was evaluated for commercial use and later adopted as a commercial cultivar due to its colorm production characteristics, and flavor. Today it is a favored cultivar in Europe and is still grown on a small commercial scale in Florida on Merritt Island.
'Osteen' trees are planted in the collections of the USDA's germplasm repository in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
and the Miami-Dade Fruit and Spice Park
Fruit and Spice Park
The Fruit and Spice Park is a botanical garden in metropolitan Miami at 24801 SW 187 Avenue, located in the rural agricultural community of the Redland, Florida, United States.-Exhibits:...
in Homestead, Florida
Homestead, Florida
Homestead is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States nestled between Biscayne National Park to the east and Everglades National Park to the west. Homestead is primarily a Miami suburb and a major agricultural area....
.
Description
The fruit is of oblong shape with a rounded base and apex that sometimes contains a small beak. It averages a little over a pound in weight at maturity. The smooth skin has a yellow background color but usually turns dark purple. The flesh is nearly fiberless and has a mild yet sweet flavor. The fruit contains a monoembryonic seed. It typically matures from July to September in Florida.'Osteen' trees are vigorous growers and produce dense canopies.