The mango tree is a Arbre of the family of the Anacardiaceae , originating in southernmost Asia, largely cultivated in the tropical countries for its Fruit, the mango. It is probably, with the Palmier-dattier, one of the fruit trees in the past cultivated.

Origin and distribution

The mango tree is a tree originating in the Eastern India and Burma. It was introduced at the 16th century in Africa by the Arab and with the Brésil by the Portuguese.

It is largely cultivated in all the tropical countries, in particular in Africa, with the Réunion and the Mauritius, with the Seychelles, the the Antilles and the Brésil.

Habitat, ecology

The mango tree puts up with all the grounds, but prefers deep, muddy and fresh grounds. He believes in tropical zone, in the areas ranging between 0 and 700 m of altitude. Beyond, its fructification tends to be reduced. It fears the rains at the time of the flowering (which takes place in winter and continues more or less in winter), which opposes the Fécondation. One dry season from two to three months supports the departure of flowering.

Botanical description

The mango tree ( Mangifera indica L.) is large a Arbre which can reach 35 to 40 meters height, with a houppier 10 meters in diameter. Its bark is smooth, of gray-brown dark with black.

Its Sheet S alternate, whole, of oblong and pointed form, is persistent. They can measure from 15 to 35 cm length on 6 to 16 cm broad. When one them ruffled, they exhale an odor of Térébenthine. Their color is of a pink orange at the beginning of their growth then passes by a red color dark shining before becoming green dark with maturity,

The Fleur S, reddish white, small and are gathered in final bunches from 10 to 40 cm length. They comprise five Pétale S from 5 to 10 mm length, five Sépale S and five cheesecloth S. the ovary supère contains only one Ovule. About the middle of spring, after the end of flowering, it is necessary from three to four months so that the fruits become ripe. The fleshy fruit is a Drupe of oblong form attached to a long stalk, of variable size according to the varieties, 10 to 25 cm length on 7 to 12 cm in diameter, of weight varying from 500 G to 2,5 kg. The skin, rather resistant, is with maturity of more or less mottled yellow color of green and red (on the face exposed to the sun). The core, rather large contains a single seed of big size (4 to 7 cm length on 3 to 4 cm broad and 1 cm thickness). It is covered with fibers more or less developed in the flesh according to the varieties.

Culture

The mango tree is often propagated by Semis because of its strong tendency to Polyembryonie which facilitates the Clonage.

The mango trees of sowing reach their full production towards the 10 years age (against 3 to 4 years for the grafted trees ) and can produce in a profitable way during a good score of years but the tree can live more than 100 years.

Uses

One cultivates it for his fruit, the mango, which with maturity has a soft and juicy pulp of sweetened savor.

To the Meeting, the green fruit uses a spiced preparation, the “Rougail mango”.

In India, and particularly with the Bengal, it was traditional to manufacture Teinture Jaune by nourishing the cattle of an minor amount of sheets of mango tree, poisons in addition, then by collecting the urine of these animals. This practice was abandoned.

The wood of the mango tree, whose color approaches the Noyer, is used in cabinet work.

Others

There exist approximately 300 varieties and cultivars of mango tree of which some are present in Asia since 4000-5000 years.

See too

• List of the fruit trees

External bonds

• Multiplication of the mango tree and the avocado tree

Simple: Mango Zh-min-nan: Sōaiⁿ-á Zh-yue: 芒果

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