Mangifera indica L.

• Authority

  Britton, Nathaniel L. Flora Borinqueña.

• Family

  Anacardiaceae

• Scientific Name

  Mangifera indica L.

• Description

  
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  Species Description - The Mango, native of tropical Asia, is one of the commonest trees in Porto Rico, long ago introduced for its valuable fruit, and completely naturalized; it is also naturalized nearly throughout the West Indies, north to Florida, and in tropical continental America. There are many cultivated races, differing mainly in the quality and size of the fruit. The wood is valued for charcoal, and the dense foliage makes the tree desirable for shade. The Linnaean genus Mangifera (Latin, mango-bearing) consists of about 14 species of tropical Asiatic, evergreen trees, mostly large. Their leaves are alternate, stalked, and without teeth. The small, obtuse imperfect flowers are numerous in large clusters at the ends of branches; the 4-parted, or 5-parted calyx has overlapping segments, and the 4 or 5 petals also overlap; the 1 to 5 stamens all bear pollen, or some are sterile; the stalkless, 1-celled ovary contains but 1 ovule, the style is lateral, the stigma simple. The fruit is a large, fleshy ovoid, oblique drupe, containing a fibrous stone, the seed flattened. Mangifera indica (Indian) may become 20 meters high, or higher, with a trunk sometimes 2.5 meters in diameter, its twigs and leaves smooth, its bark fissured. The lance-shaped, rather thick, usually pointed leaves are from 15 to 25 centimeters long, their stalks about 2.5 centimeters long. The large clusters of greenish flowers are hairy, the individual flowers about 4 millimeters broad. The greenish, or yellowish, smooth fruit is usually from 8 to 12 centimeters long, drooping, its flesh soft and juicy.

• Discussion

  Mangó Mango Sumac Family Mangifera indica Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 200, 1753.