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(Last Modified On 11/12/2012)
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(Last Modified On 11/12/2012)
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Species
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PERSEA AMERICANA Miller
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PlaceOfPublication
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Gard. Dict. ed. 8. 1768.
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Description
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Tree to 20 m. high; branches light gray, fissured. Leaves crowded at branchlet tips; petioles yellow or yellow-green, pubescent to glabrous, 1.5-5 cm. long; blades pubescent to glabrous, dark green, somewhat shining above, glaucous below, coriaceous, ovate or obovate-oblong, 10-30 cm. long and 3-20 cm. broad, the base cuneate or obtuse, the apex acute or obtuse or obtusely acuminate, the lateral nerves up to 10 pairs, elevated beneath, the venation yellow. Inflorescence of axillary subterminal panicles, densely pubescent, many-flowered, with deciduous bracts. Flowers small (6-7 mm. long, 0.5-1.5 mm. in diameter), fragrant, tomentose, with yellow-green pedicels up to 5 mm. long; perianth yellow-green or light yellow, the lobes unequal, the outer 3 mm. long, the inner 6 mm. long, persistent; stamens of ser. I & II 2.5-3.5 mm. long, those of ser. III longer, with extrorse anthers; staminodia short-stiped; gynaecium 4-5.5 mm. long, the ovary pubescent, the stigma discoid. Fruit large, pear-shaped, globose, or oval, 7-20 X 7-10 cm., the pulp fleshy, thick, juicy, oily, the seed large, 2.5-5 cm in diam- eter, globose.
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Note
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Native probably of Mexico and Central America, and possibly the West Indies; for centuries widely cultivated for its edible fruit throughout these regions and all tropical and subtropical countries. Known as Aguacate, Avocado and "Alligator Pear." Seeds yield proprietary oil. Wood medium to coarse in texture, easily worked but not durable and therefore commercially unimportant.
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Distribution
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Native probably of Mexico and Central America, and possibly the West Indies
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Common
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Aguacate Avocado
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Common
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Alligator Pear
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