From the Manual Of
Tropical And Subtropical Fruits
by Wilson Popenoe
The Mabolo
Diospyros discolor, Willd.
Like the durian and the santol, the mabolo is a Malayan fruit
little known outside its native area. It is a medium-sized tree with
oblong-acute leaves 4 to 8 inches long, shining above and pubescent
beneath. The fruit is round or oblate in form, about 3 inches in
diameter, with a thin, velvety, dull red skin, and whitish, aromatic,
rather dry flesh which adheres to the four to eight large seeds. P. J.
Wester writes "There is also a variety, rarer than the red, with
yellowish to light brown fruits, the flesh of which is cream colored
and sweeter, and less astringent.
Trees bearing regular
crops of seedless fruits are known in the Philippines. The main season
of the mabolo extends from June to September, but scattered fruits are
found at practically all seasons of the year. It is of medium vigorous
growth and makes a desirable ornamental shade tree. It is indigenous to
the Philippines and is fairly well introduced throughout the eastern
tropics." It is not cultivated in the West Indies or elsewhere in
tropical America, although a few trees may have been planted in botanic
gardens and private collections.
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