January 2009

Let´s go take a walk around the farm on our hot and humid Summer January 2009

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus or A. heterophylla). Edible, sweet creamy pulp, with overwhelming aroma. Its fruit is the largest tree-born fruit.

Can you imagine taking a nap under this tree?

At the entrance of our farm.

Flowers also known as "moonflower" or "Queen of the Night". They may bloom at night but we can see them opened still in the morning.

Jabuticaba tree (Myrciaria cauliflora) - also called Brazilian Grape Tree, with purple black skin when ripe with a white pulp. Very much appreciated by the natives.

We pick the fruits straight from the tree...

... only when they are this ripe!

"Bombacopsis glabra" mostly known as "Castanha do Maranhão" or Money-Tree in English.

Some kind of bulb plant?

Acerola ( Malpighia emarginata) or Barbados cherry. Two little fruits will supply your daily need for vitamin C.

Kumquat (Fortunella margarita), an olive shaped little fruit that resembles an orange. We eat the skin or the skin with sour pulp.  They have been called "the little gold gems of the citrus family" for their color (not quite, in the photo).

Abiu (Pouteria caimito), an Amazon native plant which fruit tastes like soft persimmon, but very fragrant and addicting. Just eat it very ripe and a day after picking, or the latex on the skin will grab your lips.

Jaca, Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), soft meat and smaller than the bigger variety with hard meat (shown above). One fruit feeds the entire neighborhood (and the smell spreads as far).

Oh, yeah, meow, we are not plants!