Otaheite gooseberry (Phyllanthus acidus) A portion of Otaheite gooseberry tree Family: Euphorbiaceae Synonyms: Averrhoa acida, Cicca acida, Cicca distichus, Phyllanthus ditichus. Other names: Amlak, grosella, Malay gooseberry, Tahitian gooseberry. Otaheite gooseberry is believed to have originated in Madagascar.  However, this plant can be now be seen growing in tropical and subtropical

STAR APPLE (Chrysophylum caimito) A tree of star apple Family: Sapotaceae Synonyms: Chrysophylum sriceum., Achras caimito Other names: Caimito, caimito-roxo, caini, cainito, golden leaf tree, abiaba, pomme de lait, estrella, and aguay. Star apple is a native of the lowlands of America.  However, some botanists contest this view and are of the opinion

HIMALAYAN AMBARELLA (Spondias axillaris) Foliage of Himalayan ambarella   Family: Anacardiaceae Synonyms: Choerospondias axilaris, Spondias acuminata Other names: Caja-do-himalaia Himalayan ambarella is believed to be a native of Eastern Himalayas.  It is commonly met with from Nepal to Assam growing upto an altitude of 1500 m. This fruit is also

BUNCHBERRY (Cornus canadensis)    A bunchberry shrub in full bloom Family: Cornaceae Synonyms:  Chamaepericlymenum canadense, Cornella canadensis Other names: Pigeon berry, pudding berry, gozen tachibana (Japan), cao zhu yu Bunchberry is a fruit from the coldest temperate regions of the world.  It is believed to be a native of Northern China.  It

DRAGON FRUIT (Hylocereus undatus) An orchard of dragon fruit  Family: Cactaceae Synonyms: Cereus undatus Other names: Pitaya Dragon fruit is native to Central America, South America and West Indies. This fruit, however, emerged only a few decades ago as miracle cactus for commercial cultivation in many countries. The outer skin of this fruit is cactus-like,

APPLE CACTUS (Cereus peruvianus) An apple cactus plantation Family:Cactaceae Synonyms: Cereus repandus Other names: Cubo, Koubu Apple cactus is believed to be a native of Peru.  It is grown in many countries of the South Esatern part of the South American continent.  It has now travelled to other parts of the world too.  As it

MANDACARU (Cereus jamacaru) A plant of mandacaru Family: Cactaceae Synonyms: Piptanthocereus goiasensis, Cereus goiasensis Other names: Cardeiro, nagblom, bobbejaanpaal, pleated cereus Mandacaru is a native of Brazil and occurs abundantly there in the semi-arid north eastern region of that country.  It has now reached some other parts of the world too.  In

AMUR CHOKECHERRY (Prunus maackii) Amur chokecherry tree Family: Rosaceae Synonyms: Cerasus maackii, Laurocerasus maackii, Padus maackii f. lanceolata Other names: Amur cherry, Manchurian cherry Amur chokecherry is a popular ornamental plant that also bears edible fruits.  Though this tree is native of Korea, yet it has been named after Amur River that flows for

ENGLISH LAUREL (Prunus laureocerasus) A tree of English laurel   Family: Rosaceae Synonyms: Padus laurocerasus, Laurocerasus officinalis, Cerasus laurocerasus Other names: Cherry laurel English laurel is native to regions bordering the Black Sea in southwestern Asia and southeastern Europe, from Albania and Bulgaria east through Turkey to the Caucasus Mountains and northern Iran.

JIO (Trema orientalis)  A tree of jio   Family: Celtidaceae/Ulmaceae Synonyms: Celtis orientalis, Trema amboinensis Other names:  Charcoal tree, Indian nettle tree Though Jio is a tree of African origin, but it grows all over the world.  In India, it is found everywhere in moister parts. Jio fruits Description: A fast growing