''Mangifera indica'', commonly known as

mango A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree ''Mangifera indica''. It is believed to have originated in the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South a ...

, is a species of flowering plant in the family Anacardiaceae. It is a large fruit tree, capable of growing to a height of . There are two distinct genetic populations in modern mangoesthe "Indian type" and the "Southeast Asian type".

Description

It is a large green tree, valued mainly for its fruits, both green and ripe. Approximately 500 varieties have been reported in India. It can grow up to tallFlowers of India
/ref> with a similar crown width and a trunk circumference of more than . The

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

are simple, shiny and dark green. Red-yellow flowers appear at the end of winter, and also at the beginning of spring. Both male and female flowers are borne on same tree. Climatic conditions have a significant influence on the time of flowering. In South Asia, flowering starts in December in the south, in January in Bihar and Bengal, in February in eastern Uttar Pradesh, and in February–March in northern India. The duration of flowering is 20–25 days for the Dasheri variety, while panicle emergence occurs in early December and flower opening is completed by February. The Neelum variety produces two crops a year in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, but it flowers only once in North Indian conditions. The

is an irregular, egg-shaped fruit which is a fleshy drupe. Mangos are typically long and greenish yellow in color. The fruits can be round, oval, heart, or kidney shaped. Mango fruits are green when they are unripe. The interior flesh is bright orange and soft with a large, flat pit in the middle. Mangos are mature in April and May. Raw mangos can be used in the making of pickles and chutneys. Ripe mangos are a popular fruit throughout the world. The skin and pulp account for 85% of the mango's weight, and the remaining 15% comes from the stone (seed).''SEA Hand Book 2009'', Solvent Extractors' Association Of India
/ref>

Chemistry

Mangiferin Mangiferin is a glucosylxanthone (xanthonoid). This molecule is a glucoside of norathyriol. Natural occurrences Mangiferin was first isolated from the leaves and bark of ''Mangifera indica'' (the mango tree). It can also be extracted from ...

(a pharmacologically active hydroxylated

xanthone Xanthone is an organic compound with the molecular formula O 6H4CO. It is a white solid. In 1939, xanthone was introduced as an insecticide and it currently finds uses as Insecticide, ovicide for codling moth eggs and as a larvicide. Xanthone ...

C-glycoside) is extracted from mango at high concentrations from the young leaves (172 g/kg), bark (107 g/kg), and from old leaves (94 g/kg). Allergenic urushiols are present in the fruit peel.Urushiol CASRN: 53237-59-5
TOXNET (Toxicology Data Network) NLM (NIH). Retrieved 22 January 2014.

Taxonomy

Mangoes are believed to have originated from the region between northwestern

Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...

, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' were domesticated separately in South Asia and Southeast Asia over centuries, resulting in two distinct genetic populations in modern mangoesthe "Indian type" and the "Southeast Asian type". The species was first described by Linnaeus in 1753.

Distribution and habitat

Since their domestication in southeastern Asia, mangoes have been introduced to other warm regions of the world. The tree grows best in well-drained sandy loam; it does not grow well in heavy wet soils. The optimal pH of the soil should be between 5.2 and 7.5.

Cultivation

Toxicity

Urushiols in the fruit peel can trigger contact dermatitis in sensitised individuals. This reaction is more likely to occur in people who have been exposed to other plants from the family Anacardiaceae, such as

poison oak Poison oak refers to two plant species in the genus ''Toxicodendron,'' both of which can cause skin irritation: *''Toxicodendron diversilobum'' or Western poison oak, found in western North America *''Toxicodendron pubescens ''Toxicodendron pub ...

and poison ivy, which are widespread in the United States. The wood is known to produce phenolic substances that can cause contact dermatitis.

Uses

The tree is more known for its fruit rather than for its timber. However, mango trees can be converted to lumber once their fruit-bearing lifespan has finished. The wood is susceptible to damage from fungi and insects. The wood is used for musical instruments such as ukuleles, plywood and low-cost furniture.

Culture

The mango is the national fruit of India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, and is the national tree of Bangladesh.

Gallery

File:Mangifera indica 1z.jpg, Young mango tree File:Mangifera indica 2z .jpg, Mature mango tree File:Mango tree - Dadaga.jpg, Tree with unripe fruits Image:Mangifera indica inflorescence.jpg, Mango flowers Image:Small baby mangoes from West Bengal, India.jpg, Baby mangoes File:Mango LangraBenarsi Asit fs8.jpg, Typical South Asian mangoes File:Carabao mangoes (Philippines).jpg, Typical Southeast Asian mangoes

References

External links

* * *
Crop of the Day: Mango, ''Mangifera indica''
has a list of helpful resources about this species. {{Authority control indica Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Flora of Assam (region) Flora of Myanmar National symbols of India National symbols of Pakistan National symbols of Bangladesh Flora of Maharashtra Fruit trees Trees in Buddhism Symbols of Gujarat Symbols of Maharashtra