''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
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
in the family
Anacardiaceae
The Anacardiaceae, commonly known as the cashew family or sumac family, are a family of flowering plants, including about 83 genera with about 860 known species. Members of the Anacardiaceae bear fruits that are drupes and in some cases produce ...
.
It is a large
fruit tree
A fruit tree is a tree which bears fruit that is consumed or used by animals and humans — all trees that are flowering plants produce fruit, which are the ripened ovaries of flowers containing one or more seeds. In horticultural usage, ...
, 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
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
have been reported in India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
.[ It can grow up to tall][Flowers of India](_blank)
/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
South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;;;;; ...
, flowering starts in December in the south, in January in Bihar
Bihar (; ) is a state in eastern India. It is the 2nd largest state by population in 2019, 12th largest by area of , and 14th largest by GDP in 2021. Bihar borders Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West Be ...
and Bengal
Bengal ( ; bn, বাংলা/বঙ্গ, translit=Bānglā/Bôngô, ) is a geopolitical, cultural and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal, predom ...
, in February in eastern Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...
, and in February–March in northern India
North India is a loosely defined region consisting of the northern part of India. The dominant geographical features of North India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from the Tibetan Plateau and Central ...
. 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
Kanniyakumari (; , referring to Devi Kanya Kumari), also known as Cape Comorin, is a city in Kanniyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent and the southernmost city in mainland Ind ...
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a States and union territories of India, state in southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of India ...
, but it flowers only once in North Indian conditions.
The 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 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
Pickles may refer to:
Dogs
* Pickles (dog) (died 1967), a dog that found the stolen World Cup trophy in 1966
* Pickles (pickleball), a dog often cited as the name origin for the sport of pickleball
* Mr. Pickles, the titular demonic dog in ...
and chutneys
A chutney is a spread in the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. Chutneys are made in a wide variety of forms, such as a tomato relish, a ground peanut garnish, yogurt or curd, cucumber, spicy coconut, spicy onion or mint dipping sauce.
...
. 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](_blank)
/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 urushiol
Urushiol is an oily mixture of organic compounds with allergenic properties found in plants of the family Anacardiaceae, especially ''Toxicodendron'' ''spp.'' (e.g., poison oak, Chinese lacquer tree, poison ivy, poison sumac), ''Comocladia sp ...
s are present in the fruit peel.[Urushiol CASRN: 53237-59-5](_blank)
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
Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...
, 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
Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...
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
Contact dermatitis is a type of acute or chronic inflammation of the skin caused by exposure to chemical or physical agents. Symptoms of contact dermatitis can include itchy or dry skin, a red rash, bumps, blisters, or swelling. These rashes are ...
in sensitised individuals. This reaction is more likely to occur in people who have been exposed to other plants from the family Anacardiaceae
The Anacardiaceae, commonly known as the cashew family or sumac family, are a family of flowering plants, including about 83 genera with about 860 known species. Members of the Anacardiaceae bear fruits that are drupes and in some cases produce ...
, 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 ukulele
The ukulele ( ; from haw, ukulele , approximately ), also called Uke, is a member of the lute family of instruments of Portuguese origin and popularized in Hawaii. It generally employs four nylon strings.
The tone and volume of the instrumen ...
s, plywood and low-cost furniture.
Culture
The mango is the national fruit
This is list of national fruits alphabetically arranged by country. Some national fruits are officially designated, some are unofficial.
References
{{National symbols
Fruit
Fruits
Fruit
In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing struct ...
of India, Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
, and the Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
, and is the national tree
This is a list of national trees, most official, but some unofficial.
National trees
See also
* National emblem
* Floral emblem
* List of U.S. State and territory trees
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of National Trees
N
Trees
In ...
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
Further reading
* Litz, Richard E. (ed. 2009). ''The Mango: Botany, Production and Uses'' (2nd edition). CABI. .
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