| Author | Content |
TwoWillies
Lucedale, MS
January 12, 2009
03:52 AM Post #5995305
| My sister gave me a bag full these bright orange fruit/seeds from a plant on her property...unfortunately she can't describe the plant in any way...I think all she saw was the bright orange color and kinda missed any other details...Each individual segment(fruit) is about an inch long, the flesh is very sinewy, and hard to pull off. The seed inside is about the size and shape of a peanut.
This is a completely new one to me. Any ideas?
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
TwoWillies
Lucedale, MS
January 12, 2009
03:53 AM Post #5995306
| A view of the fruit and a seed 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
TwoWillies
Lucedale, MS
January 12, 2009
03:54 AM Post #5995307
| Against a ruler... 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
January 12, 2009
04:52 PM Post #5997334
| Looks like the sarcotesta (fleshy outer layer) of a Cycad. Might be Zamia integrifolia. |
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
January 12, 2009
04:53 PM Post #5997341
| Looks like the sarcotesta (fleshy outer layer) of a Cycad seed. Might be Zamia integrifolia. |
Alistair
Nowra, NSW,
Australia
(Zone 9b)
January 12, 2009
05:15 PM Post #5997476
| I see what you mean Dave, but doesn't the clump of fruits in the 3rd pic confirm Pandanus? |
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
January 12, 2009
07:42 PM Post #5998184
| Hi Alistair, Pandanus keys have a fibrous texture. Cycad sarcotesta are fleshy. The attachment end of a Pandanus key has a little cup-like appendage which holds the key to the fruit. That does not appear in any of the above photos, or the fibery looking abscission that appears when the key drops off the fruit to the ground.
A fruit segment (key) from Pandanus which in similar to to "clump" above contains one segment; the clump above is several segments, as seen by the separated pieces in the photos.
I dissected a Macrozamia miquelii fruit, and the seed looked very similar to the seed shown above.
A simple test to see if the fruit is from Pandanus or a Cycad is: Slice the fruit long-wise and side ways.
The Cycad sarcotesta will be fleshy, no matter how you slice it.
The Pandanus key will show fibers.
Can you dissect a fruit section for us TwoWillies?
Mahalo, Dave |
palmbob
Tarzana, CA
(Zone 9b)
 January 12, 2009
11:28 PM Post #5999218
| looks like cycad seed to me too. A large cone will have clusters of fruits like that one in the third photo- depends how you remove them (can be in much larger clusters even than that). size and shape and color perfect for Zamia integrifolia. Good guess. |
TwoWillies
Lucedale, MS
January 19, 2009
08:16 PM Post #6026046
| Three Innocent and unsuspecting fruit segments... 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
TwoWillies
Lucedale, MS
January 19, 2009
08:18 PM Post #6026054
| Butchered fruit... The flesh is tough and has the feel of muscle, very difficult to cut. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
TwoWillies
Lucedale, MS
January 19, 2009
08:19 PM Post #6026061
| After another round of cuts... 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
TwoWillies
Lucedale, MS
January 19, 2009
08:19 PM Post #6026063
| Closer View 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
TwoWillies
Lucedale, MS
January 19, 2009
08:20 PM Post #6026066
| Another Close-UpView 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
January 19, 2009
08:22 PM Post #6026075
| Definitely a Cycad. Probably Zamia integrifolia.
A picture of the whole plant will verify the species. |
TwoWillies
Lucedale, MS
January 19, 2009
08:25 PM Post #6026091
| I'm not sure if I would describe the flesh as fiberous. Cutting through the fruit is very much like removing raw chicken from a bone. In this picture, you can see more of the meat on the lower right-hand side. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
TwoWillies
Lucedale, MS
January 19, 2009
08:27 PM Post #6026098
| I've asked her to go back and get a picture of the plant...still waiting for her to e-mail it to me...I'll post it as soon as it arrives. Thank you all for your interest and help! |
