Mabolo, Velvet Apple - DIOSPYROS DISCOLORtop

A lovely medium-size tree from the Philippines, similar to black sapote in form. The fruits are the size and shape of an apple but covered with reddish-brown hair and edible flesh, variously compared to a peach or mild cheese. Propagated by seed or grafting.

Macadamia Nut, Queensland Nut - MACADAMIA INTEGRIFOLIAtop

An Australian tree, with holly-like leaves, that grows well in a moist organic soil and will survive temperatures of 24°F. Seedlings bear in 5-7 years. The fruit is borne in a case enclosing a extremely hard spherical nut. The kernel is whitish, sweet and eaten raw or roasted. The flowers are white to cream and the leaves are in whorls of three. Propagation is by seed, grafting or air layering. Grown commercially.

Madagascar Olive - NORONHIA EMARGINATAtop

A handsome shrub, from Madagascar, with light green oval, thick leaves. Salt tolerant, it does well in protected areas along the beach. The 1" round, purple fruit has a small amount of sweet pulp around a large seed.

Madagascar Plum. Batoko Plum, Governor's Plum, Ramontchi - FLACOURTIA INDICAtop

Dioecious. This shrub or small tree from Madagascar and South Asia freezes around 25°F. Needs little cultural care except pruning to keep it shapely. Fruit is round, smooth, about ½"-1"across, dark red to black with a sweet juicy pulp surrounding several small flat seeds. Because of its high iron content, drinks turn brown in sunlight. The fruit is also eaten fresh or made into jelly.

Madrono - RHEEDIA MADRUNOtop

A small, handsome evergreen tree, native to Columbia and Panama, with fruit very similar to R. macrophylia. Propagated by seed.

Malabar Chestnut, Guiana Chestnut - BOMBAX GLABRAtop

A large water-loving mid-sized Central American tree that produces large multiple-seeded round fruit. Edible raw but normally roasted, tasting somewhat like chestnuts. The young leaves and flowers are cooked and used as a vegetable. (formerly called Pachira aquatica.)

Malabar Melathstome, Indian Rhododendron, Harendog - MELASTOMA MALABATHRICUMtop

A spreading shrub from India, grown as an ornamental in some countries. The ¼" berry-like fruit is covered with a scaly calyx filled with seeds surrounded by red, sweet, astringent pulp that is eaten fresh. The sour young leaves are cooked in stews. The fruit yields a black dye, the roots a pink dye.

Malay Apple, Tahiti Apple - SYZYGIUM MALACCENSEtop

This evergreen shrub or tree, native to Australia, is adapted as a hedge in California and Florida and may be kept clipped. It will withstand several degrees of frost but doesn't like calcareous soil. The fragrant fruit is a rose-purple berry about ½-¾" across. It is sometimes used in jelly.

Malay Jujube, Indian Jujube - ZIZYPHUS MAURITIANAtop

This small thorny evergreen tree from India is very ornamental with light green leaves and drooping branches. It is much more cold sensitive than Z. jujuba, freezes at 25°F, but will return from roots. The 1" round or short-oblong fruit turns orange or brown when ripe, has a white, apple-like pulp surrounding a knobby stone and is eaten fresh or cooked. The leaves and bark produce tannin. Propagated by grafting, root cutting or seed for rootstock.

Mamey Sapote, Mamey Colorado - POUTERIA SAPOTAtop

A large-leaved, spreading, large tree from Central America, it is considered by Cubans to produce the best fruit in the world. This egg-shaped fruit is 3-6" long (some varieties are larger) with a brown, scruffy surface. A woody cover encloses the pulp and one large seed. The flesh is fine and reddish, sweet in some varieties and insipid in others. The fruit is picked when the layer under the skin is brown (not green), but the fruit is still hard. It is used fresh, in milk shakes and ice cream. Cold tender when young, it attains more hardiness as it ages.

Mammee apple, San Domingo Apricot - MAMMEA AMERICANA top

A tropical American upright, compact tree which grows best on a rich, well-drained, sandy loam. It bears fruit in 6 or 7 years from seed. The large, round fruit, up to 6" across, has a bitter, russet, roughened skin that should be removed from the flesh before eating. The bright yellow, firm, juicy flesh can be eaten raw, cooked, or made into preserves. The gum and seeds are used as insecticides. Propagated by seed. Air-layering has at times been successful.

Mamoncillo, Spanish Lime, Genip - MELICOCCA BIJUGAtop

A large dioecious tree from tropical America, related to the litchi and rambutan. The fruit resembles a small green lime growing in grape like clusters. The green skin is thick, leathery, slightly brittle and surrounds a thin layer of yellow flesh enclosing a large seed or seeds. The flesh is soft, translucent and juicy. Flavor varies from sour to semi-sweet and refreshing. It is mainly eaten raw and the starchy white kernels of the seeds are roasted and eaten like nuts. Propagated by seed or air layer.

Mangaba - HANCORNIA SPECIOSAtop

A medium size tree from Brazil with fruit the size of a plum, red with thin skin and sweet flesh containing one seed. Propagated by seed.

Mango - MANGIFERA INDICA top

A handsome evergreen tree, widely grown in the drier tropics and subtropical U.S. for its superb and often very colorful fruit (the peach of the tropics) The shape of the tree varies from upright and tall, to round, or to a broad base and conical top. It should be pruned to maintain size and shape. The round to oblong fruit has green, yellow, red or purple skin that is fairly thick and leathery and dotted with glands. It contains a caustic sap which can cause irritation to eyes and skin and care should be taken when it is picked. The yellow flesh varies in thickness, texture and flavor from soft, fiber-free, sweet and juicy to fibrous and turpentine-flavored. It is rich in vitamin A and contains quantities of B and C. Propagated by fresh (do not allow seed to dry out), polyembryonic seed or grafting.

Mangosteen - GARCINIA MANGOSTANA top

This medium-to-large tropical tree from Indonesia is very cold tender and requires a year-round moist, warm climate. It is considered by some to be the most delicious fruit in the world. The fruit is orange sized, with a thick red rind covered with brown and purple spots. The interior is divided into segments, holding a delicate, juicy white, sweet/acid pulp with a flavor that resembles a mixture of strawberry and grape.

Manila Tamarind - PITHECELLOBIUM DULCEtop

A very spiny tropical tree, native to Mexico and Central America that is used as an ornamental, shade tree or hedge. Fruit is a long, red, spiraling pod with sweet, white, spongy pulp containing flat, black seeds. The whole pod is eaten boiled. Pulp is used raw or in drinks. Wood is used for lumber and bark produces a dye, adhesive gum and tannin. Propagated by seed, cuttings and air-layer.

Marmalade box, Genip - GENIPA AMERICANAtop

A medium-size tree, native to South America. It is a difficult plant to grow but a few can be found in South Florida. The fruit are large, orange-sized, green or reddish-brown. They must be soft and overripe before being eaten. A thin skin surrounds a layer of granular flesh which in turn surrounds soft brown pulp containing many small seeds. The flavor and aroma are strong. lt is eaten fresh, fermented as a drink, or used as a refreshment. Propagation is by seed.

Mate - ILEX PARAGUENSIStop

A large shrub from Uraguay. Leaves are dried and brewed as tea, which is drunk in South America. Grows well in warmer areas.

Mauritius Raspberry, Tropical Red Raspberry - RUBUS ROSAEFOLIUS top

This native of Southeast Asia has downy stems with spines that curve backward and trail to 8' long. The 1" needlelike berry is red and juicy. Propagated by stem cutting and suckers.

Mayan Breadnut, Breadnut - BROSIUM ALICASTRUM top

This Central American tree, a relative of the breadfruit and fig, can withstand a reasonable amount of cold. The wood is light colored, hard and used for cabinetry. The 1" round yellow fruit contains a seed which is edible when boiled or roasted. Propagated by seed.

Maypop - PASSIFLORA INCARNATA top

This is the typical vine apricot or northern passion flower. It is native from Virginia southward and westward to Missouri and Texas. It has a tendency to be deciduous, like the love-in-a-mist. The fruit is small, yellow, similar to the yellow granadilla.

M. DUBIA, M. SPRUCEANA. Camu Camu, Camocamo - MYRCIARIA PARAENSIS top

A shrub or small tree, native to South America. It bears a small, red fruit with acid pulp. Propagated by seed.

Medlar, Azarole - CRATAEGUS AZAROLUStop

Thought to have originated in the Orient, it is found throughout the Mediterranean as hedges, woods or sometimes as a solitary planting. It is an arid type plant requiring little care or water once established and is a favorite for flower arrangements whether in the blossom or fruiting stage. The fruit is similar to other hawthornes. ½ to ¾" in diameter, consisting of a group of nut-like carpels surrounded by a mealy, fragrant, sugary yet acid flesh, described as apple-like and covered with a orange-red to yellow skin.

Medlar - MESPILUS GERMANICA top

Dioecious. A sometimes spiny tree, growing to about 20, it makes an unusual specimen tree for the garden, often assuming a contorted shape. The wide, solitary, white-pink flushed flowers are produced at the tips of the main and side shoots in summer. The leaves are large, downy and dull green and turn colors in the fall. It grows best in areas where frost occurs, when the apple-shaped fruit are said to become better. Propagated by grafting or seed.

Meiwa Kumquat - FORTUNELLA MARGARITA X JAPONICA top

The fruits of this tree are round. 1½" across, with sweet rind and almost juiceless pulp. They also can be eaten whole.

Melindjo, Spanish Jointfur - GNETUM GNEMON top

A Malaysian pine, this tree provides seeds which can be eaten roasted, boiled, or fried. The green leaves are cooked as spinach.

Miracle Fruit - SYNSEPALUM DULCIFICUMtop

This small, tropical, African shrub or tree requires acid soil. Needs lots of water and some shade. It adapts well as a container plant. The small bright-red fruit is sweet with a mild and pleasant after-taste. It has the unique ability to change the taste buds so that, for an hour or more after eating it, everything sour or bitter will taste sweet. It is propagated by seed or cutting under mist.

Monkey Tamarind, Ice Cream Bean - INGA EDULIS top

A leguminous tree from the Amazon in South America. The cylinder like pod, almost a meter in length contains a sweet edible substance surrounding the seeds. Propagated by seed and cuttings.

M. pterygosperma. Horseradish Tree, Moringa - Moringa MORINGA OLIFERAtop

A small, semi-deciduous tree from India, grown as an ornamental and food producer. The root tastes like horseradish and is used in the same way. The leaves, shoots, flowers, and buds are used as a cooked vegetable. Ben oil is extracted from the seeds and used for perfume, soap, and lubricating oil. Propaga-tion is by seed or cuttings.

Myrobalan, Emblic - PHYLLANTHUS EMBLICA top

Dioecious. A large tree from tropical Asia, it is a handsome landscape plant having tiny yellow flowers which develop into small green to yellow, sour fruit, which is high in vitamin C. They are usually made into preserves and, in India, the bark and leaves are used in tanning. Propagated by seed or budding.

Mysore black raspberry - RUBUS NIVEUStop

This sun-loving, semi-vining bush, native to India and W. China, is a vigorous grower that suckers badly. The leaves are dark green above and silvery green below. The blue-black droopy fruit, sweet and juicy, is eaten fresh or in jellies and juices. Propagated by suckers or tip layering.

Monkey Puzzle Tree - ARAUCARIA ARAUCANAtop

This Chilean pine tree is a relative of the Norfolk Island Pine, but the tiered branches are weirdly shaped, which accounts for its common name. Grown from North Carolina southward in the U.S., it is both lovely and grotesque. The seeds are boiled and eaten in Chile, where they are well liked.

Montesa granadilla - PASSIFLORA PLATYLOBA top

It grows well in well lighted conditions but doesn't set fruit readily. The fruit is large and extremely acid. The flower is very beautiful.

M. pterygosperma. Horseradish Tree, Moringa - MORINGA OLIFERAtop

A small, semi-deciduous tree from India, grown as an ornamental and food producer. The root tastes like horseradish and is used in the same way. The leaves, shoots, flowers, and buds are used as a cooked vegetable. Ben oil is extracted from the seeds and used for perfume, soap, and lubricating oil. Propaga-tion is by seed or cuttings.

Mountain soursop - ANNONA MONTANAtop

Similar to guanabana but the fruit is less desirable and about the size of a small custard apple. Native to the West Indies, where it is called wild guanabana, the tree is larger than the guanabana and hardier, withstanding temperatures several degrees below 32°F.