Persea americana - Avocado
Family:
Native to:
Habitat:
Lauraceae
Native to Central America.
Humid lowland forests or limestone formations. 0-2500 meters above sea level. 15 meter tall tree.
Ecological value:
Pollinated by honeybees and other insects. Fast growing tree. Can be cultivated in a range of conditions at elevations as high as 2800 meters. Intolerant of being waterlogged.
Material uses:
A non-drying oil can be extracted from seed. Seed makes a red/ brown dye. The wood is soft and not durable and is susceptible to termites. Used in light construction, furniture, good quality veneer and plywood.
Edible uses:
Fruit. Oil can be used for cooking. Leaves can be dried and used for infusions, teas, and extracts. 6-8 years to produce fruit. Fruit yields up to 15 tonnes per hectare, but the averages around 7 tonnes per hectare. There are three varieties: Mexican, Guatemalan and West Indian.
Medicinal use:
Oil from seed used for skin-care. Leaves, skin of fruit and oil from seeds have several medicinal properties trading ailments such as dysentery, high blood pressure, intestinal worms etc.
Other details:
Wood is seldom used and is mainly grown for fruit. Ground up seed with cheese is used as a rat poison. At least two trees are needed for pollination.
Research:
Peaches Harrison/Christine Facella
Sources:
“Persea Americana - Useful Tropical Plants.” n.d. Tropical.theferns.info. Accessed November 15, 2023. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Persea+americana.
Barwick. M., ‘Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide’, Thames & Hudson, London, 2004
Little E.L. Wadsworth F.H., ‘Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands’, USDA, Forest Service; Washington, 1964
“Persea Americana Mill. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science.” n.d. Plants of the World Online. Accessed November 15, 2023. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:325643-2.
Image sources: B.navez and Ethel Aardvark.