Eldon (mango) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mangifera 'Eldon' |
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Eldon mangoes at the Redland Summer Fruit Festival, Fruit and Spice Park, Homestead, Florida
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| Genus | Mangifera |
| Species | Mangifera indica |
| Hybrid parentage | 'Cowasji Patel' × unknown |
| Cultivar | 'Eldon' |
| Breeder | Walter B. Eldon |
| Origin | Florida, USA |
The Eldon mango is a special type of mango that first grew in south Florida, USA. It's known for its tasty fruit. Over time, the Eldon mango became a popular choice for farmers to grow and sell.
How the Eldon Mango Started
The very first Eldon mango tree grew from a seed in Miami, Florida, in 1939. It was planted by Walter B. Eldon. This first tree started producing fruit in 1942.
Scientists later studied the Eldon mango's family tree. They think it might be related to another mango called 'Cowasji Patel'.
Spreading the Eldon Mango
Around 1948, two people named Lawrence Zill and J.W. Chafer started growing more Eldon mango trees. They helped spread this new type of mango.
Even though it wasn't super popular in Florida at first, the Eldon mango became a big hit in Africa. Farmers there started growing it for sale.
You can find Eldon mango trees in important plant collections. These include the USDA germplasm center in Miami. There's also a collection at the University of Florida's Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, Florida.
The Eldon mango might even be a parent of another mango type called 'Southern Blush'.
What the Eldon Mango Looks Like
The Eldon mango fruit is usually oval-shaped. It weighs about one pound, which is like a small bag of sugar. When it's ripe, the fruit can have many colors. You might see green, yellow, orange, and even a red blush on its skin.
Inside, the fruit has bright yellow flesh. It tastes sweet and has a really nice smell. Each Eldon mango fruit has one seed inside.
The Eldon mango trees grow to be quite large. They have a wide, spreading top, called a canopy. Their leaves are a light green color.
