Mango

By Ashleigh Smith

Mangos are a delicious fruit enjoyed by many around the world. It is easily recognized by its green and blush-colored skin and bright orange flesh. You can identify the tree by its simple, lanceolate leaves that form in clusters. The flowers develop in large panicles with pinkish fragrant blooms. This leads to the fruit hanging in visible panicle clusters from the tree. The mango tree (Mangifera Indica) can only be grown in tropical conditions where it can get plenty of light, warmth, and water.

As the fruit ripens on the tree, you may notice some developing a red blush color. This coloration doesn’t indicate ripeness. It is a reaction that occurs when the sunlight reaches the fruit for long periods of time, changing the pigmentation. This is the same reaction that can cause an ornamental Burning Bush to have various degrees of redness depending on its location in relation to the sun.

A mango’s ripeness can be determined by a sweet aroma emitting from the stem or a gentle squeeze of the fruit. A good mango will be slightly soft without becoming mushy. If you have purchased a mango that isn't as ripe as you would like it to be, place it in a paper bag and roll it closed. The mango will release natural ethylene gas, which triggers the ripening process.