Ceylon Gooseberry Fruit
Ceylon Gooseberry Fruit
Description:
The fruit of the Ceylon gooseberry is a small fruit of 1.25-2.5 cm wide. The fruit is described as having a thin, bitter skin turns from somewhat orange to dark purple on ripening and is coated with short, grayish-green, velvety hairs, unpleasant in the mouth.
The pulp is very juicy, extremely acid, purple-red, enclosing 9 to 12 hairy seeds about 1/4 in (6 mm) long.Fruiting occurs from spring to early summer. In some areas tree will bear multiple crops throughout the year.
The shrub or small tree reaches no more than 15-20 ft (4.5-6 m) in height but its long, slender, arching, wide-spreading branches may cover 30 ft (9 m) of ground. Sharp spines to 1 1/2 in (4 cm) long, are plentiful on the trunk and lower branches.
Growing Environment:
Grows very quickly under ideal conditions. Plants will tolerate dry and wet soils, although lots of moisture is necessary for proper fruit development.
Ceylon Gooseberry Tree
Uses:
Consumed fresh, either as a flavoring for beverages, or in preserves. Fruits can be eaten out of hand but are usually not for the pulp is very acidic.
Native Range:
Native to Sri Lanka. Today the ketembilla is occasionally cultivated for juice making.
Ceylon Gooseberry Facts:
- The tree takes about 2-3 years to fruit and fruiting occurs from spring to early summer.
- It is cultivated in warm countries as hedge plants.
- It is distributed by seeds and cuttings.
- Ceylon gooseberry is often used as a barrier hedge due to the thorns on it and its vigorous growth habit.
- Cultivated hybrids of the fruit are also available.
- It is good when mixed in drinks and nowadays it is occasionally cultivated for juice making.
Fruit growing on the tree
Propagation:
By seeds.
Alternative Names:
- Ketembilla
- Dovyalis hebecarpa tree
- kitembilla
- Tropical Apricot
