Botanical Description
Avocado (Persea americana) also known as Alligator Pear is a relatively small tree that grows up to 12 m tall. Its leaves are elliptic or oval in shape measuring anywhere from 10 to 30 cm in length with an entire margin arranged in an alternating phyllotaxy. Its florets are borne upon a paniculate inflorescence, the florets are green in color and are trimerous. The flowers eventually develop into a fruit that is 7.5 to 15 cm long with a leathery exocarp, despite its appearance the avocado fruit is actually a berry instead of drupe due to the lack of a stony endocarp surrounding the seed.
Uses:
-
The fruit is widely cultivated and eaten around the world due to its unique texture and flavor.
-
The flesh of the fruit is rich in vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin B1, and vitamin B2.
-
The skin of the fruit also yields an oil used for culinary purposes.