Mystery Fruit, may you vex us no more.
September 28, 2011 6:02 AM Subscribe
Plant Identification Filter: What is this New England tree with cherry-like fruit?
Coworkers and I are stumped. A tree outside our office in Cambridge, MA has resisted all our attempts to identify it. The fruit looks a lot like cherries, with a stringy, yellow-orange interior that is sweet and bland (we tried it; we didn't die).
The fruit starts out green, then turns yellow and red. The skin is tough (and unpleasant to eat); the fruit has a pit.
Photos: whole tree, fruit, inside of fruit, close-up of fruit.
Coworkers and I are stumped. A tree outside our office in Cambridge, MA has resisted all our attempts to identify it. The fruit looks a lot like cherries, with a stringy, yellow-orange interior that is sweet and bland (we tried it; we didn't die).
The fruit starts out green, then turns yellow and red. The skin is tough (and unpleasant to eat); the fruit has a pit.
Photos: whole tree, fruit, inside of fruit, close-up of fruit.
Looks like a Himalayan strawberry tree. Google image search.
posted by A Thousand Baited Hooks at 6:09 AM on September 28, 2011
posted by A Thousand Baited Hooks at 6:09 AM on September 28, 2011
I think we just had a question about a similar plant and it ended up being Dogwood.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 6:10 AM on September 28, 2011
posted by ArgentCorvid at 6:10 AM on September 28, 2011
Response by poster: Mefites, you are awesome. Kousa dogwood it is (I think)! The Himalayan strawberries aren't quite as spherical as what we have.
Coworkers will be so pleased!
posted by rebekah at 6:19 AM on September 28, 2011
Coworkers will be so pleased!
posted by rebekah at 6:19 AM on September 28, 2011
Thanking puckish for the link - my friend/neighbor has one of these, but he always told me the fruit wasn't edible. We'll have to try some...
posted by jalexei at 6:23 AM on September 28, 2011
posted by jalexei at 6:23 AM on September 28, 2011
We have one of these in the yard. Did you also notice the beautiful white flowers on the same tree in the spring? Definitely Kousa dogwood. I've never mustered up the nerve to eat the things, though I have been told they're edible and kind of like lychee (which I don't care for).
posted by aught at 8:35 AM on September 28, 2011
posted by aught at 8:35 AM on September 28, 2011
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posted by puckish at 6:08 AM on September 28, 2011