Indigenous Fruit in Papua New Guinea

This paper describes some of the indigenous :fruit species of Papua New Guinea (pNG), that is, species which were grown and eaten prior to settlement by other Pacific islanders, Europeans and Asians from about 1870 AD onwards. A list of 40 species that are eaten as fruit in PNG is presented, but the list is by no means complete. Information is given on 10 of the most commonly eaten indigenous :fruits grown by the rural population, and six other indigenous fruit species. The following attributes are covered for each species: how the fruit is consumed; global distribution; distribution within PNG; altitudinal range in PNG; the number of rural people who live in locations where the species is common; production pattern (crop seasonality); marketing; and potential for further development. The species discussed are bukabuk (Burckella obovata), coastal pandanus (Pandanus tectorius), golden apple (Spondias cytherea), kumu musong (Ficus copiosa), Ficus dammaropsis, Ficus tinctoria, Ficus wassa, Malay apple (Syzygium malaccense), marita (Pandanus conoideus), mon (Dracontomelon dao), parartocarpus (Parartocarpus venenosa), pouteria (Pouteria maclayana), rukam (Flacourtia rukam), ton (Pometia pinnata), watery rose apple (Syzygium aqueum) and traditional mango (Mangifera minor).