Avocado Tree Pictures, Information on Avocado Trees
Welcome to our avocado tree pictures page. On this page you will find lots of nice pictures of avocado trees. You will also find a lot of wonderful information on avocado trees, including information about the avocado tree species, planting information, and much more. This is valuable and useful information that can help you to learn more about the avocado tree.
To view each avocado tree picture in full size just click on the pictures. Enjoy the pictures.
Here is some detailed information on the avocado tree.
The avocado (Persea americana) is a tree native to Puebla, Mexico, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel. Avocado or alligator pear also refers to the fruit (a large berry that contains a large seed) of the tree, which may be pear-shaped, egg-shaped or spherical.
Avocados are a commercially valuable fruit and are cultivated in tropical climates throughout the world (and some temperate ones, such as California), producing a green-skinned, pear-shaped fruit that ripens after harvesting. Trees are partially self-pollinating and often are propagated through grafting to maintain a predictable quality and quantity of the fruit.
The fruit is sometimes called an avocado pear or alligator pear.
The tree grows to 20 m (69 ft), with alternately arranged leaves 12 centimetres (4.7 in) to 25 centimetres (9.8 in) long. The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish-yellow, 5 millimetres (0.2 in) to 10 millimetres (0.4 in) wide.
The subtropical species needs a climate without frost and with little wind. High winds reduce the humidity, dehydrate the flowers, and affect pollination. When even a mild frost occurs, premature fruit drop may occur, although the Hass cultivar can tolerate temperatures down to −1°C. The trees also need well-aerated soils, ideally more than 1 m deep. Yield is reduced when the irrigation water is highly saline.
The avocado is a climacteric fruit (the banana is another), which means it matures on the tree, but ripens off the tree. Avocados used in commerce are picked hard and green and kept in coolers at 3.3 to 5.6°C (38 to 42°F) until they reach their final destination. Avocados must be mature to ripen properly. Avocados that fall off the tree ripen on the ground. Generally, the fruit is picked once it reaches maturity.
Often, avocados are grown from pits indoors. This is often done by removing the pit from a ripe, unrefrigerated avocado. The pit is then stabbed with three or four tooth picks, about one third of the way up. The pit is placed in a jar or vase with tepid water. In four to six weeks, it should split and out should come roots and a sprout. If there is no change by this time, the avocado pit is discarded. Once the stem has grown a few inches, it is placed in a pot with soil. It should be watered every few days. Avocados have been known to grow large, so owners must be ready to repot the plant several times.
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