We often think about animals that have become extinct, such as dinosaurs and mammoth. But there is also the fruit Extinct, something that became more common after monoculture became popular as a method of food production.
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Experts believe that today we only have a small portion of the fruit and the plants that existed a hundred years ago.
Is extinct fruit harmful to ecosystems?
The extinction of fruits and plants that threaten Ecosystems. There is a decrease in cross-pollination and the possibility of new, stronger fruits, such as grapefruit, emerging.
Moreover, when the fruit plants disappear, the animals that depend on them become endangered. See, for example, lemongrass. It became extinct in the 1930s when its habitat was damaged by disease.
Some plants became extinct due to climate change. Others became extinct due to deforestation, or were excluded because they were not as reliable as the commercial taxa. Either way, it’s a loss to the terrestrial ecosystem and a worrying trend.
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Meet seven extinct fruits we have records
ansault pear
Ansault Pear is known for its buttery taste and delicate aroma. It was grown in Angers, France, in 1863, and it was so delicious that the book New York pear He described it as “the fruit of the highest quality”.
They became extinct because their cultivation was complicated. The trees were irregular and did not always produce edible pears. When agricultural production was industrialized, the Ansu pear became income inefficient for producers.
This pear is one of the extinct fruits that disappeared in the early twentieth century.
taliafero apples
Thomas Jefferson grew Taliafero apples on his 5,000-acre Monticello estate in Virginia. There are reports that he claimed that they produced there “without a doubt the best wine we have ever known”.
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This apple did not reach commercial levels, nor did it distance itself from its original orchards. Fruit experts believe she died in an orchard on the property.
Madagascar banana
This wild banana is not yet among the extinct fruits, but it is in grave danger of extinction. Bananas in Madagascar are related to the common Cavendish plant Europe And in the United States.
Deforestation and climate change are the reasons for the nearly extinction of this banana. It has not reached the commercial level, and its habitat is in danger. Experts believe it is only a matter of time before it disappears forever.
Murray Bloom
Bloom Murray Prunos MurayanaThe wild plum was only found in areas of Texas, USA. It was discovered in 1928, but no one has seen it since. It is listed as endangered, but considered extinct Because the last search did not find any of them.
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It was a thorny bush, with Leaves Hairy white flowers ripen to plum red with white dots.
Yehuda palm
The date palm was a common food that grew around the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee, and the Hula Valley in Israel. The fruits of the date palm are still eaten today, but the Judean palm is believed to have become extinct due to weather changes.
The areas where they grew have become dry over time, and because palm trees need so much water, they are becoming more and more difficult to grow.
In 2005, botanists were able to germinate a 2,000-year-old seed from the Judean palm. It was the oldest seed that sprouted with human help. The scientists then sequenced their genomes and compared them to modern varieties, seeking to understand how the date palm evolved.
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Kalimantan mango
mango kalimantan (mangifera castori) It was a type of mango endemic to the Kalimantan region, Borneo. It was one of 31 species, and the mascot of South Kalimantan Province.
It has been listed as one of the extinct fruits since 1998. The mango tree can reach 25 meters in height, and its leaves are purple when young. The mango was smaller than what we see in the supermarket today, at 80 grams, its skin thinner and speckled and more fibre.
It is believed to have become extinct due to deforestation.
Jamaican guava
Jamaican guava is still around today, but one species has become extinct. summoned Psidium domitorum, or just Psidium jamaicana, is endemic to Jamaica. The last wild plant was recorded in 1976, and no one has been found since.
