Pricklebush
The Pricklebush is a bush-like tree with sharp spines, thick round leaves and clusters of slender stems.
As the tree grows and gets older it gains more stems.
In the wild the tree usually has somewhere between 3 and 5 stems, but specimens with as much as 10 have been found.
When they are allowed to grow freely a single stem seldom grows taller than 3 meters before the slender structure topples over from the weight of the thick leaves and heavy fruits.
On domesticated trees farmers sometimes remove some of the fruit to make the remaining ones larger depending on what they will use the fruit for.
The fruit of the pricklebush grows in the 'crown', among a cluster of thick leaves. 1-3 fruits are grown in each crown, the number of fruits grown affect the size. More fruits equals smaller fruit. A single fruit weighs 2-5 kg.
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The young pricklebush only has some thick leaves close to the ground. It takes a couple of years before it bears any fruit.
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A mature pricklebush can be seen here to the right.
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A mature pricklebush can be seen here to the right.
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The fruit of the pricklebush grows in the 'crown', among a cluster of thick leaves. 1-3 fruits are grown in each crown, the number of fruits grown affect the size. More fruits equals smaller fruit. A single fruit weighs 2-5 kg.
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Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
The fruit of the pricklebush is hard and kind of pear-shaped. Colors go from yellow to pink. It has a thought prickly, leathery skin that has no direct use.
The flesh of the fruit is crispy and has a bit of a tangy, sour taste to it. It's often used raw as a side to some foods or eaten by it self. Often served in thin slices.
They also crush it to collect the juices that is then fermented into a lightly alcoholic (0,5-1,5%) drink.
The thick leaves have a jell-like texture on the inside. It is edible and tastes a bit sweet.
The jell on the inside is also used medically for soothing, cooling on some burns and bites.
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The pit of the fruit, or the 'nut', has a thick fibrous wooden shell. Inside is a fatty, nutritious pulp.
The fatty pulp is used to make a variety of products like cream, milk, butter, oil and even a type of cheese.
Conservation Status
Uncommon due to the fact it only grows in one region of Domu.
The plant exist both domesticated and in the wild.
The plant exist both domesticated and in the wild.
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
I like that you added the drawings to your article to better visualize the plant.
Thank you. :) I felt it would be easier to 'explain' my vision of the plant if I included my doodles. Plan on refining them in the feature