MutFruit

Written by Crafty_Dm

Pronounced “mute-fruit”, and short for mutated fruit, mutfruit is a mutated form of apple, which comes in several different varieties depending on where you are. These different varieties are cultivated for their sweet flavor, their use in cooking, and even their medicinal properties in some rare cases.
Mutfruit is part of a few different recipes, including being turned into Mutfruit Juice. Mutfruits grown in non-irradiated conditions (such as within vaults or similar locations) are not irradiated but increase their rarity by +1.
Mutfruit is the general term for fruit-bearing trees by most survivors in the wastelands as most do not distinguish one from another but Mutfruit have variations depending on climate and the pre-war ancestral species the are derived from.
Revived Vault dwellers or those with some pre-war knowledge may be able to identify the different flavor and texture profiles of the fruit from these trees, but over a few hundred years even these distinctions can be hard for some to say "Yes, this is an Orange." or "No, its an apple." it's all basically referred to as mutfruit, what most understand it is both better tasting and nutritionally satisfying than say an irradiated box of Sugar Bomb cereal or Gum Drops.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Mutfruit are typically small and stunted in size versus their pre-war ancestors they typically do not grow above the shoulder height of a typical human. Their leaves tend to look more yellow than green when capable of producing fruit. The bark and Trunks of the trees tend to be twisted and dusty brown in color and very stiff. In some variations, the Branches may also hold an inordinate number of thorns.

Biological Traits

Mutfruit Seldom grows above 5-6 feet in height with the branches spread to about 3-5 feet in diameter. A fully developed. Mutefruit trees if well tended can produce as many as 30-60 fruits in a given growing season. In the wild they tend to produce less fruit perhaps 6-24 Fruit

Genetics and Reproduction

The Trees reproduce mainly through seeds with the best results coming from the excretion of waste or dung from insects or creatures such as Bloat Flies or Radstag or Molerats.

Growth Rate & Stages

From a Seedling Mutefruit typically take 6 months to a year to grow to a size where they produce their first fruit and typically reach full size within 3 years.

Ecology and Habitats

Mutefruit are very hardy and can grow in almost any climate except extreme cold. They Thrive in Dry environments and even in irradiated regions although they will produce very sweet fruit if given a little tending and some water.

Biological Cycle

Mutfruit will enter a hibernation cycle if exposed to extreme cold granted the tree can survive this if the cold is a period shorter than 3 months the tree will actually die off if exposed to as much as 4-5 months of temperatures below 30 degrees farenheight.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

mutfruit juice, mutfruit jams & preserves, dried mutfruit,

Origin/Ancestry

Pre-War Apple, Pear, Peach, or Orange Trees.

Lifespan

16-20 years

Average Weight

5-6 feet

Average Length

3-5 feet wide