Mango

Mango (Mangifera indica), a small tree belonging to the terebinth family, indigenous to tropical Asia, but now cultivated throughout the tropics. It has scattered entire leaves and panicles of small pink or yellow flowers. Though its glossy leaves make it valuable for shade, it is chiefly valued for its drupaceous fruit, which varies considerably in size and flavour, though it seems always to have a slight flavour of turpentine. In an unripe state it is used in pickles; but in India is largely eaten when ripe as a dessert fruit, Containing gallic acid, it will stain a steel knife blue.