Parrot Fruit

“I have at last managed to track down the fruit that we both photographed in Tobago. It’s scientific name is Clusia rosea, but it has several common names including The Autograph Tree, Copey, Balsam Apple, Pitch Apple and Scotch Attorney. Autograph because you can scratch your name in the thick leaves. It has a striking white flower that is only open for part of the day maybe we both saw them but did not realise it produced the amazing fruit pod. When the fruit is ripe it is very attractive to birds hence the name Parrot Fruit. It starts life as an epiphyte and the aerial roots strangle the “mother” tree explaining why I was told it was a Strangler Fig. There is plenty of info on the web, once you know the name, you can even buy it in IKEA.”

Many thanks to Paul for sending this interesting information.