Fruits of
temperate climates are almost universally borne on
trees or
woodyshrubs or
lianas. They will not grow adequately in the
tropics, as they need a period of cold (a chilling requirement) each year before they will flower. The
apple,
pear,
cherry, and
plum are the most widely grown and eaten, owing to their adaptability. Many other fruits are important regionally but do not figure prominently in commerce. Many sorts of small fruit on this list are gathered from the wild, just as they were in
Neolithic times.
Rosaceae family
The Family
Rosaceae dominates the temperate fruits, both in numbers and in importance. The pome fruits, stone fruits and brambles are fruits of plants in Rosaceae.
In non-technical usage, berry means any small fruit that can be eaten whole and lacks objectionable seeds. The bramble fruits,
compound fruits of
genusRubus (blackberries), are some of the most popular pseudo-berries:
Some other fruits native to
North America that are eaten in a small way:
American
grape: North American species (e.g., Vitis labrusca;
Vitaceae) and American-European hybrids are grown where grape (Vitis vinifera) is not hardy and are used as
rootstocks
Podocarps are conifers in the family
Podocarpaceae. The seed
cones are highly modified and, in some, the seed is surrounded by fleshy scale tissue, resembling a drupe. These berry-like cone scales are eaten by birds which then disperse the seeds in their droppings and the cones can be eaten in many species. Podocarps are either half-hardy or frost tender, depending on species. Many genera are similar in that they have edible fruits and often don't have a common name.
Fruits in this category are not hardy to extreme cold, as the preceding temperate fruits are, yet tolerate some frost and may have a modest chilling requirement. Notable among these are natives of the
Mediterranean:
Caffeine - improves concentration, idea production, but hinders memory encoding. Also produces the jitters.
Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) - Amino acid. Transports fatty acids through cellular membranes and cytosol into cells' mitochondria, where the fats undergo oxidation to produce ATP, the universal energy molecule. Synergistic with
lipoic acid. Precursor of acetylcholine (donating the acetyl portion). Inhibits
lipfuscin formation.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) - Root. Adaptogen. Also known as Indian ginseng. Adaptogen used as tonics to normalize body processes and reduce stress and anxiety.
Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) - Herb. Elevates curiosity, enhances memory and concentration, improves protein synthesis in brain cell repair and new dendritic growth.
St John's Wort - Herb. The active components: hypericin and hyperforin, are clinically indicated to be effective in cases of mild to medium depression.
Yohimbe - Bark. Boosts
dopamine levels as much as 80%, though how it does this is not yet understood. Aphrodesiac. Yohimbe poses some health risks through its side-effects: it is a neuro-paralytic which slows down breathing and induces
acidosis, some symptoms of which are malaise, nausea, and vomiting. Contraindicated for users of megadoses of acidic vitamins or nutrients.
Fruits of
temperate climates are almost universally borne on
trees or
woodyshrubs or
lianas. They will not grow adequately in the
tropics, as they need a period of cold (a chilling requirement) each year before they will flower. The
apple,
pear,
cherry, and
plum are the most widely grown and eaten, owing to their adaptability. Many other fruits are important regionally but do not figure prominently in commerce. Many sorts of small fruit on this list are gathered from the wild, just as they were in
Neolithic times.
Rosaceae family
The Family
Rosaceae dominates the temperate fruits, both in numbers and in importance. The pome fruits, stone fruits and brambles are fruits of plants in Rosaceae.
In non-technical usage, berry means any small fruit that can be eaten whole and lacks objectionable seeds. The bramble fruits,
compound fruits of
genusRubus (blackberries), are some of the most popular pseudo-berries:
Some other fruits native to
North America that are eaten in a small way:
American
grape: North American species (e.g., Vitis labrusca;
Vitaceae) and American-European hybrids are grown where grape (Vitis vinifera) is not hardy and are used as
rootstocks
Podocarps are conifers in the family
Podocarpaceae. The seed
cones are highly modified and, in some, the seed is surrounded by fleshy scale tissue, resembling a drupe. These berry-like cone scales are eaten by birds which then disperse the seeds in their droppings and the cones can be eaten in many species. Podocarps are either half-hardy or frost tender, depending on species. Many genera are similar in that they have edible fruits and often don't have a common name.
Fruits in this category are not hardy to extreme cold, as the preceding temperate fruits are, yet tolerate some frost and may have a modest chilling requirement. Notable among these are natives of the
Mediterranean:
Caffeine - improves concentration, idea production, but hinders memory encoding. Also produces the jitters.
Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) - Amino acid. Transports fatty acids through cellular membranes and cytosol into cells' mitochondria, where the fats undergo oxidation to produce ATP, the universal energy molecule. Synergistic with
lipoic acid. Precursor of acetylcholine (donating the acetyl portion). Inhibits
lipfuscin formation.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) - Root. Adaptogen. Also known as Indian ginseng. Adaptogen used as tonics to normalize body processes and reduce stress and anxiety.
Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) - Herb. Elevates curiosity, enhances memory and concentration, improves protein synthesis in brain cell repair and new dendritic growth.
St John's Wort - Herb. The active components: hypericin and hyperforin, are clinically indicated to be effective in cases of mild to medium depression.
Yohimbe - Bark. Boosts
dopamine levels as much as 80%, though how it does this is not yet understood. Aphrodesiac. Yohimbe poses some health risks through its side-effects: it is a neuro-paralytic which slows down breathing and induces
acidosis, some symptoms of which are malaise, nausea, and vomiting. Contraindicated for users of megadoses of acidic vitamins or nutrients.