Editing Mango (section)

== Description ==

Mango trees grow to {{convert|30|–|40|m|ft|abbr=off}} tall, with a crown radius of {{convert|10-15|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The trees are long-lived, as some specimens still fruit after 300 years.<ref name=Californiararefruitgrowers>{{cite web |title=Mango |work=California Rare Fruit Growers |url=http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/mango.html |access-date=4 November 2015 |archive-date=19 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019172713/http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/mango.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In deep soil, the [[taproot]] descends to a depth of {{convert|6|m|ft|abbr=on}}, with profuse, wide-spreading feeder roots and anchor roots penetrating deeply into the soil.<ref name=Morton/> The [[leaves]] are [[evergreen]], alternate, simple, {{convert|15|–|35|cm|in|abbr=off|frac=2}} long, and {{convert|6|–|16|cm|in|abbr=on|frac=2}} broad; when the leaves are young they are orange-pink, rapidly changing to a dark, glossy red, then dark green as they mature.<ref name=Morton/> The [[flower]]s are produced in terminal [[panicle]]s {{convert|10|–|40|cm|in|abbr=on|frac=2}} long; each flower is small and white with five petals {{convert|5|–|10|mm|in|frac=16}} long, with a mild, sweet fragrance.<ref name=Morton/> Over 500 [[Variety (botany)|varieties]] of mangoes are known,<ref name=Morton/> many of which ripen in summer, while some give a double crop.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://toptropicals.com/html/toptropicals/articles/fruit/varieties_mango.htm |title=Mango (Mangifera indica) varieties |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=toptropicals.com |access-date=2 January 2014}}</ref> The fruit takes four to five months from flowering to ripening.<ref name=Morton/>

The ripe fruit varies according to cultivar in size, shape, color, sweetness, and eating quality.<ref name=Morton/> Depending on the cultivar, fruits are variously yellow, orange, red, or green.<ref name=Morton/> The fruit has a single flat, oblong [[Pyrena|pit]] that can be [[fibre|fibrous]] or hairy on the surface and does not separate easily from the pulp.<ref name=Morton/> The fruits may be somewhat round, oval, or [[kidney]]-shaped, ranging from {{convert|2|–|10|in|cm|0|order=flip}} in length and from {{convert|5|oz|g|order=flip}} to {{convert|5|lbs|kg|0|order=flip}} in weight per individual fruit.<ref name=Morton/> The skin is leather-like, waxy, smooth, and fragrant, with colors ranging from green to yellow, yellow-orange, yellow-red, or blushed with various shades of red, purple, pink, or yellow when fully ripe.<ref name=Morton/>

Ripe intact mangoes give off a distinctive [[resin]]ous, sweet smell.<ref name=Morton/> Inside the pit {{convert|1|–|2|mm|in|abbr=on}} thick is a thin lining covering a single [[seed]], {{convert|4|–|7|cm|in|abbr=on}} long. Mangoes have [[recalcitrant seed]]s which do not survive freezing and drying.<ref name="osu">{{cite web |title=Physiology of Recalcitrant Seeds |url=http://seedbiology.osu.edu/HCS631_files/12B%20Recalcitrant%20Seeds.pdf |last=Marcos-Filho |first=Julio |publisher=Ohio State University |access-date=3 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124220404/http://seedbiology.osu.edu/HCS631_files/12B%20Recalcitrant%20Seeds.pdf |archive-date=24 January 2014}}</ref> Mango trees grow readily from seeds, with [[germination]] success highest when seeds are obtained from mature fruits.<ref name=Morton/>

<gallery>
MangoImmatureFruits.JPG|Flowers and immature fruits on an [[Alphonso (mango)|'Alphonso']] tree
Mango tree with fruit in Rincón, Puerto Rico.jpg|Unripe mangos in [[Rincón, Puerto&nbsp;Rico]]
Mangifera indica pit.jpg|The seed inside of a mango pit
'Himsagar' mango stone (seed).jpg|A mango [[Pyrena|stone]]
</gallery>