Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Dan, do you have these trees?
Lula
(Guat.x Mex.) FL Origin.from seed from parent Taft tree planted 1915 by Mrs. Lulu (Geo.B.) Cellon at Miami, FL,fruited 1919, propagated 1921. A rapid, thrifty grower in FL, precocious & productive; more frost resistant than most, very satisfactory in the Ridge section lower east coast sections, & recommended for southern FL. Fruit season, Dec.-Jan. Color, green. Weight,16-24 ozs. Shape, pyriform. Skin, nearly smooth. Flavor, good. Oil,12-16%. Seed, lg. Illus.& desc. FL Agri. Exper. Sta. Bul.272. (CAS Yearbook 1950) Orig. in Miami, FL, by George B. Cellon, nurseryman. Introd. in 1921. Open-pollinated seedling of Taft; selected in 1919. Fruit
yriform; skin almost smooth, dark, glossy green; quality good; lg. seed, tight in cavity; fair market appeal; very susceptible to avocado scab. Tree: vigorous & upright, prolific & regular bearer; class "A" blossom type. (B&O Register) (Lulu) Origin, FL; Race, GxM; Flower group, A (Lahav & Gazit) (seed of Taft planted in Miami in 1915);pear-shaped, sometimes with neck; med.-lg; skin almost smooth;flesh pale-to greenish-yellow,12-16% oil; seed lg.,tight. Season: med.-late (mid-Nov.& Dec.).Tree tall, bears early & heavily; cold-resistant, successful in central & southern FL where it was formerly the leading commercial cultivar. It is the principal cultivar in Martinique for exporting to France; represents 95% of the crop. (J.Morton 1987)
Russell
(W.I.)FL Originated Islamorado,FL from seed of fruit brought from Cuba by John Russel & planted near his home about1880. Top-worked by Harvey Fitzpatrick, Homestead, FL in 1935, shortly before parent tree was destroyed by a hurricane. Fruit: season, Aug.-Sept.; color, green; weight, 24-36 ozs.; shape, clavate; skin, smooth, leathery. Seed, med. Sometimes solid neck of flesh 5-6" long.(CAS Yearbook 1950) Orig. in Islamorado, FL by John Russell. Introd. in 1935. Seedling of West Ind. type from seed of fruit brought from Cuba about 1880. Fruit: large, 24-36 oz; often 12"long; clavate; skin green, smooth, leathery; flesh yellow; seed size med.; cavity low in the broad end of fruit, often a solid neck of flesh 5-6"long;season Aug.&Sept.Tree: vigorous; moderately productive. Flower group A. Not propagated commercially.(B&O Register) Origin, CA; Race, WI; Flower, A (Lahav & Gazit) (originated in Islamorada in FL Keys); pear-shaped at apex with long neck giving it a total length up to 13"(32.5cm); skin, smooth, glossy, thin, leathery; flesh of excellent quality; seed small. Season: Aug.&Sept.Tree bears well & is recommended for home gardens. (J Morton)