Did you know they exist male handle and female handle? The trees that produce this fruit are of different types and that influences their productive capacity. Hence the importance of differentiating them.
Let's see the characteristics of these trees, so that you can differentiate them and increase fruit production if you decide to put them in your garden or orchard.
What is the male handle like?
To know the different types of mango Let's start by analyzing the physical qualities of the male tree. Which is one that produces male flowers and, therefore, does not bear fruit.
We can identify it through the following features:
- Male flowers. Unlike other varieties, this tree does not produce hermaphrodite flowers but rather male flowers, which have pollen but no ovaries, which is why they do not later lead to the appearance of fruits.
- Size and shape of the tree. The male handle and female handle are similar in size. They are evergreen and can reach several meters in height.
- Foliage. The leaves of the male mango tree are green and make up dense foliage. Its leaves are lanceolate and can vary in size.
- Bark and branches. The bark of this tree is smooth and has a color that ranges between gray and light brown. Its branches are strong and spread widely, giving robust support to foliage that we have already seen can be quite dense and heavy.
Although it does not bear fruit, the male mango tree is highly prized in horticulture, because it serves as a pollinator for nearby female mango trees.
What is the female handle like?
In the female mango, the distinctive characteristics of the tree are those that we are going to list below:
- Hermaphrodite flowers. One of the main differences with the male mango tree is that the flowers of the female tree are hermaphrodites. They have male and female organs, so they are capable of producing fruits both through cross-pollination and self-pollination.
- Size and shape Both factors can vary depending on the specific variety in question and growing conditions, but the female mango tree is usually medium to large and its shape varies between round and spreading.
- Dense, leafy foliage. As with the male tree, the crown of the female mango is made up of very dense foliage. The leaves are green and lanceolate, and are distributed throughout the crown.
Similarities between the male handle and the female handle
Although both trees are different from each other, they also They have a number of common characteristics which indicate that we are dealing with varieties of the same species of fruit tree.
Evergreen
Both the male and female trees are evergreen. Its crown remains leafy and dense throughout the year.
This is because they are trees native to warm environments, so They are not used to extreme temperatures that lead them to lose their leaves during the winter.
bark and branches
In both cases the bark has a smooth appearance, with colors ranging from gray to light brown.
Since they are trees with a large amount of foliage, The branches have a solid and strong appearance., capable of holding the captive of the leaves and, in the case of the female variety, also of the fruits.
Climate and growth requirements
As we pointed out before, it is a species typical of warm and tropical climates. Therefore, to grow strong and healthy, these trees need an environment with a mild climate, well-drained soils and be exposed to a large number of hours of sunlight each day.
When it comes to care, both trees need similar watering, fertilizing, and pruning conditions.
flowering period
The male mango does not produce fruits, but it does produce flowers. The male mango and the female mango flower between spring and early summer, depending on the variety in question and the region in which they are planted.
The difference is that the flowers of the female mango will later become fruits. While those of the male mango will wither and disappear.
Longevity and resistance
Male mango and female mango are two very resistant trees. If they receive proper care they can live very long.
They are strong trees, but require certain attention so that their health and productivity are kept in good condition.
Agricultural and economic importance
These two types of trees have great importance at an agricultural and economic level, because the mango has become one of the most appreciated fruits worldwide. In those countries where the cultivation of this fruit does not occur because the weather conditions are not suitable, Mango imports are increasingly high.
Cross-pollination and self-pollination of mango
The pollination process of mangoes can be either cross-pollinated or through self-pollination.
Cross pollination
As we have noted, the male mango tree produces male flowers, which have pollen but no ovaries. This pollen is transported through the air and by pollinating insects such as bees, and carried to the flowers of the female mango tree, thus producing the pollination from which the fruits will emerge.
As a botanical curiosity, mangoes have mechanisms that favor cross-pollination instead of self-pollination. For this, the male mango tree It releases pollen before the stigma of the hermaphrodite flower of the female tree is receptive. This prevents it from pollinating itself.
Self-pollination
The hermaphrodite flowers produced by the female mango tree are capable of pollinating themselves, causing pollen from a flower to fertilize the ovary of that same flower.
This allows fruit production even in those cases where there are no male flowers or there are not too many insects pollinators in the environment in which the trees are found.
Did you know these curiosities about the male mango and the female mango? Definitely, These trees are wonders of nature, capable of giving us sweet and delicious fruits.