Tropical fruits and vegetables have been transported around the world since humans have been able to travel great distances. Some exotic fruits have proven popular, and the regular cultivation and transport of tropical plants to European countries has allowed the fruits to flourish in similar climates. Some of the less successful exports still remain a mystery to countries unfamiliar with the product.
Xylocarp
Xylocarp is the botanical name for a plant that bears fruit with a woody pericarp. The pericarp refers to the outer shell of the edible fruit. A coconut can be described as a xylocarp, although the phrase is rarely used.
Xigua
The xigua is a Chinese watermelon that is a smaller version of the ones commonly seen in supermarkets. It has a black exterior and the flesh is red.
Ximena
A Ximenia tree grows wild in parts of Africa, and produces an edible fruit of the same name. The fruit is about 1 1/4 inches long in an oval shape and ripens in various colors, either yellow, red or orange. Trees grow throughout the mainland from Tanzania in the north to KwaZulu-Natal in the south. Birds feed on the fruits and native animals feed on the leaves of the tree. The tree is named after a Spanish monk named Francisco Ximenez.