Editing Persea americana

'''Avocado''' ('''''Persea americana'''''; also avocado; alligator pear; aguacate) is a Lauraceae fruit plant grown for its berry.

{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; width: 400px; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | [[File:Persea americana fruit.JPG|thumb|center|250px|Persea americana fruit, flower, or plant habit. Wikimedia Commons file page.]]
|-
! colspan="2" style="background: #e8e8e8;" | Avocado (''Persea americana '')
|-
! Scientific name
|| ''Persea americana''
|-
! Genus
|| [[Persea]]
|-
! Family
|| [[Lauraceae]]
|-
! Order
|| [[Laurales]]
|-
! Fruit type
|| Berry
|-
! Growth form
|| Evergreen tree
|-
! Climate and hardiness
|| Tropical to subtropical tree with race-dependent cold tolerance
|-
! Mature height
|| 5–20 m; maintained smaller by pruning
|-
! Mature width
|| 5–15 m
|-
! Soil
|| Deep, aerated, freely drained soil; very sensitive to root-zone saturation
|-
! Water
|| Regular moisture with excellent drainage; drought and waterlogging both reduce performance
|-
! Sun
|| Full sun; young trees appreciate shelter from wind and heat extremes
|-
! Germination
|| 2–8 weeks from fresh seed; seedlings do not reproduce named varieties
|-
! Years to fruit
|| 2–4 years grafted; 5–10 years from seed
|-
! Pollination
|| Flowers are type A or B; compatible flowering types nearby can improve set
|-
! Harvest
|| Season varies by cultivar and climate; fruit can mature over a long window
|}

== Identification and description ==
Avocado is a highly variable evergreen fruit tree divided horticulturally into Mexican, Guatemalan, and West Indian ecological races and their hybrids. The fruit is a single-seeded berry with oily flesh.

The accepted genus, family, and order are [[Persea]], [[Lauraceae]], and [[Laurales]]. Common names may cover related taxa; check the scientific name before transferring cultivation advice.

== Growing ==
Avocado encompasses highland, lowland, and intermediate ecological races. Match the rootstock and cultivar to climate; all require oxygenated soil, and saturated ground quickly causes root decline.

Natural habitats range from cool highland forests to warm lowland tropics, so rootstock and race matter as much as the species name. The key site requirement is oxygenated soil. Plant on mounds or raised ground where drainage is marginal, and protect shallow roots from heat and cultivation.

=== Soil ===
Deep, aerated, freely drained soil; very sensitive to root-zone saturation.

=== Sun and humidity ===
Full sun; young trees appreciate shelter from wind and heat extremes. Native habitat and airflow matter as much as light intensity; avoid enclosing humid foliage without ventilation.

=== Seasonal changes ===
Avocado habitats range from seasonally dry uplands to humid lowlands. Flowering follows local temperature and moisture patterns, while harvest maturity can extend for months because many cultivars hold fruit on the tree. Reduce irrigation only enough to avoid saturation; drought during fruit set can cause drop.

== Propagation ==
Commercial trees are grafted or budded onto selected rootstocks. Fresh seeds germinate readily and make useful rootstocks, but seedling fruit quality and maturity are unpredictable.

[[File:Persea americana fruits 02.JPG|thumb|right|280px|Field view or fruit detail of Persea americana. Wikimedia Commons file page.]]

== Flowering, fruiting, and harvest ==
Season varies by cultivar and climate; fruit can mature over a long window. Flowering and ripening are strongly affected by latitude, cultivar, rootstock, rainfall, and temperature; local records are more useful than a single universal calendar.

== Fruit and uses ==
Fresh fruit is eaten sliced, mashed, or in sauces. It is also used in chilled soups, spreads, dressings, and oil production. The flesh is nutrient-dense and highly perishable once cut.


== Commentary ==
Growers are invited to share observations about Avocado on the [[Talk:Persea americana|talk page]], especially climate, provenance, propagation method, plant age, flowering season, and fruit quality.


== Photos ==

The images above show documented fruit, flower, or plant-habit views. See the individual Commons file pages in the image credits for authorship and license details.

== Sources ==
* [https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Persea+americana Useful Tropical Plants: Persea americana]



== Image credits ==

* [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Persea_americana_fruit.JPG Persea americana fruit.JPG] — Wikimedia Commons file page; creator and license are recorded on the source page.
* [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Persea_americana_fruits_02.JPG Persea americana fruits 02.JPG] — Wikimedia Commons file page; creator and license are recorded on the source page.

[[Category:Fruits]]
[[Category:Lauraceae]]
[[Category:Persea]]