1361

Actinidia deliciosa (A.Chev.) C.F.Liang&A.R.Ferguson

Family	:	Actinidiaceae
Local name	:	English- Kiwi Fruit
Distribution	:	E. Asia - southern China.
Habitat	:	Mixed evergreen-deciduous forests
Uses	:	Kiwi fruit is considered as a wholesome and healthy food, the fruit does contain relatively high quantities of the highly active proteolytic enzyme actinidin. The fruits, stems and roots are diuretic, febrifuge and sedative. They are used in the treatment of stones in the urinary tract, rheumatoid arthralgia, cancers of the liver and oesophagus.
Key botanical characters:  leaves are alternate, long-petioled, deciduous, oval to nearly circular, cordate at the base, and 7.5–12.5 cm long. Young leaves are coated with red hairs; mature leaves are dark-green and hairless on the upper surface, and downy-white with prominent, light-colored veins beneath.The flowers are fragrant, dioecious or unisexual, borne singly or in threes in the leaf axils, are five- to six-petalled, white at first, changing to buff-yellow, 2.5–5 cm broad, and both sexes have central tufts of many stamens, though those of the female flowers with no viable pollen. The flowers also lack nectar. Male and female flowers appear on different plants (dioecious), and both sexes have to be planted in close proximity for fruit set. The oblong fruits are up to 6.25 cm long. The russet-brown skin of the fruits is densely covered with short, stiff, brown hairs. The flesh is firm until fully ripened. The flavor is subacid to quite acid; the flavor is suggested to be similar to that of the gooseberry or strawberry.