It is cultivated mainly in the Paphos district.
Name - Origin
Αβοκάντο.
Fruit of a tropical tree originating in Central America. It is pearshaped and dark green in colour. It has a large seed in the middle (Great Encyclopaedia of Cyprus, vol. 1, entry αβοκάτο, 26). It has a characteristic buttery taste (Babiniotis 2005, entry αβοκάντο, 45).
Avocado belongs to the laurel family (Lauracae) and the Magnoliales clade of flowering plants. Scientific name: Persea americana Place of origin: Central America (Great Encyclopedia of Cyprus, vol. 1, entry αβοκάτο,το, 26).
It is consumed as a fruit and as a vegetable (Great Encyclopedia of Cyprus, vol. 1, entry αβοκάτο,το, 26).
Additional information and bibliography
Both the tree and its fruit are referred to by the same name, which is ‘avocado’. It was introduced to Cyprus through seedlings from the USA in 1969. It is cultivated mainly in the Paphos district (Great Encyclopaedia of Cyprus, vol. 1, entry αβοκάτο,το, 26).
Babiniotis G. (2005), Dictionary of Modern Greek Language. With comments on the correct use of words. Interpretative, Orthographic, Etymological, Synonyms, Main Names, Scientific Terms, Acronyms, Centre for Lexicology, Athens, Greece.
Pavlides A. (ed.) (1984), Great Encyclopedia of Cyprus, vol. 1, Filokypros, Nicosia.
Kyriaki Panteli, Argyro Xenophontos