Francis Mangifera indica are classify asMangifera indica , a mintage within the Anacardiaceae kin , which also include cashews , pistachios , and sumac . The genusMangiferacomprises around 35 - 40 species of tropical fruiting tree diagram , withM. indicabeing the most widely cultivated , cover hundreds of cultivars globally . Francis is a polyembryonic variety , meaning its seed can bring on multiple shoot , a trait typical of southeasterly Asian Mangifera indica rather than the monoembryonic Indian types . Originating from natural selection rather than control fostering , it reflects the adaptability and variety within this species .
The Francis Mangifera indica , also known as Madame Francis , traces its origins to Haiti , where it emerged as a seedling selection likely introduced from the West Indies or Southeast Asia centuries ago . Its accurate account is murky , but it ’s believed to have been cultivated by Haitian raiser for generation , with root perhaps tied to early colonial exchange observe Mangifera indica introduction to the Caribbean in the 18th C . By the previous nineteenth and former 20th hundred , it was brought to South Florida , where it became a favored dooryard variety due to its adaptability to local shape . Though not a major commercial-grade cultivar likeTommy AtkinsorKeitt , it remains popular in Florida ’s home landscapes and is celebrated at event like the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden ’s Mango Festival , reflect its regional import .
Francis mangoes are intermediate to big , typically weighing 12 - 20 ounces ( 340 - 570 Hans C. J. Gram ) , with an oblong - to - oval shape and a slimly drop , S - curved visibility . Their pelt is still and thin , transition from green to a promising golden - yellowness when ripe , often with a faint orange or pink rosiness near the stem . The material body is a rich lily-livered - orangish , soft , juicy , and sinewy — more so than many New cultivars — surrounding a polyembryonic germ that can produce multiple seedlings . ripen from May to July in Florida , it ’s an other - to - mid - time of year variety with a potent , fruity aroma . The discernment is rich and sweet , with a marked tropical relish blending pineapple and peach notes , balanced by a modest tartness , tender a juicy , succulent experience despite its fibre contentedness .
Mangifera indica‘Francis ’ thrives in USDA zone 10 - 11 , where hoar - spare , tropical to subtropical conditions prevail , with temperature ideally between 70 - 95 ° F ( 21 - 35 ° C ) . It can tolerate brief dips to 30 ° F ( -1 ° C ) , but prolong frigidness below this damages or kills the tree , limiting its U.S. refinement to southern Florida , coastal California , Hawaii , and Puerto Rico . In zones 9b-10 , it can be grown with protection ( e.g. , greenhouses or frost cloths ) if begin indoors and shielded from wintertime frisson , though yield production may be less coherent . It requires full sunshine ( 6 - 8 hours day by day ) and well - drained , sandy loam ground ( pH 5.5 - 7.5 ) , performing substantially in humid neighborhood with 30 - 100 column inch of one-year rain or irrigation .
