North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Geoffrey Tolle <Gtolle0709@wowway.com>]

Folks:

     I found the following passage from Pliny the Elder's _Natural 
History_ (Bk 13, Chap. 9, p. 175, Pliny the Elder, trans.: Bo stock, 
John; Riley, H. T., Natural History of Pliny, Henry G. Bohn, London 
(1855). Available online at: 
http://www.archive.org/stream/naturalhistoryof03plin#page/n5/mode/2up):

   In the southern parts of the world, the date known as "syargi" {from
   the greek /snagrov/, "wild boar"}, hold the highest rank,... The
   same is the case also with the tree that bears the /syagri/. We have
   heard a wonderful story too, relative to this last tree, to the
   effect that it dies and comes to life again in a similar manner to
   the phoenix, which it is generally though has borrowed its name from
   the palm-tree, in consequence of this peculiarity; at the moment
   that I am writing this, that tree is still bearing fruit. As for the
   fruit itself, it is large, hard, and of a rough appearance, and
   differing in taste from all other kinds, having a sort of wild
   flavour peculiar to itself, and not unlike that of the flesh of the
   wild boar; it is evidently this circumstance from which it has
   derived its name of "/syagrus/."


Since the interest in dates in the US is generally sugar dates, I found 
this very interesting. I realize that this particular variety of date 
may not survive any longer (though, who knows) but I'd appreciate a 
little background (perhaps a reference book or two) on edible non-sugar 
dates from one of our date experts. Such a date could be of considerable 
interest in among the vegetarian community.


                                        Thanks,
                                        Geoffrey Tolle