And not only there! Orange strawberries, the size of a tennis ball, are popular in many parts of Pécs. This slightly lemony-smelling globe is known as monkey’s brain, horse-lemon, but also as wild orange.
How did it get to Hungary?
It went wild. Originally it was planted in parks, one of the oldest trees on Margaret Island, over 210 years old. Around these trees, some protection (helmet) is recommended, as the hard fruit falling from a height can cause serious injury. Indians knew this and used them as weapons in North America.
Don’t eat it! The crop causes stomach irritation
In autumn, many people use it as a decoration, and in a few weeks the fruit starts to wilt. Researches are being done to make flour and other foods from the crop. But it cannot be eaten raw, as it causes stomach irritation. However, it is thought that some extinct large animals (mammoths) may have fed on it.
