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Description
This is a pastel drawing I did of a fruit that has been taking over my kitchen counter as of late: the bland, mushy, somewhat tasty, commonly illustrated, humble avocado (Persea americana). While cultivation of this now highly domesticated plant (world production of avocados was 7.2 million tonnes in 2019) began close to 5,000 BCE, widespread fossils suggest that variations have been around for millions of years, likely originating in Central America, and evidence indicates that they may have been consumed by humans as long as 10,000 years ago. The unassuming avocado is thought to represent an 'evolutionary anachronism,' coevolving with now-extinct Pleistocene megafauna, like gompotheres and ground sloths, to be swallowed whole and dispersed (via seeds) in their excretions. Technically massive berries (botanically speaking), avocados are even mildly toxic! Their pit and leaves contain contain a toxic fatty acid compound (persin) that, if consumed in large enough amounts, can kill a horse! It seems there is more to the humble avocado than meets the eye....

Description
This is a pastel drawing I did of a fruit that has been taking over my kitchen counter as of late: the bland, mushy, somewhat tasty, commonly illustrated, humble avocado (Persea americana). While cultivation of this now highly domesticated plant (world production of avocados was 7.2 million tonnes in 2019) began close to 5,000 BCE, widespread fossils suggest that variations have been around for millions of years, likely originating in Central America, and evidence indicates that they may have been consumed by humans as long as 10,000 years ago. The unassuming avocado is thought to represent an 'evolutionary anachronism,' coevolving with now-extinct Pleistocene megafauna, like gompotheres and ground sloths, to be swallowed whole and dispersed (via seeds) in their excretions. Technically massive berries (botanically speaking), avocados are even mildly toxic! Their pit and leaves contain contain a toxic fatty acid compound (persin) that, if consumed in large enough amounts, can kill a horse! It seems there is more to the humble avocado than meets the eye....