I wouldn't mind some help trying to identify this interesting fruit. It feels like a soft pear or fig, but the inside looks a lot like a passion fruit with a thick pithy layer. It does grow on a vine - the leaves of which are in the photo. I reside in Nelson, New Zealand and this fruit is now seen in my winter (June). If any one has seen this or knows what it might be - please let me know.
The leaves look a lot like Akebia, but the fruit does not quite look right. Maybe something else in the Lardizabalaceae, but I can't find one that matches.
That is more closer than I have ever been in the past week. The description on Wikipedia of Akebia fruit seems to be bang on. Thank you for bringing me a little closer. If it is a pest - then there is only one place on my rural street that is growing it. I have showed it to every Kiwi resident I know that forages and tramps and no one is able to identify it. I am no expert on leaves but they are more pointed than the wiki version of Akebia and kind of palmate I guess. I can't say if it is 5 little leaves or a 5-leaflet - leaf. Each leaflet is lancet shaped. Thank you again. I welcome more input. Cheers.
If it still has all of its foliage now (winter here in NZ) then it's Stauntonia ( http://www.botanicalstockphotos.com/cat796.htm ). The leaves of Stauntonia are much thicker and heavier than those of Akebia and the foliage is evergreen while Akebia tends to be semi-deciduous under our conditions. The flowers are very different. Here's Akebia ( http://www.botanicalstockphotos.com/img12585.htm ) and this is Stauntonia ( http://www.botanicalstockphotos.com/img11404.htm ).
AWESOME! BANG ON! YAY....I can use it to eat! Thank you Ron B and Eric La Fountaine - geniuses! End of post:)
