Avocado - Fruit Plants & Tree Avocado commonly known as Alligator Pear, Butter Fruit, and Makhanphal because of its shape and leather-like appearance of its skin, cultivated in tropical and Mediterranean climates throughout the world. These are partially self-pollinating and often are propagated through grafting to maintain a predictable quality and quantity of the fruit. Most parts of the plant are used medicinally in some way.