Ximenia americana

Ximenia americana, commonly known as tallow wood, hog plum, yellow plum, sea lemon, or pi'ut (Chamorro), is bush-forming shrub/small tree; a species from the Ximenia genus in the Olacaceae family. It is mainly found in the tropics, ranging from Africa, India and southeast Asia, to Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, West Indies, Central, North and South America. It is especially common in Africa and South America. It is not domesticated so it is only found occurring in the wild. They grow in areas with more than 500 mm of mean annual rainfall and up to heights of 2000 m. It is commonly found in a variety of diverse habitats ranging from dry woodlands, hilly areas to coastal bushlands, along riverbanks, and mangroves They are commonly found in poor and dry soil types. The plant has not been domesticated; as such, it only occurs in the wild.

Description

A small tree or spiny shrub about 3-4 m high. It has spines about 1 cm long which are thin and straight. The leaves and branches are without hairs. The leaves are alternate, oval and about 2-4 cm long. The leaves are bluish green. The leaves fold upwards along the midrib. The tip of the leaf can be round or with a notch. The flowers are greenish white, have a smell and are less than 1 cm long. They occur in small branched clusters with a common stalk. The fruit are yellow, egg shaped and 2 cm across. They are thin skinned. They are sour. There is one large seed.

Edible Uses

Ripe fruit are eaten raw, pickled, dried, or made into jam and jellies, and can be fermented to make beer. The seeds or nuts are powdered and mixed with sago to make bread, and oil is extracted from the seeds. Young leaves are eaten after cooking. The root bark is used for tea.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw or pickled. They are used for jam and jellies. They can be dried. They are also used to make beer. The seeds or nuts are powdered and mixed with sago to make bread. Oil is also extracted from the seeds. The kernels of the nuts are recorded as both edible and purgative. They should only be eaten in small numbers. CAUTION The leaves have been reported as poisonous. They contain a cyanogenic glycoside. Young leaves are eaten after cooking.

Medicinal Uses

Fatty acids and glycerides are abundantly available in X.americana. Further classes of chemical compounds found in X. americana includes alkaloids, anthraquinones, glycosides, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic compounds, phlobatannins, quinones, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids. Leaves collected from X. americana in southern Niger were found to be rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, and manganese content but were also noted to be lacking protein. Linolenate was also detected in the leaves, along with high levels of palmitate. Vitamin C content varies according to maturity of the plant, with the green fruits having 74% more than the mature, yellow fruits. The seed of the fruit contains cyanide derivatives and high levels of riproximin were noted in the fruit kernels. The seed oil was observed to contain the compounds ximenic, linolenic, linoleic, and stearic acids along with smaller amounts of lumequic, ximenynic, arachidonic, erucic, and nervonic acids and a variety of other compounds. The volatile oil of the leaves were observed to be consisted of benzaldehyde (63.5%), hydroxybenzyl cyanide (13%) and isophorone (3.5%), the cyanide content contributes to the aforementioned almond-like smell of leaves. Methods of using X. americana in traditional medicine include infusion, decoction, syrup, cataplasm, or as a tincture.

Known Hazards

Leaves containing the cyanogenic glycoside sambunigrin at 100 ppm were noted to be fatal for the freshwater snail, Bulinus globus, the species responsible for causing the disease schistosomiasis. Researchers noted that X. americana extract had no deaths when the toxic effects of the extract of the plant for 14 days, however, after an oral administration of 2000 mg.kg−1, forced breathing and analgesia in the animals were noted. Another study was conducted on the effects of the liquid extracts of the root, stem and leaves of X. americana on the blood and the liver, and damage to the cells of the liver were noted.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. They occur along the back of coasts and seashores from Luzon to Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines. It occurs in the vegetation near the coastline. The plant occurs in all tropical countries. It is found in savannah in Africa. It is drought resistant. In China it grows in sandy areas behind beaches along the sea shore and mostly below 100 m in S China. In Bolivia it grows up to 900 m altitude. In Kenya it grows between 1,700-1,800 m altitude. In Ethiopia it grows between 500-2,450 m above sea level. It grows in the Sahel. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 100-1,270 mm. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, American Samoa, Andaman Is., Angola, Antilles, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Congo R, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Martinique, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North America, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Rwanda, Sahel, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Torres Strait, Trinidad-Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, USA, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants normally grow wild. The plant often has roots which feed off other plants. Plants can be grown from seed. These can be grown in pots then transplanted or can be sown where they are to grow. As seed do not store well, they should be sown fresh.

Propagation

Seed - sown fresh it usually germinates well.

Other Uses

The seed contains a non-drying oil suitable for soap manufacture and lubrication. The fruit yields up to 67.4% oil from the seed that has been used as a body and hair oil. The oil is not edible, and the presence of a rubber-like substance excludes it from many industrial uses The heartwood contains an essential oil that is used for fumigation. The flowers have an essential oil that could be a good substitute for orange blossom. The leaves, at a concentration of 100 ppm, cause 100% mortality of Bulinus globus, the vector in the transmission of schistosomiasis. Both bark and the crushed fruit rind are used to keep off fleas. The bark contains approximately 17% tannin. Both it and the roots are used in tanning. The bark is used to strengthen indigo dyes. The heartwood is yellow-red to brown-orange, fine textured and regular. The wood is very hard, heavy and durable. When large enough it is used for tool handles. It is sometimes used as a substitute for sandalwood. Firewood and charcoal are the chief uses of the wood, because the trunk is usually too small to make it useful for timber. Plants can be grown as a hedge.

Production

Plants are slow growing. They can be pruned as a hedge or cut back and allowed to regrow. Plants fruit is 3-4 years. Fruit mature in 50-60 days. Fruit are harvested by climbing the plucking the fruit.

Other Information

A minor wild edible fruit (and nut) in several coastal areas of Papua New Guinea. It is commonly used in West Africa. Fruit tend to be available in the drier more hungry season. Fruit are enjoyed by children. Fruit are sold in local markets.

Notes

The seed contains a non drying oil useful in soaps. There are about 8-10 Ximenia species. They are tropical.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Agara, Ailama, Albarillo, Alimo, Ameixa, Aurasech, Bedara laut, Blue sourplum, Boure, Chiru-illantai, Ciruelillo, Citronier-de-mer, Elamai, En boo, Enkoy, Enkoye, Enseka, False sandalwood, Fransman-mope, Helelea, Huddaa, Hudha, Inginkada, Kadaranji, Kandanakkare, Kinyat, Kitula, Konda nakkera, Kondanakkera, Kunyotwo, Lalilimo, Leenga, Limoncillo, Limon-di-sancho, Limon-do-mato, Mampa, Messenguele, Meyo, Mhingi, Misimisi, Moli tai, Mopubono, Moretologa, Motsadi, Msantu, Mtrio, Mtumbatumba, Mtumbitumbi, Myundakula, Mtundwa, Mtundwahavi, Mtundwi, Mukla, Mukunduthi, Mulaho, Mullancho, Mutengeni, Mu-Tuura, Mutula, Nagaragandaman, Nagarigidde, Naggiri, Nakkare, Nakkera, Nhundu, Nhundwa, Ntonke, O-suca-s, Olelemo, Olemo, Olemu, Olimo, Oora nechra, Oshikukulu, Pangungan, Pata, Pidzi, Pinle-kayin, Pinle-zi, Plum hutan, Prunier-de-mer, Putit, Quiltic yocsa'a, Rukam laut, Seaside plum, Sengigta, Siruyilandai, Small sourplum, So munoru, Sour plum, Tallow-wood, Tchabuli, Tcheme, Tjeme, Tsada, Tufissa, Tumbecrinhaque, Turino, Udongul, Ulaemo manan dago, Umbuvah, Undemna-aguidig, Unko, Uranechra, Urgi, Wiri, Wulaeng

References (185)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 49
• Acipa, A. et al, 2013, Nutritional Profile of some Selected Food Plants of Otwal and Ngai Counties, Oyam District, Northern Uganda. African Journal or Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development. 13(2)
• Addis, G., et al, 2013, The Role of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants in Household Food Sovereignty in Hamer and Konso Communities, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research & Applications. 11:251-271
• Agea, J. G., et al 2011, Wild and Semi-wild Food Plants of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom of Uganda: etc. Environmental Research Journal 5(2) 74-86
• Alemneh, D., 2020, Ethnobotany of wild edible plants in Yilmana Densa and Quarit Districts of West Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research & Applications. 20:47

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