Buchanania obovata

Engl.

Wild plum, Green plum

Anacardiaceae Edible: Fruit, Roots 136 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Buchanania obovata is a small to medium-sized understorey tree in woodlands native to northern Australia, in particular in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Common names include green plum and wild mango. Leaves are smooth, thick, leathery, broadly oblong, 5–25 centimetres (2.0–9.8 in) long and 1.5–10 centimetres (0.59–3.94 in) wide. Flowers are small, cream-coloured and 0.5 centimetres (0.20 in) across. The fruit is smooth, fleshy, lens-shaped, 1–1.7 centimetres (0.39–0.67 in) long. The species was formally described in 1883 based on plant material collected from Escape Cliffs in the Northern Territory by C. Hull.

Description

A small tree. It grows 4-10 m high. The young branches are softly hairy. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are thick and leathery. They vary in shape but are oblong and taper to the base. The blade is 5-25 cm long by 1.5-10 cm wide. They are a dull grey-green and have a prominent raised midrib. The flowers are small and cream. They are about 05. cm across. They occur in a group at the end of branches. The fruit is a smooth fleshy lens-shaped fruit with a stone inside. They are about 1-1.7 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide. There is a single hard shelled seed. The fruit are edible.

Edible Uses

The fruit is traditionally eaten by Aboriginal people, as a bushfood. The plant also has traditional medicinal uses. In 2020, researchers at the University of Queensland were researching the fruit. Eaten for more than 53,000 years but previously little-known among non-Indigenous people, the scientists learnt about the plum from people at the remote community of Yirrkala. It is harvested some time after the Kakadu plum harvests. Nutritional analysis showed high levels of protein, dietary fibre and the minerals potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. In addition, the folate level is among the highest of commercially available fruits. Its potential as a commercial crop for Indigenous communities is being investigated.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw. Roots may be eaten after roasting and pounding.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Minced leaves have been placed in tooth cavities to prevent pain. An infusion of the inner bark and sapwood is gargled (but not swallowed) as a treatment for toothache. The pure infusion can also bu used to bathe sore eyes.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. An understorey tree in open forest. It grows on well-drained soils. It often grows along streams in dry areas. It is very frost sensitive. It grows best in humus rich, moist soils.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from fresh seed. It can also be grown by cuttings.

Notes

There are about 25 Buchanania species.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Fruit	77.8	318	76	1.5	—	38	1.7	0.4
Roots	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Synonyms

Buchanania muelleri Engl.Buchanania muelleri var pilosa EnglBuchanania oblongifolia W. Fitzg.

Also Known As

Bigigee, Dhurrpinda, Glai, Gorola, Gurumal, Kanmakhal, Mangkarrba, Mulugi, Munydjutj, Mgari-ngari, Wurrngin, Yulwandi

References (31)

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Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 174
Brock, J., 1993, Native Plants of Northern Australia, Reed. p 104
Checklist of NT Vascular Plant Species. January 2003.
Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 198

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