Byrsonima crassifolia

Byrsonima crassifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Malpighiaceae, native to tropical America. Common names used in English include nance, maricao cimun, craboo, and golden spoon. In Jamaica it is called hogberry. The plant is valued for its small (between one, and one and a quarter centimeter in diameter) round, sweet yellow fruit which is strongly scented. The fruits have a very pungent and distinct flavor and smell. When jarred, their texture resembles that of a green or kalamata olive.

Description

A medium sized evergreen tree. It grows 2-10 m tall. The bark is cracked. The leaves are simple and opposite. They are 7-15 cm long by 3-7 cm wide. They are rich green and shiny but paler underneath. The veins and leaf stalks are a rusty red colour. The flowers are rich yellow and have a crumpled appearance. The flowers are held in erect, hairy racemes. These are 6-15 cm long. The fruit are small and sweet and green when young but orange-yellow when ripe. They are 1-5 cm across. They have an aroma. They have a thin skin and white, juicy pulp.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Oil Edible Uses: Drink Oil Fruit - raw or cooked. Thin-skinned and peculiarly odorous, with a white, juicy, oily pulp that varies in flavour from insipid to sweet, acid or cheese-like. A very popular fruit, it is usually eaten out of hand, and is also cooked as a dessert, used in jams, soups, sherbets etc. A refreshing drink, known as 'chicha', is obtained from the fermented fruits - it is very much relished by most Panamanians. The orange-yellow round fruit is up to 5cm in diameter with a single, fairly large stone, containing 1-3 white seeds. An edible fat is extracted from the fruit with boiling water.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten fresh. They are also used in desserts, jams, soups, and stuffings for meat. They are also used in drinks. In Panama they are fermented to make a drink called Chica. An edible fat is extracted from the fruit with boiling water. Caution: There has been some concern about the fruit causing gastrointestinal disorders.

Medicinal Uses

Antacid Antidiarrhoeal Antidote Antiinflammatory Astringent Dysentery Emmenagogue Febrifuge Hypotensive Mouthwash Poultice Purgative Skin Stings The bark (probably the inner bark is rich in tannins and has been used medicinally by many local peoples. It is antidote, antiinflammatory, astringent, emmenagogue, febrifuge and purgative. It has been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, including indigestion, diarrhoea and dysentery; pulmonary complaints; snakebites; fevers; cases of leucorrhoea; and to promote menstruation. The bark has been used externally as a wash or poultice to treat wounds, skin infections, ulcers etc. As a mouthwash it has been used to tighten the teeth where gums are diseased. An infusion of the leaves is used to treat high blood pressure. The leaves are used as a wash to clean and soothe ulcers. The brown powder from the under surface of the leaf is applied onto the cut end of the umbilical cord to prevent infection. The sap from the bark and leaves is inserted into the orifice of the penis as a treatment for gonorrhoea. The leaves contain various flavonoids, saponins and terpenes.

Known Hazards

The leaves and stems, if put in water, can stupefy fish. This possibly means they contain saponins. Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It suits hot tropical lowlands. It is native to C. and S. America. In the Amazon it grows to 2,000 m altitude. It can tolerate some drought and has wind resistance. It suits subtropical climates but is not very hardy. It will grow on poor soils. It can tolerate salty soils. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Where It Grows

Africa, Amazon, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil*, Caribbean*, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Gambia, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South America, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, USA, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies*,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. The seeds are collected from ripe fruit are the flesh removed by allowing them to partly decompose in a plastic bag. The pulp is removed under running water. Seeds need to be planted fresh. They are best in light shade. Seedlings emerge in 25-35 days.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A germination rate of less than 30% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 25 - 35 days. The seeds are collected from ripe fruit are the flesh removed by allowing them to partly decompose in a plastic bag. The pulp is removed under running water. Seeds need to be planted fresh. They are best in light shade.

Other Uses

Charcoal Dye Fibre Fire retardant Furniture Ink Oil Soil reclamation Tannin Wood Other uses rating: Medium (3/5). Small flowering tree, backyard tree, Accent, Large planter, Small street tree, Xerophytic. Agroforestry Uses: The tree is well suited for the restoration of infertile and burned-over land. It has a heavy leaf fall which helps to restore soil fertility. Other Uses The bark contains 17-28 % tannin and 3 % oxalic acid. It is employed in tanning. The fruit is high in tannin, especially when unripe and is sometimes used in dyeing. The fruit skin imparts a light-brown hue to cotton cloth. An ink can be made from the bitter green fruit. The bark yields a strong fibre. The heartwood is a reddish or pinkish-brown; the thin band of sapwood is greyish. It is coarse-textured; close and cross-grained. The wood is heavy, hard, tough, strong, brittle, and only moderately durable. It takes a good polish. The wood is usually available only in small sizes; it is highly prized for boat ribs, and is used for tool handles, turnery, cabinetwork, furniture and small-scale construction. In Brazil, the wood is chosen for the hot fire over which people smoke the stimulant paste of guaran' (Paullinia cupana) because the burning wood has a pleasant odour. In some areas, the wood is used for making a good quality charcoal. This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds. Special Uses Attracts Wildlife Food Forest

Production

It is a slow growing tree.

Other Information

It is a cultivated fruit tree. The fruit are sold in Central American markets. They are commonly used in Costa Rica.

Notes

There are 127 Byrsonima species. They grow in tropical America. The roots and stems have anti-bacterial activity.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Bois corne, Cereza, Changunga, Chaparro, Craboo, Eheb, Indano, Lontoekasi, Manero, Manteco, Maricas, Marushi, Miga, Murei, Murici, Muriye, Muruci, Nananche, Nanche, Nanci, Nancite, Perpleja, Pohon ceri liar, Sabanakwari, Savanna serret, Yoco

References (62)

• Abadio Finco, F. D. B. et al, 2012, Physicochemical characteristics and Antioxidant activity of three native fruit from Brazilian savannah (Cerrado). Alim. Nutr. Araraquara, v 23, n. 2 pp 179-185
• Arellanes, Y., et al, 2013, Influence of traditional markets on plant management in the Tehuacan Valley. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 9:38
• Barwick, M., 2004, Tropical and Subtropical Trees. A Worldwide Encyclopedic Guide. Thames and Hudson p 74
• Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 71 (Also as Byrsonima pulchra)
• Blake, S. F., Native Names and Uses of some Plants of Eastern Guatemala and Honduras. Contributions from the National Herbarium. p 87

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