Flacourtia indica

Flacourtia indica (known commonly as ramontchi, governor's plum and Indian plum), is a species of flowering plant native to much of Africa and tropical and temperate parts of Asia. It has various uses, including folk medicine, fuel, animal food and human food.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5-15 m high. The trunk is crooked and low branched and armed with scattered slender spines. The leaves are alternate, pointed at the base and rounded at the tip. The edges of the leaves toothed with rounded lobes. Leaves are dark green on top and pale green underneath. They are 6-17 cm long and 3-7 cm wide. Male and female trees occur. The flowers are small and white, occur singly or in pairs in the axils of leaves or near the ends of short branches. The fruit are rounded, fleshy, purple or nearly black. They are smooth and about 1 cm across. The flesh is yellowish, juicy and acid. There are 6 to 10 small flattened seeds inside. The fruit are edible.

Edible Uses

The fleshy pulp of ripe fruit is eaten raw or cooked, used as a vegetable with 'tur'dal, made into jelly and jam, or dried and stored.

Traditional Uses

The fleshy pulp of the fruit is eaten raw when ripe. They are also cooked and eaten. They are used as a vegetable with 'tur'dal. They can be used to make jelly and jam. Fruit can be dried and stored.

Medicinal Uses

The ramontchi fruit itself is about an inch thick and red ripening purple. It is very fleshy and has 6 to 10 seeds in layered carpels. The pulp is yellow or white and sweet with an acidic tang. It is eaten raw or made into jelly or jam. It can be fermented to make wine. The leaves and roots are used in herbal medicine for treatment of snakebite. The bark is believed to be effective for arthritis. Most parts of the plant are used for cough, pneumonia, and bacterial throat infection. It has also been used for diarrhoea. In India, it is used in folk medicine to treat functional disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Its berries are edible, and the bark can be triturated (ground) with sesamum oil and then used as alignment of rheumatism. Similarly, the extract of its fruit has diuretic, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic properties (Patro et al. 2013). As it contains a glucoside ('Flacourside'), and 'Flacourtin' (an ester). Antimalarial compounds have been found in the aerial parts of Flacourtia indica. The tree is planted as a living fence; it was one of the species used for the Indian Inland Customs Line. The wood is used for firewood and small wooden tools such as plough handles.

Known Hazards

The fruit are especially eaten by children, indicating it is generally safe, though the hard seed coat requires scratching to aid germination when cultivating from seed.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. They are found in the Philippines in Cagayan, Isabela, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Rizal and Mindoro. They thrive in dry shrubby areas at low altitudes. Trees grow in coastal areas and up to 700 m or higher. In Africa it grows from sea level to 2,400 m above sea level. They suit drier areas. In Yunnan it grows between 700-1500 m altitude. It grows in subtropical broadleaved evergreen forest. It can grow in arid places. It also grows on limestone. It grows in Miombo woodland in Africa. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Andamans, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Congo DR, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North America, Northeastern India, NW India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Trees are normally grown from seed. Because the seeds have a hard seed coat it helps to scratch the seed to help germination. Cuttings can be used. Air layering can be used. Groups of trees containing both male and female trees need to be grown from root suckers or by budding. Some kinds are self pollinating. A spacing of 12-16 m apart is needed.

Propagation

Seed - Layering Grafting.

Other Uses

The bark is used as a tanning material. The sapwood is light brown, gradually merging into the chocolate-brown heartwood. It is very hard, heavy to very heavy (850 kg/m³), straight grained and durable, though liable to splitting. It has a fine even texture. Used for agricultural implements such as ploughs, posts, building poles, rough beams, walking sticks and the manufacture of turnery articles. The small size of the wood limits its usefulness. The wood is used for fuel and for making charcoal. Plants are usually spiny and, when closely planted, form a close impenetrable barrier that serves as a tall hedge, windbreak or boundary screen. It tolerates frequent trimming.

Production

In India Rajasthan, fruit are available Feb - May. Fruit matures in 60-90 days from pollination. A tree can produce 2-3 kg of fruit.

Other Information

It is a cultivated fruit tree. The fruit are eaten especially by children. A fruit tree occasionally seen in lowland areas of Papua New Guinea. Fruit are sold in local markets.

Notes

There are about 17 Flacourtia species. Also put in the Flacourtiaceae family.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

A zi long jie a bo, Baga, Baichi, Bainchi, Banchi, Batoko plum, Ben, Bhanber, Bhekal, Bhenkal, Bilangada, Bila-ngara, Bilangra, Bitangol, Bitongol, Boichi, Boicifol, Boinchi, Bolong, Botoko plum, Chik, Ciruela forastera, Dawi, Dunadunise, Duri rukem, Galguggar, Gargugal, Goewerneurspruim, Gurchinchi, Hagalaa, Hakoku, Hambia, Hapa vadama, Hattarimullu, Hongquan an, Hudhaa, Hunmunki, Hurkuduma, India bitongol, Itusa, Jingoma, Kakai, Kaker, Kakooaa, Kandi, Kandregu, Kanel, Kangu, Kanju, Kankar, Kankod, Kanteikoli, Karkkadappazham, Kanter, Karai, Katai, Katar, Katia, Katukala, Katu-kali, Katulovi, Kerkup kechil, Khatai, Kiathani, Kikathani, Koko, Kokoh, Kokowi, Krorkob, Kuduntabga, Kukai, Lamontiala, Lamoty, Lateku tenga, Lodri, Mabota, Madagascar plum, Majin, Mak ken to khuaai, Mak kvien, Mchongoma, Merhle, Metema, Mgogola, Mgola, Mhilipili, Mkalifumbula, Mng'unga, Mong quan, Mpuguswa, Msingila, Mtawa, Mtumbusya, Mubukushu, Mudendweya, Mududwe, Mugola, Mukulumbisha, Mukulumbishia, Mulanninchi, Mullumayilai, Munhunguru, Munyondoya, Mutana, Mutombototo, Mutudza, Mutundumbira, Mutunguru, Mutudza, Naboe, Nahon, Naywe, Nnaua, Nthudza, Ntudja, Pac-knala, Paker, Palutan, Paniala, Parhenkal, Payala, Phetara, Pohon rukemmadagaskar, Ramontchi, Ri rukem, Ri sisir, Saradan, Sepaia, Sherawane, Sokhalmo, Songoma, Sottaikala, Takhob, Ta khop pa, Ta khop paa, Toleta, Tongonamunziro, Tsapenai, Tsingoma, Tsvanzwa, Uguressa, Ukolokoto, Umbula, Umqogolo, Umqokolo, Umtabhala, Umtungula, Umuolo, Yat dago

References (185)

• References Flacourtia indica (Burman f.) Merr. Governor's-plum
• Synonyms for species: Flacourtia ramontchii L'Her.; Flacourtia sepiaria Roxb.; Gmelina indica Burman f.
• 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 42
• Addis, G., et al, 2005, Ethnobotanical Study of Edible Wild Plants in Some Selected Districts of Ethiopia. Human Ecology, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 83-118
• Akinnifesi, F. K., et al, 2006, Towards the development of Miombo fruit trees as commercial crops in Southern Africa. Forests, Trees and Livelihoods. Vol. 16 pp 1-3-121

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