Pleiogynium timoriense

(DC.) Leenh.

Burdekin plum, Tulip plum

Anacardiaceae Edible: Fruit, Seeds 509 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Pleiogynium timoriense, commonly known as the Burdekin plum, sweet plum, tulip plum, or in the Djabugay language guybalum, is a medium-sized fruit-bearing tree in the cashew and mango family Anacardiaceae native to Malesia, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Description

A medium sized deciduous tree. It can grow to 20-45 m high. It spreads 8-15 m wide. It can have buttresses. The bark is hard, grey-brown and cracked. Young growth is usually hairy. The leaves are compound. They are 10-18 cm long. The leaflets are on opposite sides of the stalk. New growth is red-brown. There are 5-11 leaflets and they are 4-10 cm long by 2-6 cm wide. The male flowers are in groups 15 cm long. The female flowers are in groups 5 cm long. The flowers are 0.8 cm across. They are white. The fruit are small and purple. They are 3-4 cm across. They have a thin acid pulp and a large irregular seed. The fruit occur singly or in bunches in the axils of leaves. They contain 5-12 seeds in a woody shell. The flesh is edible. The flesh can be white or purple.

Edible Uses

The fruit is edible but tart, although the pale greenish varieties have been found to be more palatable. Indigenous Australians are known to have buried the fruit underground to ripen. Fruit can be cooked, eaten raw or used in jellies, jams and preserves. Joseph Banks, on his voyage to Australia with Captain James Cook, collected some of the fruits when they stopped in the Endeavour River, and he made the note: "These when gathered off from the tree were very hard and disagreeable but after being kept for a few days became soft and tasted much like indifferent Damsons". The timber is decorative but seldom used due to the lack of supply of good logs.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are edible. The flesh of the fruit is used to make jam. The seeds are edible.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It is native to Malesia and Australia. It grows in open forest and coastal scrub. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions. It needs well drained soil and a sunny position. It can tolerate light frost. It can tolerate slightly salty conditions. In Wittunga Botanical Gardens Adelaide.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Australia*, Cook Is., East Timor, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Caledonia, North America, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Rotuma, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, USA,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from fresh seed. The seeds germinate erratically. It is best to scratch the hard seed coat then soak them in warm water for 24 hours. They can also be grown by cuttings and layering.

Other Uses

A good quality wood, it is used for turnery and cabinet joinery.

Production

Seedling trees take 7 years to produce fruit. Trees can produce large crops. Fruit are usually gathered after they have fallen from the tree. The fruit need to be softened in paper bags in the dark, or by burying for several days.

Notes

There are 1 or 2 Pleiogynium species.

Synonyms

Clausena timorensis M. Roem.Icica timoriensis A. DC.Owenia cerasifera F. Muell.Pleiogynium cerasiferum (F.Muell.) R.ParkerPleiogynium cerasiferum var. glabratum DominPleiogynium solandri (Benth.) Engl.Spondias pleiogyna F. Muell.Spondias solandri Benth.Pleiogynium papuanum

Also Known As

Injo wato, Lumba, Pohon injo, Pohon lumba, Pohon wato, Woigiek

References (45)

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Blumea 7:159. 1952

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