Spondias pinnata

Spondias pinnata, sometimes also known as hog plum, is a species of tree with edible sour fruits. It is native to the Philippines and Indonesia, but has been widely naturalized in South Asia, Mainland Southeast Asia, Southern China, and the Solomon Islands. It belongs to the family Anacardiaceae. This species, among several others, has sometimes been called the "wild (or forest) mango" in other languages and was once placed in the genus Mangifera. It is found in lowlands and hill forests up to 1,200 m (3,900 ft).

Description

A medium sized tree. It grows 15-40 m high. The trunk can be 60-100 cm across. The leaves are 20-60 cm long and made up of several leaflets. The leaves and leaflets are carried alternately. The leaflets are pointed at the tip and rounded at the base. The leaflets are 7 to 14 cm long by 2.5-6 cm wide. There are 5-11 leaflets with a leaflet at the end. The flowers are in a long panicle at the ends of branches. The flowers are greenish-white. The fruit are rounded and yellow with an edible pulp around a fibrous stone. The fruit can be 4-7 cm long.

Edible Uses

The fruits have a sour taste and can be eaten raw or made into jams, jellies, or juices. They can also be used as feed for pigs (hence the common name "hog plum"). In the Philippines, libas leaves and fruits are used as a souring agent in various native dishes like sinigang, sinanglay, or laing. In India, ambda pickle is made using quartered ambda fruits preserved in mustard oil, salt, and spices. Along with mango and chili pepper pickle, it is the most common type of pickle found in households in many parts of India.

Traditional Uses

The fleshy portion of the ripe fruit is eaten raw. It is sour-sweet. They are also pickled. Seeds are also eaten. The fruit are eaten as a vegetable when green. The young leaves are cooked and eaten. They are used for flavouring. The flowers are sour and eaten raw or used in curries or used as a flavouring. The unripe fruit are used in chutneys, stews, pickles, and jams.

Medicinal Uses

The fruit is used as an astringent and antiscorbutic. It is used in the treatment of bilious dyspepsia. The juice of the fruit is applied against earache. The bark is recommended in the treatment of stomach aches and dysentery. A paste of the bark is applied topically in the treatment of rheumatism and swollen joints. The root is considered to be useful in regulating menstruation.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical Asia. It grows in secondary semi deciduous forest. In Vietnam it is below 1,000 m altitude. It needs sunlight. It can tolerate drought and grow on poor soils. They are found in forests at low altitude from Luzon to Mindanao in the Philippines. In Nepal it grows between 300-1400 m altitude. It grows in areas with a maximum temperature between 38°-45°C. In XTBG Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Cuba, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Pohnpei, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, West Indies, West Timor,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seedlings need to be transplanted very carefully. They can also be grown by cuttings.

Propagation

Seed - Cuttings

Other Uses

The wood is soft and deteriorates quickly in the open. It can be used for lower value items such as packing cases, floats, matches and non-ornamental plywood, and is traditionally used for making canoes. The wood is used for mouldings, interior finishing, drawers, pulp, matchboxes, boxes, crates, carvings. It is fairly good for unbleached wood pulp. The wood makes a poor quality fuel.

Production

Plants start to fruit after 4-5 years. In NE India fruit are available May to November.

Other Information

The leaves and fruit are sold in local markets. It is a cultivated food plant.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Adavimaamidi, Amara, Amaratoko, Amaro, Amaru, Amatekaye, Amato, Amb, Ambada, Ambalam, Ambaletong, Ambara, Ambaru, Ambattemara, Ambazham, Ambhazham, Ambiram, Ambra, Ambula, Amda, Amna, Amodo, Amora, Amora, Ampallai, Amra jouru, Amra, Amratenga, Amta, Anara, Anbada, Arbaru, Bahamb, Bak kawek, Bashok, Bilati amra, Bile tree, Bon amrah, Buah amra, Buah larah, Bwe-baung, Ciruela cochinera, Coc chua, Coc rung, Chiming, Daun kedondong, Deshi-amra, Dieng-soh-pair-kynthai, Ding-kok, Dorge, Dorgu dorge, Eginam, Emberella, Emungthi, Ga li le biu, Galinu, Go, Gooddamate, Gue, Guo, Gwe, Heining, Hpunnam-makawk, Ibangam, Ivurumaamidi, Jangli am, Jongmot, Kaadamate, Kataambolam, Katamara, Kathimagirangai, Kattuma, Kawk, Khatakumba, Khatambni, Kok khao, Ko:k ku:k, Kok kuk, Kok-mong, Kondamaanidi, Kotamara, Kraa-phai, Kuk, Kushi, Libas, Ma-kok, Mai-kawk, Maimuguo, Makawk, Mak kok, Makok pa, Malai, Mamedi, Manpuli, Manpulichi, Marahunsie, Mari-man-chedi, Mezi, Mirrey manga, Mkark prey, Mokak, Mo-kak prey, Njing-chi, Pailuo, Pei nuo, Peilou, Phai, Pi luo si, Pohon kedongdong pinata, Poondi, Puliman, Pullipullama, Pwe-baung, Ranamba, Ranchi ling, Rumkung, Seming, Shilashi, Siming, Sli soh repid, Sudam, Taisuri, Taitaw, Tawi-taw, Thaisudi, Thaisuri, Theikhong-chom, Touramaamidi, Traveller's delight, Tuaiteng, Vrykshamla, Wild mango

References (130)

• Aiguo, C. & Zhiling, D., 2001, Managing Agricultural Resources for Biodiversity Conservation. Case Study Yunnan, Southwest China. Environment Liaison Center International. p 40
• Ajesh, T. P., et al, 2012, Ethnobotanical Documentation of Wild Edible Fruits used by Muthuvan Tribes of Idukki, Kerala-India. International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(3): 479-487
• Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 2495
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 595
• Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 222

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