Golden Spoon, Nance, Nancy Tree
Byrsonima crassifolia

Family: Malpighiaceae

What it is like

Golden Spoon, Byrsonima crassifolia, is a large shrub or tree that grows up to 10 m with a bole diameter of 15 to 25 cm. It is slow-growing, drought-tolerant, and deciduous. It is cultivated in Northern South America. The bark is rich in tannins and is used as a treatment for gastrointestinal problems, pulmonary concerns, snakebites, fevers, leucorrhoea, and to promote menstruation. It is also applied externally to wounds, ulcers, and skin infections. The leaves are also used against ulcers and high blood pressure. The orange-yellow round fruit of Golden Spoon is consumed raw/fresh or cooked as dessert. It can be fermented to yield 'chicha', a refreshing drink famous in Panama. Unripe fruits, on the other hand, are used in dyeing. The bark is a source of fibre. The wood is heavy, hard, tough, and moderately durable. It yields a pleasant odour when burned.

Byrsonima crassifolia is an evergreen Tree growing to 12 m (39ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Birds. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline and saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Height (m): 12

Where it is found

Open pine forests and grassy savannahs, sometimes in extensive stands. Lowland moist or dry thickets and woodland.

Northern S. America - Brazil and Peru, north to Mexico.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Found In: Africa, Amazon, Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica. Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Gambia, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, 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.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

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.

Oil: Oil

Drink: not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.

Medicine

Rating: 2

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.

Antacid: Counters excess acidity in the stomach.

Antidiarrhoeal: Provides symptomatic relief for diarrhoea. Also see Astringent.

Antidote: Counters poisoning.

Antiinflammatory: Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.

Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Dysentery: Used in treating dysentery - an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.

Emmenagogue: Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Hypotensive: Reduces blood pressure, it is used in the treatment of high blood pressure

Mouthwash: Treats problems such as mouth ulcers.

Poultice: A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.

Purgative: A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.

Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.

Stings: Used in the treatment of stings and insect bites.

Other

Rating: 3

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.

Charcoal: Used for fuel, drawing, deodorant, filter, fertilizer etc.

Dye: Plants that provide dyes.

Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.

Fire retardant: Plants that do not easily burn and can be used in barrier plantings to limit the spread of forest fires.

Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.

Ink: Plants that can be used as an ink.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Soil reclamation: Plants that can be grown in such circumstances an the spoil tips of mines in order to restore fertility.

Tannin: An astringent substance obtaied from plants, it is used medicinally, as a dye and mordant, stabilizer in pesticide etc.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

Attracts Wildlife: Plants noted for attracting wildlife

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

Trees succeed in tropical and subtropical climates up to elevations of 1,000 metres. They are tolerant of a wide range of environments, from humid tropical lowlands to semi-desert regions. The tree is often found on rocky ground. It grows well on sandy and alkaline-sandy soils. Although it succeeds in poor soils, better yields are achieved when a good supply of organic matter is added. Grows best in a fertile, well-drained soil. Established plants are highly drought tolerant. Plants are very tolerant of salt laden winds. Very often, when the forest is cleared this tree is left and allowed to grow in a state of semi-wild cultivation. A fire-resistant tree. A very variable species with a wide distribution in tropical America. It has sometimes been recognised as more than one species.

Propagating it: 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.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 9-12

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

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.

Its other names

Local names

Golden Spoon, Byrsonima crassifolia. Other Names: Cereza, Chaparro, Craboo, Eheb, Indano, Lontoekasi, Manero, Manteco, Maricas, Marushi, Miga, Murei, Murici, Muriye, Muruci, Nanche, Nanci, Nancite, Perpleja, Sabanakwari, Yoco.

Synonyms

Byrsonima coriacea (Sw.) DC. Byrsonima cotinifolia Kunth Byrsonima cubensis A.Juss. Byrsonima cuming