Governor’s plum
Flacourtia indica

Family: Salicaceae

What it is like

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.

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

Where it is found

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.

Countries/locations it is found in

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, 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

How it is used for food

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.

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.

Edible parts

Fruit, vegetable, tea

How it is grown

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.

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.

Its other names

Local names

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

Synonyms

Flacourtia afra Pichi-Serm.; Flacourtia afra (K. Schum.) Garcia; Flacourtia balansae Gagnep.; Flacourtia frondosa Clos; Flacourtia gambecola Clos; Flacourtia heterophylla Turcz.; Flacourtia hirtiuscula Oliv.; Flacourtia latifolia T. Cooke; Flacourtia lenis Craib; Flacourtia obcordata Roxb.; Flacourtia parvifolia Merr.; Flacourtia perrottetiana Clos; Flacourtia ramontchii L'Heritier; Flacourtia rotundifolia Clos; Flacourtia sapida Roxb.; Flacourtia sepiaria Roxb.; Flacourtia sepiaria var. frondosa Clos; Flacourtia sepiaria var. leucophloea Clos; Flacourtia thorelii Gagnep.; Gmelina indica Burm. f.; Gmelina javanica Christm.; Mespilus silvestris Burm.; Myroxylon decline Blanco; Rhamnopsis sepiaria Rchb.; Sideroxylon spinosum Willd.; Spina spinarum I mas Rumph.; Stigmarota africana Lour.; Stigmarota edulis Blanco;