Wednesday, December 18

    Governor’s plum facts

    Governor’s plum also called as Flacourtia indica. It was originated in Africa and Asia along with temperate and tropical climates. It is a shrub which bears a fruit and has green leaves and spread branches. The fully matured tree grows up to 15 meters in height. The fruit contains ten small seeds having a fleshy inner part which is white or yellow. Usually the fruit is green and it turns purple when it got ripened. It has sweet taste with light acidic tang.

    Name Governor’s plum
    Scientific Name Flacourtia indica
    Native Native to Asia and Africa
    It is available from Tropical Africa, South Africa, Madagascar, Swaziland, India, Indo-china, Sri Lanka, China and Indonesia.
    Common/English Name Batoko plum, Madagascar plum, Indian plum, Rhodesia plum Mauritius plum, Ramontchi, Kangu, Governor’s Plum, Flacourtia, Batoka Plum, Rhodesia plum, Botoko plum, Paniala, Ceyon plum, Bilangra
    Name in Other Languages Spanish: ciruela de Madagascar, ciruela de gobernador, ciruela gobernadora;
    French: marromse, grosse prune-café, jujube Malgache, prune pays, prunier d’Inde, prunier de Madagascar, Flacourtie d’Inde;
    China: ci li mu (刺篱木); nuo nuo guo,  Cìzi (刺子),Dà guǒ cì lí mù (大果刺篱木), Shān lǐzǐ (山李子), Nuó nuó guǒ (挪挪果), Mù guān guǒ (木关果), Xì xiáng lè guǒ (细祥竻果), Yě lǐzǐ (野李子);
    Germany: Batokopflaume, Madagaskar-Pflaumenbaum, Echte Flacourtie, Ramontchi;
    Hungary: batokószilva, maronszilva, kormányzószilva, ramoncsi;
    India: bilangra, kandai, cottaikkalaa, katai, kondari, kondai, kukai, sottaikala, kurumuli;
    Indonesia: duri rukem, rukem minced, rukam sepat;
    Japan: ramonchii (ラモンチー ), indo rukamu (インドルカム);
    Kenya: mgo, mkingii, michongoma, mkingili, ngovigovi, mugovigovi;
    Laos: mak keng, mak ken;
    Myanmar: nayuwai;
    Philippines: bitongol, palutan, bolong;
    Portugal: ameixa da Mauricia, cerezo del gobernador, ameixa de Madagascar;
    Sri Lanka: uguressa;
    Thailand: ta khop pa, ma kwen pa;
    Zimbabwe: munhunguru, mutudza, mutombototo, mutunguru;
    Hindi: bilangada (बिलाङ्गड़ा), bilangra, ibalaanagara, kañcu;
    Marathi: athruna (अठरुन), tambut (तांबूट);
    Tamil: cottai-k-kala (சொத்தைக்களா), Cottaikkalaa, Sottaikala, Mutunguru, sottaikala;
    Malayalam: Kurumuli, Cherumullikkachedi, Aghori, Karimulli, Karkkadappazham, Kodumundi, Kattukara, Mullikkachedi, ramontchi, Oushadakkara, Vayankkaitha, Karimulli (കരിമുള്ളി);
    Konkani: babhuli tambat (बाभुळी तांबट);
    Sanskrit: shruvavrikksha (श्रृववृक्ष), Vikankata;
    Veitnamese: ân do, muôn quân;
    Afrikaans:  Goewerneurspruim;
    Burmese:  Naywe, Nayuwai;
    Laotian:  Mak keng, Mak ken;
    Shona: Munhunguru,  Munhunguru, Mududwe, Mutombototo, Mutunguru, Mutudza;
    Sinhalese:  Uguressa;
    Swahili:  Mchongoma, Mgo, Michongoma, Mkingii, Mkingili, Mkingila, Ngovigovi, Mugovigovi;
    Bengali: Bincha, Bewich, Bainchi;
    Burmese: Nayuwai, Naywe;
    Laotian: Mak ken, Mak keng
    Plant Growth Habit Shrub, small tree, ornamental, evergreen, spiny, slow growing
    Growing Climate Temperate
    Plant Size Height: 15 m
    Bark Rough, pale, powdery, grey, brown
    Spines Spiny, drooping
    Leaf Elliptic, ovate to round, scalloped or toothed, Length: 2.5-5 cm
    Flowering Season December-April
    Flower Inconspicuous, greenish to yellow
    Sepals 5 to 6, ovate, acute-rounded, pubescent, Length and Breadth: 1.5-2.5 mm; white; Diameter: 5 mm
    Filaments Length: 2-2.5 mm; Anther length: 0.5 mm
    Fruit shape & size Pome, fleshy, spherical, Across: 2.5 cm
    Fruit color Reddish-reddish black, purple
    Flesh color Yellow or white
    Fruit peel Smooth
    Fruit Taste Sweet
    Seed 6 to 10 seeds; Length: 8-10 mm; Broad: 4-7 mm; pale brown
    Fruit Season March-July
    Health Benefits
    • Cure arthritis
    • Treats anemia
    • Colds and flu
    • Diarrhea problems
    • Aid for snake bites
    • Cures bone ailments
    • Enhance immunity
    • Allergies
    Traditional uses
    • The roots and leaves help to treat snakebite.
    • The bark is an effective treatment for arthritis.
    • It is a cure for cough, bacterial throat infection and pneumonia.
    • The bark is used to treat intermittent fever.
    • The bark infusion is used as a gargle for the hoarseness.
    • It is used for parturition as a tonic and antiviral.
    • Leaves are regarded as an antidote for snake bites.
    Precautions
    • Allergic people should avoid Governor’s plum.
    • Some allergic reactions might be experienced.
    • It should be consumed in limited amounts.
    How to Eat
    • Fruit are consumed raw or stewed.
    • It is used to make jellies and jams.
    • Ripe fruits are dried and kept for later use.
    • It is used to make wines, jelly, preserves or jam.
    • The pulp is also used in pie and cakes.