| Flacourtia indica | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Salicaceae |
| Genus: | Flacourtia |
| Species: | F. indica |
| Binomial name | |
| Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr. |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Flacourtia ramontchi |
|
Flacourtia indica (syn. Flacourtia ramontchi), known commonly as ramontchi, governor’s plum, batoko plum, and Indian plum, is a species of flowering plant native to much of Africa and tropical and temperate parts of Asia. F. indica and F. ramontchi are sometimes treated as separate species.
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This is a bushy shrub or tree with a spiny trunk and branches. In shrub form it grows up to 25 feet (7.6 m) and as a tree it reaches a maximum height around 50 feet (15 m). The drooping branches bear oval leaves. The seeds are dispersed by birds.[1]
The family Salicaceae includes well-known species such as kei apple (Dovyalis caffra) louvi (Flacourtia inermis), paniala (F. jangomas), and rukam (F. rukam).
This plant has many common names in many different languages and dialects. In Malay it is kerkup kechil, in Thai it is ta-khop-pa, in Lao it is gen[2], and in Tagalog its names include bitongol, bolong, and palutan. In parts of Africa it is called kokowi and in Sri Lanka, uguressa. In French it has been called prunier de Madagascar and grosse prune de café. It is echte Flacourtie in German, ciruela governadora in Spanish, and na-yu-wai in Burmese.
The Ramontchi fruit itself is a pome about an inch thick and red ripening purple. It is very fleshy and has 6 to 10 seeds in layered carpels. The pulp is yellow or white and sweet with an acidic tang. It is eaten raw or made in to jelly or jam. It can be fermented to make wine.[3]
The leaves and roots are used in herbal medicine for treatment of snakebite. The bark is believed to be effective for arthritis. Most parts of the plant are used for cough, pneumonia, and bacterial throat infection. It has also been used for diarrhea.
The tree is planted as a living fence. The wood is used for firewood and small wooden tools such as plow handles.[3]
The plant is known as an occasionally invasive introduced species in some areas. It has been cultivated in Florida in the United States and today it occurs as a weed in some parts of the state.[4]