Pleiogynium timoriense

Pleiogynium timoriense, commonly known as the Burdekin plum, is a medium-sized fruit-bearing tree native to Malesia, Australia and the Pacific Islands.[1]

Pleiogynium timoriense
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Pleiogynium
Species:
P. timoriense
Binomial name
Pleiogynium timoriense
Synonyms
  • Icica timoriensis DC.
  • Owenia cerasifera F.Müll.
  • Pleiogynium cerasiferum (F.Müll.) R.Parker
  • Pleiogynium cerasiferum var. glabratum Domin
  • Pleiogynium papuanum C. T. White
  • Pleiogynium solandri (Benth.) Engl.
  • Spondias acida Sol. ex Benth.
  • Spondias pleiogyna F.Müll.
  • Spondias solandri Benth.

Description

This semi-deciduous large tree can naturally reach up to 20 m high with a plank buttresses. but in cultivation generally grows to approximately 12 m. It has a dense canopy with glossy dark green leaves 4-10 x 2-6 cm and the trunk has rough dark bark. Leaflets commonly number 5 to 11, are arranged opposite, elliptic to ovate in shape, with a true terminal leaflet. The stalk of the terminal leaflet is significantly longer than those of the lateral leaflets. There are prominent domatia on the underside of leaflets.[2]

The tree has yellowish-green dioecious flowers which appear between January and March, and later (after pollination) grow into a fruit. The flower calyx lobes are about 0.6-1 mm long, with ovate petals about 1.7-3.8 mm long. Filaments are about 1.3-2.3 mm long.

The fruit is a depressed-obovoid drupe, about 20-25 x 20-38 mm. The fruit's flesh is generally plum-coloured (dark purple), however, white varieties have been reported. The fruit is edible when ripe.[3]

  • fruits & seeds
  • fruits
  • Unripe fruits
  • Leaves
  • Bark
  • Tree

Fruit must be removed from tree to ripen for several days in a dark, damp place. Indigenous people are known to have buried the fruit underground to ripen. Fruit can be cooked, eaten raw or used in jellies, jams and preserves.[4][5][6]

Distribution

The species occurs in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Australia (south-eastern Queensland), the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Tonga[1] at elevations from sea level to 1000 meters. It grows in drier rain forest and monsoon forest[3]. In Queensland, the species occurs in dry rainforest, littoral and subcoastal riverine rainforest north from around Gympie.[2]

References
  1. "Pleiogynium timoriense, Pleiogynium timoriense". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  2. Williams, J.B.; Harden, G.J.; McDonald, W.J.F. (1984). Trees & Shrubs in Rainforests of New South Wales & Southern Queensland (First ed.). Australia: Botany Department, University of New England. p. 141. ISBN 0 85834 555 2.
  3. "Factsheet - Pleiogynium timorense". TRIN Interactive Key Services. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  4. Pleiogynium timorense
  5. "Burdekin Plum". Bush Tucker. SGAP(Qld).
  6. Pleiogynium timorense

Further reading
  • Netzel, Michael; Netzel, Gabriele; Tian, Qingguo; Schwartz, Steven; Konczak, Izabela (22 November 2006). "Sources of Antioxidant Activity in Australian Native Fruits. Identification and Quantification of Anthocyanins". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 56 (26): 9820–6. doi:10.1021/jf0622735. PMID 17177507.


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