Governor’s plum (Flacourtia indica, Interpr. Herb. Amboin.: 377 (1917))

Family: Salicaceae

Author: (Burm.f.) Merr.

Bibliography: Interpr. Herb. Amboin.: 377 (1917)

Year: 1917

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Flacourtia

Vegetable: False

Observations: Ethiopia to S. Africa, SE. China to Trop. Asia

Description

The Governor’s plum, scientifically known as Flacourtia indica, is a fascinating plant species belonging to the Salicaceae family. This perennial species has garnered interest for its unique attributes and its widespread distribution across diverse geographical regions.

Often found thriving from Ethiopia to Southern Africa and stretching from Southeast China to Tropical Asia, the Governor’s plum is well adapted to various climatic conditions. This extensive range highlights the plant’s extraordinary versatility and robust nature.

Flacourtia indica is noted for its edible fruits which are not only delicious but also packed with nutritional benefits. The fruits’ vibrant colors and tangy sweet taste make them a favorite in many local diets where the plant naturally occurs. Additionally, these fruits possess medicinal properties, often used in traditional remedies for various ailments.

Furthermore, the Governor’s plum is an important ecological component in its natural habitat. It serves as a source of food for wildlife, thereby supporting local biodiversity. The plant’s resilience and adaptability have also made it a valuable species for research and conservation efforts, particularly in regions with challenging growing conditions.

Published in “Interpret. Herb. Amboin.” in 1917 and authored by (Burm.f.) Merr., the botanical literature around Flacourtia indica provides rich historical context and scientific insights into its classification and features.

In conclusion, the Governor’s plum is a remarkable species with significant ecological, nutritional, and medicinal value. Its ability to flourish in a variety of environments from Africa to Asia underscores its importance and potential utility in supporting both human and environmental health.

Common Names

Eng: governor’s plum, indian-plum, madagascar-plum, batoko-plum, governor’s-plum, ramontchi
Deu: ramontchi
Por: ameixa-de-madagascar
Spa: ciruela gobernadora
Fra: marromse, prunier de madagascar
Kin: urutaka
Khm: ក្រខុបព្រៃ
En: Governor’s plum, Indian-plum, Madagascar-plum, Batoko-plum, Governor’s-plum, Ramontchi
Fr: Marromse, Prunier de Madagascar
De: Ramontchi
Km: ក្រខុបព្រៃ
Rw: Urutaka
Pt: Ameixa-de-Madagascar
Es: Ciruela gobernadora

Synonyms

• Flacourtia afra (Pic.Serm.)
• Flacourtia obcordata (Roxb.)
• Xylosma elliptica (Tul.)
• Flacourtia gambecola (Clos)
• Flacourtia flavescens (Willd.)
• Flacourtia lenis (Craib)
• Verlangia indica (Neck. ex Raf.)
• Gmelina indica (Burm.f.)
• Flacourtia sepiaria var. innocua (Haines)
• Flacourtia thorelii (Gagnep.)
• Flacourtia rotundifolia (Roxb.)
• Flacourtia frondosa (Clos)
• Flacourtia ramontchi var. renvoizei (Fosberg)
• Gmelina javanica (Christm.)
• Flacourtia heterophylla (Turcz.)
• Flacourtia kirkiana (H.M.Gardner)
• Flacourtia hirtiuscula (Oliv.)
• Flacourtia perrottetiana (Clos)
• Flacourtia indica var. innocua ((Haines) H.O.Saxena & Brahmam)
• Flacourtia hilsenbergii (C.Presl)
• Flacourtia balansae (Gagnep.)
• Flacourtia parvifolia (Merr.)
• Stigmarota africana (Lour.)
• Myroxylon dicline (Blanco)
• Stigmarota edulis (Blanco)
• Flacourtia elliptica ((Tul.) Warb.)
• Flacourtia sepiaria (Roxb.)
• Flacourtia lucida (Salisb.)
• Flacourtia sapida (Roxb.)

Distribution

• Aldabra (native)
• Assam (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Botswana (native)
• Burundi (native)
• Cambodia (native)
• Cape Provinces (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Comoros (native)
• Congo (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Hainan (native)
• India (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kenya (native)
• KwaZulu-Natal (native)
• Laccadive Is. (native)
• Laos (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Madagascar (native)
• Malawi (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Namibia (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Northern Provinces (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Rwanda (native)
• Somalia (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Sulawesi (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• Zambia (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)
• Angola (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Chad (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Apr 21, 2022 by Anindya Chaudhuri (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2021 by … Teresa (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 10, 2022 by Светлана Садакова (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 1, 2022 by Cédric Lefort (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 30, 2019 by Diego Alex (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 20, 2022 by Tharunoju Laxman kumar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 20, 2022 by Tharunoju Laxman kumar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 30, 2022 by Nagy Renáta (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 21, 2022 by Anindya Chaudhuri (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 7, 2020 by amila gunesekera (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jan 9, 2020 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 9, 2022 by Роман Ковальчук (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jan 9, 2020 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 9, 2020 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 20, 2022 by Tharunoju Laxman kumar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 4, 2021 by Pierre Lbt (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Oct 10, 2022 by Светлана Садакова (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5331162)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:365348-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.) Merr.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Tree, Shrub

Growth