Governor’s plum is also called Flacourtia indica. It was originated in Africa and Asia along with temperate and tropical climates. It is a shrub that bears 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 that is white or yellow. Usually, the fruit is green and it turns purple when it got ripened. It has a sweet taste with a slight acidic tang.

Flacourtia indica is a species of flowering plant in the family Flacourtiaceae or Salicaceae. It is native to Asia and Africa. It is widely grown for its edible fruit. Common names include Batoko plum, Madagascar plum, Indian plum, Rhodesia plum Mauritius plum, Ramontchi, Kangu, Governor’s Plum, Flacourtia, Batoka Plum, Rhodesia plum, Botoko plum, Panacea, Ceyon plum, and Bilangra.

Fruits are eaten raw or cooked in culinary uses. It is also used for medicinal purposes. The species of the tree grows to 15 meters tall. The branches are spiny and drooping. The tree has rough, pale, powdery, grey to brown bark. Leaves are scalloped or toothed.

Plant

This is a small tree or shrub that may grow up to 15 meters high. It is evergreen and spiny which is grown for ornamental purposes. Leaves are elliptic, ovate to round in shape, scalloped or toothed, and 2.5-5 cm long. The fruit produced is a fleshy pome that is spherical and is 2.5 cm in across. The flesh is yellow or white which has a sweet taste. Each fruit has 6 to 10 seeds; 8-10 mm long; 4-7 mm broad and is pale brown. Flowers are inconspicuous and greenish to yellow that blooms from December to April.

Health benefits of Governor’s plum

Governor’s plum has an adequate amount of nutrients which helps to prevent anemia, arthritis, coughs, colds, snake bites, diarrhea, enhance immunity, and cure bone ailments. The fruit has flesh that contains 6-10 seeds. It possesses a sweet acidic taste and is used to make preserves, jams, and jellies. The pulp is white or yellow and is mostly used for the fermentation of wines. It helps to treat cough, snakebites as well as infection of the throat. The daily intake of Governor’s plum helps to stimulate the levels of blood in the body. So it is good for pregnancy and menstrual bleeding problems.

1. Cure arthritis

Fruit helps to prevent and treat the condition of arthritis as it has a high amount of phosphorus, calcium, minerals, and zinc.

2. Treats anemia

The daily intakes of this fruit enhance the level of blood due to the presence of iron. So it is safe during pregnancy and the people with menstrual bleeding problems.

3. Colds and flu

It helps to treat cold and flu effectively along with the symptoms such as coughs, sneezing, and running nose. It has a high content of Vitamin A, C, and riboflavin.

4. Diarrhea problems

It is the best treatment for diarrhea. One loss a high amount of minerals from the body during diarrhea which might cause death and shock. The intake of this fruit helps to replace the minerals.

5. Aid for snake bites

The application of the pulp to the bites helps to nullify the poison of the snakes. It should be applied quickly after a snake bite and should also be consumed for effective results.

6. Cures bone ailments

Governor’s plum helps to stimulate the health of bones. The presence of minerals makes the bones strong during brittle bone disease.

7. Enhance immunity

Thiamine and Vitamin A promote the immunity power of the body. The pulp helps to prevent infections and enhance the immunity of the body.

8. Allergies

Governor’s plum helps to eradicate allergy. The intake of fruit assists in the prevention of skin allergic and respiratory reactions.

Traditional uses

• The roots and leaves are used to treat snakebite.
• The bark is used as a treatment for arthritis.
• The plant is used to cure cough, bacterial throat infection, and pneumonia.
• The leaves are used as a cure for scabies and pruritus.
• Fruits are used as an appetizer, digestive, jaundice, diuretic, and enlarged spleen.
• The bark is used for intermittent fever.
• It is helpful for pitta, skin diseases, poisonous bites, pruritus, strangury, erysipelas, psychopathy, and nephropathy.
• The infusion made from the bark is used as a gargle for hoarseness.
• The bark is used in Madagascar as a rheumatic liniment.
• The root ashes of the roots are used as a treatment for kidney ailments.
• The leaves (dried) help to treat asthma, catarrh bronchitis, phthisis of the bladder.
• It is effective for phthisical coughs, diarrhea, dysentery, and indigestion.
• In Bengal, it is used for parturition as a tonic.
• The fruit is a treatment for vomiting, nausea, and bilious disorders.
• In India, it is used as an antiviral.
• In Sabah, roots are used for headaches and leaves for the treatment of colic.
• Leaves are regarded as an antidote for snake bites.

Precautions    

• The people who are allergic to Governor’s plum should avoid it.
• It might cause some allergic reactions to sensitive people.
• It should be consumed in limited quantity.

How to Eat

• Fruit is consumed stewed or raw.
• The fruits are used to make jellies and jams.
• Ripe fruits are dried and used as food.
• It can be used to make wines.
• It is eaten raw or made into jelly, preserves, or jam. It can be fermented to make wine.
• The pulp is used to sweeten pie and cakes.
• It could be stewed in sugar and used as a dessert.
• It could be pickled with ginger, garlic, and chili oil.

References

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