Ximenia americana
Ximenia americana leaves & fruit at Chilkur near Hyderabad, AP W2 IMG 7288.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Santalales
Family: Olacaceae
Genus: Ximenia
Species:
X. americana
Binomial name
Ximenia americana
Ximamer distrib map.jpg
Range of X. americana throughout the world (in green)
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Heymassoli inermis Aubl.
    • Heymassoli spinosa Aubl.
    • Ximenia aculeata Crantz
    • Ximenia americana var. argentinensis DeFilipps
    • Ximenia americana f. inermis (Aubl.) Engl.
    • Ximenia americana var. oblonga DC.
    • Ximenia americana var. ovata DC.
    • Ximenia arborescens Tussac ex Walp.
    • Ximenia elliptica G.Forst.
    • Ximenia exarmata F.Muell.
    • Ximenia fluminensis M.Roem.
    • Ximenia gabonensis Baill. ex Laness.
    • Ximenia inermis L.
    • Ximenia laurina Delile
    • Ximenia loranthifolia Span.
    • Ximenia montana Macfad.
    • Ximenia multiflora Jacq.
    • Ximenia oblonga Lam. ex Hemsl.
    • Ximenia rogersii Burtt Davy
    • Ximenia russeliana Wall.
    • Ximenia spinosa (Aubl.) Lam. ex Forsyth f.
    • Ximenia subscandens Griff.
    • Ximenia verrucosa M.Roem.
    • Ziziphus littorea Teijsm. ex Hassk.

Ximenia americana, commonly known as tallow wood,[3]hog plum, yellow plum, sea lemon, or pi'ut (Chamorro),[4] is bush-forming shrub/small tree; a species from the Ximenia genus in the Olacaceae family. It is commonly found in woodlands native to the tropics in Africa, Asia, America and Australia, and grows to a height of 7m (23 feet). Its leaves are borne on spur shoots and have a spear-like to oval shape. The flowers and fruit of X. americana are aromatic and small. Flowering mainly occurs during the dry season, however, the maturing and ripening of the flowers and fruits occur throughout the year and are not affected by climatic conditions.

X. americana is found in a variety of diverse habitats ranging from dry woodlands and hilly areas to coastal bushlands and along riverbanks. They grow in areas with more than 500 mm of mean annual rainfall and up to heights of 2000 m. They are commonly found in poor and dry soil types. The plant has not been domesticated, so it only occurs in the wild.

Leaves are oval shaped, bright green and have a strong smell of almonds. Flowers are pale in color. Fruits are lemon-yellow or orange-red.[5]

Description

A branch of X. americana

X. americana is a semiscandent plant that grows as a bush-forming shrub/small tree to between a height of 2m to 7m (6.5 feet to 23 feet),[6] although plants being less than 4m (13 feet) are more commonly observed.[7] The trunk has a diameter of less than 10 cm (4 in); the bark has a colour of dark brown to pale gray.[6] The branches form an arch downwards[7] and the branchlets have straight, thin spines that are 1 cm long, protruding out of it, and are coloured purple-red with a waxy bloom.[6][8]

Leaves are simple, alternate or clustered on spur shoots, having a lanceolate (spear-like) to elliptic (oval) shape, are either obtuse, emarginate or retuse at the apex, and have a texture similar to leather. The leaves grow up to 2.5 to 8 cm (1 to 3 in) long and 1 to 4 cm (0.4 to 1.6 in) wide, have a thickness ranging from thin to semisucculent and have 3 to 7 pairs of lateral veins that are difficult to observe on both sides of the leaf. They curve upwards along the midrib.[6][7][8] Leaves are hairy as they first start growing, but become smooth and shiny as they mature.[9] The petioles are short and thin, growing up to 3 to 6 mm (0.1 to 0.3 in) long. They are canaliculated, smooth and have a grey-green colour and flesh that is either leathery or thin.[6][7][8][9]

The flowers are fragrant, small, coloured white, yellow-green or pink and are about 5 to 10 mm (0.2 to 0.4 in) long. They grow on branched inflorescences, which are either pedunculate racemose or umbelliform cymes, that are on pedicles 3-7mm long. Fruits are shaped globose, subglobose, drupaceous or ellipisoid, grow up to 3 cm long, have a diameter of 2.5 cm and are smooth.[6][7][8] Fruits are green when they are young but turn golden-yellow or yellow (and rarely orangish-red) as they ripen.[6][8][10] When ripe, the fruit has a green, juicy pulp, and one large endospermic seed, that has a small embryo and thin testa. The seed is woody and coloured light-yellow and grows up to 1.5 cm long with a diameter of 1.2 cm, and has about 60% oil content.[6][7][8][10] The fruit is "refreshing" when eaten and is said to have "an almond-acid taste".[7][8] Climatic conditions do not affect the maturation and ripening of X. americana,[6][7] but flowering is commonly observed during dry seasons.[7] The trees produce fruit after about 3 years of growing,[7] which are then dispersed by animals.[10]

Plant Morphology
Leaves of Ximenia americana
Leaves of Ximenia americana
Flowers of Ximenia americana
Flowers of Ximenia americana
Fruit of Ximenia americana hanging from a branch
Fruit of Ximenia americana

X. americana is similar to the plant Ximenia caffra, another species in the Ximenia family. However, X. americana's leaves and fruits are smaller than X. caffra's making it easy to distinguish between the two. X. americana also bears several flowers on inflorescences that are branched whereas the flowers in X. caffra are borne in tufts or singularly, marking another difference between both of these species.[11]

Phytochemistry

Fatty acids and glycerides are abundantly available in X.americana.[7][12] Further classes of chemical compounds found in X. americana includes alkaloids, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic compounds, phlobatannins, quinones, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids.[7][12] Leaves collected from X. americana in southern Niger were found to be rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, and manganese content but were also noted to be lacking protein.[7][13][14] Linolenate was also detected in the leaves, along with high levels of palmitate.[7][13][14] Hydrocyanic acid was identified in the fruit[7] along with high levels of vitamin C content, of which the green ones had 74% more vitamin C than the matured, yellow ones.[7][15] The seed of the fruit contains cyanide derivatives[12] and high levels of riproximin were noted in the fruit kernels.[16] The seed oil was observed to contain the compounds ximenic, linolenic, linoleic, and stearic acids along with smaller amounts of lumequic, ximenynic acid, arachidonic, erucic, and nervonic acids and a variety of other compounds.[7] The volatile oil of the leaves were observed to be consisted of benzaldehyde (63.5%), hydroxybenzyl cyanide (13%) and isophorone (3.5%).[13]

Taxonomy

Illustrations of X. americana in Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien (1894)

Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusée Aublet published occurrences of Heymassoli inermis and Heymassoli spinosa in Histoire des Plantes de la Guiane Françoise in 1775, which were then later identified as X. americana.[17][18] The latter, Heymassoli spinosa, became the basionym for Ximenia spinosa which was published in A Botanical nomenclator : containing a systematical arrangement of the classes, orders, genera, and species of plants as described in the new edition of Linnæsus's Systema naturæ, by Dr. Gmelin by William Jr. Forsyth in 1794.[19]

X. americana belongs to the Ximenia genus, along with 7 other species, that all belong to the Olacaceae family.[7] The term Ximenia comes from the Spanish priest, Francisco Ximenez, who detailed a collection of plants found in Mexico in the 17th century. The species name, americana, meaning "of America", is an indication of where the plant had been 'first' collected.[11]

Common names of the plant include “Seaside Plum”, “Small Sourplum”, “Wild Plum”, “Blue Sour Plum”, “Hog Plum”, “Sour Plum”, “False Sandalwood”, “Tallow Nut”, “Tallow Wood”, “Wild Olivein”, and “Wild Lime” in English. “Chabbuli” and “Tsada” in west Africa, “Ghène”, “N’ghani” and “Léaman” in Ivory Coast and “Kleinsuurpruim”, “Inkoy”, “Mutente”, “Kol”, “Mulebe”, “Mungomba”, “Musongwasongwa”, “Mulutulwa”, “Museka”, “Ntogé”, “Nogbé”, “Séno”, “Séné”, “Madarud”, and “Madarau”, in other regions in Africa. “Ameixa-da-Terra”, “Ameixa”, “Ameixeira-do-Brasil”, Ameixa-brava”, “Ameixa-da-Baía”, “Ameixa-de-espinho”, “Ameixa-do-Pará”, “Ameixeira-do-Pará”, and “Muirapuama” in Brazil, “Hicaco”, “Espino de Brujo”, “Ciruelillo”, “Caimito de Monte”, “Cagalero”, “Albaricoque”, “Albaria”, “Tigrito”, and “Almendro de Costa” in Spanish and “Citron de Mer”, “Cerise de Mer”, “Croc”, “Macaby”, and “Prunier de Mer” in French.[7]

Distribution and Habitat

X. americana is mainly found in the tropics, ranging from Africa, India and southeast Asia, to New Zealand, Pacific Islands, West Indies, Central, North and South America.[9][20] It is especially common in Africa and South America.[7] It is not domesticated so it is only found occurring in the wild.[9]

It is found in many habitats, predominantly in semi-arid bushlands and in dry and moist woodlands, sandy open woodlands, dry hilly areas, coastal bushlands, countrysides, shrub savannahs, forest lands and along watercourses such as riverbanks and stony slopes.[6][8][9][20]X. americana occurs in altitudes up to 2000 m (6562 ft) and where mean annual rainfall is more than 500 mm.[9][20] It grows on many soil types such as clay soils, clay muddy, silt sandy; however, it is mostly observed growing on poor and dry soil.[6][9] It can also absorb nutrients and water from other plant species through its roots, however, it does not use this method as its mode of survival.[7]

Ecology

X. americana is a long-lived perennial[21] and is found present in savannahs, one of their natural habitats, and are vital food sources for animals living in the same habitats, namely mammals like giraffes, who depend on the leaves of X. americana for its food.[11] The leaves are also eaten by insects, such as butterflies, and their larvae,[11] documented species being Axiocerses amanga (the bush scarlet), Stugeta bowkeri (the Bowker's sapphire) and Hypolycaena philippus (the purple-brown hairstreak).[22][23] The vibrant colours of the fruit, which is oftentimes produced in large amounts during the early summer, attracts birds, such as bulbuls, starlings, and barbets, and other wildlife to feed on the fruit.[11][21]

The flowers are known attract many insect pollinators, namely bees.[21] Documented bees include Agapostemon splendens (the brown-winged striped-sweat bee), Apis mellifera (the western honey bee), Augochloropsis sumptuosa, Coelioxys germana, Dialictus placidensis, Megachile mendica (the Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee[24]) and Melissodes communis (the common long-horned bee).[25]

X. americana can be classified as a facultative hemiparasite, due to its tendency to live off the roots of other nearby host species, but not as a way of survival as it can perfectly grow without a host. Due to this it can grow better in soil where it can come into contact with the roots of other plants. It can also attach to objects such as plastic or rocks.[11][21]

Conservation

The IUCN red-list declared Ximenia americana as a "Least Concern" plant. This is mainly due to the wide distribution and large population of X. americana all over the world. No major threats have been identified to the species currently and in the future. This assessment was carried out by the IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group and the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) in 2018.[26]

However, researchers in Ethiopia have noticed the plant becoming rare in their respective study areas, mainly due to the overuse of the plant and its components. They have suggested the rehabilitation of the plants, mainly by domestication, in hopes of conserving the species in those specific areas.[6][9]

Cultivation

There have been no recorded cases of the domestication of X. americana, leading researchers to think think that X. americana has not been domesticated yet and only occur in the wild.[9] However, it is noted that Ximenia americana can easily cultivated by planting fresh seeds in a mixture of 5 parts soil and 1 part compost.[11] Germination is usually observed 14 to 30 days after the seed has been planted.[11] The plant grows about 0.5 m (1.6 ft) every year, indicating a moderate growth rate.[11] It can grow on loamy, and clay soil or any other types of poor and dry soil[10] and is adaptable to changes in soil pH.[27][28] It is also drought-resistant and can grow during long, very dry periods,[28] making it a good source of food during dry periods (indicating the ability of being able to enhance food security in certain areas).[6] It is also tolerant of mild flooding, that occur during storms or floods, for short periods of time.[28] It is also mildly tolerant of salty soil types and salt sprays and winds, that may occur due to storms, although this occurrence is not expected ad major storms are not expected in areas where X. americana grows.[28] Due to the semiparasitic roots, it grows well around other plants but that makes it surrounding for the surrounding flora, so it best grown if next a host like oak.[11][28]

Toxicity

Leaves at 100 ppm were noted were noted to be fatal for the freshwater snail, Bulinus globus, the species responsible for causing the disease schistosomiasis.[10] Researchers noted that X. americana extract had no deaths when the toxic effects of the extract of the plant for 14 days, however, after an oral administration of 2000 mg.kg−1, forced breathing and analgesia in the animals were noted.[7] Another study was conducted on the effects of the liquid extracts of the root, stem and leaves of X. americana on the blood and the liver, and damage to the cells of the liver were noted.[7]

Uses

Ximenia americana has a large multitude of uses.

Food

X. americana can be utilized in many ways as a food source, the main one being its fruit, which can be eaten raw and is reported to be used to make juice, jams or intoxicating drinks; In South Africa, a kind of beer is supposedly made from the fruits. The kernel of the fruit can be made into oil, which is used in cooking as a substitute for butter or ghee.[10] The nuts have a strong purgative effect, so it should not in large amounts.[29] In Asia, the young leaves are cooked as a vegetable. However, the leaves also contain cyanide and need to be thoroughly cooked, and should not be eaten in large amounts.

Cosmetics

The seed of X. americana’s fruit can be crushed to produce oil. This oil (namely the ximenyinc acid content of the oil) is then used for a variety of cosmetic purposes such as emollients, conditioners, skin softeners, body and hair oils, as well as ingredients in soaps, lipsticks and lubricants.[7][10]

Essential oils can also be obtained from the heartwood and flowers from X. americana, which are then used for fumigations and as a substitute for orange blossom respectively.[10]

Fuel

The wood is mainly used as firewood and charcoal in households.[10] Studies have also shown that X. americana’s seed oil can be used as a poteintial biofuel when blended with kerosene.[30]

Traditional Medicinal

X. americana has been reported to be used to treat a large number of diseases by traditional healers; the main diseases being measles, malaria, skin infections, sexually transmitted diseases, diarrhea, muscle cramps and lung abscesses.[7] The leaves and twigs are mainly used as a treatment for colds and fevers, as laxatives and an eye lotion, and as a mouthwash to prevent toothaches and throat infections, however, the traditional healers reported excess salivation as a sign of the toxicity when used to treat oral diseases.[7][10] The leaves are used to treat headaches, angina and as are used as an antidote to poisons.[10] The roots of X. americana are used as a treatment multitude of diseases such as skin problems, headaches, leprosy, hemorrhoids, sexually transmitted diseases, sleeping sicknesses and guinea worms.[10] The bark, usually used in powdered or decocted form, is used to treat skin ulcers, placed on the head for headaches, and placed in bath water for sick babies.[10] The fruit is eaten in excess to treat any cases of vermifuge and constipation.[10] Studies have also shown that X. americana’s extracts from bark, roots and leaves have been reported to be used to treat urinary tract infections, inflammation, burning, gastritis and cancer.[7] The main ways these parts of X. americana are prepared are either by infusion, decoction, syrup, cataplasm, and/or tincture.[7]

Crude Drug

Xymelys 45® is a drug containing containing X. americana bark extract that is marketed as a cosmetic to provide protection for ultrasensitive skin, oxidative stress and free radicals. X. americana tea has been marketed in Brazil to externally heal wounds and ulcers and internally heal heart and kidney problems; the X. americana tea is just the bark vegetal powder. The seed oil is marketed as a treatment for dry skin conditions, in moisturisers, emollients, and anti-ageing and anti-acne products, and as a treatment for fragile and damaged hair.[7]

Decoration

The species is also used as a border and boundary, if it is cultivated as a hedge plant properly. The plant can also be used for decoration purposes as it has what is considered "attractive" flowers and foiliage.[10]

References

  1. ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Ximenia americana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T146188276A146212834. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T146188276A146212834.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Ximenia americana L. Plants of the World Online Kew Science".
  3. ^ "Ximenia americana". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  4. ^ Raulerson L, Rinehart AF (1992). Trees and shrubs of the Northern Mariana Islands. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Coastal Resources Management.
  5. ^ Low T (1991). Wild food plants of Australia (Revised ed.). North Ryde NSW, Australia. ISBN 978-0-207-16930-4.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Kefelegn GA, Desta B (8 March 2021). Mansour A (ed.). "Ximenia americana: Economic Importance, Medicinal Value, and Current Status in Ethiopia". TheScientificWorldJournal. 2021: 8880021. doi:10.1155/2021/8880021. PMC 7960047. PMID 33746636.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Medeiros AC, Medeiros FD (2018). Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of South America. Springer Netherlands. p. 465. ISBN 978-94-024-1550-6.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Ruffo, Christopher K; Birnie, Ann; Tengas, Bo (2002). Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania (PDF). Regional Land Management Unit, RELMA/Sida. ISBN 9966-896-62-7.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Feyssa, Debela Hunde; Njoka, Jesse T.; Asfaw, Zemede; Nyangito, M. M. (2012). "Uses and Management of Ximenia Americana, Olacaceae in semi-arid East Shewa, Ethiopia" (PDF). Pakistan Journal of Botany. 44: 1177–1184.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Orwa, C; Mutua, A; Kindt, R; Jamnadass, R; Simons, A. "Agroforestree Database:a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0" (PDF). Ximenia americana.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mathalauga, Mpho (July 2020). "Ximenia Americana Var. Microphylla". Ximenia americana var. microphylla | PlantZAfrica.
  12. ^ a b c Abd alla, Abd alfatah; Shyaula, Sajan L.; Ishak, Christina Y.; Ayoub, Saad Mohamed Hussein (29 April 2013). "Bioassay and Phytochemical Studies on Ximenia Americana L. Bark Ethanolic Extract". Journal of Forest Products & Industries.
  13. ^ a b c Mevy, Jean-Philippe; Bessiere, Jean-Marie; Greff, Stéphane; Zombre, Gérard; Viano, Josette (1 July 2006). "Composition of the volatile oil from the leaves of Ximenia americana L." Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 34 (7): 549–553. doi:10.1016/j.bse.2006.01.007. ISSN 0305-1978.
  14. ^ a b Freiberger, C.E.; Vanderjagt, D.J.; Pastuszyn, A.; Glew, R.S.; Mounkaila, G.; Millson, M.; Glew, R.H. (1 March 1998). "Nutrient content of the edible leaves of seven wild plants from Niger". Plant Foods for Human Nutrition. 53 (1): 57–69. doi:10.1023/A:1008080508028. ISSN 1573-9104. PMID 10890758. S2CID 25953008.
  15. ^ Vermaak, I.; Kamatou, G.P.P.; Komane-Mofokeng, B.; Viljoen, A.M.; Beckett, K. (1 October 2011). "African seed oils of commercial importance — Cosmetic applications". South African Journal of Botany. 77 (4): 920–933. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2011.07.003. ISSN 0254-6299.
  16. ^ Bayer, Helene; Ey, Noreen; Wattenberg, Andreas; Voss, Cristina; Berger, Martin R. (1 March 2012). "Purification and characterization of riproximin from Ximenia americana fruit kernels". Protein Expression and Purification. 82 (1): 97–105. doi:10.1016/j.pep.2011.11.018. ISSN 1046-5928. PMID 22178181.
  17. ^ "Heymassoli inermis | International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Heymassoli spinosa | International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Ximenia spinosa | International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  20. ^ a b c Lompo, Ounyambila; Dimobe, Kangbéni; Mbayngone, Elisée; Savadogo, Salfo; Sambaré, Oumarou; Thiombiano, Adjima; Ouédraogo, Amadé (1 June 2021). "Climate influence on the distribution of the yellow plum (Ximenia Americana L.) in Burkina Faso". Trees, Forests and People. 4: 100072. doi:10.1016/j.tfp.2021.100072. ISSN 2666-7193.
  21. ^ a b c d "Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS)". www.fnps.org. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Flora of Zimbabwe: Lepidoptera - Butterflies and Moths: Axiocerses amanga amanga". www.zimbabweflora.co.zw. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Ximenia americana var. microphylla". www.zimbabweflora.co.zw. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Species Megachile mendica - Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee". bugguide.net. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  25. ^ Deyrup, Mark; Edirisinghe, Jayanthi; Norden, Beth (1 March 2002). "The diversity and floral hosts of bees at the Archbold Biological Station, Florida (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)". Insecta Mundi.
  26. ^ "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Ximenia americana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018-06-12. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  27. ^ "Florida Foraging". www.floridaforaging.com. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  28. ^ a b c d e "Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS)". www.fnps.org. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  29. ^ "Bedara laut (Ximenia americana) on the Shores of Singapore". www.wildsingapore.com. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  30. ^ Kibuge, R.M.; Kariuki, S.T.; Njue, M.R. (1 June 2015). "Influence of fuel properties on the burning characteristics of sour plum (Ximenia americana L.) seed oil compared with Jatropha curcas L. seed oil". Renewable Energy. 78: 128–131. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2014.12.030. ISSN 0960-1481.

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