Buchanania obovata

Buchanania obovata is a small to medium-sized understorey tree in woodlands native to northern Australia,[2] in particular in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Common names include green plum and wild mango.[3][4]

Buchanania obovata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Buchanania
Species:
B. obovata
Binomial name
Buchanania obovata

Leaves are smooth, thick, leathery, broadly oblong, 5–25 centimetres (2.0–9.8 in) long and 1.5–10 centimetres (0.59–3.94 in) wide. Flowers are small, cream-coloured and 0.5 centimetres (0.20 in) across. The fruit is smooth, fleshy, lens-shaped, 1–1.7 centimetres (0.39–0.67 in) long.

The species was formally described in 1883 based on plant material collected from Escape Cliffs in the Northern Territory by C. Hull.[2]

Uses

The fruit is traditionally eaten by Aboriginal people, as a bushfood. The plant also has traditional medicinal uses.[5]

In 2020, researchers at the University of Queensland were researching the fruit. Eaten for more than 53,000 years but previously little-known among non-Indigenous people, the scientists learnt about the plum from people at the remote community of Yirrkala. It is harvested some time after the Kakadu plum harvests. Nutritional analysis showed high levels of protein, dietary fibre and the minerals potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. In addition, the folate level is among the highest of commercially available fruits. Its potential as a commercial crop for Indigenous communities is being investigated.[6]

References
  1. "Buchanania obovata Engl". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  2. "Buchanania obovata Engl". Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government.
  3. Hyland, B. P. M.; Whiffin, T.; Zich, F. A.; et al. (December 2010). "Factsheet – Buchanania obovata". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants (6.1, online version RFK 6.1 ed.). Cairns, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), through its Division of Plant Industry; the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research; the Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  4. Paczkowska, Grazyna (1 May 1996). "Buchanania obovata Engl". FloraBase. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
  5. Brock, John (1988). Top End Native Plants. ISBN 0-7316-0859-3.
  6. Baczkowski, Halina (31 May 2020). "Native green plums from Arnhem Land found to have significant health benefits, commercial appeal". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Landline. Retrieved 1 June 2020. On iview

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