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.

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 rough dark bark. Stalk of the terminal leaflet significantly longer than those of the lateral leaflets. The tree has yellowish-green dioecious flowers which flower between January and March and later grow into a fruit. Flower calyx lobes about 0.6-1 mm long with ovate petals, about 1.7-3.8 mm long. Filaments about 1.3-2.3 mm long. The fruit is depressed-obovoid, about 20-25 x 20-38 mm. The fruit's flesh is generally plum colored however, white varieties have been reported. The fruit is edible when ripe.
Fruit must be removed from tree to ripen for several days in a dark, damp place. Native aboriginals are known to have buried the fruit underground to ripen. Fruit can be cooked, eaten raw or used in jellies, jams and preserves.

Distribution

The species occurs in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Tonga at elevations from sea level to 1000 meters. Growing in drier rain forest and monsoon forest