Ximenia americana

Ximenia americana
Photo by Wayne Matchett, SpaceCoastWildflowers.com
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class:	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order:	Santalales
Family:	Olacaceae
Genus:	Ximenia
Species:	X. americana
Binomial name
Ximenia americana L.
Natural range of Ximenia americana from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common names: tallow wood, yellow plum

Distribution

In the United States, X. americana occurs in Florida, as well as the U.S. territories, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It is also found throughout the tropical and subtropical countries including Central and South America, Africa, India, and Asia. The entire distribution is mentioned because this plant is used widely for its medicinal and cosmetic uses and has yet to become a threatened species .

Ecology

Habitat

In the Coastal Plain in Florida, X. americana has occurred in coastal scrubs, palmetto-oak hammocks, longleaf pine-hickory-oak woods, sand pine scrubs, limestone in palm-cedar hammocks, live oak hammocks, longleaf pine-wiregrass communities, and coastal marine hammocks (FSU Herbarium). Associated species include Liatris laevigata, L. ohlingerae, Tillandsia utriculata, Pinus palustris, Serenoa repens, Quercus geminata, Q. myritfolia, Q. chapmanii, Stillingia, Aristida, Certiola, Carya floridana, and Pinus clausa (FSU Herbarium).

Phenology

Flowers March through November and fruits January, June through August (FSU Herbarium).

Pollination

The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Ximenia americana at Archbold Biological Station (Deyrup 2015):

Apidae: Apis mellifera, Mellisodes communis

Halictidae: Agapostemon splendens, Augochloropsis sumptuosa, Lasioglossum placidensis

Megachilidae: Coelioxys germana, Megachile mendica

Sphecidae: Bicyrtes quadrifasciata, Eremnophila aureonotata, Isodontia exornata

Vespidae: Mischocyttarus cubensis, Pachodynerus erynnis, Parancistrocerus perennis anacardivora, Zethus spinipes

Cultivation and restoration

X. americana is a medicinal plant known for its antioxidant properties. Traditional medicinal practice for X. americana was used to treat malaria, fever, leprotic ulcers, and skin infections. In northern Nigeria, X. americana has been used to treat fever, stiffness, onchocerciasis, sore throat, asthma, and bad headaches. The roots are used to treat abdominal pains, dysentery, inflamed joints, and mouth ulcers. The leaves of X. americana contain cyanogenic glycosides, flavonoids and tannins, which are also common in many other plants . A study conducted by Kibuge (2015) used X. americana to be a plant species considered for biofuel and it ultimately qualifies as a potential biofuel. X. americana’s seed oils were mixed with kerosene (a fossil fuel) to see if it reduced the cost of biofuel. Overall, the study found out that kerosene is still the best fuel to burn for energy and for the use inside a home. The study recommends to further research the X. americana seed oil to determine the burning rate, flame height, and smoke gases for the fuel to be used indoors for lighting and cooking . Some claim that parts of this plant are edible however, it is advised that you do your own research before consuming any part of this plant. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves can be eaten as well, when well-boiled and eaten, in small amounts. Also, the oil from the seeds can be used for cooking. . According to Urso, harvesting Ximenia americana fruits do not seem to threatened the species (in the near future) since it is widespread in the area (study area is Namibe). <ref name="Urso2013">

References and notes

Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.

Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: November 2015. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, Jane Brockmann, Robert K. Godfrey, Robert Kral, O. Lakela, Robert J. Lemiare, S.W. Leonard, Sidney McDaniel, T. Myint, Mary E. Nolan, Jackie Patman, James D. Ray Jr., Cecil R. Slaughter, Earl Smith Jr., R. Smith, D.B. Ward. States and Counties: Florida: Brevard, Collier, Flagler, Highlands, Indian River, Levy, Monroe, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Sarasota. Compiled by Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.