Botanical Name: Terminalia ferdinandiana
Family: Combretaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Myrtales
Genus: Terminalia
Species: T. ferdinandiana
Common Names: Kakadu plum, Gubinge, Billygoat plum, Green plum, Salty plum, Murunga or Mador
Name in Other Languages : Australia: Gubinge, Marnybi, Manmohpan, Murunga (Aboriginal), Madoorr, Arangal, Gubinge (Bardi People) Kabinyn (Nyul Nyul)
and Gabiny (Yawuru)
English: Billygoat plum (Aust.), Gubinge, Kakadu plum (Aust.), Murunga
Habitat :
Kakadu plum is native to Australia, widespread throughout the tropical woodlands from northwestern Australia to eastern Arnhem Land. It has a high concentration of vitamin C in its fruit: recorded concentrations of 2300–3150 mg/100 g wet weight and occasionally as high as 5300 mg/100 g, compared with 50 mg/100 g for oranges, ranks among the highest known of any natural source.
The tree is found along the coast in the Kimberley region of Western Australia as far west as Broome extending east into the Northern Territory. It grows in a variety of habitat including sandplains, floodplains, creek beds, ridges, among vine thickets and on the edges of areas of mangroves. It grows in sandy, peaty or clay soils around sandstone or ironstone. In the Northern Territory the tree is found mostly in the western portion of the top end from the Western Australian border to Arnhem Land but is found as far east as Limmen National Park. It is often found as part of Eucalypt communities.
Description:
Kakadu plum is a slender, small to medium-sized tree growing up to 14 m (46 ft) in height, with creamy-grey, flaky bark and deciduous pale green leaves. The flowers are small, creamy-white, perfumed, and borne along spikes in the leaf axils towards the ends of the branches. Flowering is from September to December. (Southern hemisphere spring/summer.) The leaf blades are strongly discolorous with a broadly elliptic to broadly ovate, occasionally obovate shape and are 11 to 33 centimetres (4.3 to 13.0 in) in length with a width of 8.5 to 23 centimetres (3.3 to 9.1 in) and have a rounded apex. The inflorescences are 16 to 19 centimetres (6.3 to 7.5 in) long and are glabrous throughout.
The fruit is yellow-green & fleshy, about 2 cm (0.79 in) long and 1 cm (0.39 in) in diameter, almond-sized with a short beak at the tip, and contain one large seed. They ripen from March onwards.
CLICK & SEE ..LEAVES……FLOWERS…….FRUITS
Edible Uses:
The roundish, light green fruits are usually eaten raw, although they can also be made into a jam.
*In North Western and Northern Australia, Kakadu plum is consumed raw or prepared into drinks.
*Fruits are used to make refreshing drink.
*The fruit flesh is used for preserves, jams, sauces, relishes, juices, sauces and ice cream.
*It is also found in fresh, powdered or frozen puree form.
Medicinal Uses:
Traditional uses:
*Kakadu plums are used for treating flu, colds and headaches.
*It is used as an antiseptic or soothing balm for limbs.
*Root infusion is used for treating stomach pain and urinary disorders.
*Stem decoction is used for treating boils, skin disorders and rashes.
*Inhale the whole plant for treating viral disorders such as influenza and colds.
*Indigenous people use the roasted sap and boiled bark is used for treating skin conditions, sores and drunk as tea for colds and flu.
*Apply the bark to infections and burn injuries.
*Use the sap of the tree for treating joint inflammation.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminalia_ferdinandiana
https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/health-benefits-of-kakadu-plum/
