Botanical Name:Byrsonima crassifolia
Family: Malpighiaceae
Kingdom:Plantae
Order: Malpighiales
Genus: Byrsonima
Species: B. crassifolia
Common Names: Nance, Changunga, Muruci, Murici, Nanche, Nancite, Chacunga, Craboo, Kraabu, Savanna serrette (or Savanna serret) and Golden spoon
Habitat: Nance is native and abundant in the wild, sometimes in extensive stands, in open pine forests and grassy savannas, from central Mexico, through Central America, to Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil; it also occurs in Trinidad, Barbados, Curaçao, St. Martin, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and throughout Cuba and the Isle of Pines. The nance is limited to tropical and subtropical climates. In Central and South America, the tree ranges from sea-level to an altitude of 6,000 ft (1,800 m). It is highly drought-tolerant.
Description:
Plant:……….CLICK & SEE
Byrsonima crassifolia is the slow growing, large shrub or tree which grows up to 33 feet high. The leaves are opposite, ovate-elliptic or oblong-elliptic; 3.2-17 cm long and 4-7 cm wide. The flowers are 10-20 cm long and 1.25-2 cm wide; yellow or dull orange, red with five petals. Fruit is small ball shaped, round, ovate to globose; 8-12 cm wide and 0.8-1.5 cm in diameter. The fruit has white and juicy flesh, pungent, distinct aroma and thin skin. The fruit include 1 to 3 white seeds which is 0.5-1.2 cm in diameter. The tree has dark brown, fissured and rough bark. The inner bark is pinkish. It has tall or short and straight or crooked trunk.
Edible Uses:
The fruits are eaten raw or cooked as dessert. In rural Panama, the dessert prepared with the addition of sugar and flour, known as pesada de nance, is quite popular. The fruits are also made into dulce de nance, a candy prepared with the fruit cooked in sugar and water. In Nicaragua (where the fruit is called nancite), it is a popular ingredient for several desserts, including raspados (a frozen dessert made from a drink prepared with nancites) and a dessert made by leaving the fruit to ferment with some sugar in a bottle for several months (usually from harvest around August–September until December) — this is sometimes called “nancite in vinegar”.
The fruits are also often used to prepare carbonated beverages, ice cream and juice, in Brazil, flavor mezcal-based liqueurs, or make an oily, acidic, fermented beverage known as chicha, the standard term applied to assorted beer-like drinks made of fruits or maize. Nance is used to distill a rum-like liquor called crema de nance in Costa Rica. Mexico produces a licor de nanche.
Nutritional value:
The serving size of 112 grams of Nance fruit grants 90.32 g of water, 82 calories, 0.74 g of protein, 1.3 g of fat, 0.64 g of ash, 19.01 g of carbohydrate, 8.4 g of dietary fiber, 9.31 g of total sugars, 4.01 g of glucose and 5.3 g of fructose. It offers 115.11% of Vitamin C, 12.09% of manganese, 11.08% of Vitamin K, 9.33% of Vitamin E, 5.81% of potassium, 5.38% of iron, 5.24% of magnesium, 5.20% of calcium and 5.11% of copper.
Medicinal Uses:
Traditional uses
*The plant helps to cures pulmonary diseases, rashes, wounds and diarrhea.
*The intake of a cup of leaf tea for three times in a day helps to cure the aching bones, anemia, fatigue and rheumatism.
*The bark is used to treat diarrhea.
*This fruit helps to reduce the cholesterol and fats which also prevents from constipation.
*It helps to treat skin wrinkles, hair fall and memory loss.
*The Mixe Indians of Mexico use the bark to cure gastrointestinal disorders and skin infections.
*The infusion made from the bark is useful for diarrhea and enhance menstruation.
*It is effective for the pulmonary complaints, indigestion, leucorrhea and gum disease.
*It is used as an antidote for the snakebite in Belize.
*The bark is used in Guyana as a poultice for wounds.
*Mexicans use the pulverized bark for the ulcers.
*The bark is also used to hide tans, poison fish, treat gastrointestinal, pulmonary diseases as well as skin infections.
*The roots are used as a treatment for illnesses.
*Roots and stems are believed to possess antibacterial properties.
*In Mexico, it is used medicinally to firm up the loose teeth.
*It possesses an antidote, astringent, anti-inflammatory, febrifuge, emmenagogue and purgative activities.
*The external use of bark as a poultice or wash is helpful for skin infections, wounds, ulcers etc.
*The leaves infusion is helpful for the high blood pressure.
*The leaves wash is used to clean and ease ulcers.
*The sap of leaves and bark is used to cure gonorrhea.
*In Central America, the tea made from the leaves is used to eradicate stress, rheumatism, anemia, aching bones and fatigue.
Known Hazards:
*Those who are allergic to Nance fruit should not consume or use it.
*Excessive consumption should be avoided which may cause illness.
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/Byrsonima_crassifolia
https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/nance-fruit/
