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Ximenia americana L.
| Family Name: | Olacaceae |
| Common Name: | Bedara Laut, Sea Lime, Sea Lemon, Tallow Wood, Yellow Plum, 海檀木 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub, Tree |
|---|---|
| Maximum Height | 10 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Pantropical and subtropical regions |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Shoreline (Sandy Beach) |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a sprawling shrub or tree up to 10 m tall, with thorny branches. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its spirally arranged, short-stalked leaves have almost leathery leaf blades that are variable in shape, 2–10 by 1–6 cm, and with rather faint venation. |
| Flowers | Its fragrant flowers are white to greenish, with hairy petals, and arranged in short-stalked clusters of 3–9 at the leaf axils or near the ends of short, lateral branches. |
| Fruit | Its plum-like fruits are round, yellow to orange, and 1.7–3.5 by 1.5–3 cm. Each fruit also contains 1 seed in a green, fleshy fruit pulp. Its seed is 1.5–2.5 by 1.2–2 cm. The fruits are sour but edible. |
| Etymology | Latin Ximenia, commemorating Francisco Ximenes, a 17th century Spanish apothecary; Latin americanus, from America, North or South, referring to one locality in the natural distribution of this species |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Fruit or Vegetable) Others: It is cultivated as a park tree. The wood is pleasantly scented, and used as a substitute for sandalwood. The sour fruit pulp is edible. The fruit stone possesses laxative effects. The oil which is extracted from the seed can be used for cooking. The roots and bark are used in traditional medicine. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Fragrant |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Coastal, Beachfront / Shoreline |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Little Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Saline Soils / Salt Spray |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, Green - Light Green |
|---|
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Orange, Yellow / Golden |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1269 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2562 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |