Common Name: Golden Spoon

General Information

Byrsonima crassifolia is a slow-growing, very ornamental, semi-deciduous shrub or small tree with a rounded, generally sparse crown; it can grow up to 10 metres tall. In poor and sandy soils it is more likely to grow as a shrub 2 - 3 metres tall. The short bole can be 15 - 25cm in diameter[, , ].
A multipurpose tree, it is commonly harvested from the wild for its edible fruit, which is greatly appreciated locally. The tree is also a local source of medicines and various commodities. The plant is occasionally cultivated for its fruit in Mexico and parts of central America[, ]. The fruit is sold in local markets in Mexico[].

Known Hazards

The leaves and stems, if put in water, can stupefy fish[]. This possibly means they contain saponins[].
Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[].

Botanical References

Range

Northern S. America - Brazil and Peru, north to Mexico.

Habitat

Open pine forests and grassy savannahs, sometimes in extensive stands[]. Lowland moist or dry thickets and woodland[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	6.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Trees succeed in tropical and subtropical climates up to elevations of 1,000 metres[]. They are tolerant of a wide range of environments, from humid tropical lowlands to semi-desert regions[].
The tree is often found on rocky ground. It grows well on sandy and alkaline-sandy soils[]. Although it succeeds in poor soils, better yields are achieved when a good supply of organic matter is added. Grows best in a fertile, well-drained soil[]. Established plants are highly drought tolerant[, ]. Plants are very tolerant of salt laden winds[].
Very often, when the forest is cleared this tree is left and allowed to grow in a state of semi-wild cultivation[].
A fire-resistant tree[].
A very variable species with a wide distribution in tropical America[]. It has sometimes been recognised as more than one species[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. Thin-skinned and peculiarly odorous, with a white, juicy, oily pulp that varies in flavour from insipid to sweet, acid or cheese-like[]. A very popular fruit, it is usually eaten out of hand, and is also cooked as a dessert, used in jams, soups, sherbets etc[, ]. A refreshing drink, known as 'chicha', is obtained from the fermented fruits - it is very much relished by most Panamanians[].
The orange-yellow round fruit is up to 5cm in diameter with a single, fairly large stone, containing 1-3 white seeds[, ].

An edible fat is extracted from the fruit with boiling water[, ].

Medicinal

The bark (probably the inner bark[] is rich in tannins and has been used medicinally by many local peoples[]. It is antidote, antiinflammatory, astringent, emmenagogue, febrifuge and purgative[, ]. It has been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, including indigestion, diarrhoea and dysentery; pulmonary complaints; snakebites; fevers; cases of leucorrhoea; and to promote menstruation[, ].
The bark has been used externally as a wash or poultice to treat wounds, skin infections, ulcers etc[, ]. As a mouthwash it has been used to tighten the teeth where gums are diseased[].

An infusion of the leaves is used to treat high blood pressure[].
The leaves are used as a wash to clean and soothe ulcers[]. The brown powder from the under surface of the leaf is applied onto the cut end of the umbilical cord to prevent infection[].

The sap from the bark and leaves is inserted into the orifice of the penis as a treatment for gonorrhoea[].

The leaves contain various flavonoids, saponins and terpenes[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is well suited for the restoration of infertile and burned-over land[]. It has a heavy leaf fall which helps to restore soil fertility[].

Other Uses

The bark contains 17-28 % tannin and 3 % oxalic acid. It is employed in tanning[, ].

The fruit is high in tannin, especially when unripe and is sometimes used in dyeing. The fruit skin imparts a light-brown hue to cotton cloth[, ].

An ink can be made from the bitter green fruit[].

The bark yields a strong fibre[].

The heartwood is a reddish or pinkish-brown; the thin band of sapwood is greyish. It is coarse-textured; close and cross-grained. The wood is heavy, hard, tough, strong, brittle, and only moderately durable. It takes a good polish. The wood is usually available only in small sizes; it is highly prized for boat ribs, and is used for tool handles, turnery, cabinetwork, furniture and small-scale construction[, ].
In Brazil, the wood is chosen for the hot fire over which people smoke the stimulant paste of guaraná (Paullinia cupana) because the burning wood has a pleasant odour.
In some areas the wood is used for making a good quality charcoal[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A germination rate of less than 30% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 25 - 35 days[].

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