Common Name: Hog Plum

General Information

Hog plum is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 30 metres tall, though is usually smaller[]. The bole is buttressed and about 30 - 40cm in diameter[].
The plant is especially valued for its edible fruit and is being increasingly cultivated for this purpose, the fruit being used locally and traded internationally[]. It is also used as a pioneer fruit tree in reforestation projects.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan, India, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.

Habitat

Lowland, hill, and mountain forests at elevations of 300 - 2,000 metres in southern China[]. Usually found in secondary forests in Vietnam at elevations below 600 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Insects, Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Found in the wild mainly on wet, deep soils or on heavy clay or sandy clay soils[].
Plants commence fruiting when about 7 - 10 years old from seed[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or made into juices, ice creams, sweets, jellies and pickles[, ]. The sour, green fruits are used as a tamarind-like flavouring[]. The thin-skinned fruit contains an acidic, succulent pulp that is rich in amino acids and vitamin C[, ]. The fruit is about 3cm long and 2cm wide[].

Young leaves - raw[]. Eaten with chilli sauce[].

The bark is chewed like betel nuts (Areca spp) as a masticatory[].

Medicinal

The fruit wall (pericarp) is used medicinally to promote the flow of blood[].

The bark is used for treating secondary burns[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is often used as a fruit tree in reaforestation projects[].
The tree is planted as a pioneer species in northern Thailand in reforestation projects to restore native woodland - it is planted in degraded woodland and open areas in a mix with various other species that all have the ability to grow fast; produce dense, weed-suppressing crowns; and attract seed-dispersing wildlife, particularly birds and bats[].

Other Uses

The fibrous bark can be used for making rope[, ].

The greyish-white wood is soft with a marked silver grain[]. It is used as a light construction timber, for making tea chests and general furniture[, , , ].
The wood is used for fuel[]. The seed shells are used as a fuel in brick kilns[].

Propagation

Seed -

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