Today I planted a governors plum tree, also known as ramonchi. Flacourtia indica is named after Etienne de Flacourt who was the first French governor of Madagascar and wrote the book ‘History of Madagascar.’ The fruit grows in Africa, India, Malaysia and you can eat the fruit whole skin, seeds and all. It apparently tastes sweet and tart like a plum but only drier with some astringency and bitterness. It seems like in each country there are many recipes and uses. For example, in India the fruits and roots are used in ayurvedic medicine. It makes a great jam and also makes a good wine.
This tree can become over 30 feet tall but can be pruned back heavily for easier harvesting but it has long thorns like some types of citrus have.
There is some suggestion to plant these close together to form an impenetrable tall barrier. This might be something worth trying.
Thanks Joe for this tree. I was looking at it on the Hawaii Tropical Fruit poster and was wondering where I could find one.
Originally posted on 2021-10-25, part of the daily planting journal behind Ha’a Chocolate’s food forest on Hawai’i Island.