Ximenia americana (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

Ximenia americana Olacaceae Indigenous

• English: Hog plum, Wild plum
• Agewgna: Tutuqa
• Amargna: Inkoy, Kol
• Bertagna: Viv
• Gamogna: Hazte
• Gumuzgna: Meyo
• Oromugna: Awre‑mudube, Hudi
• Sahogna: Kula
• Somaligna: Hudaye, Mandarut, Morhod
• Tigrigna: Mlehtta
• Wolaytgna: Astie

A species with a pan-tropical distribution found in tropical America, Africa and Asia. Common throughout the African savanna. In Ethiopia, it occurs in Dry, Moist and Wet Kolla and Weyna Dega and Dega agroclimatic zones of all regions, 500–2,100 m. It may rarely be found in places up to 2,450 m.

Firewood, charcoal, timber (utensils), food (fruit), medicine (roots, bark, leaves), fodder, live fence.

Usually a spiny shrub or small tree, 4–8 m.

• BARK: Brown‑black; twigs bear small scales, spines, 1 cm, thin and straight.
• LEAVES: Alternate, simple or tufts, oblong, up to 7 x 3 cm, blue‑grey‑green, folding upwards along midrib, tip round or notched.
• FLOWERS: Very fragrant, small green‑white (white hairs in throat) in small branched clusters.
• FRUIT: Oval to 2.5 cm, thin skin red, yellow to orange pulp, sour but refreshing, around 1 large seed containing oil.

Seedlings, wildings.

About 1,400 seed per kg.

• Treatment: Not necessary.
• Storage: Seed cannot be stored for long periods. Sow fresh seed for good germination.

Slow growing, coppicing. Trim if grown as a fence. Protect natural regeneration.

A useful tree for arid and semi‑arid areas as it is drought resistant. The wood is heavy, hard and very durable. The seed contains a non‑drying oil suitable for soap and lubrication. In other countries it has also been used as body and hair oil and for softening leather.