Batoko Plum

( governers plum or lovi lovi )

  • Flacourtia inermis
  • IUCN Status: Least Concern
  • Tree Type: Deciduous
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Clade 1: Tracheophytes
  • Clade 2: Angiosperms
  • Clade 3: Eudicots
  • Clade 4: Rosids
  • Order: Malpighiales
  • Family: Salicaceae
  • Genus: Flacourtia
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General Information

Flacourtia inermis, known commonly as lovi-lovi, or batoko plum, is a species of flowering plant native to the Philippines and Indonesia, but which has naturalized around the edges of tropical Asia and Africa. Common names in Indonesia include Tome-Tome (Ternate, North Maluku), Lovi-lovi, and lobi-lobi.

Fun Facts!

Description

The fruits are produced in bunches and resemble cherries. The fruit is round and shiny, turning from light green to a deep red colour upon ripening. Each fruit measures 1 to 3 cm (1⁄2 to 1+1⁄4 in) in diameter. The flesh is crunchy but sour and acidic in taste. Its fruit is rich in an antimicrobial agent-2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic acid.

Uses

The fruits are edible raw or cooked but usually not eaten fresh, instead being used in jams, preserves, and syrups

Cultivation

The seeds are dispersed by birds.

Toxicity and Allergies

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