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Phyllogeiton discolor
Brown ivory in the Kruger National Park
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rhamnaceae
Genus:	Phyllogeiton
Species:	P. discolor
Binomial name
Phyllogeiton discolor (Klotzsch) Herzog
Synonyms
List Adolia discolor (Klotzsch) Kuntze Araliorhamnus punctulata H.Perrier Araliorhamnus vaginata H.Perrier Berchemia discolor (Klotzsch) Hemsl. Scutia discolor Klotzsch

Phyllogeiton discolor (syn. Berchemia discolor), known as bird plum or brown ivory in English, is a tree native to southern and eastern Africa including Madagascar. It is a broadleaf tree growing to 18 m (60 ft).

The fruits, resembling dates, are edible with sweet flesh surrounding 1-2 flat seeds. They are occasionally sold in local markets, eaten fresh, or dried and pounded and then added to pearl millet pap for their sweet flavour. Animals such as monkeys, baboons and birds also eat them.

Ecology

The leaves are eaten by elephants, giraffe and several antelopes, as well as livestock, such that many trees exhibit a distinct browse line. The wood is hard and attractive, suitable for furniture, charcoal, building material, beehives, crafts, and things like tool handles and pestles.

Uses

Phyllogeiton discolor is also used as a dye, fodder, ornamental tree and as herbal medicine to treat several human and animal diseases and ailments. For instance, the Himba people cook the bark against nausea and diarrhoea.

Gallery

• Fruit
• Bark
• Unripe fruit and leaves

References

1. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. 2019. Berchemia discolor. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T146205371A146205373. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T146205371A146205373.en. Accessed 9 September 2022.
2. ^ "Phyllogeiton discolor (Klotzsch) Herzog". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
3. ^ Ruffo, Christopher K.; Birnie, Ann; Tengnäs, Bo (2002). Edible wild plants of Tanzania. Regional Land Management Unit/Sida. ISBN 9966-896-62-7.
4. ^ "Meet the trees of Namibia ... The Bird Plum (Berchemia discolor)". The Namibian. 21 January 2016.
5. "Berchemia discolor". PlantZAfrica.
6. ^ Cheikhyoussef, Ahmad; Maroyi, Alfred (2017). "Bird Plum; Berchemia discolor (Klotzsch) Hemsl.: A Review of Its Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology". Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World - Africa Volume 3. Vol. 3. pp. 143–155. doi:10.1007/978-94-024-1120-1_7. ISBN 978-94-024-1119-5.

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• IUCN Red List least concern species
• Rhamnaceae
• Flora of Angola
• Flora of Ethiopia
• Flora of Madagascar
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• Flora of Somalia
• Flora of the Northern Provinces
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• Fruits originating in Africa
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• Plants described in 1868
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