Duranta erecta
L.
Golden dewdrop, Pigeon berry, Skyflower, Forget-me-not-tree
(c) M, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by M
(c) Stargazer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Stargazer
(c) karenmdu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit, Caution, Flowers
The flowers are eaten, particularly by children. The fruit requires processing before consumption.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level. It grows in termite mounds between 50-2,000 m above sea level in Africa.
Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Central Africa, Central America, Congo DR, Cuba*, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ethiopia, Haiti*, India, Jamaica, Lesser Antilles*, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, South America*, St Helena, Tuvalu, West Africa, West Indies*, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
A shrub or small tree. It is spreading or trailing. It can be evergreen or lose its leaves during the year. It grows 3-6 m tall. It can be spiny or not. The bark is dark brown. The leaves are 2.5-10 cm long by 1-5 cm wide. The flowers are white or purple. The fruit are 6-11 mm across. The fruit are produced in large numbers and are orange. They are poisonous.
How to Grow
It can be grown by seed or cuttings.
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A germination rate of less than 20% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 90 - 110 days.
Medicinal Uses
The plant is used in the treatment of fevers, skin itches.
Other Uses
The plant is used as an insect repellant. The plant is amenable to trimming and is often grown as a hedge. It is traditionally grown in living fences in the northwestern Himalayas, where it helps to exclude livestock and other animals; mark out land boundaries; whilst also providing a range of medicinal and other uses.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Duranta erecta is a species of flowering shrub in the verbena family Verbenaceae, native from Mexico to South America and the Caribbean. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical gardens throughout the world, and has become naturalized in many places. Common names include golden dewdrop, pigeon berry, and skyflower.
Other Information
The flowers are eaten by children.
Notes
In Slovenia it is possibly in a hot house.
Names & Synonyms
Adonis, Bois jambette, Espino chivo, Muatish, Nilkada, Purui-grande
References (7)
- Asfaw, Z. and Tadesse, M., 2001, Prospects for Sustainable Use and Development of Wild Food Plants in Ethiopia. Economic Botany, Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 47-62
- Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 323
- Latham, P., 2004, Useful Plants of Bas-Congo province. Salvation Army & DFID p 117
- Nayaham, M. C., et al, 1993, Less Known Edible Fruit - Yielding plants of Nilgiris. Ancient Science of Lif. Vol. X11 Nos. 3 & 4, pp 363-376 (As Duranta repens)
- Plants of Haiti Smithsonian Institute http://botany.si.edu/antilles/West Indies
- Thaman, R. R, 2016, The flora of Tuvalu. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 611. Smithsonian Institute p 119
- Wild edible plants of Himachal Pradesh (As Duranta repens)
