Phyllogeiton discolor

{{Speciesbox

| image = Berchemia_discolor01.jpg

| image2 = Berchemia discolor Kruger-NP.jpg

| image2_caption = Brown ivory in the Kruger National Park

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = 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.

| genus = Phyllogeiton

| species = discolor

| authority = (Klotzsch) Herzog

| range_map = Brown ivory (Phyllogeiton discolor) IUCN range 2018.svg

| synonyms_ref = {{cite web |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:717971-1 |title=Phyllogeiton discolor (Klotzsch) Herzog |author= |date=2017 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=10 September 2022 }}

| synonyms = {{Collapsible 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 {{convert|18|m|feet|abbr=on|sigfig=1}}.

The fruits, resembling dates, are edible with sweet flesh surrounding 1-2 flat seeds.{{cite book |last1=Ruffo |first1=Christopher K. |last2=Birnie |first2=Ann |last3=Tengnäs |first3=Bo |title=Edible wild plants of Tanzania |year=2002 |publisher=Regional Land Management Unit/Sida |isbn=9966-896-62-7}} 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.{{Cite news |title=Meet the trees of Namibia ... The Bird Plum (Berchemia discolor) |newspaper=The Namibian |date=21 January 2016 |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/146439/archive-read/Meet-the-trees-of-Namibia--The-Bird-Plum--(Berchemia-discolor)}}

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,{{cite web |url=http://pza.sanbi.org/berchemia-discolor |title=Berchemia discolor |website=PlantZAfrica}} charcoal, building material, beehives, crafts,{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-024-1120-1_7 |doi=10.1007/978-94-024-1120-1_7 |chapter=Bird Plum; Berchemia discolor (Klotzsch) Hemsl.: A Review of Its Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology |title=Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World - Africa Volume 3 |year=2017 |last1=Cheikhyoussef |first1=Ahmad |last2=Maroyi |first2=Alfred |volume=3 |pages=143–155 |isbn=978-94-024-1119-5}} 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.