Diploglottis cunninghamii
Encyclopedia
Diploglottis cunninghamii, known as the Native Tamarind is a common rainforest tree of eastern Australia
. It is easily identified by the large sausage shaped leaves.
The Native Tamarind grows in a variety of different rainforests, on basaltic and rich alluvial soils. The southern most limit of natural distribution is Brogo[citation required] near Bega
(36° S) in New South Wales
. It appears along the east coast to near Proserpine (20° S) in tropical Queensland
.
.
The leaves are pinnate and alternate, some over 30 cm long. Broad elliptic, bluntly pointed at the tip, not equal at the base, often covered with velvety golden brown hairs. The leaf veins are easy to see on both sides, more so on the underneath. The midrib is slightly raised on the top surface.
Flowers form in spring, being creamy brown in large and hairy panicle
s. The brown and hairy capsule matures form October to January. Containing a yellow/orange aril
, which is pleasant to taste. Within the aril
is a triangular and pale brown seed.
Seed germination is reliable, and fast, although if collected from damp ground where it falls in large quantity, the seed may be heavily infested with insect grubs. Fruit eaten by a large variety of rainforest birds, including the Brown Cuckoo Dove, Crimson rosella
, Australasian Figbird
, Green Catbird
, Regent bowerbird
, Rose-crowned Fruit-dove
, Topknot Pigeon
and Wompoo Fruit-Dove
.
, (behind the Mitchell Library
). Native Tamarind should be kept away from windy situations because of the large leaves. The aril
may be eaten raw, added to jams and chutneys and makes a tangy cool drink. .
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is easily identified by the large sausage shaped leaves.
The Native Tamarind grows in a variety of different rainforests, on basaltic and rich alluvial soils. The southern most limit of natural distribution is Brogo[citation required] near Bega
Bega
As a place name, Bega may refer to:* Bega, New South Wales, a town in New South Wales, Australia** Bega Valley Shire, a coastal local government area in New South Wales** Electoral district of Bega, a New South Wales electoral district...
(36° S) in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. It appears along the east coast to near Proserpine (20° S) in tropical Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
Description
A medium to large tree with long and broad leaves. Achieving a height of over 35 metres tall and 75 cm in diameter. The trunk is cylindrical and flanged at the base, somewhat resembling the trunk of the CoachwoodCoachwood
Ceratopetalum apetalum, Coachwood, also called Scented Satinwood or Tarwood, is a medium-sized hardwood tree, straight-growing with smooth, fragrant, greyish bark. It is in the family Cunoniaceae...
.
The leaves are pinnate and alternate, some over 30 cm long. Broad elliptic, bluntly pointed at the tip, not equal at the base, often covered with velvety golden brown hairs. The leaf veins are easy to see on both sides, more so on the underneath. The midrib is slightly raised on the top surface.
Flowers form in spring, being creamy brown in large and hairy panicle
Panicle
A panicle is a compound raceme, a loose, much-branched indeterminate inflorescence with pedicellate flowers attached along the secondary branches; in other words, a branched cluster of flowers in which the branches are racemes....
s. The brown and hairy capsule matures form October to January. Containing a yellow/orange aril
Aril
An aril is any specialized outgrowth from the funiculus that covers or is attached to the seed. It is sometimes applied to any appendage or thickening of the seed coat in flowering plants, such as the edible parts of the mangosteen and pomegranate fruit, the mace of the nutmeg seed, or the...
, which is pleasant to taste. Within the aril
Aril
An aril is any specialized outgrowth from the funiculus that covers or is attached to the seed. It is sometimes applied to any appendage or thickening of the seed coat in flowering plants, such as the edible parts of the mangosteen and pomegranate fruit, the mace of the nutmeg seed, or the...
is a triangular and pale brown seed.
Seed germination is reliable, and fast, although if collected from damp ground where it falls in large quantity, the seed may be heavily infested with insect grubs. Fruit eaten by a large variety of rainforest birds, including the Brown Cuckoo Dove, Crimson rosella
Crimson Rosella
The Crimson Rosella is a parrot native to eastern and south eastern Australia which has been introduced to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. It is commonly found in, but not restricted to, mountain forests and gardens. The species as it now stands has subsumed two former separate species, the Yellow...
, Australasian Figbird
Australasian Figbird
The Australasian Figbird is a conspicuous medium-sized passerine bird native to a wide range of wooded habitats in northern and eastern Australia, southern Papua New Guinea, and the Kai Islands in Indonesia. It was formerly considered a subspecies of S...
, Green Catbird
Green Catbird
The Green Catbird, Ailuroedus crassirostris is a species of bowerbird found on subtropical forests along the east coast of Australia, from southeastern Queensland to southern New South Wales. Its colouring is emerald green, with faint black markings on the face and white streaks on the neck.Green...
, Regent bowerbird
Regent Bowerbird
The Regent Bowerbird, Sericulus chrysocephalus is a medium-sized, up to 25 cm long, sexually dimorphic bowerbird. The male bird is black with a golden orange-yellow crown, mantle and black-tipped wing feathers. It has yellow bill, black feet and yellow iris...
, Rose-crowned Fruit-dove
Rose-crowned Fruit-dove
The Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus regina, also known as Pink-capped Fruit Dove or Swainson's Fruit Dove, is a medium-sized, up to 22 cm long, green fruit dove with a grey head and breast, an orange belly, whitish throat, yellow-orange iris, and greyish green bill and feet. It has a...
, Topknot Pigeon
Topknot Pigeon
The Topknot Pigeon is a pigeon native to Australia. It is also known by the name of "Flock Pigeon".-Description:...
and Wompoo Fruit-Dove
Wompoo Fruit-Dove
The Wompoo Fruit Dove , also known as Wompoo Pigeon, is the largest of Fruit Doves native to New Guinea and Australia.-Description:...
.
Uses
A decorative and ornamental tree, seen growing in various parts of urban Australia. Including the city of SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, (behind the Mitchell Library
Mitchell Library
The Mitchell Library is a large public library and centre of the public library system of Glasgow, Scotland.-History:The library was established with a bequest from Stephen Mitchell, a wealthy tobacco manufacturer, whose company, Stephen Mitchell & Son, would become one of the constituent members...
). Native Tamarind should be kept away from windy situations because of the large leaves. The aril
Aril
An aril is any specialized outgrowth from the funiculus that covers or is attached to the seed. It is sometimes applied to any appendage or thickening of the seed coat in flowering plants, such as the edible parts of the mangosteen and pomegranate fruit, the mace of the nutmeg seed, or the...
may be eaten raw, added to jams and chutneys and makes a tangy cool drink. .