Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia
Encyclopedia
Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia is a small tree in the family Proteaceae
. This rare species is native to subtropical rainforest
in New South Wales
and Queensland
in Australia
. Common names include Red Bopple Nut, Monkey Nut, Red Nut, Beef Nut, Rose Nut and Ivory Silky Oak. The tree produces fleshy, red, fruits during spring and summer. These contain edible seeds.
It was first described by German-Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller
in 1883 from a collection near the Tweed River in northern New South Wales.
Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia is encountered as a tree to 10 m (35 ft) in height, with a maximum trunk diameter of 20 cm (8 in). It may have additional stems rising from the base, and suckers after being cleared. Its large compound leaves are pinnate
and measure from 40 to 100 cm (16-40 in) long. There may be 15 to 25 individual leaflets, which measure around 6–25 cm (2-10 in) long and 2–6 cm (1-2.5 in) wide. The leaf margins are lined with fine teeth. New growth is covered with fine rusty hair, as are the inflorescences which occur in winter and spring (August to October). The flower spikes droop around 14 to 50 cm (6-20 in) in length, and are shades of purple and brown and cream. They have a strong sweet smell, described as sickly by some. They are followed in spring and summer by a red fleshy oval fruit 3–5 cm (1.4-2 in) long, 2–2.8 cm (0.8-1.1 in) wide. The a black seed is within the fruit, which does not fall away.
Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia is found in (and on the margins of) subtropical rainforest from Tamborine Mountain in the south-eastern corner of Queensland to the Nambucca Valley in on the New South Wales mid-north coast. It is a component of the understory
.
The seed is edible, though not as valued as that of its relative the macadamia. It is not commercially cultivated, but is sometimes grown as an ornamental tree. It can be difficult to establish in the garden.
Proteaceae
Proteaceae is a family of flowering plants distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises about 80 genera with about 1600 species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae they make up the order Proteales. Well known genera include Protea, Banksia, Embothrium, Grevillea,...
. This rare species is native to subtropical rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
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...
and 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...
in Australia
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...
. Common names include Red Bopple Nut, Monkey Nut, Red Nut, Beef Nut, Rose Nut and Ivory Silky Oak. The tree produces fleshy, red, fruits during spring and summer. These contain edible seeds.
It was first described by German-Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller
Ferdinand von Mueller
Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, KCMG was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist.-Early life:...
in 1883 from a collection near the Tweed River in northern New South Wales.
Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia is encountered as a tree to 10 m (35 ft) in height, with a maximum trunk diameter of 20 cm (8 in). It may have additional stems rising from the base, and suckers after being cleared. Its large compound leaves are pinnate
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
and measure from 40 to 100 cm (16-40 in) long. There may be 15 to 25 individual leaflets, which measure around 6–25 cm (2-10 in) long and 2–6 cm (1-2.5 in) wide. The leaf margins are lined with fine teeth. New growth is covered with fine rusty hair, as are the inflorescences which occur in winter and spring (August to October). The flower spikes droop around 14 to 50 cm (6-20 in) in length, and are shades of purple and brown and cream. They have a strong sweet smell, described as sickly by some. They are followed in spring and summer by a red fleshy oval fruit 3–5 cm (1.4-2 in) long, 2–2.8 cm (0.8-1.1 in) wide. The a black seed is within the fruit, which does not fall away.
Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia is found in (and on the margins of) subtropical rainforest from Tamborine Mountain in the south-eastern corner of Queensland to the Nambucca Valley in on the New South Wales mid-north coast. It is a component of the understory
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
.
The seed is edible, though not as valued as that of its relative the macadamia. It is not commercially cultivated, but is sometimes grown as an ornamental tree. It can be difficult to establish in the garden.