Elaeocarpus grandis
Plant Number: 59
Common Name: Blue Quandong
Scientific Name: Elaeocarpus grandis
Derivation of name
Elaeocarpus – From the Greek word 'elaia' the olive tree and 'karpos' a fruit in reference to the similarity of the fruit to that of the olive
grandis – From the Latin word meaning 'great'
Description
- Fast growing rainforest tree which grows to 35m along water courses in New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory
- Mature trees usually have an elaborate buttressed trunk and roots
- Old leaves turn bright red on the tree prior to falling
- Flowering and fruiting start around the seventh year with 10 mm greenish-white bell-shaped flowers form autumn to winter which are followed by 20 mm round bright blue or purple fruit in spring
- Due to their roots and size the Blue Quandong tree is unsuitable for suburban home gardens or near drains
Human uses
Indigenous Australians ate the fallen fruit raw or, alternatively, squashed the flesh to form an edible paste. The fruit pulp is sour and slightly bitter. Each raw green fruit was picked and buried in sand for four days. By this time it had softened and turned blue, sweet and more palatable for eating. Fruit stones were used for decoration.
During the colonial period the timber was used to make racing sculls and oars, cabinet making and interior construction. They also used the fruit for jams and pies plus it was suitable for pickling.
Fauna Usage
The fruits are attractive to birds (e.g. Brushturkey) and mammals (e.g. Flying foxes). In far north Queensland, the Southern Cassowaries (Casuarius casuarius) eat the fruit and, in so doing, help to disperse the seeds via their dung.
Acknowledgment: Bush Heritage, Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants
Photo: Tatiana Gerus