Sterculia quadrifida
Plant Number: 15
Common Name: Bush
Peanut, Dundil, Red-fruited Kurrajong
Scientific Name: Sterculia quadrifida
Derivation of name
Sterculia - from the Latin Sterculius, the name of the Roman god who presides over manuring
quadrifida - from the Latin quadrifidus, split into four parts, referring to the fruits
Description
- Semi-deciduous tree to 10 metres
- Edible black seeds resembling peanuts in taste
- Bright orange / red seed pods, when ripe split open to reveal black oval seeds that may be eaten raw or roasted once the paper-like skin is removed
- Small, fragrant cream-white bell-shaped flowers to 7 mm
- Hard green seed pod to 8 cm
- Leaves to 20 cm
Human uses
Leaves used to treat wounds and stings, bark used as traditional fibre for baskets and nets, infusion of the bark applied to eye for eye complaints
Seeds can be eaten either raw or roasted
Acknowledgment: Mangroves to Mountains, Tuckerbush, Wild Food Plants of Australia, Mutaroo
Photo credit: Andreas Lambrianides