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Saturday, July 17, 2010

My own native 'Bush Tucker' tree - Sterculia Quadrifida.

The definition of ‘bush tucker’ would be: any edible, native Australian flora and fauna that was present before European colonisation which was harvested or hunted in the bush by our country's original inhabitants ... the Aborigines.

I have a 'Bush Tucker' tree in my courtyard that is native to the eastern coastal strip from northern New South Wales to far north Queensland ... and up into Papua New Guinea.  Not only were the seeds used as food by the Aboriginal people, the bark was used to weave baskets. The inner bark of this tree was also important to them as a source of string, which was used for rope, fishing nets and fishing line. 

This tree is commonly called the 'Peanut Tree' - Sterculia quadrifida.  Not only is the 'Bush Tucker' aspect of this tree interesting, it is also one of our very rare native Winter-deciduous trees.

It grows to a height of 5 -10 metres and has a spreading canopy, dropping it's leaves during Winter and when flowering.  The leaves are dark green and broad egg-shaped or sometimes heart-shaped at the base.  Around my area of north Queensland the Peanut Tree can start to shed leaves in May ... which is the end of Autumn. Leaves will then begin to regrow after the tree has fruited ...  this is usually around August to September, which is the end of Winter into early Spring. 

Here it is in my courtyard garden ... first, when covered in leaves ... and next, when it's beginning to drop it's leaves:



The creamy-white, lemon-scented flowers of this tree are rather inconspicuous. They are borne in small clusters in the upper axils, and occur from November to January (Summer in Australia).


The most distinctive feature of this native tree is the fruit. 

The fruits are clusters of large, leathery, boat-shaped pods up to 8 cm long which, change from green to an eye-catching orangey-red at maturity. 

Stage 1 - Green pods:


Stage 2 - Changing to orangey-red:



At this stage it splits open to reveal black seeds about the size of a peanut. The seeds are edible and are supposed to taste like peanuts ... never tried them myself! ... but for those who do wish to try them, it's recommended that the seed coat or testa should be removed first.  Birds, on the other hand, enjoy them 'au natural'!

Popping open:


Seeds:
The edible seed is called ‘egng edndan’ in Uw Oykangand and Uw Olkola; ‘mayi pinta’ in Pakanh – which are the traditional languages of the Aboriginal people in central Cape York Peninsula. Their colloquial name for this tree is ‘Monkeynut Tree’.  


The pods stay open for quite some time – looking a bit like a flower and then they drop off, littering the pavers in the Courtyard Garden and making a bit of a mess!


This tree, despite being quite messy during the Autumn/early Winter, is a valuable shade tree during Summer ... when it provides lots of cover over the courtyard area ... and then during Winter, when it's deciduous, it allows lots of light onto the courtyard garden for the winter and spring flowering annuals. 

31 comments:

  1. A very beautiful blog is running here. Enjoyed going through your blog.

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  2. That's quite a lovely tree. I have two seedlings growing from an Aussie EBay dealer, and I plan to plant them out in the fall when the temperature drops and the sun's a bit lower. Any idea what the pollinators are? Flies?

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  3. This is a unique and special tree that provides shade for the home and food for the birds. The ripe opened pods look like four linked hearts.

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  4. Thanks Birdy for visiting ... it's always nice to greet a new reader.

    Barry ... I really have no idea what the pollinators for this tree are ... sorry. I don't see many been of flies hovering around this tree ... but then I've never really taken the time to notice.

    Autumn Belle ... that's one of the things I do love about this tree. You are indeed right ... the opened pods do look like opened heart shapes.

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  5. Such beautiful pictures, and I enjoyed all the interesting information!
    It's amazing how many new things I can still learn!!

    M.E.

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  6. That is one cool tree! Beautiful seedpods. I think you should give that "bush tucker" a try. Can't be too bad if it tastes like peanuts. I'm allergic to the peanuts and am always looking for good substitutes.

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  7. What a wonderful tree, and gorgeous pictures!

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  8. What a fascinating post Bernie. I always appreciate learning about something new. If I were you I would sample the fruit! Thanks for your comment on my blog.

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  9. i can imagine the shade provided by this tree must be a real blessing....we are all curious to know what the seed tastes like...you have no option now but to taste it for us next time!

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  10. Hi
    I live on the Sunshine Caost in Queensland and I have just planted this tree on the footpath to evntually provide shade for visiting cars. It stands about 1 metre high now and just wondering if you know how long it will take to get to about 3 metres? Love your photos and the info.

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  11. Hi Bernie, if I can find one of these trees locally I am looking at putting one in my large back yard at Yeppoon (Central QLD). Do you know if they have an invasive root system?
    Thanks,
    Pete

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  12. Pete ... we have not found the Sterculia to have an invasive root system. Ours is planted within 4 metres of the back of our house out in a courtyard and the only problem we've had is that it's lifted some of the brickwork around its' base. Other than that I have no complaints about this tree.

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  13. Bernie, A very interesting site. I have just had a Peanut Tree identified by a native vegetation expert near Noosa. It is growing next to a very large cumquat tree, and if had been identified as a pest tree, I was going to cull it to let the Cumquat tree prosper.
    The Peanut Tree is about 10m high and unfortunately has had a hard life. Near an old Dairy, we estimate the original Dairy Farmers probably planted these trees about 80 years ago. There is also a Candlenut Tree, A Macadamia Tree and a huge Mango tree.
    It looks like it would be a good time to prune the Peanut Tree and the Cumquat Tree so they can co-exist healthily.

    Thanks for your excellent photos and commentary, and the nuts do taste a bit peanutty, but it would be an acquired taste. I must try taking off the skin of the nut and see if that improves the flavour.

    Richard

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    1. Hi Richard. The Peanut Tree is definitely not a pest. It's a great Qld. native. I'm so pleased to hear that you're keeping it. I hope it enjoys its new lease of life.

      How marvellous that the original farmers chose trees like the Peanut Tree, the Candelnut and the Macadamia. Of course the Mango tree was a popular choice all over the state.

      I've now tasted the nuts a few times since I wrote this post, and they definitely taste better with the black skin peeled off.

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  14. hi there Bernie. I have tried the seed and I quite liked it. I thought it might taste a bit better roasted or fried but haven't tried that yet.

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  15. Great post and gorgeous photos. We're about to plant one as part of our bushtucker forest so this was a good information resource - thank you.

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  16. Hi Bernie, I have been searching high and low for the Sterculia quadrifica nuts. I was wondering whether I could possibly get some from you when they are available?

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  17. Try one of the branches of the Society for Growing Australian Plants - throughout Queensland. Generally available at our plant sales or from members gardens

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  18. Hi. We have a nursery at Woolgoolga NSW and stock the peanut tree. Contact us at enquiries@budsgardencentre.com.au

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  19. my peanut trees now (for the past 3 years) produce flowers which just wither and don't set fruit..they flower in November and again now in June. Is this normal flowering behaviour?? am in Brisbane. thks E

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    1. E, the tree usually flowers in the summertime in its natural distribution areas, but it flowers in autumn here in my courtyard. Mine has already flowered, fruited and is now starting to drop its leaves.

      I have to say I'm not sure why your tree is not setting fruit. Perhaps it's to do with the age of the tree or perhaps it's being over-watered. They do prefer drier conditions and don't particularly like very cold conditions.

      I hope you have some luck soon and get to see those fabulous bright red seed pods.

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  20. Hi Bernie,

    coming over from Facebook. Your blog is must more detail, and this is why I like blogger.

    Love the peanut tree,

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Ann. Yes you're right about blogging. We can add loads more detail in our posts and provide more of an interesting read I think.

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  21. Hi Bernie
    I'm a teacher-linguist at Shepherdson College on Elcho Island North East Arnhem Land. We run a bilingual program where students learn reading and writing in both English and Djambarpuyŋu, an indigenous language of the Yolŋu Matha family of languages widely spoken in Arnhem Land. I manage a literature production centre. Where a non-profit unit but w do make books in Djambarrpuyŋu for teaching and learning purposes in the school. Have a look at our new website and please do register a s member to view some of the work we do. May I use some of your Sterculia Quadrifida photos along with other bush foods images of other plants/foods that I already have, to make a small A5 reader? I would credit your images to you and send you some hard copies of the books!! My please feel free to call me on 0408301220 or email me at nathan.holt@ntschools.net
    I know that this may be quite the odd email but locating quality images can be quite the ask at times. Thank you for your time!!

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    1. You're most welcome to use my images, Nathan. As a teacher myself, I value the work you do producing texts that meet the needs of the students at you school.

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  22. Hi Bernie! I went to the Qld garden expo yesterday at Nambour and was thrilled to buy a seedling S. quadrifida from the Barung Landcare org. So excited :) I would call where we are the dry sub tropics, as i find the climate very similar to when we lived in Townsville, so i'm currently trying to develop our very barren and neglected 5ac with plants such as this. I'm finding the landcare groups are awesome for sourcing local natives :) N

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    1. That's just terrific, Narelle. It's fantastic to hear that these Sterculias can be found at places like the expo. It will be a wonderful addition to your garden. There are some fantastic native Acacias that would love your garden as well. Have you got a Golden Penda (Xanthostemon chrysanthus), Ivory Curl Tree (Buckinghamia cellisima)or Lemon Scented Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora)? They are tree I have seen quite often down in Brissie and really love.

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  23. I just harvested my first crop from this tree having planted it 3. Yrs ago for its fruit. I will roast the nuts and let you know how it goes �

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    1. How did you go roasting them, i have just collected a few handfuls and was wondering how you did it?

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  24. I have a sterculia , it is a beautiful shade tree and produces a lot of fruit , the only thing i would not do again is to plant it near driveway and house as it is always messy with leaves ,flowers and fruits , it also grows easy from seeds

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  25. Hi,
    I was searching the name of this huge tree (more then 15mtrs) I have in my backyard for last 20 yrs. This detailed writeup with appropate photos has helped me to know the name...yes its 'Bush Tucker' and I'm thankful to you for putting up this one.
    I had a family trip to Chilka Lake in Orissa (INDIA) there I first saw this tree with this amazing fruits. I carried home (Durgapur, West Bengal, INDIA) some nuts with me and planted them in my backyard, today its a huge tree. I belived it to be some kind of Pistachio tree since the nuts were similar.
    only difference (might be coz of the timezone n weather) is in the structure of the leaves the trunk skin colour (brownish :-p am not being racist).
    thank you once again for this write up.
    Cheers,
    Panna, Kolkata, India
    mithism@gmail.com

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