| Kuranda quandong | |
|---|---|
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| Specimen growing in the Cairns Pioneer Cemetery | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Oxalidales |
| Family: | Elaeocarpaceae |
| Genus: | Elaeocarpus |
| Species: | E. bancroftii |
| Binomial name | |
| Elaeocarpus bancroftii | |
 | |
Elaeocarpus bancroftii, commonly known asKuranda quandong,Johnstone River almond,ebony heart,grey nut, ornut tree is a large rainforest tree in the familyElaeocarpaceae which is endemic toQueensland, Australia. It hascoriaceous (thick but flexible) leaves, attractive white flowers and relatively large fruit containing an edible kernel.
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Elaeocarpus bancroftii is a large tree growing up to 30 m (98 ft) in height and up to 60 cm (24 in) diameter, and may bebuttressed. It has scaly brown bark on the trunk and dense foliage.[5][6][7]
The rather stiff leaves areovate to ovate-lanceolate in overall shape and haveentire tocrenate margins.[6][7] Thepetiole is relatively long, up to 45 mm (1.8 in), somewhat swollen at both ends, and has a velvety texture.[6][7][8] Leaf blades measure up to 13 cm (5.1 in) long and 5 cm (2.0 in) wide, with between 5 and 8 secondary veins on either side of therachis, or midrib.[5][6][8] On the upper surface they are dark green andglabrous with the midrib slightly raised and secondary veins apparent, while the underside is dull green with both the midrib and secondary venation distinctly raised and the tertiary veins feint. The leaf tip isacute toobtuse, and the base iscuneate, i.e. tapering into thepetiole or leaf-stem.[5][6][7] Like many other species ofElaeocarpus, the leaves turn bright red before falling.[5][8]
Theinflorescences areaxillary orramiflorousumbels produced towards the ends of thetwigs and carry a small number (less than 10) of individual flowers. Thepeduncle andpedicels (stems of the inflorescence and individual flowers, respectively) are velvety.[6][7]
The flowers aretetramerous (i.e. having foursepals andpetals). The sepals are creamy yellow in colour and measure up to 10 mm (0.4 in) long—the white petals have 3 rounded lobes at the end and are 15–25 mm (0.6–1.0 in) long. There are between 45 and 50stamens in each. Flowering occurs from March to June.
The fruit is a large, dull grey or blue/green,globulardrupe,[a] about 4 cm (1.6 in) in diameter with a sturdy pedicel measuring around 10 by 15 mm (0.4 by 0.6 in) and contains astone with a very hard, thickendocarp.[5][7][8][9] The stone is shaped like aRugby ball and has four segments (again like the rugby ball) that are clearly evident but difficult to separate.[6] The outer surface of the stone is generally smooth butpunctate (i.e. marked with numerous small pits).[6][7] Within the stone is a solitary elongated seed.
E. bancroftii was first formally described in 1886 by theGerman-bornbotanistFerdinand von Mueller, in consultation withFrederick Manson Bailey, and published inProceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland.[4][6][10] His description was based on plant specimens collected on theJohnstone River byThomas Lane Bancroft.[6][10]
The genus nameElaeocarpus is derived from the Greek wordsελιά (eliá) meaning 'olive', andκαρπός (karpós) meaning 'fruit'. It refers to the superficial similarity of the fruits of the two taxa.[7] Thespecies epithet is in honour of the collector.
This species isendemic to north-eastern Queensland, where it is widespread and grows in well-developedrainforest. Its range is from nearCooktown southwards to aboutTully, and at elevations from near sea level to around 1,200 m (3,900 ft).[5][7] It is found in most parts of theWet Tropics of QueenslandWorld Heritage Area.
Fruits are eaten bycassowaries (Casuarius casuarius)[7] andSpectacled flying foxes (Pteropus conspicillatus).[11] Both of these species help to disperse the seeds, but by very different methods. While the cassowary will easily swallow the fruit and pass the stone out in its droppings, the fruit is too large for the flying fox to swallow. Instead, it will typically pluck the fruit from a tree and fly with it to another location where it will discard the stone after eating the flesh.[11]
The seeds within the stone are eaten by native rats,[7] notably thegiant white-tailed rat (Uromys caudimaculatus) which, due to its size and formidable incisors, is able to gnaw through the hardened endocarp to access the seed.
This species has been assessed asleast concern by both theQueensland Government under theNature Conservation Act 1992, and by theIUCN.[1][2]
Indigenous Australians ate the seeds, although the very hard shell required them to use stones to crack them open. These special "nut stones", which had a groove or hollow in which the nut was placed, along with the accompanying "hammer stones", have been found throughout Queensland as forests were cleared during the expansion ofEuropean settlement.[5][12]
The 1889 bookThe Useful Native Plants of Australia records that "The cotyledons or 'kernels' have a good flavour, and are eaten by the settlers. Other species of Elaeocarpus have fruits which are more or less useful in this respect."[13]
Elaeocarpus bancroftii is considered to have good horticultural potential, particularly for parks and larger areas, because of the attractive foliage, showy flowers and interesting fruit.[5][8] In the city ofCairns in far north Queensland, six of these trees have been planted in the streets.[14] It can be purchased from many plant nurseries and native plant specialists in Australia.
