Elaeocarpus angustifolius

Elaeocarpus angustifolius
Blue quandong growing at Nightcap National Park, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Rosids
Order:Oxalidales
Family:Elaeocarpaceae
Genus:Elaeocarpus
Species: E. angustifolius
Binomial name
Elaeocarpus angustifolius
Synonyms

Elaeocarpus grandis

Elaeocarpus angustifolius is a rainforest tree in the Elaeocarpaceae family, bearing bitter edible fruit. It is commonly known as blue marble tree, and also as blue fig or blue quandong, although it is not closely related to figs. The junior synonym Elaeocarpus grandis, from a later description of the species by Ferdinand von Mueller, is also frequently found. A large tree up to 50 metres tall, usually with elaborate buttressed roots.

It is found in the eastern Australian States Queensland and New South Wales and New Caledonia.

The fruit of this species is round and blue, between 20 and 30 mm across, and has a seed with deep convolutions in its shell. These are eaten whole by cassowaries, woompoo pigeon and spectacled flying foxes, which pass the nut undamaged.[1]

The species is well regarded for its timber and as a key in regenerating rainforest.[2] The seeds are used in Hinduism as prayer beads by the name Rudraksha.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Tropical Topics" (PDF). Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage. 13 July 1992. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-08-02. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
  2. ↑ "Species list". Retrieved 2012-01-22.
  3. ↑ "Tulsi and Rudraksha". Hinduism Today. March 1997. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  • "Elaeocarpus angustifolius Blume". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  • "Elaeocarpus grandis F.Muell". PlantNet. National Herbarium of New South Wales. Retrieved January 26, 2008.
Elaeocarpus angustifolius flowers and foliage


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