Cupaniopsis anacardioides

Cupaniopsis anacardioides, with common names tuckeroo, carrotwood, beach tamarind and green-leaved tamarind, is a species of flowering tree in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae, that is native to eastern and northern Australia. The usual habitat is littoral rainforest on sand or near estuaries. The range of natural distribution is from Seven Mile Beach, New South Wales (34.8° S) to Queensland, northern Australia and New Guinea.[3][4]

Tuckeroo
Cupaniopsis anacardioides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Cupaniopsis
Species:
C. anacardioides
Binomial name
Cupaniopsis anacardioides
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms

Cupania anacardioides A.Rich.

Cupaniopsis anacardioides is an invasive species in some parts of the United States, primarily Florida and Hawaii.[5][6]

Description

Growing up to 10 metres (33 ft) with a stem diameter of 50 centimetres (20 in). The bark is smooth grey or brown with raised horizontal lines. The bases of the trees are usually flanged.[3][4]

Leaves are pinnate and alternate with six to ten leaflets. These are not toothed, and are egg-shaped to elliptic-oblong, and 7 to 10 centimetres (2.8 to 3.9 in) long. The tips are often notched or blunt. Leaf veins are evident on both sides. The veins are mostly raised underneath.[3][4]

Greenish white flowers form on panicles from May to July. The fruit is an orange to yellow capsule with three lobes. There is a glossy dark brown seed inside each lobe. The seeds are covered in a bright orange aril. Fruit ripens from October to December, attracting many birds including Australasian figbird, olive-backed oriole and pied currawong.[3][4]

Germination from fresh seed occurs without difficulty, particularly if the seed is removed from the aril and soaked for a few days.[3][4]

Leaves and flowers of the tuckeroo at Wyrrabalong National Park, Australia
Flowers & early fruit, Palm Beach, Sydney, Australia

Uses

It is an attractive plant as an ornamental or a street tree, particularly in coastal areas as it is salt tolerant.[7]

drawing by Margaret Flockton

References
  1. "APNI Cupaniopsis anacardioides". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  2. Radlkofer, L.A.T. (1879) Ueber Cupania und damit verwandte pflanzen. Sitzungsberichte der Mathematisch-Physikalischen Classe der Königlichen Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Munchen 4: 512, 530, 585
  3. Harden, Gwen J. (1991). "Cupaniopsis anacardioides". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  4. Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, Inkata Press 2008, ISBN 978-0-9589436-7-3 page 385
  5. "Cupaniopsis anacardioides as a weed in Florida". University of Florida. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
  6. "Sapindaceae Fruits and Seeds". USDA Agricultural Research Service. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  7. Langeland, K.A., Enloe, S.F. (2015). "EDIS SS-AGR-165: Natural Area Weeds Carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides)". University of Florida. Retrieved 2018-07-16.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, Inkata Press 1989, ISBN 0-909605-57-2 page 355
  • "Cupaniopsis anacardioides". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
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