Grand, grows fast

Large tree to 35 metres with buttressed trunk, branches layered. Occurs in subtropical rainforest and along moist, scrubby watercourses. An endemic Australian species, occurring along the east coast from Nambucca River in NSW to Cooktown in North Queensland and also in the Northern Territory. Leaves alternate and one-foliolate, oblong-elliptical, with shallow, toothed margins; 10-18 cm in length. Blade dark green above. Sparse crown usually characterized by occurrence of some bright red leaves as tree ages. Flowers greenish-white, bell-shaped, with five fringed petals, borne in numerous racemes along branches, from leaf scars. Flowering occurs March to June. Fruit a bright blue, ovoid drupe 2-3 cm in diameter, with a thin layer of edible, green flesh. Up to five seeds encased in a hard, pitted stone. Ripe September to November. Edible, though not that palatable. Heavily logged for timber in the past. Now popular for farm forestry planting. Fruit stones were used by Aborigines for necklaces. Aborigines of the north were known to make up an edible paste of the ripe fruit by squashing them into a bark trough filled with water. Previously included in E. angustifolius.

Photo: Anne Jones

Seed collecting and propagation

Fruit a bright blue, ovoid drupe 2-3 cm in diameter, with a thin layer of edible, green flesh. Up to five seeds encased in a hard, pitted stone. Ripe September to November. First remove flesh from stone. This is easier if allowed to soak overnight. Give the stone a few days to dry and then crack. Don’t remove kernel but plant cracked stone. Germination may take up to 2 years.  Place on top of older seed and forget about. Can be grown from cuttings which strike easily.

Blue quandong fruit. Photo: Anne Jones