Ancient lineage

Shrub or small tree, branchlets often black widespread in or near warmer rainforest and moist eucalypt forest on the coast and lower ranges. Often multi-trunked, with glossy, dark green leaves on slender zigzag arching canes. Bolwarra is the local Aboriginal name for the plant. Eupomatia from Greek eu, meaning well developed or good and pomatos, genitive of poma, a cover, because the flowers have a kind of cover over them; laurina from Latin laurus the laurel. There is also another related species endemic to Australia E. bennettii or small bolwarra.

Photo: Robert Whyte

In spring and summer flowers appear all along the stems with a distinctive ether-like perfume, each lasting only one day. These are very primitive flowers, one of the reasons this is an interesting plant. The flowers are pollinated by small brown weevils which are attracted by the perfume. They feed on the densely-packed staminodes and in so doing transfer the pollen to the stigmas. Bolwarra can be found along creekbanks throughout the Enoggera catchment. It can grow thickly, so much so that some bushcarers at first think it might be weedy.

Flower with weevils. Photo: Robert Whyte

This photo shows the underneath of the flowering and the cup that swells to become the fruit after the primitive petals fall off. Photo: Robert Whyte

This photo shows the flower buds before opening, rather attractive conical spahes with rounded ends Photo: Robert Whyte

Immature fruit. Photo: Robert Whyte

Seed collecting and propagation

The fruit is a berry globose to urn-shaped, 15-20 mm diameter, green turning brownish. It has a cap on the outermost edge which falls off to leave a flattish scar. The sweet pulp of the green fruit is edible but full of seeds which should be reserved for propagation. Fruits are ripe when they are soft to squeeze. The seed germinates after 3-5 months. Seeds should be sown fresh. Seeds may be separated by mashing and floating off the flesh in water – seeds should sink to the bottom. Sow thinly and lightly cover with propagation media. Seeds germinate reliably, but early growth is slow. Protect from slugs. Tube-up as soon as the seedlings are big enough to handle and grow on in a shadehouse

Fruit close-up. Ripe when fruit is soft. Photo: Robert Whyte