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Boronia megastigma

Nees ex Bartl.

Brown boronia, Sweet boronia

Rutaceae Edible: Flowers - oil, Spice 67 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Loxley Fedec, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Loxley Fedec

iNaturalist· cc-by

(c) Brett Coulstock, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Brett Coulstock

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Loxley Fedec, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Loxley Fedec

Boronia megastigma, commonly known as brown boronia, sweet-scented boronia or scented boronia, is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a slender, erect shrub with aromatic leaves and flowers, the leaves with three or five leaflets and the flowers cup-shaped, dark brown to purplish black on the outside and yellow inside.

Description

An evergreen shrub. It grows 1 m high and spreads 1 m wide. The stem is slender. The plant has a fine textured crown. The leaves are green and very fine. The flowers are brown and bell shaped.

Edible Uses

The fragrant flowers are the source of an essential oil used to create black currant flavoring in food manufacture, particularly in drinks, ice creams, and baked goods.

Traditional Uses

The fragrant flowers are the source of an essential oil used in create a black currant flavouring food manufacture. It is used in drinks, ice creams, and baked goods.

Distribution

It is a temperate or Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in sandy, poorly drained soils. It needs protected partly shaded conditions.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown by seed or cuttings.

Propagation

Seed - Cuttings of half ripe wood.

Other Uses

An essential oil is obtained from the flowers. It is used in perfumery. The scent resembles violet and cassie.

Also Known As

Scented boronia

References (7)

  • Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 157
  • Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 213
  • J. G. C. Lehmann, Pl. Preiss. 2:227. 1848
  • Morton,
  • Seidemann J., 2005, World Spice Plants. Economic Usage, Botany, Taxonomy. Springer. p 68
Show all 7 references
  • Wiersema, J. H. & Leon, B., 2013, World Economic Plants. A Standard Reference CRC Press. 2nd Ed. p 107
  • World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

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