Hernandia bivalvis
Benth.
Grease nut, Cudgerie
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(c) Jackie Beer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Jackie Beer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Jackie Beer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaHernandia bivalvis, known variously as the grease nut and cudgerie, is a species of plant in the family Hernandiaceae. It is endemic to Queensland in Australia.
Description
A small tree. It grows 6-12 m high and spreads 3-8 m across. The crown is compact. The bark is grey-brown with slight furrows. The young growth is bright green and shiny. The leaves are 6-15 cm long by 2.5-6.5 cm wide. They are broadly oval. The leaf stalks are slender and 2-8 cm long. The flower panicles are at the ends of branches. The flowers are separately male and female. The flowers are 2 cm across. Each female flower occurs without a stalk and with 2 male flowers on stalks on either side. The fruit are dry. They are enclosed in a fleshy cover. They are 1.5-2 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. The seed is 2 cm across and hard.
Edible Uses
The seeds are edible.
Distribution
It suits subtropical regions. It is rare and grows in rainforests near Brisbane, Australia. It needs well drained soil. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens.
Where It Grows
Australia*,
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.
Notes
There are about 24 Hernandia species. They are tropical and grow in humid forest regions.
References (7)
- Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 229
- Fl. austral. 5:314. 1870
- Heywood, V.H., Brummitt, R.K., Culham, A., and Seberg, O. 2007, Flowering Plant Families of the World. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. p 166 (Genus)
- Leiper, G & Houser, J., Mutooroo. Plant Use by Australian Aboriginal People. Assembly press, Queensland.
- Nicholson, N & H., 1996, Australian Rainforest Plants 3, Terania Rainforest Publishing. NSW. p 34
Show all 7 references Hide references
- Schatz, G.E., 2001, Generic Tree Flora of Madagascar. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden. p 213 (Genus)
- Williams, J.B., Harden, G.J., and McDonald, W.J.F., 1984, Trees and shrubs in rainforests of New South Wales and Southern Queensland. Univ. of New England, Armidale. p 81
