Hicksbeachia pilosa

P. Weston

Red bopple nut, Red Nut, Beef Nut, Ivory silky oak

Proteaceae Edible: Seeds 4 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Source: Wikipedia

Hicksbeachia pilosa is a small tree in the family Proteaceae. This rare species is endemic to the rainforests of the wet tropics region of northeastern Queensland, Australia. It was first described in 1988 by Australian botanist Peter H. Weston, after a collection by Garry Sankowsky and Peter Hind in 1986 at Bobbin Bobbin Falls in North Queensland. Its specific name is the Latin adjective pilosus "hairy". Hicksbeachia pilosa is found in rainforest from the Big Tableland to the Cardwell Range in northeastern Queensland.

Description

A tree up to 10 m high. The leaves are compound and alternate. They are up to 1.5 m long. There are 21-33 leaflets and these are 6-27 cm long. There are a few hairs underneath the leaf. The fruit are 30-50 mm long by 25-30 mm wide. These hang in groups along a stalk and occur in the axils of leaves as well as on branches and trunks. There is one seed inside. The seed is 25-30 mm long by 15-20 mm wide. The seed is edible.

Edible Uses

The seeds are edible.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in rainforest in NE Queensland in Australia. It grows from sea level to 1030 m altitude. It can tolerate light frosts.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from fresh seed.

Notes

There are 2 Hicksbeachia species. They occur in the rainforest in tropical Australia.

References (7)

Cooper W & Cooper W T, 1994, Fruits of the Rain Forest. RD Press p 162
Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 413
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1990, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 5. Lothian. p 364
Flora of Australia Volume 16, Elaeagnaceae, Proteaceae 1. Melbourne: CSIRO Australia (1995) p 412, 411, 312
Low, T., 1991, Wild Food Plants of Australia. Australian Nature FieldGuide, Angus & Robertson. p 94

Show all 7 references

Telopea 3:236. 1988
Townsend, K., 1994, Across the Top. Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 257