Owenia venosa
F. Muell.
Crow’s-apple, Sour plum, Rose Almond, Emu apple
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(c) Deborah Metters, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Deborah Metters
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(c) Mick Drews, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Mick Drews
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(c) Victoria, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Victoria
Description
A tall shrub or small tree. It can grow 20 m high. Young growth is sticky and yellow. The small branches are thick and can be red or purple. The leaves are 20 cm long and have leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets are 8 cm long by 3 cm wide. There are 3-4 pairs of leaflets. They are dark green above and paler underneath. There are net like veins. The flowers are 0.5 cm across. They are white and occur in clusters as long as the leaves. The fruit are 4 cm across. They are round and red.
Edible Uses
The round red fruits are edible but astringent and can be eaten fresh.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in dry rainforests in tropical and subtropical Australia. It needs good drainage and sun.
Where It Grows
Australia*,
Cultivation
Plants are grown from seed. Seed are difficult to germinate.
Other Information
The fruit are edible but astringent.
Notes
There are about 6 Owenia species. They grow in Australia.
References (12)
- Anon., 2003, Native Plants for the Fitzroy basin. Society for Growing Australian Plants Inc. (Rockhampton Branch) p 69
- Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 292
- Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 180
- Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1997, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 7. Lothian. p 126
- Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 456
Show all 12 references Hide references
- Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 9:304. 1857
- Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 177
- Lord, E.E., & Willis, J.H., 1999, Shrubs and Trees for Australian gardens. Lothian. p 19
- Nicholson, N & H., 1994, Australian Rainforest Plants 4, Terania Rainforest Publishing. NSW. p 50
- Wheeler, J.R.(ed.), 1992, Flora of the Kimberley Region. CALM, Western Australian Herbarium, p 665
- 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 29, 41
- Williams, K.A.W., 1999, Native Plants of Queensland Volume 4. Keith A.W. Williams North Ipswich, Australia. p 294
