Persoonia curvifolia

R.Br.

Gee Bung

Proteaceae Edible: Fruit, Nut 40 iNaturalist observations

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iNaturalist· cc-by

Summary

Persoonia curvifolia is a plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to central New South Wales. It is an erect to spreading shrub with linear leaves and somewhat hairy yellow flowers.

Description

A small shrub. It grows 0.3-2 m high and spreads 1-3 m wide. Young growth is hairy. The leaves are 1.5-4.5 cm long by 0.1 cm wide. They are narrow and spoon shaped. The edges curve inwards. The flowers are 0.8 cm across and yellow. The stalks are hairy. The fruit is 1.3 cm long by 0.9 cm wide.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It is succulent but astringent, with a sweet, fibrous pulp attached to one large seed and a flavour somewhat like sweet cotton wool. Australian Aborigines have long relished it.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a warm temperate plant. It grows on sandy and gravelly soil. It is often in woodland. It grows in temperate locations. It needs well drained soil. It can tolerate frost and some drought.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know how hardy it will be in Britain. Plants tolerate temperatures down to at least -7°c in Australian gardens, though this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer colder and wetter winters. Persoonia curvifolia hybridises with P. linearis and P. sericea where they grow together. It appears to intergrade or hybridise with P. cuspidifera in the Warrumbungle Range and Pilliga Scrub. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Requires a warm position in full sun in a freely draining preferably sandy slightly acid soil, preferring a pH around 6.3 to 6.5. Soils should be low in nutrients, especially nitrates and phosphates.

Propagation

Scarify the seed and sow in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in autumn. Keep the seed tray in a sunny position through the following summer; germination should occur the next autumn, with around 46% success expected. Prick seedlings out into individual pots within 1–2 days of emergence, as the roots are very brittle and plants are easily lost. Grow on in the greenhouse for at least the first two winters, then plant out into permanent positions in early summer. Provide protection from winter cold for at least the first winter outdoors.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

There are about 90 Persoonia species. They grow in Australia. Many have fruit which are edible.

References (3)

Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1997, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 7. Lothian. p 212
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Williams A. & Sides, T., 2008, Wiradjuri Plant Use in the Murrumbidgee Catchment. Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority. Wagga Wagga, p 54