Schizomeria ovata

D. Don

White cherry, Crab apple

Cunoniaceae Edible: Fruit 820 iNaturalist observations

timber

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Schizomeria ovata, a medium to large Australian rainforest tree, is widespread in warm-temperate rainforest in coastal New South Wales north from Narooma (36° S) and southern Queensland south from Fraser Island (25° S). It is also found in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Common names: (Australian) white birch, crab apple, white cherry, snowberry, humbug, squeaker Timber is pale blond, and is a commercial species, under the name Australian white birch. The timber was notably used as an interior finish in the Sydney Opera House. Plywood veneered with Schizomeria ovata was used for the ceiling, upper walls, and seating of the Concert Hall, and for wall and ceiling panelling and doors in other internal areas.

Description

A tree. It grows 35 m high. It may have buttresses. The leaves are simple. They are 5-15 cm long and 2-6 cm wide. The flowers can be in branched clusters at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves. The flowers have 4-5 petals. They are white or cream. They are 2-3 mm long. The fruit is fleshy with a seed inside. They are white, cream or yellow. They are 15-18 mm long. There are 1 or 2 seeds. They have a brown woody stone.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. A sour flavour. The fruit is a white to yellowish, ovoid to globose drupe about 10 - 15mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten and also used for jam.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in rainforest or wet sclerophyll forest in north Queensland. It grows between 280-1100 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

193099

Propagation

Seed - can be very slow to germinate, taking up to 9 years. Cuttings strike readily.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Notes

There are 18 Schizomeria species.

Also Known As

Cherry birch, Coach wood, Corkwood, Snowberry, Squeaker

References (14)

Bailey, F. M., 1913, Comprehensive Catalogue of Queensland Plants. Queensland Government.
Caton, J.M. & Hardwick, R. J., 2016, Field Guide to Useful Native Plants from Temperate Australia. Harbour Publishing House. p 204
Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 196
Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 148
Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 75

Show all 14 references

Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 159
Edible and Useful Native Plants (off internet)
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 288
Jackes, B.R., 2001, Plants of the Tropics. Rainforest to Heath. An Identification Guide. James Cook University. p 48
Jones D, L, 1986, Ornamental Rainforest Plants in Australia, Reed Books, p 245
Low, T., 1991, Wild Food Plants of Australia. Australian Nature FieldGuide, Angus & Robertson. p 73
Nicholson, N & H., 1996, Australian Rainforest Plants, Terania Rainforest Publishing. NSW. p 57
Townsend, K., 1994, Across the Top. Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 332
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 101