Sterculia quadrifida
R. Br.
Peanut tree, Red-fruited Kurrajong
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Summary
Source: WikipediaSterculia quadrifida, also known as the peanut tree, monkey nut or red-fruited kurrajong is a small tree that grows in some forests of New Guinea and Australia.
Description
A small to medium sized tree. It grows up to 5-12-20 m tall. It has an open rounded crown. It is a straggly plant and the smaller stems are thick. The bark is smooth and grey. The leaves are long and heart shaped. They are 9-23 cm long by 5.5-17.5 cm wide. They are dark green and rough with prominent veins. They are paler and finely hairy underneath. The leaves fall off during the year. The leaf stalk is 4-10 cm long. The flowers are small, greenish-yellow and not easily noticed. They are produced in flower heads towards the ends of branches. The sepals of the flower remain joined forming a tube which is bell-shaped. They are 0.5-1 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. The outer surface is green and hairy. Several flowers occur together in flower arrangements that are 3-10 cm long. The fruit are groups of leathery pods or capsules carried stiffly on the stems. The fruit are 5-8 cm across by 3-4 cm long. The skin is rough velvety and leathery and turns red when ripe. The ripe pods split to show the light shiny inner surface and black seeds. There are 2-8 shiny seeds. The seeds are 1-2 cm long. The seeds are edible.
Edible Uses
The seeds are edible after removing the bitter black coating. The leaves and bark are used medicinally by indigenous Australians and in Indonesia. The bark is used by indigenous Australians in their traditional weaving techniques to make baskets and other products.
Traditional Uses
The seeds are eaten raw. When peeled they have a pleasant peanut like taste. They are also cooked. They are harvested after the fruit is ripe and fully open.
Medicinal Uses
The leaves are crushed and applied as a poultice to treat wounds, sores, skin complaints and stings. An infusion of the bark, or the juice wrung from the inner bark, is applied directly to the eyes.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows naturally in coastal monsoon vine thickets and on sand dunes behind the beach. It can be grown on a wide variety of well-drained soils. It has some tolerance to drought. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Where It Grows
Asia, Australia*, East Timor, India, Malesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia, Timor-Leste, Torres Strait,
Cultivation
Plants are grown from seed. Fresh seed germinate in a few days. Germination can be improved by pouring hot water over the seeds and allowing them to soak for 24 hours.
Propagation
Seed - fresh, moist seed germinates in a few days. A physical dormancy caused by the hard seed coat of the mature seeds of many species in this genus can be overcome by scarifying the seed. This is carried out by cutting away or abrading some of the seed coat to allow the ingress of water, though great care must be taken not to damage the embryo. The aril surrounding the seed should also be removed - this is easiest when it has been softened through soaking in water. The seeds germinate optimally at temperatures between 20 - 30°c. They can be sown in a nursery seedbed or in containers. A germination rate of about 95%, occurring within about 2 weeks can be expected if the seed has been properly treated.
Other Uses
A strong fibre is obtained from the bark. It is used for making twine, nets and fishing lines. The light grey wood is close-grained, soft, spongy and easily worked. It is little used.
Production
Young plants are fast growing. In Australia, flowering occurs from February to November and fruiting from April to December.
Notes
Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.
Nutrition
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuts | 40.7 | 1249 | 299 | 12.3 | — | 2 | 2.6 | 6.5 |
Synonyms
Also Known As
Balk-balk, Balkpalk, Calool, Convavola, Garrmurnamal, Gorarbar, Ko-ral-ba, Ku-man, Malikini, Yarakakur, Wu, Wurranyini, Wurwu
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