Common Name: Johnstone River Almond
Scientific Name: Elaecarpus bancroftii F. Muell & F.M. Bailey
Family: Elaecarpaceae
Etymology
Genus:
From the Greek word
elaia for olive and
karpos for fruit
Species epithet:
Named for Dr. Joseph Bancroft (1836-94), surgeon and farmer, arrived in Queensland in 1864.
Distribution
Restricted to north-eastern Queensland in tropical wet forests of coastal lowlands from Cooktown southwards to
Tully.
Native Habitat
Rainforest from sea level to 1200 metres.
Description
Grows to 10-30 metres tall with a spreading canopy. Leaves large, mid-green ovate and leathery, turning bright red to
scarlet as they age and fall.
Flowers and Fruit
White bell shaped flowers (approximately 15mm across) with fringed petals hang in clusters during autumn. They are
followed by blue-green football-shaped fruit about 40mm diameter with a leathery sometimes fleshy outer layer. Inside the fruit, the seed is encased in a hard case known as an endocarp.
Location in Garden
Lawn 24 (The Band Lawn), Lawn 62b towards the Opera House Gate.
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Information
The seed once extracted from the hard outer shell (endocarp) has a nutty flavour similar to macadamias and can be eaten fresh or dried. It has traditionally been eaten by Aboriginal people and special ‘nut-stones’ are often left under trees in order to crack open the nut and reveal the seed. Seeds are being investigated for their commercial potential and can be eaten fresh, or dried.
The fallen fruits are eaten by Southern Cassowaries (Casuarinas casuarius) who help distribute the seed. Seeds are eaten by one of Australia’s largest rodents, the Giant Whitetailed Rat (Uromys caudimaculatus). It can grow to 1kg and is about the size of a rabbit or small cat.
Johnstone River Almond is also known as the Kuranda Quandong and prefers moist, well-drained soil in full to part sun. Germination of the seed is slow with a low germination rate. Germination can take 2 or more years.
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