Scientific Name: Diploglottis Australis / Diploglottis cunninghamii
Common Name: Native Tamarind
Indigenous Use
Bright, orange, acidic fruit eaten or made into a drink.
When to Use
The fruit is edible and often ripens in late summer to autumn.
Identification
Leaves: The leaves of Diploglottis cunninghamii are pinnate, typically consisting of 4-9 pairs of leaflets. These leaflets are ovate to elliptic, measuring 4-15 cm in length and 2-5 cm in width. The leaves are dark green and glossy above, paler and slightly hairy beneath, becoming glabrous with age (Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2024; Plants of the World Online, 2024).
Bark: The bark of Diploglottis cunninghamii is rough and dark brown to grey. It often has vertical fissures and can become flaky as the tree matures. The bark serves as a protective layer against environmental stress and pests (Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2024).
Flowers: The flowers of Diploglottis cunninghamii are small, white to creamy-yellow, and are arranged in large panicles. Each flower is about 5-8 mm in diameter and has five petals. They are typically fragrant, attracting various pollinators. Flowering usually occurs from late spring to early summer (Plants of the World Online, 2024).
Fruit: The fruit of Diploglottis cunninghamii is a large, orange to reddish-brown capsule, measuring 4-8 cm in diameter. Each capsule contains several seeds surrounded by a juicy, acidic aril. The fruit is edible and often ripens in late summer to autumn (Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2024; Floridata, 2024).
Ecosystems
Found in the below ecosystem/s.
Rainforests: Sub-tropical rainforests usually consist of three strata of trees with up to 60 species making up the canopy, many with large leaves. Palms and strangler figs are common and the undergrowth is luxuriant with many epiphytic or terrestrial ferns and orchids and abundant large climbers of many species. In Queensland, rainforests can be found in well-known locations like the Daintree Rainforest, Lamington National Park, and Mary Caincross Park.
References
Australian National Botanic Gardens. (2024). Diploglottis cunninghamii. Available at: https://www.anbg.gov.au
Plants of the World Online. (2024). Diploglottis cunninghamii. Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org
Floridata. (2024). Diploglottis cunninghamii. Available at: https://floridata.com
Cribb A.B. and J.W., Wild Food in Australia. Collins, Sydney, 1974
Young, P., Rainforest Guide. Brisbane Forest Park Administration Authority, 1988.
Leiper, G., Glazebrook, J., Cox, D., & Rathie, K., 2008. Mountain to Mangroves: A Field Guide to the Native Plants of South-east Queensland. Logan River Branch, Society for Growing Australian Plants.