Common Name:

General Information

Canarium australianum is a deciduous tree with a narrow crown; it can grow 12 - 30 metres tall. The straight bole is up to 45cm in diameter[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of resin and wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Northern Australia - Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, to New Guinea.

Habitat

Open forest, rain forest, and near the sea on sand dunes[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of low elevations in the moist tropics, growing in areas with all year rainfall or with a short dry season. It does not tolerate frost[].
Grows best in an open, sunny position[]. Prefers a light to medium, well-drained soil[]. Plants are not very tolerant of drought[].
Young trees grow quite quickly[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

Seeds[, ]. Mainly eaten by children[]. The seed is about 15mm long[].

Ripe fruit - roasted[]. The blue-black, oval, fleshy fruits are about 25mm long and 15mm wide, containing a single hard coated seed[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The resin is used by aborigines in attaching spear heads[, ].

The wood is highly regarded for use as pick and axe handles, it s also used for making furniture and in joinery[, ]. The boles are used to make dugout canoes[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seed coat and germinates erratically. Filing away some of the seed coat to allow moisture to enter more readily, without damaging the seed, will encourage a faster and more even germination[].
Aerial layering[].

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