Omphalea papuana
Pax & K.Hoffm.
Euphorbiaceae
Omphalea papuana and Omphalea queenslandiae F.M.Bailey are similar species that have at times been confused. Their ranges overlap in northeastern Australia. The report on edibility from [
658- Title
- Food Plants of Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
- French. B.R.
- Publisher
- Author.
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Published on-line in PDF format, this book contains information on several hundred New Guinea food plants.
] for Omphalea queenslandiae refers to plants growing wild in New Guinea and almost certainly refers to Omphalea papuana. Omphalea queenslandiae is endemic to northeastern Australia and its range does not extend to New Guinea. The report from [
658- Title
- Food Plants of Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
- French. B.R.
- Publisher
- Author.
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Published on-line in PDF format, this book contains information on several hundred New Guinea food plants.
] cites Omphalea gageana (Pax & K.Hoffm.) Airy Shaw as a synonym of Omphalea queenslandiae, but Omphalea gageana is seen as a synonym of Omphalea papuana and is treated as such here.
Aleurites erraticus O.Deg., I.Deg. & K.Hummel
Neomphalea gageana Pax & K.Hoffm.
Neomphalea papuana (Pax & K.Hoffm.) Pax & K.Hoffm.
Omphalea gageana Airy Shaw
Omphalea papuana Gage
Common Name:
General Information
Omphalea papuana is an evergreen climbing plant with woody stems that can be around 8cm wide. It climbs into the surrounding vegetation, supporting itself by means of tendrils[
713- Title
- Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/rfk/index.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An online resource giving botanical information, and a little bit about plant usage, for over 2,700 species of plants found in the Australian rainforest.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
Known Hazards
Although the family Euphorbiaceae contains a very high percentage of poisonous plants, the seeds of this and several other species in the genus Omphalea are an exception to the rule, with several of them being considered wholesome and being eaten by humans. Some caution should be employed, however, since there are often warnings about how they should be eaten. Some reports, for example, say that the embryo of this species needs to be removed in order to remove a deleterious principal[
63- Title
- Nuts.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Howes. F. N.
- Publisher
- Faber
- Year
- 1948
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Rather old but still a masterpiece. Has sections on tropical and temperate plants with edible nuts plus a section on nut plants in Britain. Very readable.
,
975- Title
- Les Plantes Utiles des Colonies Françaises
- Publication
-
- Author
- J.-L. De Lanessan (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1886
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on the useful plants of the Frech colonies towards the end of the 19th century. Many botanical names have changed, but the information remains valid and is often not easy to find elsewhwere. It can be downloaded from the Internet
].
Botanical References
Range
Australasia - Australia (Queensland), New Guinea, Solomon Islands
Habitat
Lowland gallery forest and rainforest; at elevations up to 50 metres[
713- Title
- Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/rfk/index.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An online resource giving botanical information, and a little bit about plant usage, for over 2,700 species of plants found in the Australian rainforest.
].
Properties
| Habit | Evergreen Climber |
| Height | 0.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
The plant can not withstand frost[
658- Title
- Food Plants of Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
- French. B.R.
- Publisher
- Author.
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Published on-line in PDF format, this book contains information on several hundred New Guinea food plants.
].
Plants require a sunny position in well drained soil[
658- Title
- Food Plants of Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
- French. B.R.
- Publisher
- Author.
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Published on-line in PDF format, this book contains information on several hundred New Guinea food plants.
]
Edible Uses
Seed - cooked[
658- Title
- Food Plants of Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
- French. B.R.
- Publisher
- Author.
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Published on-line in PDF format, this book contains information on several hundred New Guinea food plants.
,
1817- Title
- South Pacific Indigenous Nuts. ACIAR Proceedings No 69
- Publication
-
- Author
- Stevens M.L.; Bourke R.M. & Evans B.R.
- Publisher
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research; Canbe
- Year
- 1996
- ISBN
- 1 86320 175 0
- Description
- Proceedings of a workshop held from 31 October to 4 November 1994 at Le Lagon Resort, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
]. - see notes above on taxonomy.
A cluster of fruit is borne on a branch up to 5cm long near the base. The fruit is 6 - 10cm across and fleshy with
3 - 4 lobes. The fruit surface is smooth and yellow when ripe. The seed coat is hard, brown and ridged. The kernel is white[
658- Title
- Food Plants of Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
- French. B.R.
- Publisher
- Author.
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Published on-line in PDF format, this book contains information on several hundred New Guinea food plants.
]. A kernel of a nut weighs about 3 grams[
658- Title
- Food Plants of Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
- French. B.R.
- Publisher
- Author.
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Published on-line in PDF format, this book contains information on several hundred New Guinea food plants.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
Cuttings of firm new growth[
658- Title
- Food Plants of Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
- French. B.R.
- Publisher
- Author.
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Published on-line in PDF format, this book contains information on several hundred New Guinea food plants.
]
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
