Common Name:

General Information

Schizomeria ovata is an evergreen tree with a dense, compact, rounded crown; it can grow up to 35 metres tall in the forests in the south of its range, but smaller in the more tropical areas. It seldom exceeds 10 - 15 metres tall when grown in the open The cylindrical bole can be 100 - 200cm in diameter, it is often slightly buttressed[, , ].
The tree is harvested from the wild local use as a food and source of wood. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - New South Wales, Queensland.

Habitat

Warm-temperate rainforest in New South Wales, often associated with Ceratopetalum apetalum on poorer soils, also on richer volcanic soils,, and as an understorey tree in wet sclerophyll forest in subtropical to tropical rainforest to 800 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Mainly found in the warm temperate to subtropics, it extends into the tropics in Queensland. It is found at elevations from 150 - 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 16 - 28°c, but can tolerate 5 - 34°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -10°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,300 - 1,700mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 2,000mm[].
Succeeds in full sun and in light shade[]. Found in a range of soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. A sour flavour[]. The fruit is a white to yellowish, ovoid to globose drupe about 10 - 15mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The tree seldom grows large enough to produce a millable log in the tropical northern part of its range, but produces a useful timber in the warm temperate and subtropical areas[].
The heartwood is usually light grey-brown, but can be variable in colour; the sapwood can be up to 15cm wide. The grain is often straight but may be interlocked and with a fine texture. The wood is not durable, but is easily worked, peels and turns well, glues readily and is easily stained
A useful wood for cabinet making and general purposes[].

Propagation

Seed - can be very slow to germinate, taking up to 9 years[, ].
Cuttings strike readily[, ].

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