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herbert river cherry

Scientific Name: Antidesma dallachyanum

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Herbert River Cherry

The Herbert River Cherry refers to several species within the Antidesma genus, notably Antidesma dallachyanum and Antidesma bunius. It's appreciated for its small, dark purple fruit that is said to be similar to bignay, but often slightly larger and tastier. The fruit is also popular among birds.

Considerations for Pets

  • The text mentions birds love the fruit, suggesting it's edible. This implies the fruit is soft and potentially attractive to pets.

Considerations for Children

  • The plant produces small fruits (up to 2cm for Antidesma bunius) that could be a choking hazard for young children.

Scientific Name and Common Names

  • Scientific Name: Antidesma dallachyanum Baill. and Antidesma bunius
  • Common Names: Herbert River Cherry, Queensland-cherry, Currant Tree, Wild Cherry, Bignay, Bugnay, Chinese-laurel, Salamander-tree, Currantwood.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Family: Euphorbiaceae/Phyllanthaceae (mentioned as a related family)
  • Synonyms and Alternative Scientific Names: The text lists several species as Herbert River Cherry. Also Stilago bunius L.

Distribution and Habitat

  • It grows throughout the coastal regions of Queensland, Australia, often on the edges of rainforests. The Herbert River region is a specific location associated with the plant. Northern Queensland and Northern Territory is also mentioned.
  • Antidesma bunius is native to Queensland, Papua New Guinea, and Malaysia.

Morphological Characteristics

  • The Herbert River Cherry is a small to medium Australian tree, reaching a height of up to 8 meters. A. dallachyanum is described as a bushy tree, seldom over 7.5 meters in height.
  • Young shoots of A. dallachyanum are slightly hairy.
  • It produces small flowers followed by bunches of red, edible fruits (up to 2cm in size for A. bunius).
  • Fruit width for Syzygium luehmanii (related species) is 7-10mm wide.

Quirky Facts

  • The fruit is used to make jam, jelly, and even a delicate fruit vinegar in the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland.
  • In Indonesia, a species known as Herbert River Cherry (potentially Antidesma bunius) is used as a timber tree for building rice storage houses.