Macadamia Nut, Gympie nut
Macadamia ternifolia

Family: Proteaceae

What it is like

The Small-fruited Queensland Nut is endemic to Queensland. Macadamias are eaten fresh, roasted, and in baked goods. They are 7-8% protein. Carbon Farming Solutions - Staple edible oil crop. Can be misspelt as Macadamia terniflora.

Macadamia ternifolia is an evergreen Tree growing to 8 m (26ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 8

Where it is found

Occurs in south-facing gullies with fertile, basalt-derived krasnozem soils or the interface between sandstone and basalt krasnozems.

Origin: E. Australia. The Small-fruited Queensland Nut is endemic to Queensland.

Conservation Status: Listed as vulnerable under the EPBC Act.

Countries/locations it is found in

Eastern Australia. Queensland.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Macadamias are eaten fresh, roasted, and in baked goods. They are 7-8% protein. Carbon Farming Solutions - Staple Crop: oil (The term staple crop typically refers to a food that is eaten routinely and accounts for a dominant part of people's diets in a particular region of the world).

Oil: Oil

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Milk: made from plants, that is.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 2

Possibly similar uses to similar species which include: agroforestry Uses: The decomposed husk is commonly used in potting soil. Other Uses: Macadamia shells may be used as fuel, generating sufficient energy to dry wet, in-shell nuts. The oil from the seed is used in cosmetics. The green seed hulls contain approximately 14% of tannins. Carbon Farming Solutions - Other Systems: multistrata.

Cosmetic: Used to improve the physical appearence of a person.

Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Plant breeding: Used in producing new species of plants or improved varieties.

Tannin: An astringent substance obtaied from plants, it is used medicinally, as a dye and mordant, stabilizer in pesticide etc.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Minor Global Crop: These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

Staple Crop: Oil: (0-15 percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Some of these are consumed whole while others are exclusively pressed for oil. Annuals include canola, poppyseed, maize, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut. Perennials include high-oil fruits, seeds, and nuts, such as olive, coconut, avocado, oil palm, shea, pecan, and macadamia. Some perennial oil crops are consumed whole as fruits and nuts, while others are exclusively pressed for oil (and some are used fresh and for oil).

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Minor Global Crop: These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

Staple Crop: Oil: (0-15 percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Some of these are consumed whole while others are exclusively pressed for oil. Annuals include canola, poppyseed, maize, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut. Perennials include high-oil fruits, seeds, and nuts, such as olive, coconut, avocado, oil palm, shea, pecan, and macadamia. Some perennial oil crops are consumed whole as fruits and nuts, while others are exclusively pressed for oil (and some are used fresh and for oil).

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

Climate: subtropical, tropical highlands. Prefers a fertile, sandy loam to light clay soil slightly acid (pH 5.5–7.0) and well drained. Found on moderate to steeply inclined hillslopes as well as steep slopes at 100–320m (mostly less than 200m) above sea level (asl) in altitude. Can live for over 100 years. Humidity: semi-arid to humid. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: minor global crop. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation). The species can be found in cultivation. Nut yield 2.2 t/ha. Hybridisation between the Small-fruited Queensland Nut and the Macadamia Nut (M. tetraphylla) has been recorded in Queensland.

Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a nursery bed. The dehusked seed germinates quickly at 25°c. Cultivars may be grafted.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Small-fruited Queensland Nut, Gympie Nut . Misspelt as Macadamia terniflora

Synonyms

Helicia ternifolia F.Muell. Unresolved