Bellbird vine, Apple vine, Harlequin Fruit
Melodinus australis

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A climbing vine or twiner. It grows up to 3 to 8 m tall. The leaves are simple and 3-16 cm long and 0.5-6 cm wide. The leaves are darker green on top and paler beneath. The broken leaves and twigs drip milky sap. The branched flower stalk occurs in the angles between leaves and stem in the upper leaves. The flowers are 0.4-0.7 cm across. They are pale yellow. They have a strong smell. The fruit are 4-15 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. They hang singly or in bunches in the axils of leaves. The fruit are green but then turn yellow then orange. The fruit often have several colours. The fruit have many seeds which are 5-7 mm long. The pulp around the seed is edible. It is green in colour. The fruit are also eaten by cockatoos and cassowaries.

There are about 75 Melodinus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs in coastal tropical rainforests. It grows in Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. It occurs at low to moderate heights above sea level. It grows from sea level to 1200 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Solomons

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit is edible

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed or from cuttings taken from firm wood. Seed should be sown fresh. It grows best with partial shade but if kept well watered can grow in full sun. It can tolerate a slight frost.

Fruiting is December to April. Flowers and fruit can occur at the same time on a plant.

Its other names

Local names

Paiamara, Southern melodinus, Wongali

Synonyms

Chilocarpus australis F. Muell.; Melodinus chilocarpoides F. Muell.; Rhytileucoma chilocarpoides F. Muell.;