Black Plum, Shiny-leaved Coondoo
Planchonella eerwah

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tall shrub or tree. It grows 4-20 m high and spreads 3-6 m wide. The bark is scaly and brown. Young growth has grey hairs. The leaves are 4-10 cm long by 1.5-6.5 cm wide. They are broadly oval or spoon shaped. They are leathery. They are dark green and shiny above and dull underneath. They taper to the base. The flowers are 0.4 cm long and cream-green. They are hairy on the outside. The fruit are berries 3-6 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. They are rounded oval and dark reddish-purple. There are 1-5 seeds and they are 2.5-3 cm long.

There are about 100 Planchonella species. They are mostly in Asia and the Pacific.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on rocky slopes and ridges in vine thickets and rainforest. It needs well drained soil. It can tolerate light frost. Coffs Harbour Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from fresh seed and cuttings of firm young growth.

Its other names

Local names

Red ccndoo

Synonyms

Pouteria eerwah (F. M. Bailey) Baehni; Sersalisia eerwah (F. M. Bailey) Domin; Sideroxylon eerwah F. M. Bailey;