Cherry beech
Ternstroemia cherryi

Family: Pentaphylacaceae

What it is like

A compact tree. It grows to 8-15 m tall. New shoots are bronze coloured. The leaves are sword shaped and 6-16 cm long by 3-8 cm wide. They are dark green and thick textured. Sometimes the leaves are in ringed layers. Male and female flowers can be on separate trees or the same tree. The flowers are thick, waxy and cream coloured. They are 2 cm across. They are produced in the axils of leaves. The fruit is large and fleshy and orange. It is 3-5 cm long by 2-3 cm across. Fruit are produced singly. Ripe fruit can open in an irregular shape revealing pink-red seeds. There are 4 seeds which are 1.5-2 cm long. The flesh of the fruit is edible.

There are about 60-85 Ternstroemia in tropical America. There are 2 in Africa. They have also been Ternstroemiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. Plants require some protection when young. In Papua New Guinea it grows from sea level to 1200 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

CAUTION: Parts of this plant have been reported to be poisonous. The flesh of the ripe fruit is reported as edible.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from fresh seed.

Plants are slow growing. Flowering and fruiting occurs between August and March (April to October) in Australia.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Garcinia cherryi F. M. Bailey;