Clausena
Clausena brevistyla
Family: Rutaceae
What it is like
A medium sized shrub. It grows to 2-3 m high and spreads to 1-1.5 m across. The young shoots have hairs. There are 10-15 leaflets which are 5-15 cm long by 6 cm wide. They are oval and bright green. They have small oil dots and are thin textured. The edges of the leaves have ornamental, rounded lobes. The flower clusters are at the ends of branches and in the axils of upper leaves. The flower clusters are loose and large. The flowers are 0.8 cm across and white. The fruit is a berry, which is about 1-1.3 cm across and dry. Both the leaves and flowers have a fragrant smell. The fruit are edible. There is one seed inside and it is 9-11 mm long by 7-8 mm wide.
There are about 23-30 Clausena species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in lowland and upland rainforest. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 1000 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin), Pacific, Papua New Guinea
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten.
It is not known if they are used for food in Papua New Guinea.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. Seed should be planted fresh.
The flowers are produced from August to October and the fruit are ripe March to April.