Emu apple, Candlestick tree
Owenia vernicosa
Family: Meliaceae
What it is like
A tall shrub or small tree. It grows 12 m high. The young growth is sticky and bright green. The bark is rough. The leaves are 30-35 cm long with leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets are 5-12 cm long by 1.3-2.2 cm wide. There are 7-15 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are sword shaped. They are dark green with a network of veins. The flowers are 0.3 cm across and cream. Male and female flowers are on separate trees. The flower panicles are about 30 cm long. The fruit is fleshy and 2-3.5 cm across. They are on long stalks and are round and reddish-brown.
There are about 6 Owenia species. They grow in Australia. It has been used in medicine.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in seasonally dry regions. It grows on sandy or gravelly soils.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
Poisonous. The bark and leaves have been used to poison fish. The bark and leaves have been used in medicine.
Edible parts
Seeds
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. The seed is difficult to germinate.