Hickory Boxwood, Candlewood
Planchonella euphlebia

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tall tree. It grows 10-18 m high and spreads 5-12 m wide. The crown is round or spreading. The bark is dark brown and wrinkled. The leaves are simple and 5-14 cm long by 2.5-4.5 cm wide. The upper-side of the leaves has a few hairs while the underside has rusty hairs but becomes smooth with age. The leaves are crowded towards the ends of small branches. The flowers are 0.5 cm long and greenish-cream. The fruit are berries 15-39 mm long by 10-32 mm wide. They occur singly or in bunches in the axils of leaves. As they ripen they change from red to orange. There are 1-5 seeds. These are 15-22 mm long. The fruit are edible.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They grow naturally in the foothills of the rainforest in NE Queensland in Australia. It grows between 200-1240 m altitude. It needs well drained soil.

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.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Achras euphlebia F. Muell.; Planchonella euphlebia var. cryptophlebia (C. T. White) P. Royen; Pouteria euphlebia (F. Muell.) Baehni; Pouterua euphlebia var. cryptophlebia (C. T. White) Sapota euphlebia (F. Muell.) Radlk. ex Holle; Sersalisia euphlebia (F. Muell.) Domin; Sideroxylon euphlebium (F. Muell.) F. Muell.; Sideroxylon euphlebium var. cryptophlebium C. T. White; Xantolis euphlebia (F. Muell.) Baehni;