Papua nuts
Omphalea papuana

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A vine. It can grow 30 m tall. The stem can be 8 cm across. The sap is red. The leaf blades re 13-25 cm long by 9-17 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 7-14 cm long. There are 2 glands near the base of the leaf. It has modified flower parts that act as tendrils. The flowers are in a branched panicle. There are more male flowers than female. The male flowers are 3 mm across and the female flowers are 5-6 mm across. The fruit is about 6 cm across. It is orange and has 3 angles. The seeds are round and 2.5 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows at low altitudes from sea level to about 50 m above sea level in Cape York in Australia. It grows at higher altitudes in Papua New Guinea. It occurs at Bulolo at 700 m. It grows in rainforest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Solomon Islands

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Apanga simi, Ompalea papua

Synonyms

Aleurites erratica O. Deg., I. Deg. & K. Hummel; Neomphalea gageana Pax & K. Hoffm.; Neomphalea papuana (Pax. & K. Hoffm.) Pax and K. Hoffm.; Omphalea gageana (Pax & Hoffm.) Airy Shaw; Omphalea papuana Gage [Illegitimate];