Snottygobble, Snotty Gobble, Long-leaved Persoonia
Persoonia longifolia

Family: Proteaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 1.5-6 m high and spreads 1-3.5 m wide. It has a woody underground tuber. The young growth has rusty brown hairs. The trunk usually occurs singly but can have suckers at the base. The bark is flaky and brown. It is reddish-purple underneath. The branches start being angular and hairy but become round and smooth. They often hang down. The leaves are 2.5-20 cm long by 0.2-1.6 cm wide. They are alternate and deep green. They are flexible and can be slightly twisted. The flowers are 0.7 cm across and yellow. Their stalks are hairy and 1.2 cm long. They are in clusters in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The fruit is fleshy with a hard stone inside. They are 1.2 cm long by 1 cm wide. They become purple when ripe.

There are about 90 Persoonia species. They grow in Australia. Many have fruit which are edible.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in woodland and dry forest. It grows on sandy soils. It needs freely draining acid soils. They can tolerate frost.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Britain, Europe

How it is used for food

The gell around the seeds is edible.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings of very young growth.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Persoonia elliptica;