Tar tree, Marking nut, Australian cashew nut
Semecarpus australiensis
Family: Anacardiaceae
What it is like
A small evergreen tree, although it can lose many of its leaves during the year. It grows to 5-10 m tall and spreads to 2 m wide. Trees can be 40 m high. It has a dense round crown. The stem is erect and branching. The bark is smooth and brown. The leaves are simple and oblong. They are produced alternately along the branch. They are 10-30 cm long and 4-12 cm wide. The leaves are dark green above and much paler underneath. The veins are prominent and raised underneath the leaf. The leaf stalk is 1-2.5 cm long. Male and female flowers occur on separate trees. The flowers are very small and greenish white and at the ends of branches. The flowering branches can be 10-30 cm long and flowers 0.5 cm across. Male flowers do not have stalks and are smaller than female flowers. The fruit are round and brown. They are 2-3 cm wide. They have a coarse leathery skin. They are attached to a swollen fleshy orange base. They contain one seed.
The sap can irritate the skin.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It does best in sandy, moist soils. They need to be well-drained. It needs an open sunny position. It is damaged by drought and frost. Plants grow naturally in coastal areas in monsoon forests. They normally grow in areas with a seasonal climate. In Townsville palmetum.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin), Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Torres Strait
How it is used for food
The fruit kernel is eaten after careful preparation and cooking. The fleshy fruit stalk is eaten when fully ripe and after peeling. Caution: Parts of the plant are highly toxic.
Edible parts
Fruit, kernel, nuts
How it is grown
Plants are grown by seed. Seed need to be planted fresh.
In Australia, flowering is August to October and fruiting from November to January (February).
Its other names
Local names
Dua, Kajuwiji, Mepa
Synonyms
Semecarpus australiensis var. macrophyllus Domin; and others varieties