Tuckeroo, Beach Tamarind, Carrotwood
Cupaniopsis anacardioides

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 8-15 m high. It can spread 5-15 m across. It has a dense rounded crown. The trunk is smooth and pale grey. The inner bark is orange. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are 10-20 cm long with 2-6 pairs of opposite leaflets. The leaflets are leathery and dark green. They are oblong with a rounded tip. They are 7-10 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. The flowers are greenish-white. The fruit occur in long chains. They are orange. They are leathery and have 3-6 lobes. They are 1-2 cm across. The seeds are black. They have a reddish attachment.

There are 60 Cupaniopsis species. It can be invasive.

Where it is found

It grows in warm temperate to tropical places. It is native to Australia. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 800 m altitude. It needs good drainage. It can grow in dry soil. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It can grow in coastal regions. It can tolerate salt. It is damaged by frost. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Hawaii, India, Pacific, North America, Pakistan, Tasmania, USA

How it is used for food

The ripe orange fruit are eaten. It is the fleshy aril or layer around the seeds that is eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from fresh seed. Seed should be soaked before planting. It can take one month for seed to germinate. It should be grown vegetatively from good fruiting trees. This can be done by layering.

It is a slow growing tree.

Its other names

Local names

Bulkul

Synonyms

Alectryon bleeseri O. Schwarz; Cupania anacardioides A. Rich.;