Yellow Tulipwood
Drypetes deplanchei

Family: Putranjivaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 5-25 m high. The trunk is straight. The leaves are smooth, alternate and leathery. The young leaves are prominent teeth and older leaves are more smooth. They can be wavy at the edge. The leaves are 0.8-15 cm long by 0.6-6 cm wide. Male and female flowers are on separate trees. The flowers are usually in clusters. They are 4-6 mm across. There are no petals but 4 or 5 sepals that can be green, white or yellow. The fruit are oval and red when ripe. They are 1-2 cm long and 0.8-1.1 cm wide. The flesh inside is yellow. There is one seed.

There are about 200 Drypetes species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in monsoon vine forests in coastal areas. In tropical Australia it grows from sea level to 800 m altitude. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. It is native to coastal rainforests in Australia. They suit hardiness zones 9-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), New Caledonia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea

How it is used for food

The oval fruit are eaten when ripe. The leaves are used to flavour seafood dishes.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves - flavouring

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from fresh seed.

Its other names

Local names

Karpilitu

Synonyms

Drypetes affinis Pax & K. Hoffm.; Drypetes australasica (Mull.Arg.) Pax & K. Hoffm.; Drypetes deplachnei subsp. affinis (Pax & K. Hoffm.) P. S. Green; Drypetes lasiogyna (F. Muell.) Pax. & K. Hoffm.; Drypetes lasiogyna subsp. affinis (Pax & K. Hoffm.) P. S. Green; Drypetes lasiogyna var. australasica (Mull.Arg.) Airy Shaw; Elaeocarpus deplanchei Brongn. & Gris; Hemicyclia australasica Mull.Arg.; Hemicyclia deplanchei (Brongn. & Gris) Baill. ex Gillaumin; Hemicyclia lasiogyna F. Muell.;