Habitat: Gallery (riverine or riparian) forest
Distribution: Queensland, New South Wales, Northern Territory
Conservation status: Least concern as of Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA)
Scientific name: Elaeocarpus grandis (Elaeocarpus from the Greek word 'elaia' the olive tree and 'karpos' a fruit in reference to the similarity of the fruit to that of the olive and grandis from the Latin word meaning 'great')
Common name: Blue quandong
About
The blue quandong (Elaeocarpus grandis) is an outstanding pioneering tree, known for its rapid growth, often reaching 5 to 6 metres within a few years. Mature trees can exceed 30 metres in height and have an open canopy that permits light to reach the shorter understory, making it perfect for creating lush tropical plantings beneath.
The blue quandong is recognisable by its distinctive red-pink leaves contrasting with the surrounding green foliage. A large, pale-buttressed trunk supports its massive size. In autumn, the branches are adorned with rows of white flowers, which later transform into bright blue, round fruits.
Fruits and seeds
The blue quandong fruit, often called the native or desert peach, is a staple in the traditional Aboriginal diet. It boasts a higher vitamin C content than oranges.
The fruit typically reaches a diameter of 25 to 30m. Indigenous Australians ate the fallen fruit raw or mashed the flesh into an edible paste. The pulp of the fruit is sour and slightly bitter. Raw green fruits were picked and buried in the sand for four days, during which they softened, turned blue, and became sweeter and more palatable.
Inside, there is a rough, woody stone that contains up to five seeds.
Fun Fact: The woody stones, characterised by their deeply pitted surfaces, are occasionally used for decorative purposes.
The fruits also appeal to birds, such as brush turkeys, and mammals like flying foxes. In Far North Queensland, southern cassowaries (Casuarius casuarius) eat the fruit and aid in seed dispersal through their dung.
Cassowary Plums and Blue Quandong fruits on the rainforest floor
During the colonial era, the timber was used for making racing sculls and oars, as well as for cabinet making and interior construction.
Our purchase of freehold land in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest ensures populations of iconic and endemic plants and animals, including the E. grandis, are managed for conservation. Please, donate now to help us protect this vital habitat.