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Elaeocarpus angustifolius

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Elaeocarpus angustifolius Blume

Family Name: Elaeocarpaceae
Synonyms: Elaeocarpus grandis, Elaeocarpus sphaericus
Common Name: Blue Marble Tree, Blue Fig, New Guinea Quandong, Quandong, Snowdrop Tree, Bead Tree of India, Indian Oil Fruit, Geniteri, Blue Quandong

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Growth Form Tree
Mode of Nutrition Autotrophic

Biogeography

Native Distribution India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Australia, the Pacific Islands
Native Habitat Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone Tropical

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form Fast-growing large tree with buttresses, able to grow up to about 30 - 40 m tall in its natural habitat.
Crown Spreading crown, conical-shaped.
Trunk Bark is light grey to brown and fissured.
Foliage Dark green obovate-oblong to oblong-lanceolate leaves, margins serrate, measuring about 8 - 15 cm long and 2.5 - 4.5 cm wide, petiole about 1 - 1.5 cm long, old leaves become red before falling off.
Flowers White 5-petaled flowers borne on an axillary raceme inflorescence about 2 - 4 cm long, petals divided at the tip into 4 or 5 lobes, stamens 25 - 50 present, ovary hairy.
Fruits Fruit is a blue to purplish-blue globose fleshy drupe about 1.5 - 3 cm wide, contains 2 - 5 seeds.
Habitat Can be found in evergreen and valley rainforests.
Etymology Genus Elaeocarpus is from Greek words "elaia" which means "olive" and "karpos" which means "fruit" and they refer to the fruits. Species angustifolius means narrow-leaved.
Ethnobotanical Uses Cultural / Religious ( Aboriginals used to mixed the fresh fruits with water to make an edible paste.)

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features Ornamental Flowers
Plant & Rootzone Preference - Tolerance Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Landscape Uses Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Full Sun
Water Preference Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate Moderate
Propagation Method Seed

Foliar

Mature Foliage Colour(s) Green, Red
Foliar Margin Serrate / Toothed
Foliar Apex - Tip Acute, Obtuse

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Colour(s) White
Flower Grouping Cluster / Inflorescence
Inflorescence Type Raceme

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Fruit Type 1 Fleshy Fruit

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID 1576
Species ID 2869
Flora Disclaimer The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.
Species record last updated on: 18 February 2022.
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