Elaeocarpus angustifolius Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Elaeocarpus angustifolius

Leaves and fruit on the ground in Keʻanae Arboretum
Scientific classification
Genus:	Elaeocarpus
Species:	angustifolius

Elaeocarpus angustifolius is species of flowering plant in the family Elaeocarpaceae and occurs from India to New Calendeonia and northern Australia. It is a large tree, often with buttress roots, and has leaves with wavy serrations, creamy white flowers and more or less spherical bright blue or purple fruit. Authorities differ regarding the distribution of this species.

Description
Taxonomy and naming
Distribution and habitat
Ecology
Uses
- Horticulture
- Timber
Gallery
Images for kids
See also

Description

Elaeocarpus angustifolius is a tree that typically grows to a height of 40 m (130 ft) and usually has buttress roots at the base of the trunk. The leaves are about 60–180 mm (2.4–7.1 in) long, 40–60 mm (1.6–2.4 in) wide with wavy serrations on the edges and tapering to a petiole 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) long, but lacking a pulvinus. Old leaves often turn bright red before falling. The flowers are arranged in racemes up to 100 mm (3.9 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 9–16 mm (0.35–0.63 in) long. The five sepals are 8–11 mm (0.31–0.43 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) wide. The five petals are creamy white, egg-shaped to oblong, 12–15 mm (0.47–0.59 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide, the tip with linear lobes. There are between thirty-five and sixty stamens and the style is 11–18 mm (0.43–0.71 in) long and glabrous. The fruit is a more or less spherical, bright blue or purple drupe 15–23 mm (0.59–0.91 in) in diameter.

Taxonomy and naming

Elaeocarpus angustifolius was first formally described in 1825 by Carl Ludwig Blume in his book Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indie from material collected in the "mountains of Batavia".

Distribution and habitat

Authorities differ on the distribution of E. angustifolius. Plants of the World Online lists the distribution as "Himalya to China and south-west Pacific" but does not include Australia and New Guinea. Some Australian authorities give the distribution in that country as the Northern Territory only, listing it as found on the Tiwi Islands and from Channel Point to Wadeye on the Northern Territory mainland where it grows to a height of about 25 m (82 ft). The Queensland Government considers the species to occur in that state.

Ecology

Specimens of E. angustifolius were planted in Oahu in the 1930s and have subsequently become naturalised in nearby native forests. The species is also reported to invade intact and secondary forests in Samoa.

Uses

Horticulture

The wide-ranging buttress roots and size make the blue quandong unsuitable for suburban home gardens or planting near drains. It is tree is more suited to larger acreage blocks and rainforest parks.