Polyalthia nitidissima
(Dunal) Benth.
Canary Beech
(c) Geoffrey Sinclair, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Geoffrey Sinclair, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Geoffrey Sinclair, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit, Seeds
The fruit and seeds are eaten.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows in coastal rainforests. It needs moist well drained soils. It can tolerate light frost. It grows from sea level to 800 m above sea level.
Australia*, New Caledonia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Vanuatu,
How to Identify
A small tree. It grows 8-15 m high and spreads 5-10 m wide. It has a bushy habit. The bark is grey or black. It is flaky. The small branches are wrinkled and young growth is hairy. The leaves are 5-11 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. They are bright green. They are shiny above and paler and dull underneath. The flowers are 1.8 cm across and yellow. The occur in clusters in the axils of leaves. The fruit are in clusters of 3-8. They are 0.8-1 cm long and yellow, orange or red. They are on stalks 0.6 cm long.
How to Grow
Plants can be grown from fresh seed.
Names & Synonyms
China pine, Shiny leaf tree
References (14)
- Checklist of NT Vascular Plant Species. January 2003.
- Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 26
- Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 75
- Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1997, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 7. Lothian. p 409 (Drawing)
- Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 237
- Jackes, B.R., 2001, Plants of the Tropics. Rainforest to Heath. An Identification Guide. James Cook University. p 39
- Jones D, L, 1986, Ornamental Rainforest Plants in Australia, Reed Books, p 239
- Levitt, D., 1981, Plants and people. Aboriginal uses of plants on Groote Eylandt, Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, Canberra. p 80
- Melzer, R., & Plumb, J., 2011, Plants of Capricornia. Belgamba, Rockhampton. p 67
- Morley, B.D., & Toelken, H.R., (Eds), 1983, Flowering Plants in Australia. Rigby. p 36
- Nicholson, N & H., 1994, Australian Rainforest Plants 4, Terania Rainforest Publishing. NSW. p 56
- Thaman, R. and W. Clarke, Paper on Agroforestry on Aneityum and Tanna, Vanuatu from Internet
- Townsend, K., 1994, Across the Top. Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 319
- Williams, J.B., Harden, G.J., and McDonald, W.J.F., 1984, Trees and shrubs in rainforests of New South Wales and Southern Queensland. Univ. of New England, Armidale. p 79
