Cupaniopsis anacardioides


Cupaniopsis anacardioides, with common names tuckeroo, carrotwood, beach tamarind and green-leaved tamarind, is a species of flowering tree in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae, that is native to eastern and northern Australia. The usual habitat is littoral rainforest on sand or near estuaries. The range of natural distribution is from Seven Mile Beach, New South Wales to Queensland, northern Australia and New Guinea.
Cupaniopsis anacardioides is an invasive species in some parts of the United States, primarily Florida and Hawaii.

Description

Growing up to with a stem diameter of. The bark is smooth grey or brown with raised horizontal lines. The bases of the trees are usually flanged.
Leaves are pinnate and alternate with six to ten leaflets. These are not toothed, and are egg-shaped to elliptic-oblong, and long. The tips are often notched or blunt. Leaf veins are evident on both sides. The veins are mostly raised underneath.
Greenish white flowers form on panicles from May to July. The fruit is an orange to yellow capsule with three lobes. There is a glossy dark brown seed inside each lobe. The seeds are covered in a bright orange aril. Fruit ripens from October to December, attracting many birds including Australasian figbird, olive-backed oriole and pied currawong.
Germination from fresh seed occurs without difficulty, particularly if the seed is removed from the aril and soaked for a few days.
, Australia

Uses

It is an attractive plant as an ornamental or a street tree, particularly in coastal areas as it is salt tolerant.

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