Elaeocarpus obovatus


Elaeocarpus obovatus is a rainforest tree of eastern Australia. It grows from near Wyong in New South Wales to Proserpine, Queensland in the tropics.
It grows in tropical and sub-tropical lowland rainforests. It is less frequently seen in drier inland rainforests, littoral rainforests and in swampy areas at sea level. Some of the common names include hard quandong, whitewood, grey carabeen, freckled oliveberry and blueberry ash. However, blueberry ash is more usually used for the related Elaeocarpus reticulatus.

Description

A large and impressive tree, growing to 45 metres tall, and 150 cm in trunk diameter. The outer bark is smooth, grey and thin with corky irregularities. The trunk is cylindrical though very buttressed, particularly in larger trees. Leaves are obovate or elliptical, alternate and toothed in the upper two thirds of the leaf. The midrib is raised on the upper and lower surfaces, lateral veins and net veins are more evident under the leaf.
White flowers appear from September to November on racemes. The fruit is a blue drupe 6 to 12 mm long. Oval or globular containing a rough hard centre and a single seed. Fruiting occurs in January to April. Like many Australian Elaeocarpus trees, germination is slow and difficult; however, cuttings prove more successful.