Owenia vernicosa

Owenia vernicosa, the emu apple, is a species of tree found in the north of Australia. The bark is an orange-grey colour that flakes away from the trunk. Deep red fruit appear after the flowering period, when the white, cream and green inflorescence appears in October to November. The tree occurs on alluvial sand or black and loamy clays over sandstone. The habitat may be rocky ridge lines and slopes or alongside creeks.[1]

Owenia vernicosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Meliaceae
Genus: Owenia
Species:
O. vernicosa
Binomial name
Owenia vernicosa

Uses

Indigenous Australians pulverized the inner bark of this species and added it to small water bodies to act as a fish toxin, allowing fish to be easily collected from the surface of the water.[2]

Indigenous Australians boiled the inner bark of this species in water and the resulting liquid was used as an antiseptic wash for open cuts and sores.[2]

Emus are known to consume the fruit of this species.[2][3]

Red-tailed black cockatoos likely consume the fruit of this species, as indicated by the meaning of indigenous language words for this species.[3]

Sugar gliders are known to consume the sap of this species.[3]

References
  1. "Owenia vernicosa". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  2. Smith, N. M. (1 January 1991). "ETHNOBOTANICAL FIELD NOTES FROM THE NORTHERN TERRITORY, AUSTRALIA". Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. 14 (1): 1–65.
  3. "emu apple, black cocky apple". Bininj Kunwok Names for Plants and Animals. Retrieved 20 July 2022.


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