Cupaniopsis anacardioides

Tuckeroo
Leaves and flowers of the Tuckeroo at Wyrrabalong National Park, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Sapindaceae
Genus:	Cupaniopsis
Species:	C. anacardioides
Binomial name
Cupaniopsis anacardioides A.Rich.
Synonyms
Cupania anacardioides A.Rich.

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 (34° S) to Queensland, northern Australia and New Guinea.

C. anacardioides is an invasive species in some parts of the United States, primarily Florida and Hawaii.^[1]

Description

It is small tree with attractive foliage, growing up to ten metres tall with a stem diameter of 50 cm. 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, 7 to 10 cm 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.

Uses

It is an attractive plant as an ornamental or a street tree, particularly by coastal areas.

drawing by Margaret Flockton

References

1. ^ "Cupaniopsis anacardioides as a weed in Florida". University of Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AG111. Retrieved 2009-08-03. 

• Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, Inkata Press 1989, ISBN 0-909605-57-2 page 355
• "Cupaniopsis anacardioides". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Cupaniopsis~anacardioides. Retrieved 2009-08-03.