Scientific Name: Castanospermum australe

Prev Next
Print This Page
  • Pronunciation:
    cass-tan-oh-SPERM-um aus-TRALE
  • Common Name:
    Black bean, Moreton Bay Chestnut
  • Derivation:
    was Callerya megasperma
  • Type:
    Tree
  • Family:
    FABACEAE
  • Status:
    Common
  • Flowers:
    Red and yellow arising from old leaf scars, spring, summer
  • Fruit:
    Pod, large, woody, brown. Seeds POISONOUS.
  • Flowers Color:
    Red
  • Fruit Color:
    Brown
  • Vegetation Type:
    Rainforest. Often along watercourses
  • Species List:
    Kennilworth Fig Tree Walk, Bush food, Bush medicine, NLTalks2010, Regional Ecosystem 12.3.1., Upper Yandina Creek, Kin Kin Scrub, Kin Kin Arboretum, Heritage Park,
Cultural Notes

TAKE CARE! Some information about bush foods and medicines may be anecdotal. Correct identification and preparation is essential:

Timber: Highly regarded as cabinet timber. Used for electrical switchboards because of high resistance to passage of electric current

Bush food: Aborigines soaked

Identification Notes

Straight unbranched trunk. Leafy crown. ||Leaf: compound, dark green, pinnate with 8-17 leaflets.||Very young shoots covered with rust-coloured hairs.||Inner bark and green branchlets smell like freshly cut pumpkins (W.D.Francis)||

Associated Fauna

Nectar attractive to parrots, possums and bats. ||Butterfly attracting. Butterfly host plant: Pencilled blue. ||

Landscaping Notes

Landscaping potential in suitable areas. Noosa Council Preferred Species list.||Common indoor pot plant. ||