Scientific Name: Glochidion ferdinandi

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  • Pronunciation:
    glock-ID-ee-an fer-der-NAN-dee
  • Common Name:
    Cheese Tree, Raintree
  • Derivation:
    Glochidion: L. glochidium - barb of arrow (refers to style of some species)
  • Type:
    Tree
  • Family:
    EUPHORBIACEAE
  • Flowers:
    Flowers are greenish/yellow in clusters from the leaf axils. Separate male and female flowers on same plant. Flowering from October to November.
  • Fruit:
    Fruit is a capsule, green to red, roundish, ribbed, 10-15 mm in diameter. Seeds, 4-6 flat. Ripe November to February. The fruit resemble miniature pumpkins or miniature Edam cheeses.
  • Vegetation Type:
    Wet Eucalypt Forest,
  • Species List:
    Landcare Display Garden, FI Podberscek, Boreen Point Caravan Park, NNP Parkedge/Alex, Cooloothin Corner, Tewantin Forest Gyndier, Mill Point, Johns, Cooroibah Conservation Park, Cooroibah Bushland Reserve, Cranks Creek, Batianoff 87, NNS, Upper Yandina Creek, Boreen Point, Leslie Drive Roundabout, Kin Kin Scrub, Dandaloo, NNP Coastal, BHNR, Kin Kin Arboretum, Stratford Park, Heritage Park
Cultural Notes

Not edible

Identification Notes

**LOOK FOR** Glossy red fruit||Small stipules present at petiole base. Leaves are simple, alternate, two-ranked. The blade is soft and thin, green and glossy above, paler below and sometimes softly hairy. The leaves are elliptical to oblong-elliptical, sometimes slightly unequal-sided at the base, 4-9 cm long.

Associated Fauna

Foliage often damaged by leaf miners when young. host plant for Arhopala micale and Candalides helenita butterflies. The Coscinocera hercules or Hercules or Atlas Moth of north Queensland feeds on this tree

Landscaping Notes

Pioneer plant. Noosa Council Preferred Species list . Fire retardant species. Bushy, fast growing,hardy in most soils. Useful for reveg. planting and fast windbreaks.||Propagation is from seed,ripening from November-February, and germinating easily. Cuttings also strike easily. It is adaptable to a range of soil conditions, including moderately poor drainage. ||Successfully propagated by Tin Can Bay City Farm Nursery|Successfully propagated by Florabunda Bushcare nursery, Woombye|Successfully propagated by Noosa & District Landcare|Successfully propagated by Mooloolah Native Nursery||Featured shade tree in Noosa Landcare Demonstration Garden, Pomona.||Successfully propagated by Barung Landcare||