Eupomatia laurina

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information:

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms > Eudicots >   Magnoliales > Eupomatiaceae  > Eupomatia 

Other links:

Plant  information

Common name:                Copper laurel

Conservation status:  unknown

Etymology:   

• x

Flowers:                  

• Flowers are pollinated by small weevils, including Elleschodes hamiltoni and others in the same genus

Fruit:                         

• The branches bear globose to urn-shaped fruits which are green in colour and measure 15–20 mm in diameter

• They yellow when ripe and contain pale-coloured, edible, jelly-like flesh inside

• With many non-edible seeds (similar appearance to guava contents)

• The sweet, aromatic fruit is used as a spice-fruit in cooking and in beverages, jams and desserts. It is best used in combination with other ingredients that complement its strong flavour, and hence should be considered one of the Australian spices.

• 
  

Leaves:         

• Glossy, ovate to elliptic leaves, from 5 to 20 cm  long

Stem & branches: 

• x

Roots:         

• x

Habit:        

• A shrub usually between 3 and 5 m tall

• Larger specimens may attain a height of 15 m and a trunk diameter of 30 cm 

Habitat:   

• In Australia, it is found in humid forests of the east coast

• It usually grows as an understorey plant in rainforests or humid Eucalypt forests

Distribution:                  

• Endemic to Australia and New Guinea

• In Australia, it is found of the east coast, from as far south as Nowa Nowa in Victoria, north through NSW to the Cape York Peninsula 

Species:                     

• World:           

• Australia:     

Additional notes:     

• Cultivation

  • Germination from fresh seed commences after around three weeks and completes after five weeks, with a high rate of germination

  • It is frost sensitive and prefers a protected, semi-shaded site

  • It can be propagated from seed or cuttings

  • Cutting propagated trees produce fruit after two years

  • Seedlings take four to six years to fruit