Kampala Tree and Palm Directory

Tree Species
Common Name
Tree Description
Tree Uses

English: Queensland nut, Rough-shelled bush Nut, Macadamia nut.

+ Tree Species

Macadamia tetraphylla

+ Tree Family

Proteaceae

+ Ecology

Queensland nut is native to Australia. It is mainly found on alluvial situations bordering rivers and creeks where the fertile volcanic soils are rich in humus.

+ Description

A small to medium sized, densely branched tree, up to 18 m with a diameter of 45 cm.

BARK: greyish-brown, smooth or finely wrinkled, with numerous cream horizontal lenticels. Branchlets brown to greyish-brown, young shoots hairy.

LEAVES: in whorls of 4, simple, the margins always pricky-toothed with 33- 40 teeth on each side, oblong or oblong lanceolate, 7-25 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, abruptly rounded to a short sharp point at the tip, rigid in texture.

FLOWERS:  Inflorescence axillary or on the branches, 10-25 cm long; flowers creamy pink to mauve, 10 mm long.

FRUIT: 20-35 mm in diameter, greyish-green, turning brown.

+ Uses

Edible: Seeds can be eaten raw or, can also be ground into flour and then mixed with cereal flours to enrich the protein content.

Agroforestry: the decomposed husk is commonly used in potting soil.

The green seed hulls contain approximately 14% of tannins.

The oil from the seed is used in cosmetics.

Macadamia shells may be used as fuel, generating sufficient energy to dry wet, in-shell nuts.

The tree is used as a rootstock for M. Integrifolia.

+ Propagation

Seeds, cultivars may be grafted.

+ Management

Slow growing. Pruning, weed control and fertilizer application.

+ Remarks

The tree is particularly valued for its edible seed, considered by many to be one of the most delicious seeds in the world.



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