Acronychia acidula

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Lemon aspen
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Acronychia
Species:
A. acidula
Binomial name
Acronychia acidula
Synonyms[1]
  • Acronychia superba Domin
  • Jambolifera acidula (F.Muell.)Kuntze
Fruit

Acronychia acidula, commonly known as lemon aspen or lemon wood,

bushfood
.

Description

Acronychia acidula is a tree that typically grows to a height of about 27 m (89 ft). It has simple, elliptical,

stamens alternate in length. The fruit is a fleshy, more or less spherical drupe 13–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and the seeds are about 4.5 mm (0.2 in) long.[2][3]

Taxonomy

Acronychia acidula was first formally described in 1864 by Victorian state botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae from specimens collected by John Dallachy in the Seaview Range near Rockingham Bay.[4][5] Its species name acidula is Latin for "slightly acid".[6]

Distribution and habitat

Lemon aspen grows in rainforest at altitudes of up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) from the Atherton Tableland to the Eungella Range in Queensland.[2]

Ecology

The fruit are eaten by the topknot pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus).[7]

Uses

Lemon aspen fruit has a grapefruit and lime-like flavor, and is popular in beverages, sauces and confectionery. The fruit has high antioxidant activity.[8]

Cultivation

The tree is grown in small-scale commercial bushfood orchards on the east coast of Australia from North Queensland to northern New South Wales. The tree is quick-growing and requires regular pruning to maintain a practical harvesting height. It has a moderate crop yield, and bears in four years from seedlings. It prefers well-drained and fertile clay loam soils, with a sunny aspect and extra moisture when young.[6]

Cultural references

Lemon aspen featured on an Australian postage stamp in 2019.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b "Acronychia acidula". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Hartley, Thomas G. (2013). Wilson, Annette J.G. (ed.). Flora of Australia (Volume 26). Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Study. p. 115. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  3. ^ F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Acronychia acidula". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Acronychia acidula". APNI. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  5. ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1864). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. pp. 154–155. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  6. ^
    ISBN 0-85091-143-5
    .
  7. ISBN 0643050078
    .
  8. ^ "Lemon aspen Acronychia acidula". TuckerBush. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Australian Plants on Stamps - Lemon aspen". Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
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