Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - Online edition

Davidsonia pruriens F.Muell.


Shrub (woody or herbaceous, 1-6 m tall)
Tree
Click/tap on images to enlarge
Flower and buds. © Barry Jago
Fruit, side view, cross section and pyrene. © W. T. Cooper
Scale bar 10mm. © CSIRO
Cotyledon stage, hypogeal germination. © CSIRO
10th leaf stage. © CSIRO
Family

Mueller, F.J.H. von (1868) Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 6: 4. Type: Rockingham Bay, Dallachy.

Common name

Do-rog; Davidson's Plum; Davidsonia Plum; Davidsonian Plum; Ooray; Plum, Davidsonia; Plum, Davidsonian; Plum, Davidson's

Stem

Seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh.

Leaves

Rhachis of the compound leaf winged and toothed. Leaflet blades about 6-28 x 3-10 cm, +/- sessile, margins irregular with both large and small teeth intermingled. Stipules persistent, large and conspicuous, cordate to orbicular, margins toothed.

Flowers

Flowers about 3-5 mm diam. Stamens alternating with an equal number of glandular nectaries. Ovary densely clothed in erect hairs. Ovules about 5-7 in each locule.

Fruit

Fruits about 3-5 x 4-6 cm, containing one or two flat pyrenes with fimbriate or lacinate margins. The pyrenes are often assumed to be seeds, but careful dissection of a pyrene will usually reveal a solitary seed.

Seedlings

At the tenth leaf stage: all parts of the seedling clothed in long pale hairs; numerous small leaflet-like appendages occur on the petiole and the rhachis of the compound leaf between leaflets; stipules foliaceous, deeply serrate, hairy. Seed germination time 30 to 60 days.

Distribution and Ecology

Endemic to NEQ, widespread but never abundant. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 800 m. Grows in various types of well developed rain forest.

Natural History & Notes

This species produces the Davidson Plum which is still sought after as the base material for jam or wine making. However, it should be noted that HCN has been reported from this species and the consumption of the fruit has resulted in vomiting and epigastric pain. Everist (1974).

Synonyms
Davidsonia pungens Hort, The Gardener's Chronicle : 603(1867), Type: a North Australian plant.
RFK Code
184
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