Prunus turneriana (F.M.Bailey) Kalkman

Rosaceae

Kalkman, C. (1966) Blumea 13: 81.

Almondbark; Wild Almond; Almond; Joonda

An almond odour may be detected in the blaze. Blaze darkens markedly on exposure.

Leaf blades about 10-19 x 4-12 cm. Inconspicuous flat glands present on the underside of the leaf blade on either side of the midrib near the base. Freshly broken twigs may produce an almond (Prunus dulcis) odour. Young shoots densely clothed in brown hairs.

Racemes about 2.5-6 cm long, pedicels to about 1.5 mm long. Hypanthium about 2-3 mm long, pubescent outside. Perianth segments about 10-12, stamens about 20-30. Ovary densely hairy. Style up to about 5 mm long, quite hairy.

Fruits laterally compressed, subglobular to transversely ellipsoid, grooved on one side, about 17-30 x 18-32 x 10-26 mm. Mesocarp about 3 mm thick. Testa hairy. Freshly cut seeds smell like almonds.

At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade ovate, apex acuminate, hairy on the upper surface; petiole, stem and terminal bud densely clothed in brown erect hairs; stipules linear-oblong, densely hairy. Seed germination time 39 to 373 days.

Occurs in NEQ, widespread throughout the area. Altitudinal range from sea level to 1200 m. Grows in well developed rain forest on a variety of sites. This species in favoured by disturbance. Also occurs in New Guinea.

This species should be treated with caution as it is frequently recorded as having an almond odour ( HCN ) in various parts. The fruits should not be eaten.

Fruits eaten by Cassowaries, Fruit Pigeons, Herbert River Ringtail Possums and Musky Rat-kangaroos. Cooper & Cooper (1994).

Produces a useful general purpose timber.

Wood specific gravity 0.53. Cause et al. (1989).

Pygeum turnerianum F.M.Bailey, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Stock. Botany Bulletin 8: 75(1893), Type: Male flowers, and later ripe fruit, Barron River, E. Cowley. Stones of fruit, Christie Palmerston and A. Meston. May 1st, 1893.