Image: Foliage & flowers
Small tree to 14 metres with attractive foliage and edible white fruit (tastes like lemon rind) found from northern Victoria to Southern Queensland (temperate coastal regions and sub-tropical shorelines with natural rainfall greater than 600mm. Subtropical and dry rainforest -found along most scrubby watercourses.
Branchlets reddish, leaf scars distinct
Leaves have numerous obvious oil glands that emit a pleasant citrus smell when crushed. Rounded or notched at apex.
Bushfood advice says "put a few berries in your water bottle to get a nice tang".
Fruit is a drupe 4 lobed like a star fruit and almost cubical with a white, cream or pale yellow exterior and smells like a lemon. Ripe July to October.
Fruit approximately 20-25 mm in diameter with small dark seeds encased in husks as in apples.
Image: Flower closeup
Pronounced ac-ro-NICK-ee-a from the Greek acros (terminal) and onyx (a claw) because of the way the curved flower petals look like claws. Oblongifolia from Latin oblonga oblong and folium a leaf, referring to the rectangular- shaped leaves.
Propagation from washed seed possible but difficult. Germination starts after about four months.
Birds relish the fruit. Host plant for Papilio aegeus (Orchard or Citrus Swallowtail Butterfly)
- Butterflies and Moths - Australia is home to over 400 species of butterflies from five families: APILIONIDAE Swallowtails and Birdwings, NYMPHALIDAE Nymphs, Danaiids, Satyrs, Fritillaries, and Browns, PIERIDAE Whites and Yellows, LYCAENIDAE Blues and Coppers, HESPERIIDAE Darters and Skippers.