Coogera / Gap Axe / Rose Tamarind
Origin of name
Family: SAPINDACEAE
- Arytera meaning “cup or ladle“
- divaricata meaning “spreading widely“
Occurrence
A local plant of drier, more seasonal rainforest and gallery forest along stream banks.
Hardy in full sun & moist soil. Tolerates salt winds, shade & dryness between waterings. As understorey, grows to only 3-4m. Slow-growing, suited to home gardens.
Appearance
Tree 5-8m (in gardens, taller in habitat) with rounded canopy. New leaves pink and limp-hanging. Loose heads of small, cream flowers (Oct-Apr) lead to 3-lobed, yellow fruit with black seeds enclosed in bright red pulp.
Spectacular with bright pink, new growth. Food plant of Six Line Blue butterfly. Flowers attract insects & birds eat seeds. Good shade tree. Hard timber, hence ‘gap axe’.
