Booncherry / Little Gooseberry Tree
Origin of name
Family: ANACARDIACEAE
- Buchanania in honour of Francis Buchanan-Hamilton
- arboriscens meaning “tree-like“
Occurrence
A local plant of coastal vine thickets, rain-forest and gallery forest on stream banks.
Prefers ample water, well-drained soil and full sun/part-shade, but tolerates less water & poorer soils. Good specimen/shade tree for larger areas. Cyclone-strong.
Appearance
Bushy tree (8-12m) with dark, glossy foliage and showy, bronze-red new growth. Loose, terminal clusters of cream-white flowers (Sep-Nov) lead to red/purple/black berries (~10 x 8mm) with a single, hard seed.
Indigenous use: Medicinal. In good seasons, large crops of fruit attract many birds (e.g. Pied Imperial Pigeons) & other animals. Perfumed flowers attract butterflies. Provides a useful, general-purpose timber.
Image coming soon