Mango Bark / Brown Cudgeree
Origin of name
Family: BURSERACEAE
- Canarium derived from Malay/Indonesian for related trees
- australianum meaning “from Australia“
Occurrence
A local tree. Usually in open forest, but also occurs in monsoon forest, rainforest margins and beach scrubs.
Prefers open, sunny position in well-drained, light to medium soil. Intolerant of drought. Cyclone-tough.
Appearance
Tree (10-15m) with separate male & female plants, and coarse leaves, deciduous in the dry. Flowers are small & creamy-white, (Apr-Aug). Fruit ripen to resemble a blue-black grape containing a single, hard seed.
Indigenous uses: roasted seeds & ripe fruit eaten; root resin used to attach spear heads; medicinal use to treat sores and stop excessive bleeding. Wood is used for pick and axe handles, furniture making and joinery. Birds (e.g. Torres Strait pigeons) eat the fruit. Excellent shade tree for larger areas.
