Moreton Bay Chestnut
Castanospermum australe
Also known as Australian Chest Nut
- Habit
- Tree
- Found in India
- Karnataka, Assam, Kerala & more
- Flowering
- January-October
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Castanospermum australe
- Genus
- Castanospermum
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Habitat
- Grown as ornamental tree
- Habitat type
- Cultivated
- Native to
- Australia
- Found in India
- Karnataka, Assam, Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra
- Flowering & fruiting
- January-October
Leaf characters
- Leaf type
- Pinnately compoundrecordedLeaflets are arranged in rows along a central stalk, like a feather.“The leaves are 15 cm (5.9 in) long and 6–7 cm (2.4–2.8 in) broad, pinnate, with 11-15 leaflets.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf surface
- Glabrous (smooth, hairless)recorded
Typical of the family
- Arrangement
- Alternate
Characters marked “recorded” are for Moreton Bay Chestnut itself; the rest are typical of the Fabaceae family.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- Orangerecorded
- Flower arrangement
- RacemerecordedIndividual stalked flowers arranged along a central stem, opening from bottom to top.“The flowers are bicoloured red and yellow, 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) long, produced in racemes 6 cm (2.4 in) long.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fruit type
- LegumerecordedA dry pod that splits open along two seams (typical of the pea/bean family).“The fruit is a cylindrical pod 12–20 cm (4.7–7.9 in) long and 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in) diameter, the interior divided by a spongy substance into one to five cells, each of which contain” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Typical of the family
- Flower symmetry
- Zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical)
- Inflorescence
- Raceme
- Fruit
- Legume
Characters marked “recorded” are for Moreton Bay Chestnut itself; the rest are typical of the Fabaceae family — flowering plants only.
Local Names
- Marathi
- ब्लॅक बीनस्
About Moreton Bay Chestnut
Moreton bay chestnut (Castanospermum australe) belongs to the Fabaceae family, where it grows as a tree. In India it has been recorded in Karnataka, Assam, Kerala and 2 other states. It is grown as ornamental tree. Flowering and fruiting run from January to October.
Uses
Locally it is grown for parts that are eaten, cut for timber and furniture and valued as a shade and avenue tree. Parts of this plant are reported as poisonous — treat it as unsafe to eat and wash your hands after handling.
In culture
It turns up in ritual and festival use.
Fabaceae
Legume/Bean family
Moreton Bay Chestnut belongs to the Fabaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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