Acronychia acidula
| Acronychia acidula | |
|---|---|
| |
| Acronychia acidula, leaf and fruit, cultivated | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | A. acidula
|
| Binomial name | |
| Acronychia acidula | |
Acronychia acidula, lemon aspen, is a small- to medium-sized rainforest tree of the family Rutaceae native to north Queensland, Australia. The aromatic and acidic fruit is harvested as a bushfood.
Taxonomy
Victorian state botanist Ferdinand von Mueller described the lemon aspen in 1864.[1] Its species name acidula is Latin "slightly acid".[2]
Common names include lemon aspen, hard aspen and lemonwood.[1] The true aspens of the Northern Hemisphere belong to the genus Populus in the willow family Salicaceae.[3] The genus Acronychia is a member of the rue family Rutaceae, the same family as the genus Citrus which contains true lemons.
Ecology
The fruit are eaten by the topknot pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus).[4]
Uses
Lemon aspen fruit has a grapefruit and lime-like flavor, and is popular in beverages, sauces and confectionery. The fruit has high antioxidant activity.[5]
Cultivation
The tree is grown in small-scale commercial bushfood orchards on the east coast of Australia from North Queensland to northern New South Wales. The tree is quick-growing and requires regular pruning to maintain a practical harvesting height. It has a moderate crop yield, and bears in four years from seedlings. It prefers well-drained and fertile clay loam soils, with a sunny aspect and extra moisture when young.[2]
References
- ^ a b Hyland, B. P. M.; Whiffin, T.; Zich, F. A.; et al. (December 2010). "Factsheet – Acronychia acidula". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants (6.1, online version RFK 6.1 ed.). Cairns, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), through its Division of Plant Industry; the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research; the Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
- ^ a b Elliot, Rodger W.; Jones, David L.; Blake, Trevor (1982). "A-Ca". Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol. 2. Port Melbourne, Victoria: Lothian Publishing. p. 141. ISBN 0-85091-143-5.
- ^ "technology transfer fact sheet: Populus spp" (PDF). Forest Products Laboratory: R&D USDA. Madison, Wisconsin: United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
- ^ Barker, RD; Vestjens, WJM (1984). The Food of Australian Birds: (I) Non-passerines. Melbourne University Press. p. 301. ISBN 0-643-05007-8.
- ^ Zhao, J., Agboola, S., Functional Properties of Australian Bushfoods - A Report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, 2007, RIRDC Publication No 07/030 [1]
- Bruneteau, Jean-Paul, Tukka, Real Australian Food, ISBN 0-207-18966-8.
- Kersh, Jennice and Raymond, Edna's Table, ISBN 0-7336-0539-7.
- Low, Tim, Wild Food Plants of Australia, ISBN 0-207-16930-6
External links
- Photographs of flowers and fruits of Acronychia acidula
- "Acronychia acidula F.Muell". Atlas of Living Australia.