Jump to content

Macadamia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Egmonster (talk | contribs) at 18:40, 2 September 2018 (→Nelmac II: Clarifying jargon phrase, "crack-out percentage"). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Macadamia
Macadamia nuts
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Subfamily: Grevilleoideae
Tribe: Macadamieae
Subtribe: Macadamiinae
Genus: Macadamia
F.Muell.
Species

Macadamia is a genus of four species of trees indigenous to Australia, and constituting part of the plant family Proteaceae.[1][2] They are native to north eastern New South Wales and central and south eastern Queensland. Three species of the genus are commercially important for their fruit, the macadamia nut /ˌmækəˈdeɪmiə/ (or simply macadamia), with a total global production of 160,000 tonnes (180,000 short tons) in 2015.[3] Other names include Queensland nut, bush nut, maroochi nut, bauple nut, and Hawaii nut.[4] In Australian Aboriginal languages, the fruit is known by names such as bauple, gyndl, jindilli,[4] and boombera.

Fresh macadamia nut with husk or pericarp cut in half
Macadamia nut in its shell and a roasted nut
Macadamia nut with sawn nutshell, and special key used to pry open the nut

Etymology

The German-Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller gave the genus the name Macadamia in 1857 in honour of the Scottish-Australian chemist, medical teacher, and politician John Macadam.[5]

Description

Macadamia is an evergreen genus that grows 2–12 m (7–40 ft) tall.

The leaves are arranged in whorls of three to six, lanceolate to obovate or elliptic in shape, 6–30 cm (2–10 in) long and 3–13 cm (1–5 in) broad, with an entire or spiny-serrated margin. The flowers are produced in a long, slender, simple raceme 5–30 cm (2–10 in) long, the individual flowers 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long, white to pink or purple, with four tepals. The fruit is a hard, woody, globose follicle with a pointed apex, containing one or two seeds.

History

1828
Allan Cunningham was the first European to discover the macadamia plant.[6]
1857
German-Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller gave the genus the scientific name Macadamia – named after von Mueller’s friend Dr. John Macadam, a noted scientist and secretary of the Philosophical Institute of Australia.[7]
1858
Walter Hill, superintendent of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens (Australia), observed a boy eating the kernel without ill effect, becoming the first nonindigenous person recorded to eat macadamia nuts.[8]
1860s
King Jacky, aboriginal elder of the Logan River clan, south of Brisbane, Queensland, was the first known macadamia entrepreneur, as his tribe and he regularly collected and traded the macadamias with settlers.[9]
1866
Tom Petrie planted macadamias at Yebri Creek (near Petrie) from nuts obtained from Aboriginals at Buderim;[10]
1882
William H. Purvis introduced macadamia nuts to Hawaii as a windbreak for sugar cane.[11]
1888
The first commercial orchard of macadamias was planted at Rous Mill, 12 km from Lismore, New South Wales, by Charles Staff.[12]
1889
Joseph Maiden, Australian botanist, wrote, "It is well worth extensive cultivation, for the nuts are always eagerly bought."[13]
1910
The Hawaiian Agricultural Experiment Station encouraged planting of macadamias on Hawaii's Kona District, as a crop to supplement coffee production in the region.[14]
1916
Tom Petrie begins trial macadamia plantations in Maryborough, Queensland, combining macadamias with pecans to shelter the trees.[15]
1922
Ernest Van Tassel formed the Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Co in Hawaii.[16]
1925
Tassel leased 75 acres (30 ha) on Round Top in Honolulu and began Nutridge, Hawaii's first macadamia seed farm.[17]
1931
Tassel established a macadamia-processing factory on Puhukaina Street in Kakaako, Hawaii, selling the nuts as Van's Macadamia Nuts.
1937
Winston Jones and J. H. Beaumont of the University of Hawaii's Agricultural Experiment Station reported the first successful grafting of macadamias, paving the way for mass production.[18]
1940s
Steve Angus, Murwillumbah, Australia, formed Macadamia Nuts Pty Ltd, doing small-scale nut processing.[19]
1946
A large plantation was established in Hawaii.[20][21]
1953
Castle & Cooke added a new brand of macadamia nuts called "Royal Hawaiian", which was credited with popularizing the nuts in the U.S.
1997
Australia surpassed the United States as the major producer of macadamias.[14]
2012–15
South Africa surpassed Australia as the largest producer of macadamias.[22][3]
2014
Macadamia nuts were responsible for the delay of Korean Air Flight 86 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. This "nut rage incident" gave the nuts high visibility in the South Korean economy and marked a sharp increase in consumption there.[23][24]

Species

Nuts from M. jansenii contain toxic amounts of cyanogenic glycosides,[25] The other three species are cultivated in the commercial production of macadamia nuts for human consumption.

Previously, more species with disjunct distributions were named as members of this genus Macadamia.[2] Genetics and morphological studies published in 2008 show they have separated from the genus Macadamia, correlating less closely than thought from earlier morphological studies.[2] The species previously named in the genus Macadamia may still be referred to overall by the descriptive, non-scientific name of macadamia.

Formerly included in the genus
Lasjia P.H.Weston & A.R.Mast, formerly Macadamia until 2008
  • Lasjia claudiensis (C.L.Gross & B.Hyland) P.H.Weston & A.R.Mast; synonym, base name: Macadamia claudiensis C.L.Gross & B.Hyland
  • Lasjia erecta (J.A.McDonald & R.Ismail) P.H.Weston & A.R.Mast; synonym, base name: Macadamia erecta J.A.McDonald & R.Ismail
  • Lasjia grandis (C.L.Gross & B.Hyland) P.H.Weston & A.R.Mast; synonym, base name: Macadamia grandis C.L.Gross & B.Hyland
  • Lasjia hildebrandii (Steenis) P.H.Weston & A.R.Mast; synonym, base name: Macadamia hildebrandii Steenis
  • Lasjia whelanii (F.M.Bailey) P.H.Weston & A.R.Mast; synonyms: base name: Helicia whelanii F.M.Bailey, Macadamia whelanii (F.M.Bailey) F.M.Bailey
Catalepidia P.H.Weston, formerly Macadamia until 1995
  • Catalepidia heyana (F.M.Bailey) P.H.Weston; synonyms: base name: Helicia heyana F.M.Bailey , Macadamia heyana (F.M.Bailey) Sleumer
Virotia L.A.S.Johnson & B.G.Briggs, formerly Macadamia until the first species renaming began in 1975 and comprehensive in 2008

Cultivation

Macadamia integrifolia flowers

Three of the four species—Macadamia integrifolia, Macadamia ternifolia, and Macadamia tetraphylla—are of commercial importance. The other species, M. jansenii, produces poisonous nuts resulting from toxic amounts of cyanogenic glycosides.[25]

The macadamia tree is usually propagated by grafting, and does not begin to produce commercial quantities of seeds until it is 7–10 years old, but once established, may continue bearing for over 100 years. Macadamias prefer fertile, well-drained soils, a rainfall of 1,000–2,000 mm (40–80 in), and temperatures not falling below 10 °C (50 °F) (although once established, they can withstand light frosts), with an optimum temperature of 25 °C (80 °F). The roots are shallow and trees can be blown down in storms; they are also susceptible to Phytophthora root disease.

Macadamia 'Beaumont' in new growth

Cultivars

Beaumont

A Macadamia integrifolia / M. tetraphylla hybrid commercial variety is widely planted in Australia and New Zealand; it was discovered by Dr. J. H. Beaumont. It is high in oil, but is not sweet. New leaves are reddish, and flowers are bright pink, borne on long racemes. It is one of the quickest varieties to come into bearing once planted in the garden, usually carrying a useful crop by the fourth year, and improving from then on. It crops prodigiously when well pollinated. The impressive, grape-like clusters are sometimes so heavy, they break the branchlets to which they are attached. In commercial orchards, it has reached 18 kg (40 lb) per tree by eight years old. On the downside, the macadamias do not drop from the tree when ripe, and the leaves are a bit prickly when one reaches into the interior of the tree during harvest. Its shell is easier to open than that of most commercial varieties.

Macadamia 'Maroochy' new growth

Maroochy

A pure M. tetraphylla variety from Australia, this strain is cultivated for its productive crop yield, flavor, and suitability for pollinating 'Beaumont'.

Nelmac II

A South African M. integrifolia / M. tetraphylla hybrid cultivar, it has a sweet seed, which means it has to be cooked carefully so that the sugars do not caramelise. The sweet seed is usually not fully processed, as it generally does not taste as good, but many people enjoy eating it uncooked. It has an open micropyle (hole in the shell) which may let in mould. The crack-out percentage (ratio of nut meat to whole nut, by weight) is high. Ten-year-old trees average 22 kg (50 lb) per tree. It is a popular variety because of its pollination of 'Beaumont', and the yields are almost comparable.

Renown

A M. integrifolia / M. tetraphylla hybrid, this is a rather spreading tree. On the plus side, it is high yielding commercially, 17 kg (37 lb) from a 9-year-old tree has been recorded, and the nuts drop to the ground. However, they are thick-shelled, with not much flavor.

Macadamia nuts, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy3,080 kJ (740 kcal)
13.8 g
Sugars4.57 g
Dietary fiber8.6 g
75.8 g
Saturated12 g
Monounsaturated59 g
Polyunsaturated1.5 g
7.9 g
Vitamins and minerals
VitaminsQuantity
%DV†
Thiamine (B1)
100%
1.195 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
12%
0.162 mg
Niacin (B3)
15%
2.473 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
15%
0.76 mg
Vitamin B6
16%
0.275 mg
Folate (B9)
3%
11 μg
Vitamin C
1%
1.2 mg
Vitamin E
4%
0.54 mg
MineralsQuantity
%DV†
Calcium
7%
85 mg
Iron
21%
3.69 mg
Magnesium
31%
130 mg
Manganese
178%
4.1 mg
Phosphorus
15%
188 mg
Potassium
12%
368 mg
Zinc
12%
1.30 mg
Full Link to USDA Database entry
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[26] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[27]

Production

In 2015, South Africa was the world's leading producer of macadamia nuts with 48,000 tonnes (53,000 short tons) compared to Australia's 40,000 tonnes and the total global production of 160,000 tonnes (180,000 short tons).[3] Macadamia is also commercially produced in Brazil, California, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Israel, Kenya, Bolivia, New Zealand, Colombia, Guatemala and Malawi.

The first commercial orchard of macadamia trees was planted in the early 1880s by Rous Mill, 12 km (7.5 mi) southeast of Lismore, New South Wales, consisting of M. tetraphylla.[28] Besides the development of a small boutique industry in Australia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, macadamia was extensively planted as a commercial crop in Hawaii from the 1920s. Macadamia seeds were first imported into Hawaii in 1882 by William H. Purvis, who planted seeds that year at Kapulena.[29] The Hawaiian-produced macadamia established the well-known seed internationally. However, in 2006, macadamia production began to fall in Hawaii, due to lower prices from an over-supply.[30]

Food and nutrition

The seeds (nuts) are a valuable food crop.

In a 100-gram amount, macadamia nuts provide 740 Calories and are a rich source (20% or more of the Daily Value, DV) of numerous essential nutrients, including thiamin (104% DV), vitamin B6 (21% DV), manganese (195% DV), iron (28% DV), magnesium (37% DV), and phosphorus (27% DV) (table). Macadamia nuts are 76% fat, 14% carbohydrates, including 9% dietary fiber, and 8% protein (table).

Compared with other common edible nuts, such as almonds and cashews, macadamias are high in total fat and relatively low in protein (table). They have a high amount of monounsaturated fats (59% of total content, table) and contain, as 17% of total fat, the monounsaturated fat, omega-7 palmitoleic acid.[31]

Toxicity in dogs

Macadamias are toxic to dogs. Ingestion may result in macadamia toxicity marked by weakness and hind limb paralysis with the inability to stand, occurring within 12 hours of ingestion.[32] Depending on the quantity ingested and size of the dog, symptoms may also include muscle tremors, joint pain, and severe abdominal pain. In high doses of toxin, opiate medication may be required for symptom relief until the toxic effects diminish, with full recovery usually within 24 to 48 hours.[32]

Other uses

The trees are also grown as ornamental plants in subtropical regions for their glossy foliage and attractive flowers. Macadamia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including Batrachedra arenosella.

Macadamia seeds are often fed to hyacinth macaws in captivity. These large parrots are one of the few animals, aside from humans, capable of cracking the shell and removing the seed.[33]

References

  1. ^ "Macadamia%". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS) database (listing by % wildcard matching of all taxa relevant to Australia). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Mast, Austin R.; Willis, Crystal L.; Jones, Eric H.; Downs, Katherine M.; Weston, Peter H. (July 2008). "A smaller Macadamia from a more vagile tribe: inference of phylogenetic relationships, divergence times, and diaspore evolution in Macadamia and relatives (tribe Macadamieae; Proteaceae)". American Journal of Botany. 95 (7): 843–870. doi:10.3732/ajb.0700006. ISSN 1537-2197. PMID 21632410. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "South Africa becomes king of macadamia nuts again". FreshPlaza. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b The Bopple Nut
  5. ^ Mueller, F.J.H. von (1857) Account of some New Australian Plants.Transactions of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria 2: 72 Type: Macadamia ternifolia F.Muell.[1]
  6. ^ Wilson, Bee (5 October 2010). "The Kitchen Thinker: Macadamias". The Telegraph. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  7. ^ Shigeura, Gordon T.; Ooka, Hiroshi (1984). Macadamia nuts in Hawaii: history and production (PDF). Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii. p. 8.
  8. ^ McKinnon, Ross. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  9. ^ McConachie, Ian (1980). "The Macadamia Story" (PDF). California Macadamia Society Yearbook. 26: 41–47. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  10. ^ (Nut Growing Experiments’ The Queenslander Thursday 8 October 1931 p.13)
  11. ^ Hamilton, Richard; Ito, Philip; Chia, C.L. Macadamia: Hawaii's Dessert Nut (PDF). University of Hawaii. p. 3. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  12. ^ Rosengarten, Frederic Jr. (2004). The Book of Edible Nuts. Courier Corporation. p. 122. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  13. ^ Maiden, J. H., The Useful Native Plants of Australia, 1889, p40
  14. ^ a b Rieger, M., Introduction to Fruit Crops, 2006, p. 260. ISBN 978-1-56022-259-0
  15. ^ "Nut Growing Experiments". The Queenslander. 8 October 1931. p. 13.
  16. ^ Shigeura, Gordon; Ooka, Hiroshi (April 1984). Macadamia Nuts in Hawaii: History and Production (PDF). University of Hawaii. p. 13. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  17. ^ Gordon T. Shigeura and Hiroshi Ooka. Macadamia Nuts in Hawaii: History and Production.
  18. ^ Jones, Winston; Beaumont, J.H. (1 October 1937). "Carbohydrate accumulation in relation to vegetative propagation of the litchi". Science. 86 (2231): 313. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  19. ^ "Macadamia History - Macadamia Castle". Macadamia Castle. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  20. ^ Sandra Wagner-Wright (1995). History of the macadamia nut industry in Hawai'i, 1881–1981. E. Mellen Press. ISBN 978-0-7734-9097-0.
  21. ^ Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Packaging
  22. ^ "Cracking good run for macadamia industry". Farmer's Weekly. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  23. ^ Taylor, Adam. "Why 'nut rage' is such a big deal in South Korea". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  24. ^ Ahn, Young-oon. "Sales of macadamias soar in Korea after nut rage". CNBC. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  25. ^ a b Carrillo, Wilman; Lara, David; Vilcacundo, Edgar; Carrillo, Cristian; Silva, Monica; Alvarez, Mario; Carpio, Cecilia (1 February 2017). "OBTENTION OF PROTEIN CONCENTRATE AND POLYPHENOLS FROM MACADAMIA (MACADAMIA INTEGRIFOLIA) WITH AQUEOUS EXTRACTION METHOD". Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research. 10 (2): 138–142. doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2017.v10i2.14808. ISSN 2455-3891.
  26. ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". FDA. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  27. ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US). ISBN 978-0-309-48834-1. PMID 30844154. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  28. ^ Macadamia Power Pty (1982). Macadamia Power in a Nutshell. Macadamia Power Pty Limited. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-9592892-0-6.
  29. ^ Schmitt, Robert. "Macadamia Nuts". Hawaiian Historical Society. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ "Hawaii Macadamia Nuts: Final Season Estimates" (PDF). Hawaii Department of Agriculture. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  31. ^ "Macadamia nuts, raw, per 100 g". Conde Nast for the USDA National Nutrient Database, release SR 21. 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  32. ^ a b Christine Allen (October 2001). "Treacherous Treats – Macadamia Nuts" (PDF). Veterinary Technician. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  33. ^ Kashmir Csaky (November 2001). "The Hyacinth Macaw". Parrots Magazine. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Macadamia&oldid=857741992"