Castanospermum
Australian chestnut ( Castanospermum australe )
The Australian chestnut ( Castanospermum australe ) is a species in the subfamily of the Fabaceae ( Faboideae ) within the legume family ( Fabaceae ). It is native to Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. This type is used in tropical countries as an ornamental plant in parks, they can also be used as a houseplant.
- 5.1 Notes and references
Description
Vegetative characteristics
Castanospermum australe grows as a tall, broad- spreading tree, reached the stature heights of 35 meters and a maximum trunk diameter of 1.5 meters. The aboveground plant parts are mostly hairless.
The change-constant leaves are pinnate 30 to 60 cm long and unpaired. The 9-17 leaflets are at a length of 7 to 20 cm and width 3-5 cm more or less oblong- elliptic with smooth boundary. The petiole is 3-6 cm long and the stems of the leaflets are 2-5 mm long. The upper leaf surface is glossy and the lower leaf surface is bright and dull. The stipules are small.
Generative features
The formed on old wood, racemose inflorescence is usually 5 to 15 cm long. The bracts are small. The flower stem is 2 to 3.5 cm long. The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic and fünfzählig. The five about 10 mm long sepals are fused Roehrig and end in broad calyx teeth. The five orange to red petals form a 3 to 4 cm long butterfly flower-shaped crown. The largest petal is the banner, she is nailed and bent back. The ten free stamens protrude beyond the petals. The stylus is bent.
The flowering time is in the Australian spring from October to November. The nectar production attracts birds, bats and butterflies.
The hard legume has a length of 10 to 25 cm and a diameter of 4-6 cm, brown when ripe, but lying on the floor black (hence the English common name "black bean" ) and contains rare one, usually three to five seeds are separated by a spongy substance. The large seeds are brown, kidney-shaped, 3 to 4.5 cm wide and weigh about 30 grams.
Leaves and seeds are toxic to pets.
Occurrence
Castanospermum australe thrives in the coastal rain forests and beaches in Australia from around Lismore in New South Wales to Iron Range, Cape York Peninsula of Queensland coast and 160 km to the west to the Bunya Mountains. It grows best in moist, fertile, well-drained soils on the terraces of the mountains or along the banks of rivers. It is also found in New Caledonia and Vanuatu.
Use
It is a good shade tree in parks and gardens. It can also be used as protection against erosion for river bank through its strong root system. It is also a robust houseplant.
The seeds can be eaten cooked due to their high saponins. The medical effects have been investigated. The hard wood is used in many ways.
System
Castanospermum australe in 1830 by Allan Cunningham & Charles Fraser in William Jackson Hooker: firstdescribed Botanical Miscellany, 1, p 241, Table 51 and 52 valid. The name Castanospermum australe was already by Allan Cunningham in Robert Mudie: S. 149 previously published ... Publisher Whittaker, Treacher, and Co., in September 1829 something invalid: The picture of Australia.