Macadamia integrifolia

Macadamia integrifolia

Macadamia integrifolia is a species of the family of the silver tree family ( Proteaceae ). They are small to medium-sized trees that come from the south-east of Australia. She is known by its edible fruit, macadamia nuts.

Description

Macadamia integrifolia grows as a tree and reaches a height of 6 to 18 m. The leaves are in threes in whorls on the branches. The leathery, hairless leaf is oval to inversely - ovate, leaf margin is slightly wavy and sometimes serrated prickly. The blade tip is variable: rounded, pointed or slightly retracted. Upper hand, the leaf blade is shiny green, the underside is lighter with much of protruding midrib. The leaves are from 6.5 to 14 cm long with a width of 2 to 6.5 cm. The petiole attaches again 0.6 to 1.8 cm.

The inflorescence is an 8.5 and 25 cm long cluster of double flowers: two flowers standing in the armpit of a supporting sheet. The cream-colored or pink petals are 0.5 to 1 cm long. Inflorescence axis, petals and the ovary are hairy. The fruit is round with a diameter of 2 to 4.5 cm, surrounding it with a leathery, 2 to 6 mm thick shell ( pericarp ) the individual seeds. The woody seed coat ( testa) is 6 to 10 mm thick.

Dissemination

Macadamia integrifolia is native to a small area in the north of New South Wales and southeast Queensland. It grows in rainforests.

Use

The seeds of Macadamia integrifolia Macadamia nuts are edible and as commercially. Macadamia integrifolia and hybrids with Macadamia tetraphylla are therefore also cultivated outside their natural range.