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Acronychia laevis
Acronychia laevis, commonly known as hard aspen, glossy acronychia or northern white lilly pilly, is a species of shrub or small tree in the citrus family Rutaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. It has simple, elliptical to egg-shaped leaves, groups of creamy white flowers and fleshy, mitre-shaped to spherical fruit. (Wikipedia) Can grow as a large shrub or small tree up to 10 metres tall. Fruit is a mauve/purplish drupe, usually four lobed, and ripens around April - May. Leaves are aromatic when crushed and the fruit is edible, although some would say it has a pungent turpentine flavour, suggesting other species of Acronychia are more palatable.
I spotted this plant in an area of subtropical rainforest, along the creek course at J.C. Slaughter Falls, Mt. Coot-tha, Brisbane.
Despite this spotting having the common name northern white "lilly pilly", it is not related to plants of the Myrtaceae family or Syzygium genus, which also bear the name "lilly pilly / lillie pillie".
Spotted on Apr 27, 2021
Submitted on Apr 30, 2021
2 Comments
Not the same as out much-love lillie pillie with its nice fruit. The fruit of this spotting is edible, but not overly palatable.
I enjoy eating the fruit of the Lilly Pilly - is this fruit also edible?