''Davidsonia'' is a genus containing three

rainforest Rainforests are forests characterized by a closed and continuous tree Canopy (biology), canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforests can be generally classified as tropi ...

tree species native to Australia, commonly known as the Davidson plum or Davidson's plum. The fruits superficially resemble the European plum, but are not closely related. All species have an edible sour fruit with burgundy-coloured flesh and are highly regarded as gourmet

bushfood Bush tucker, also called bush food, is any food native to Australia and historically eaten by Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but it can also describe any native flora, fauna, or fungi used for culinary or medicinal ...

. The genus ''Davidsonia'' is named after John Ewen Davidson who claimed the land from which the tree was first botanically described. *'' Davidsonia jerseyana'', Davidson's plum or Mullumbimby plum, is a slender small tree, generally 5 metres high, native to lowland subtropical rainforests of New South Wales. It is considered an endangered species in the wild, but is widely cultivated for its pleasantly sour fruit that is used in jam, wine, ice-cream and sauces. *'' Davidsonia johnsonii'', smooth Davidson's plum, is a small tree with a spreading canopy and smooth leaves, native to New South Wales and southeast Queensland. It is also considered an endangered species in the wild but is not widely cultivated because of its infertile seeds. It is propagated vegetatively from cuttings or root division. *'' Davidsonia pruriens'', Ooray or Queensland Davidson's plum, is a taller tree than the other two species, reaching up to 12 metres high. It is also slender and has larger fruit which are produced in large clusters from the trunk or branches. Small-scale plantations in New South Wales and Queensland supply the demand, mainly from ''Davidsonia jerseyana'' and ''Davidsonia pruriens''.

Gallery

Image:Davidsonia_jerseyana_flower1.JPG, ''Davidsonia jerseyana'', Davidson's Plum, flower & trunk. Image:Davidsonia_jerseyana_flower2.JPG, ''Davidsonia jerseyana'' flower & trunk, Nimbin, New South Wales, Australia. Image:Davidsonia_jerseyaqna_fruit1.jpg, ''Davidsonia jerseyana'', Davidson's plum, Nimbin, New South Wales, Australia. Image:Davidsonia_johnsonii1.JPG, ''Davidsonia johnsonii'' leaf, smooth Davidson's plum. Cultivated tree Northern NSW, Australia. Image:Davidsonia pruriens flowers.jpg, ''Davidsonia pruriens'' flowers Image:Davidsonia pruriens flowers and foliage.jpg, ''Davidsonia pruriens'' flowers and foliage Image:Davidsonia pruriens.jpg, Davidson's plum seedling, ''Davidsonia pruriens'' - showing its characteristic toothed leaves.

References

* Bruneteau, Jean-Paul, ''Tukka, Real Australian Food'', . * Cherikoff, Vic, ''The Bushfood Handbook'', . * Kersh, Jennice and Raymond, ''Edna's Table'', . * Low, Tim, ''Wild Food Plants of Australia'',

External links

* CSIRO plant profil

*
Ooray name origin
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2039236 Bushfood Oxalidales of Australia Cunoniaceae Australian cuisine Oxalidales genera