Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Family
Ornamental - The tree is planted for its majestic size and unique foliage. Food - Seeds are a traditional food source for Indigenous Australians. The seeds inside the nuts can either be eaten whole or ground to make a flour or paste. Wood - Construction: Wood is used for some construction and furniture making, but not a primary use due to its slow growth.
Australia
It thrives in moist rainforests at altitude below 1600 m asl.
Its cones weigh more than 10kgs and are a traditional food of the Bunya people of Australia.
It is a large, evergreen conifer, 30-50 m tall.
Stem straight, thick trunk with rough, dark brown to black bark. Often branch-free for two-thirds of its height, developing a secondary crown later.
Leaves are spirally arranged, glossy green, and stiff. They are triangular in section on young plants, becoming lanceolate (shaped like a lance) and flat with age. Leaves range from 2-6 cm long and have sharp tips.
It is monoecious (both male and female cones on the same tree). Male cones are small and upright, while female cones are large, ovoid, and very heavy when mature. They reach maturity in about 18 months.
Fruit is a large, woody cone with numerous broad scales. When ripe, the cones fall from the tree and break open, releasing edible seeds. Cones can be up to 30 cm long and 23 cm wide.
Male cone: October-November Female cone: December Cone mature and seed develop: March