Cupaniopsis anacardioides

Tuckeroo, Beach Tamarind

Sapindaceae

Form and Size: A small to medium, spreading tree, 5-8m high, with a dense crown and a short trunk.

Distribution: Coastal scrubs and dunes between Townsville. Qld. and Port Hacking, N.S.W., Top End of N.T. and WA.

Leaves: Pinnate, 10-20cm long; 2-6 pairs of leaflets, leathery, egg-shaped to oblong, rounded tip,
dark green, dull, 7-10cm x 3-5cm.

Bark: Dark grey, tight, rough.

Flowers: Greenish-white, perfumed, 0.4-0.6cm diameter; borne in panicles toward the ends of branches.

Flowering Period: March to July.

Fruit: Capsule, orange to yellow, leathery, 3-6 lobed, 1-2cm diameter; seeds black with reddish aril.

Cultivation/Notes: Propagate from fresh seed. A hardy, slow growing tree, with a compact head, making a good small shade tree. Needs good drainage and would be helped by regular watering and fertilizing.