Black bean tree
Castanospermum australe, Fam. Fabaceae
A medium to large tree, 10-30m high with a dense canopy and grey to brown smooth bark.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Med tree, Large Tree |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Leaf: | Pinnate, 30-40cm long, eight to 17 leaflets, egg shaped, oblong or oval, dark green above, paler underneath, glossy, 7-12 x 2-5cm. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Yellow, Red |
| Flower description: | Pea shaped, red or red yellow, upper petal curled backwards, 3-4cm long, borne in racemes on old, leafless wood. September to November. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Brown, rounded, woody pods, 10-25 x 4-6cm. Each containing three to five large, rounded, chestnut like seed. |
| Habitat: | Coastal dune, rainforest. |
| Distribution | Queensland, New South Wales. |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | Seed regarded as poisonous, causing severe stomach cramps and diarrhoea. |
| Origin: | Australia. |
| Notes: | Slow growing when young but will respond to fertiliser. Deep, rich soils with good drainage give good results. A good shade tree, suitable as a street tree where adequate space is available. Flowers are very attractive to birds, possums and bats. |
| Information sources: | Townsend K. & the Society for Growing Australian Plant Townsville Branch Inc. (1994) Across the Top: Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. |
