The most famous Elaeocarpus species in the region is the Blue Quandong (Elaeocarpus angustifolius).
The Blue Quandong is a culturally significant plant, because it is used as Bush food by indigenous Australians, and also the hard seeds are used as to make jewelry. For this purpose, the species and other related ones are also culturally and religiously significant in other parts of Asia.
But in some ways botanically, this species is quite a departure from most of the other native Elaeocarpus species.
The species is a fast-growing pioneer tree, but yet produces huge nutrient-rich fruits. Additionally, it can get quite large and persist into later stages of forest succession as an emergent tree. Well, it was afterall previously known as Elaeocarpus grandis.
Secondly, the leaves of the species are a departure from many of the Elaeocarpus species in the region. The leaf stalk does not have the double swellings where it meets the leaf lamina and the branch. Nevertheless, the species does bear the other characters of the genus such as the leaves withering red and being foveolate.
Bush tucker in a bowl. I’ve tried Blue Quandongs on many occassions and I am convinced it’s an acquired taste. I have not totally acquired it yet, but the sourness and mild sweetness may appeal to some.
Leaf Whispering in the Tropics 