Morten Bay Chestnut, Morton Bay Chestnut, Moreton Bay Chestnut, Black Bean Tree

The generous seeds (three to a pod is typical) carry poison unless processed. Traditionally, tribal folk around Brisbane used to 'wash' a...Read Moreway the poisons before cooking and bashing pulp into a 'damper' mix, for bread or cookies. (See J. Hauser, Brisbane) to learn fascinating detail about this truly valuable and historic tree. "Castanospermine" would yield fruit too for further research. That knowledge derives from traditional wisdoms tried and tested over many centuries (or more) around Moreton Bay, and so those values might be attached to the ongoing connection to that knowledge and land of the relevant primary custodians, where it is native at least.

This is a relatively attractive tree with very nice orange blossoms that grow in small clusters off the middle of the larger stems (not n...Read Moreear where the leaves are). Unfortunately the blossoms are hard to see until you get underneath the tree. Makes great shade. Only for relatively warm areas of the US (can't handle a lot of frost). Seeds germinate easily, and seedlings like lots of water. As the name suggests, it's a native of Australia, though it can also be found on New Caledonia