Food Plants International

355
Names
English: Moreton Bay Chestnut Scientific name: Castanospermum australe
A Cunn & Fraser ex Hook
Tok pisin: Synonyms:
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae
Description: An evergreen tree up to 18-35 m tall. It
spreads to 5-12 m across. The stem is erect and stout.
The bark is grey to brown and smooth. The leaves are
glossy dark green. The leaves are 30-45 cm long.
Leaves have 11-15 leaflets. These are slightly curved.
The leaflets are 7-12 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The
leaves or cut bark have a cucumber like smell. Flowers
are in clusters 5-15 cm long on old wood. They are
yellow to orange. The flowers are pea shaped and grow
one after another along a stalk in dense clusters. The
fruit are broad, bean-like pods. The pods are up to 20
cm long and thick. They can be 4-6 cm wide and
woody. Inside the pods, the seeds are in a white pith.
There are 1-5 seeds in a pod. The seeds are large and
starchy with a shiny brown coat. They are 3-5 cm long.
Distribution: Introduced and grown along the coast in Papua New Guinea in some areas. It
suits rainforest and creek bank sites. It needs light, well drained soil in a protected sunny
position. It is drought and frost tender and is damaged by wind. Trees need a temperature above
7°C but can stand very short periods down to 0°C. It suits warm temperate to tropical regions. It
suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Cultivation: It grows from seeds which often commence germinating while still in the pod on
the ground. Seeds germinate very easily. Seed need to be sown when the temperature is at least
13-18°C.
Production: In Australia fruit are produced from March to November.
Use: The seeds are eaten after extensive processing (They are soaked for 10 days, pounded and
baked.) They may still contain some poison.
Caution: In Australia several deaths and stomach upsets have been reported in cattle which
have eaten the seeds.
Food Value: Per 100 g edible portion
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg
Seeds 51.4 824 4.0 6.1 0.3
Insects:
Diseases:
Pests:
Importance: The tree is introduced to Papua New Guinea and may not be much used for food.