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Macadamia tetraphylla
  • Queensland Nut

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Macadamia genus in the family Proteaceae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 9
    Zone 9
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Macadamia tetraphylla has 0 edible uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - raw or cooked[1][2][3]. Pleasantly flavoured and nutritious[4][5]. They can be eaten as a dessert nut and can also be ground into a flour and then mixed with cereal flours to enrich the protein content. The shell is very hard, making it difficult to extract the seed[6]. The seed contains up to 72% of a high grade oil[7].

Unknown part

Oil

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Macadamia tetraphylla.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Macadamia tetraphylla.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a warm greenhouse[8]. The dehusked seed germinates quickly at 25°c[9]. The seed can also be sown in the spring in a warm greenhouse[8]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. If trying them outdoors, give the plants some protection from the cold for their first few winters. Cultivars may be grafted.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Macadamia tetraphylla. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Plants grow best in rich moist but well-drained soils and a position in full sun[10]. They require copious summer watering in their early stages[11]. Mature plants need at least 1250mm of rainfall equally distributed throughout the year and a mild frost-free climate[10]. Trees require a sheltered position and are easily damaged by strong winds[10][9].

Plants can be grown in climates cooler than their native habitat, but they are not very hardy in Britain. They produce fruit in Australia when growing at least as far south as Sydney[12]. They can survive slight frosts[9] and have succeeded outdoors in the Scilly Isles[4]. Growth is optimal between temperatures of 20 - 25°c, ceasing when they fall below 10°c or rise above 30°c[9]. Cold weather can result in the loss of the entire crop[9]. The macadamia nut is cultivated for its edible seed in many tropical and sub-tropical areas[11], there are some named varieties[11][13]. Plants are slow growing in cultivation, seedlings take 6 - 7 years to produce their first fruit[10][11]. The trees then produce commercial crops for about 40 - 50 years and can fruit for up to 100 years[9]. Plants are self-fertile but yield better if cross-pollinated[10].

Pruning is not normally necessary, but is tolerated if carried out in the autumn[8].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Macadamia tetraphylla. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Macadamia tetraphylla.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Macadamia tetraphylla
Genus
Macadamia
Family
Proteaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[9]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
9
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    slow
    Mature Size
    10 x 10 meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Bees
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. ISBN 0-330-37376-5 (1998-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney ISBN 0-00-216441-8 (1981-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.2 Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.49.59.6 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.210.310.4 Rosengarten. jnr. F. The Book of Edible Nuts. Walker & Co. ISBN 0802707699 (1984-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.111.211.3 Holliday. I. and Hill. R. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller Ltd. ISBN 0-85179-627-3 (1974-00-00)
    12. ? Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) ISBN 0-7322-0021-0 (1988-00-00)
    13. ? Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)


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    Facts about "Macadamia tetraphylla"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyProteaceae +
    Belongs to genusMacadamia +
    Has common nameQueensland Nut +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part + and Seeds +
    Has edible useOil + and Unknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile + and Bee +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has growth rateSlow +
    Has hardiness zone9 +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height10 +
    Has mature width10 +
    Has search namemacadamia tetraphylla + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameMacadamia tetraphylla +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +