Habitat: Tropical and subtropical rainforests
Distribution: Narrow belt of north-eastern coastal New South Wales and immediate inland areas, including around the city of Mullumbimby
Conservation status: Davidsonia jerseyana is listed as Endangered on both the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), while Davidsonia pruriens is not considered endangered.
Scientific name: Davidsonia jerseyana and Davidsonia pruriens are the two main varieties
Common name: Davidson's plum
Pest and diseases: Flying foxes, rodents, king parrots, native budworm, caterpillars, brown loopers, larvae of the wood borer longicorn beetle, fruit fly and red-shouldered leaf beetle
About
D. jerseyana is a slender, small tree that grows 6-10m tall, typically found at altitudes of 100-300m. These trees are usually found in clusters in sheltered areas on south and east-facing slopes, particularly in riparian and rainforest regions. Some species have few branches and multiple stems originating from the base, each topped with a tuft of leaves.
The leaves are alternately arranged and measure between 35-75cm in length. Each leaf consists of 11 to 17 oblong leaflets, which are 6-30cm long and 3-10cm wide. The flowers are small, dark pink to red, and grow in panicles on the main stem. The fruits are dark purple, oval-shaped, and covered with fine hairs. They contain two large seed cases, each with a single seed, and have a fibrous appearance. When fully ripe, the fruit flesh is dark red.
D. pruriens is a medium-sized, slender tree that can grow up to 20 metres tall. It originates from the rainforests of tropical north-east Queensland, thriving at altitudes up to 1000 metres. The tree has large, compound leaves, with a lanceolate shape and a terminal pinna. As the lower leaves fall off, they reveal the dark brown or grey stem. This species is notable for its irritant hairs. Its inflorescences, which are 30 to 80 centimetres long, grow directly on the exposed stems and feature multiple lateral spikes. The small flowers are pink and have four or five sepals, containing both male and female reproductive organs. The fruits grow in large, hanging clusters from the trunk, are deep purple, and have slightly paler flesh with more fibre compared to their NSW counterpart, D. jerseyana.
Flowering and fruiting
Flower colours range from red to pink, varying by species. Fruits can either grow in panicles or be grouped along the stem, depending on the species. D. pruriens produces larger fruits than other species, which grow in large clusters from the trunk or branches. In its natural habitat, D. pruriens bears fruit in winter, but when cultivated, it may bear fruit in other seasons as well. This species typically begins to bear fruit in its fifth or sixth year, or even later.
D. jerseyana fruits appear from early to mid-summer, with trees starting to bear fruit in their third year.
Fun Fact: Davidson plums, botanically a part of the Davidsonia genus, are ancient Australian fruits belonging to the Cunoniaceae family.
Uses
Davidson's plum is not ideal for eating fresh but is excellent when stewed, preserved, or made into jam using European plum recipes. Some suggest doubling the sugar in these recipes. The flesh can also be used in savoury dishes.
Davidson's plum is highly nutritious, boasting more antioxidants than blueberries, which are renowned for their health benefits. It also contains potassium, lutein (important for eye health), vitamin E, folate, zinc, magnesium, and calcium.
For maximum nutritional benefit, it's best to consume both the skin and flesh of the fruit, as the skin holds most of the nutrients.
Additionally, Davidson's plum has a vibrant colour that can serve as a natural food dye.
Research is ongoing into its preservative qualities. Tests have shown that a product made from Davidson's plum can extend the shelf life of meat by 21 days under chilled conditions.
Our purchase of freehold land in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest ensures populations of iconic and endemic plants and animals, including the D. jerseyana and D. pruriens, are managed for conservation. Please, donate now to help us protect this vital habitat.