TUCKEROO TREE

It took me one year to identify this tree, which is growing in the front yard of one of my neighbors. I had to wait until this unusual tree bore its fruit. Then, I was finally able to make a positive identification . Otherwise, the size, shape, and overall features of this tree are not that distinctive.

The tuckeroo tree, technically known as Cupaniopsis anacardiodes, is native to eastern and northern Australia. It is also found in Micronesia, the Solomon Islands, and Fiji. It is considered to be an “invasive plant” in Pakistan and in the USA, where it is mainly found in the latter in Florida and Hawaii. 

This tree also is known as the “carrotwood” tree. It prefers rocky beaches, hilly scrublands, and rainforests. It grows up to about 36 feet tall (Figure 1). Its leaves are sort of rubbery-looking and fairly long. They narrow toward the base of the leave, thus it has paripinnate leaves.

Its fruit consists of semi-spherical, orange-colored capsules that can be tinged red (see Figure 2). The fruit attracts birds and butterflies.

  Classification

Kingdom Plantae

Clades (4 of them)

Order Sapindales

Family Sapindaceae

Genus Cupaniopsis

                                        

              Figure 1. A tuckeroo tree growing in southern California.

                    Figure 2. Leaves and fruit of a tuckeroo tree.