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Line 1: {{Short description\|Species of flowering plant}} {{Use Australian English\|date=April 2014}} {{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2014}} {{Speciesbox ~~{{Taxobox~~ \| ~~image~~name = Tar tree \|image = Semecarpus-australiensis-SF21353-01.jpg ~~\| status =~~ \|image_caption = Fruits and foliage ~~\| regnum = [[Plant]]ae~~ \|status = LC ~~\| unranked_divisio = [[Angiosperms]]~~ \|status_system = IUCN3.1 ~~\| unranked_classis = [[Eudicots]]~~ \|status_ref = {{R\|IUCN}} ~~\| unranked_ordo = [[Rosids]]~~ \|status2 = LC ~~\| ordo = [[Sapindales]]~~ \|status2_system = QLDNCA ~~\| familia = [[Anacardiaceae]]~~ \|status2_ref = {{R\|DESQLD}} ~~\| genus = ''[[Semecarpus]]''~~ \|genus = Semecarpus ~~\| species = '''''S. australiensis'''''~~ \| ~~binomial~~species = ~~''Semecarpus~~ australiensis'' \| ~~binomial_authority~~authority = [[Adolf Engler\|Engl.]]{{R\|POWO\|RFK}} \| synonyms = }} * ''Cassuvium australiense'' <small>(Engl.) Kuntze</small> * ''Semecarpus anacardium'' var. ''parvifolius'' <small>Benth.</small> * ''Semecarpus australiensis'' var. ''macrophyllus'' <small>Domin</small> * ''Semecarpus australiensis'' var. ''obtusifolius'' <small>Domin</small> * ''Semecarpus congestiflorus'' <small>K.Schum. & Lauterb.</small> \|synonyms_ref = {{R\|POWO}} }} '''''Semecarpus australiensis''''', commonly known as the '''tar tree''', '''native cashew''', '''marking nut''', or '''cedar plum''', is a species of tree in the cashew and mango family [[Anacardiaceae]], native to parts of [[Melanesia]] and northern [[Australia]]. Contact with the plant can cause serious allergic reactions, a common characteristic of this family. '''''Semecarpus australiensis''''', '''Australian cashew nut''', is a species of Australian trees that grow naturally in monsoon forests (rainforests with deciduous trees) or rainforests, from sea level to 250m, often near to the sea. It has been found in [[Northern_Territory\|NT]], [[Cape York Peninsula\|Cape York]], and [[Queensland wet tropics]], Australia, [[Torres Strait Islands]], [[New Guinea]], [[New Britain]], [[Aru Islands]] and additional [[Pacific Islands]].<ref name=RFK6.1/> It is related to the standard [[cashew]] (''Anacardium occidentale''). ==Description== The leaves are prominently veined, large, dark green on the upper surface and paler underneath. Small cream-coloured flowers are followed by unusual fruits that have the seeds on the outside contained in a leathery pod attached to an orange or red fruit-like fleshy base.<ref name=Low1991/> The tar tree is a large rainforest tree up to {{cvt\|40\|m}} in height.{{R\|FOA\|COOPER2}} The trunk is generally straight and cylindrical, and marked with numerous oval-shaped [[lenticel]]s arranged in more or less vertical lines. When cut or damaged the trunk and branches produce a tar-like [[exudate]] which turns black on exposure to the air.{{R\|RFK\|JCU}} The leaves are up to {{cvt\|30\|cm}} long by wide {{cvt\|12\|cm}}{{R\|RFK\|JCU}} with prominent pale yellow veins. They are dark green and [[Glossary of botanical terms#glabrous\|glabrous]] on the upper surface and chalky blue-green ([[glaucous]]) underneath.{{R\|RFK\|COOPER2}} ~~==Uses==~~ Because of the extremely irritating sap, [[Australian Aborigines\|Aborigines]] exercise great care in preparing the seeds, including handling the fruit with hands coated in clay for skin protection. The seeds are roasted in the fire before eating, and taste similar to normal cashews. <!--Authorities differ on whether this species is [[Monoecy \|monoecious]] or [[Dioecy \|dioecious]].{{R\|JCU\|MITCHELL}} -->The flowers are [[Merosity\|pentamerous]] and are quite small; petals on the male flowers are about {{cvt\|1.5\|mm}} long, while those on female flowers measure up to {{cvt\|4\|mm}} long.{{R\|RFK\|FOA\|JCU}} Flowering occurs in spring (September to November) and fruits are produced through the summer.{{R\|COOPER1}} The fruits are a [[nut (fruit)\|true nut]] attached beneath a colourful fleshy [[receptacle (botany)\|receptacle]].{{R\|RFK\|JCU}} To the casual observer it appears to be a "fruit" (the receptacle) with a "seed" (the nut) on the outside. The receptacle is actually the swollen flower stem or [[Pedicel (botany)\|pedicel]] and is much larger than the nut (see [[#Gallery \|images]] below). Neither are edible to humans in their raw state due to the presence of highly irritant resins.{{R\|ISAACS\|LOW}} ==Taxonomy== ''Semecarpus australiensis'' was first described by the German botanist [[Adolf Engler]]. His treatment was published in volume 4 of ''Monographiae Phanerogamarum'' in 1883.{{R\|BHL}} ===Etymology=== The genus name ''Semecarpus'' is from the Latin ''semi-'', meaning half, and the Ancient Greek ''κᾰρπός (karpós)'', meaning fruit. It is a reference to the appearance of the fruit. The [[Botanical name#Binary name\|species epithet]] means "from Australia".{{R\|COOPER2}} ==Distribution and habitat== The natural range of ''Semecarpus australiensis'' is from the [[Maluku Islands \|Moluccas]] in the west, into [[New Guinea]], the [[Bismark Archipelago]], [[Vanuatu]] and [[New Caledonia]] in the east; and south to the coastal parts of the [[Northern Territory]] and [[Queensland]] in Australia.{{R\|POWO\|RFK}} It grows in lowland rainforest, [[monsoon forest]] and [[gallery forest]], close to the sea or to water courses.{{R\|RFK\|FOA\|LOW\|BEASLEY}} ==Ecology== The fruits of this species are eaten by [[Southern cassowary \|cassowaries]] (''Casuarius casuarius''){{R\|RFK\|COOPER2\|LOW}} with no apparent adverse effects from the sap that is toxic to humans. The tree also serves as one of the host plants for the larvae of the [[Prosotas dubiosa \|Purple Line-blue butterfly]] (''Prosotas dubiosa'').{{R\|ANUPRESS}} ==Toxicity== Like many other species in the family Anacardiaceae, this tree may cause severe allergic responses after contact with it.{{R\|RFK\|FOA\|JCU\|ISAACS\|LOW}} The agents responsible for the allergies are [[resin \|resinous]] phenolic compounds{{R\|MITCHELL}} found in most parts of the plant, including the fruits and the [[exudate]] from the trunk and branches.{{R\|MITCHELL\|AGUILLAR}} Direct contact with the tree is not necessary to elicit the allergic response; in March 1954, an article appeared in the local newspaper in [[Cairns]], Australia, describing how a number of children suffered rashes after swimming in a stream beneath a tar tree.{{R\|TROVE}} ==Indigenous uses== [[Indigenous Australians]] were are aware of the toxic nature of this plant, and kept their children away from it.{{R\|ISAACS}} They also knew that the fleshy receptacle and the nut (which is similar to the cashew) were edible, and they developed methods of deactivating the toxins so that they could be eaten. These included covering the hands with clay before handling the plant, and roasting the nuts in a fire.{{R\|ISAACS\|LOW\|BEASLEY}} Even the smoke from the fire can cause problems, and they were careful to prepare the food well away from their camp.{{R\|ISAACS\|LOW}} ==Gallery== <gallery mode=packed heights=150px> File:Semecarpus-australiensis-SF21353-02.jpg \|Mature fruit File:Semecarpus-australiensis-SF21349.jpg \|Detail of trunk File:Semecarpus australiensis leaves SF21170.jpg \|Foliage File:Semecarpus australiensis exudate SF21170.jpg \|Branch with black exudate </gallery> ==References== {{Reflist~~\|44em~~ \|refs= <ref name="IUCN">{{cite iucn \|author=Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. \|year=2018 \|title=''Semecarpus australiensis'' \|volume=2018 \|page=e.T136089727A136089729 \|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T136089727A136089729.en \|access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> <ref name="DESQLD">{{cite web \|url=https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species-search/details/?id=16191 \|title=Species profile—''Semecarpus australiensis'' \|date=2021 \|website=Queensland Department of Environment and Science \|publisher=[[Queensland Government]] \|access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> ~~<ref name=RFK6.1>~~ ~~{{RFK6.1 \|url= http://keys.trin.org.au:8080/key-server/data/0e0f0504-0103-430d-8004-060d07080d04/media/Html/taxon/Semecarpus_australiensis.htm \|accessdate= 13 Mar 2013}}~~ ~~</ref>~~ <ref name="POWO">{{cite web \|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:71204-1 \|title=''Semecarpus australiensis'' \|date=2017 \|website=[[Plants of the World Online]] \|publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] \|access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> ~~<ref name=Low1991>~~ ~~Low, T., ''Wild Food Plants of Australia'', 1991. ISBN 0-207-16930-6~~ ~~</ref>~~ <ref name="RFK">{{cite web \|author1=F.A.Zich \|author2=B.P.M.Hyland \|author3=T.Whiffen \|author4=R.A.Kerrigan \|author2-link=Bernard Hyland \|year=2020 \|access-date=28 December 2021 \|url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/rainforest/text/entities/Semecarpus_australiensis.htm \|title=''Semecarpus australiensis'' \|website=[[Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants]] Edition 8 (RFK8) \|publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), [[Australian Government]]}}</ref> <ref name="FOA">{{cite web \|url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Semecarpus%20australiensis \|title=''Semecarpus australiensis'' \|last1=Jessup \|first1=L.W. \|date=2020 \|editor1-last=Busby \|editor1-first=J.R. \|editor2-last=Kodela \|editor2-first=P.G. \|website=[[Flora of Australia]] \|publisher=[[Australian Biological Resources Study]], Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra \|access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> <ref name="COOPER1">{{cite book \|last1=Cooper \|first1=Wendy \|last2=Cooper \|first2=William \|author-link2=William T. Cooper \|date=1994 \|title=Fruits of the Rain Forest - A Guide to Fruits in Australian Tropical Rain Forests \|publisher=GEO Productions \|isbn=0-646-19803-3 \|page=256}}</ref> <ref name="COOPER2">{{Cite book \|last1=Cooper \|first1=Wendy \|last2=Cooper \|first2=William T. \|author-link2=William T. Cooper \|date=June 2004 \|title=Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest \|publication-place=Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia \|publisher=Nokomis Editions \|isbn=9780958174213 \|url=https://www.nokomis.com.au/product/nokomis-published-books/fruits-australian-tropical-rainforest/ \|page=18}}</ref> <ref name="JCU">{{cite web \|title=''Semecarpus australiensis'' \|url=https://www.jcu.edu.au/discover-nature-at-jcu/plants/plants-on-cairns-campus/semecarpus-australiensis \|website=James Cook University, Australia \|date=19 October 2015 \|publisher=[[James Cook University]] \|access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> <ref name="LOW">{{cite book \|last=Low \|first=Tim \|author-link=Tim Low \|title=Wild Food Plants of Australia \|date=1998 \|publisher=Angus & Robertson Publishers \|location=Sydney \|isbn=0-207-16930-6 \|url=https://www.timlow.com/wild-food-plants/ \|page=96}}</ref> <ref name="BEASLEY">{{cite book \|last=Beasley \|first=John \|date=2009 \|title=Plants of Cape York - the compact guide \|publisher=John Beasley \|isbn=978-0-9806863-0-2 \|page=158}}</ref> <ref name="ANUPRESS">{{cite book \|last1=Braby \|first1=M.F. \|last2=Franklin \|first2=D.C. \|last3=Bisa \|first3=D.E. \|last4=Williams \|first4=M.R. \|last5=Williams \|first5=A.A.E. \|last6=Bishop \|first6=C.L. \|last7=Coppen \|first7=R.A.M. \|title=Atlas of Butterflies and Diurnal Moths in the Monsoon Tropics of Northern Australia \|date=2018 \|publisher=[[ANU Press]] \|location=Canberra \|isbn=9781760462321 \|page=294 \|jstor=j.ctv9hj7k0.20 \|edition=1 \|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv9hj7k0.20 \|access-date=28 December 2021 \|display-authors=2 \|ref=ANUPRESS}}</ref> <ref name="MITCHELL">{{cite journal \|last1=Mitchell \|first1=John D. \|title=The Poisonous Anacardiaceae Genera of the World \|journal=Advances in Economic Botany \|date=1990 \|volume=8 \|pages=103–129 \|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43927570 \|jstor=43927570 \|jstor-access=free \|access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> <ref name="AGUILLAR">{{cite journal \|last1=Aguilar-Ortigoza \|first1=Carlos J. \|last2=Sosa \|first2=Victoria \|last3=Aguilar-Ortigoza \|first3=Marcial \|title=Toxic Phenols in Various Anacardiaceae Species \|journal=Economic Botany \|date=2003 \|volume=57 \|issue=3 \|pages=354–364 \|doi=10.1663/0013-0001(2003)057[0354:TPIVAS]2.0.CO;2 \|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/4256704 \|jstor=4256704 \|jstor-access=free \|access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> <ref name="TROVE">{{cite news \|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article42804031 \|title="TAR-TREE" RASH VICTIMS \|newspaper=[[Cairns Post]] \|issue=16,219 \|location=Queensland, Australia \|date=5 March 1954 \|access-date=28 December 2021 \|page=5 \|via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> <ref name="BHL">{{cite book \|last=Engler \|first=A. \|year=1883 \|chapter=Burseraceae et Anacardiaceae \|editor=Alphonso de Candolle \|editor2=Casimir de Candolle \|title=Monographiae Phanerogamarum Prodromi \|volume=4 \|location=Paris \|publisher=G. Masson \|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32413425 \|pages=482–483 \|language=la}}</ref> <ref name="ISAACS">{{cite book \|last=Isaacs \|first=Jennifer \|date=1987 \|title=Bush Food - Aboriginal Food and Herbal Medicine \|url=https://www.jenniferisaacs.com.au/books/#bushfood \|location=Sydney \|publisher=Lansdowne Publishing \|isbn=0725408340 \|page=85}}</ref> }} ==External links== * {{commons category inline \|Semecarpus australiensis}} * {{wikispecies inline \|Semecarpus australiensis}} * [https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Semecarpus+australiensis#tab_mapView View a map] of recorded sightings of this species at the [[Australasian Virtual Herbarium]] * [https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?place_id=any&taxon_id=851169 View observations] of this species on [[iNaturalist]] * [https://flickriver.com/search/Semecarpus+australiensis See images] of this species on [[Flickriver]] {{Nuts}} {{Anacardiaceae genera}} {{Taxonbar\|from=Q7449189}} ~~{{Anacardiaceae-stub}}~~ ~~[[Category:Bushfood]]~~ [[Category:Semecarpus\|australiensis]] [[Category:Taxa named by Adolf Engler]] [[Category:Plants described in 1883]] [[Category:Flora of Malesia]] [[Category:Flora of Melanesia]] [[Category:Flora of the Northern Territory]] [[Category:Flora of Queensland]] [[Category:Bushfood]]