History - Burgundy leaf fruit tree

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Burgundy leaf fruit tree

The burgundy leaf fruit tree (Carissa papyrifera) is an evergreen perennial shrub or small tree in the family Apocynaceae. It is found in the east coast of Australia and is the largest species of carissa. It grows to in height, with a canopy. This shrub, which may flower at any time of the year, is usually grown in full sun with very well drained soil in open areas and along roads. It is an important source of food for the wildlife, including the indigenous birds, of the Sydney area, with some of the best fruit eaten by bush turkeys. The leaves and flowers are eaten by the native blackbirds.

History

The burgundy leaf fruit tree was originally from Western Africa, where it is referred to as carissa. A seed was taken by the Spanish to the Philippines and in the 1600s planted in Australia, where it was found growing on the coast of New South Wales.

Description

Habitat

The burgundy leaf fruit tree is grown in a variety of locations, in open sunny areas and along roads. In the Sydney Metropolitan area the main growing areas are close to the Royal Botanic Gardens and Sydney's eastern suburbs, mostly along roadsides.

Appearance

The burgundy leaf fruit tree grows to in height, with a canopy, is always single or multistemmed. It has grey-green, glossy leaves long and wide, each petal of the flower is about long and wide, and green, and the fruit of the flower is usually red.

Fruit

The burgundy leaf fruit tree, with its sweet fruit, is a bush favourite for the birds, particularly the native bush turkey. The tree has a large number of leaves, which provide a nutritious food for the birds. On average, a mature tree has at least 50 ,kg of fruit on it, a small amount, but for a bird, who may not eat a full meal at one time, it is not much of a problem. Most birds will also use the fruit, especially when it is hard and can be picked off. If there are too many fruit on the tree, the birds will eat them in spite of their being still hard, and this can start a chain of events in the bush. If the seedlings which emerge from these seed get a second bite of hard fruit they too, eat the fruit and in time get too big to fit through the hole where the seed was implanted. Thus, they must leave the area.