Glochidion ferdinandi, Cheese Tree.

The Cheese Tree is native to the eastern states of Australia. It is named for the appearance of its fruit which, with some imagination, look like a swiss cheese. It’s one of many Australian natives not often mentioned because it doesn’t come from a large genus of natives such as the Eucalypts or Grevilleas.

Appearance

The cheese tree grows as a shrub with a bushy appearance. It is estimated to have a height of 7-10 meters and a width spread of up to 5 meters. Its shiny green foliage collects to form a canopy at the top. The individual leaves are of elliptic shape and the fruits look like miniature pumpkins. The flowering period is between the month of July and December while the fruits will ripen between the month of February and November. The fruits turn from green to a deep red color as they split to expose seeds when they are ripe. In the presence of adequate moisture, the tree grows at a rapid rate and can grow in any soil provide the required moisture levels are met. The flowers form in groups of threes which are either green or yellow in color.

Global Species Information

There are different species that can relate to this tree and it is estimated that 200 of such species are spread in Africa, Asia and America. The barks of the tree of this species are grey-brown in color with a scaly appearance. The tree exists as a female and male tree (monoecious), therefore the capsule like fruit are normally found in female trees of the species.  The fruits burst to produce 4-6 flat seeds which are contained in segments inside the capsule. The pattern of the leaves consist of two ranks where there are two leaves on a portion of a branch which lie on the opposite sides (pseudo-pinnate).

Known Benefits of Glochidion ferdinandi

The barks have medicinal advantage as scientists are working on researches to seek its remedy to cancer and lung carcinoma. The canopy that it forms makes it suitable for use as a garden tree to provide shade. They are important for the fowls that feed on the fruits and used as a habitat by certain insects like caterpillars or butterflies, moths, and ladybirds which feed on other pests that may be hosted on the same tree. Common birds that benefit from the cheese tree include the Lewin’s Honey eater, rain forest pigeons, Australian King Parrot, doves and Olive-backed Oriole. Benefits to humans will be for the solar screen that forms by their foliage and canopy. The tree is fire redundant as it continues to sprout after a bush fire. The fruits produced by this tree cannot however be consumed by humans.