Davidsonia
A genus of three Australian rainforest trees with edible sour fruit.
Davidsonia is a genus of three Australian rainforest trees, all known as Davidson plum or Davidson's plum. Their fruit looks similar to a European plum, but the two are not botanically related. Each species bears an edible, sour fruit with burgundy-colored flesh that is prized as a gourmet bushfood. The genus name honors John Ewen Davidson, who claimed the land where the tree was first scientifically described.
Davidsonia jerseyana, also called Mullumbimby plum, is a slender tree that typically grows to 5 meters tall. It is native to lowland subtropical rainforests in New South Wales and is endangered in the wild. However, it is widely cultivated for its pleasantly sour fruit, which is used in jam, wine, ice cream, and sauces.
Davidsonia johnsonii, or smooth Davidson's plum, is a small tree with a spreading canopy and smooth leaves. It is native to New South Wales and southeast Queensland and is also endangered in the wild. It is not widely cultivated because its seeds are infertile; instead, it is propagated from cuttings or root divisions.
Davidsonia pruriens, known as Ooray or Queensland Davidson's plum, is taller than the other two species, reaching up to 12 meters. It is also slender and produces larger fruit that grow in big clusters directly from the trunk or branches.
Small-scale plantations in New South Wales and Queensland supply the market, mainly using Davidsonia jerseyana and Davidsonia pruriens.
- Genus
- Davidsonia
- Species count
- 3
- Native region
- Australia (New South Wales and Queensland)
- Common name
- Davidson plum or Davidson's plum
- Fruit characteristic
- Edible, sour, burgundy-colored flesh
- Named after
- John Ewen Davidson
Lore & Background
The genus Davidsonia comprises three species: Davidsonia jerseyana, Davidsonia johnsonii, and Davidsonia pruriens. Davidsonia jerseyana, also known as Mullumbimby plum, is a slender small tree generally 5 meters high, native to lowland subtropical rainforests of New South Wales. It is considered endangered in the wild but widely cultivated for its pleasantly sour fruit used in jam, wine, ice-cream, and sauces. Davidsonia johnsonii, or smooth Davidson's plum, is a small tree with a spreading canopy and smooth leaves, native to New South Wales and southeast Queensland. It is also endangered in the wild but not widely cultivated due to its infertile seeds; it is propagated vegetatively from cuttings or root division. Davidsonia pruriens, called Ooray or Queensland Davidson's plum, is a taller tree reaching up to 12 meters high, with larger fruit produced in large clusters from the trunk or branches.
Reader's Guide
Davidsonia species are significant as gourmet bushfood, with their sour burgundy-colored fruit used in a variety of culinary applications such as jam, wine, ice-cream, and sauces. The genus is named after John Ewen Davidson, who claimed the land from which the tree was first botanically described. Two of the three species—Davidsonia jerseyana and Davidsonia johnsonii—are considered endangered in the wild, though Davidsonia jerseyana is widely cultivated. Davidsonia johnsonii is not widely cultivated because of its infertile seeds, requiring vegetative propagation. Small-scale plantations in New South Wales and Queensland supply the demand, mainly from Davidsonia jerseyana and Davidsonia pruriens. The genus contributes to the preservation of native Australian food traditions and biodiversity, with its fruits being a distinctive element of the country's bushfood heritage.
Did You Know?
- Davidsonia fruits superficially resemble the European plum but are not closely related.
- Davidsonia jerseyana is also known as Mullumbimby plum.
- Davidsonia johnsonii has infertile seeds and is propagated vegetatively from cuttings or root division.
- Davidsonia pruriens can reach up to 12 metres high and produces fruit in large clusters from the trunk or branches.
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