White bush apple

What it is

White bush apple is Syzygium forte, a tree in the myrtle family. Its fruit is rounded, sometimes a little flattened or egg-shaped, and reaches about 4 cm (1.6 in) across.

Inside, the flesh surrounds one seed about 1–2.5 cm (½–1 in) across. In the coastal form, the flesh nearest that seed has a coarse, grainy texture. White apple and flaky-barked satinash are other names for the tree.

Where it comes from

The tree is native to northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. In Australia its range takes in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Cape York and northeastern Queensland.

Two natural forms occupy different settings. The coastal form grows in rainforest, sandy beach forest and on rocky headlands. The riverbank form, called potamophilum, grows in strips of forest along creeks and rivers.

How it's eaten where it grows

In northern Queensland, white bush apple is an Aboriginal food eaten raw or cooked. The rest of the tree had another use: its bark, seeds and leaves were made into a poison for catching fish.

How it's grown

White bush apple is also grown for shade in northern Australia, in parks, streets and rural plantings. Its dark green canopy sits above a red-brown trunk with papery bark; even older twigs can flake. Masses of white flowers attract birds and bees before the large pale fruit appears.

When and where you'll find it

In Australian tropical rainforest, white bush apple usually fruits from November to February. Its home settings include northern coastal forest and wooded riverbanks. In the Northern Territory, native-plant nurseries also grow it as a shade tree, so a planted tree can be another place to encounter the fruit.