Pleiogynium timorense Fruit

Burdekin plum tree Pleiogynium timorense. Australian native tree from North Queensland.

Before I've found ID for this tree, I called it "Muffin-nut tree", because of the funny shape of these seeds (endocarp).

So, look for old seeds underneath the tree - there could be plenty of fruit remains - the hard endocarp, that surrounds the seeds. Someone say, the endocarps look like little UFOs with portholes in the side! I reckon they are muffin shaped. 

The ripe fruit are dark purple, edible and were popular with Aborigines, explorers and settlers. But I would agree with Joseph Banks who collected samples in 1770, complained that the fruits of Burdekin plum were "so full of a large stone that eating them was but an unprofitable business".

Burdekin Plum is in the family Anacardiaceae, along with Mangoes and Cashew Nuts.

asgap.org.au/p-tim.html

Burdekin plum tree - fruit, seeds, leaves, trunk (3 photos)

• Uploaded by berichard