Английская Википедия:Castanospermum

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Castanospermum is a monotypic genus in the legume family Fabaceae. The sole species is Castanospermum australe, commonly known as Moreton Bay chestnut or black bean,Шаблон:R which is native to rainforested areas on the east coast of Queensland and northeastern New South Wales, and to the southwest Pacific islands of Vanuatu and New CaledoniaШаблон:R

Description

The black bean is a large evergreen tree growing up to Шаблон:Cvt tall,Шаблон:R though commonly much smaller. The leaves are Шаблон:Convert long and Шаблон:Convert broad, pinnate, with 11-15 leaflets. The flowers are bicoloured red and yellow, Шаблон:Convert long, produced in racemes Шаблон:Convert long. The fruit is a cylindrical pod Шаблон:Convert long and Шаблон:Convert diameter, the interior divided by a spongy substance into one to five cells, each of which contains a large chestnut-like seed.

Common names

The 1889 book 'The Useful Native Plants of Australia' records the common names of Castanospermum australe as "Moreton Bay Chestnut" and "Bean tree" and notes that it was called "Irtalie" by Aboriginal people of the Richmond and Clarence Rivers (New South Wales) and "Bogum" by "others of Northern New South Wales".Шаблон:RШаблон:RP Other names that have been used by Aboriginal peoples are: baway, yiwurra, junggurraa, mirrayn, ganyjuu, and binyjaalga.Шаблон:R

Uses

Chemicals

In 1981, castanospermine was isolated from the seeds.Шаблон:R Members of this and closely related genera accumulate iminosugars in their leaves.Шаблон:R

Cultural significance

Due to its importance as a food, the blackbean tree was a seasonal gathering point for Aboriginal peoples, and this acted as a catalyst for ceremonies.Шаблон:R Songlines featuring the black bean seeds have been collected. The bark fibre has been used for fish and animal traps, nets and baskets, and the empty seed pods have been used as toy boats. Additionally, the tree has been used as a seasonal signal for when to hunt jungle fowl.Шаблон:R

Food

The unprocessed seeds are poisonous since they contain toxic saponins,Шаблон:R and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea,Шаблон:R but they become edible when carefully prepared by roasting, cutting up into small pieces, leaching with running water for several days, and pounding into flour and roasting it as a damper.Шаблон:R The seeds have been prepared and eaten for at least 2,500 years.Шаблон:R The 1889 book 'The Useful Native Plants of Australia' notes and describes this use of the beans.Шаблон:RШаблон:RP As of 2012, the food was not used in modern bush tucker, and there was no nutritional information available on the seeds.Шаблон:R

Ornamental use

The trees are popular as potted plants in Asia, Europe and America.Шаблон:R In addition, they have been used as shade trees in landscaping for parks.Шаблон:R

Wood

The wood was used by Aboriginal people for spear-throwers.Шаблон:R The timber, which somewhat resembles walnut, is soft, fine-grained, and takes a good polish,Шаблон:R and the wood has a durability rating above-ground of over 40 years longevity.Шаблон:R

Spread

Due to its significance as a food for Aboriginal people, blackbean trees were spread by hand into mountain areas on the east coast of Australia. All the trees in New South Wales are descended from a single seed.Шаблон:R The plant naturally spreads by water.Шаблон:R It has been introduced to India, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, South Africa and the United States of America.Шаблон:R

Gallery

• Castanospermum australe flower

  Castanospermum australe flower

• Small C. australe tree

  Small C. australe tree

• Mature pod and seeds

  Mature pod and seeds

External links

• Шаблон:Wikispecies-inline
• Шаблон:Commons category-inline
• View a map of recorded sightings of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
• View observations of this species on iNaturalist
• See images of this species on Flickriver