Kangaroo apple and a couple other Australian native fruits

[murraystevena2]

I Finally have been able to ID one of the plants growing in my greenhouse as Kangaroo apple, which is a solanum sp. I have never heard of it before getting some seeds of it but know that by the time I come back home I will hopefully have a bunch of ripe fruit. I read on one site that the fruits are only edible when fully ripe and on another that they are poisonous. I would like to verify that they are edible before I eat them. The plants are small bushy and are prone to snails, but they have survived and from the images back home are full of fruit. I read about several species listed as kangaroo apple but wasnt sure which one it is. When I get home I will post some photos of the fruit

Bush tucker species have been a particular interest of mine and there many other australian natives in the collection and I have fruiting plants of Cedar bay cherries, midgen berries(very tasty in my opinion), bunyabunya, Acmena smithii, Syzygium coolminianum, Billardiera scandens appleberry(was fruiting when I got the plant but as it needs two plants to cross fertilize stopped fruiting), Fingerlimes, and now kangaroo apples.

Small plants of a Capparis sp, Terminalia ferdinandiana Kakadu plum, Australian boabab, native peanut Sterculia sp, Syzygium wilsonii, Antidesma bunius, Billardiera longiflora purple appleberry, Clausena excavata pink wampee(from seeds 4 years ago), Mimusops elengi, Chrysophyllum lanceolatum, and a couple other syzygiums and a couple plants I can't ID.

There are also two big Davidson plums that are about 5 years old that hopefully will fruit soon. Bought a mac nut tree years ago but didnt know what I was doing back then and it died.

I am very interested in more info about Muntries berries. I have heard that they are a very tasty fruit and would like to hear more about it. Quandongs have been a dream plant to have for years and I am interested in have some, but they cant be brought into cali. I have also been interested in burdunkin(not sure its spelled right) and in australian tamarinds if anyone knows anything about them.

[Mike T]

MS there are a few reasonable edible species in my area especially several Syzigiums, but wilsoni is small with poor fruit and great flowers.It is best to specify Solanum or Ealeocarpus quandongs. Bunya pines get huge, Burdekin plums are alright and super variable in quality.Wild ones from the beaches seem totally different from those inland or near the rainforest.There are a few small fruited Terminalias high in vitamin c but ordinary in taste. Sterculias are like peanuts.Which tamarind genus are you talking about.Some of the Diploglottis are very good and very attractive. 

[HIfarm]

Mike, what is your opinion of the small leaf tamarind, Diploglottis cambellii?  Which Diploglottis are worthwhile?

John

[Mike T]

Hifarm yeah it is alight but berniana,smithii,diphyllostegia and cunninghamii are ones that could be a little better.The firm jello like flesh is sourish with sweet and even tomato like qualities but can be alright out of hand.

[BMc]

Diphyllostegia is the prettiest native tamarind in my opinion. Australis can get huge quick and doesn't mind a bit of frost. The fruits are large and tangy but make a well tasty jam. I can't remember which is the broad leaved one with almost palm like growth and huge fruit, but it's also pretty good.
Kangaroo apple needs to be very ripe, but they are still bitter.
Do you have pics of S. coolminianum? For some reason I am thinking S. moorei when I look at that name. Ones I know or have heard can be tasty include Syzygium pseudofastigiatum, rubrimolle, suborbiculare, and a large fruited version of the rough barked white apple. Pseudofastigiatum got a big wrap on Gardening Australia a while back. Look under the lili pillies section here http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2943702.htm
Gets to be a huge tree even way down south in Sydney.
Bonyi nuts are great, but as mike says, they get to be massive over 50years and are monsters at a few hundred years. They are an iconic tree here and the nuts are my favorites. There is a small shoot in the centre of the nut that is like eating heaven!
Midyim are good. The hybrid with tenuifolia is usually better with bigger fruit, more fruit and a more upright growth habit. These are often sold as Austromyrtus 'copper tops'.
Cape Plum can be good when ripe, otherwise astringent, and the Milla Millaa vine fruits can be very good, I had some great ones last year, though some can taste a bit tomatoey...

[fruitlovers]

Kangaroo apple (Solanum aviculare) is definitely edible when fully ripe. Like a lot of solanums probably has too much solanin if eaten green. I've grown it here, has beautiful blue flowers, grew like an annual. Don't think it apprecieated our heavy rainfall.

[fruitlovers]

Here is a photo of the Kangaroo apple (Solanum aviculare) flower.