Rank Species | Genus Acronychia Higher classification Acronychia | |
 | ||
Similar Davidsonia, Riberry, Desert Lime, Ringwood, Wattleseed | ||
Acronychia acidula, lemon aspen, is a small- to medium-sized rainforest tree of the family Rutaceae native to north Queensland, Australia. The aromatic and acidic fruit is harvested as a bushfood.
Contents
Taxonomy
Victorian state botanist Ferdinand von Mueller described the lemon aspen in 1864. Its species name acidula is Latin "slightly acid".
Common names include lemon aspen, hard aspen and lemonwood. The true aspens of the Northern Hemisphere belong to the genus Populus in the willow family Salicaceae. The genus Acronychia is a member of the rue family Rutaceae, the same family as the genus Citrus which contains true lemons.
Ecology
The fruit are eaten by the topknot pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus).
Uses
Lemon aspen fruit has a grapefruit and lime-like flavor, and is popular in beverages, sauces and confectionery. The fruit has high antioxidant activity.
Cultivation
The tree is grown in small-scale commercial bushfood orchards on the east coast of Australia from North Queensland to northern New South Wales. The tree is quick-growing and requires regular pruning to maintain a practical harvesting height. It has a moderate crop yield, and bears in four years from seedlings. It prefers well-drained and fertile clay loam soils, with a sunny aspect and extra moisture when young.
