From little things, big things grow....

This is about 6 inches high at the moment. It is a Candle Nut seedling. It would eventually end up as rainforest tree approx. 30m high - except that it planted itself on our driveway....

[Ulrika]

it comes with a bonus fly in the picture... love the detail in the leaves

[Suzanne]

I guess it will soon be removed from your driveway!

[Sylvia Binch]

I thought the same as Suzanne: it probably won't have long left ..
Nice close-up .. I like the shape of the leaves.

[FBailey]

You could always dig it up and transplant it to another bit of your garden ...

[Rob Z]

@ulla Thanks Ulrika - the leaves are funny - hairy when they're young but then shiny later on...

[Rob Z]

@suzanne234 I do believe he's already gone!!

[Rob Z]

@bintal He's gone already!! It's funny how the little leaves are hairy!! They worked well in that little bit of sun.

[Rob Z]

@fbailey Hi FB - Too late I'm afraid - he's gone!! WE have two of the mature trees and they drop lots of very large Candle Nuts ( they used to be used as candles by the pioneers - they threaded them on a string to burn) The trees are too big to have any more grow in their area - so life expectancy for the little fellows is not very long!! Cheers Rob

[Marnie]

Oh wow, I use candle-nuts in the cooking department but never seen a tree, tiny or huge.

[Rob Z]

@golftragic You cook with candle nuts!!?? I didn't know they were edible. How do you use them?

[Marnie]

@robz Do not eat them raw!!! https://www.sgapqld.org.au/information-and-publications/bush-tucker-articles/248-candle-nut

I use them as thickening in some Asian dishes, the Indonesians are very fond of them. http://www.culinarylore.com/specialty-foods:candlenuts-in-southeast-asian-cooking

[Rob Z]

@golftragic Thanks for the info Marnie - I'll check it out. :)

[Marnie]

@robz If you're into Asian cooking that's a good idea Rob. I keep mine in a well-washed cream bottle in the fridge, they seem to last for ages in there and not go rancid.

[Rob Z]

@golftragic I just checked the links you gave me - unfortunately I don't know the scientific name of our trees - the seeds were just given to us by a friend. It might be a bit risky to try them as they did mention that there is a look alike that is quite toxic. I'll try to find an identification key, :)

[Marnie]

@robz Best to err on the side of caution, of course. For the number you'd use, just buy them from an Asian grocery.

[Rob Z]

@golftragic Good advice :)