Cupaniopsis anacardioides (A. Rich.) Radlk.   Sapindaceae (Soapberry Family)   Australia   Carrot Wood

                                              July Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Evergreen tree to 9 m. high, spreading 6m. in dia., open branching in youth becoming dense with age; lvs. pinnate, to 30 cm. long including petiole which is about 1/3 length, lfts. 5-10, alternate, leathery, 15 cm. long, elliptic, truncate at tip, margin inrolled, dark green above, light green below, glabrous, entire; fls. in axillary panicles or thyrses, regular, sepals and petals 5; stamens usually 6-8; fr. a 3-lobed caps., +/- 13 mm. in dia.

Habitat:  Escape from cultivation.  Deep rooting, tolerates poorly drained soil; needs average water.  Mature trees hardy to 22 degrees F.  Stands salt wind on coast or dry hot wind inland.  Good near swimming pools.  (Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book 1984. 262).

Name:  Cupaniopsis refers to the old Genus name Cupania.  It means like Cupania, in which the species anacardiopsis was once classified.  (John Johnson).  Greek, ana, prefix meaning similar to.   Greek, kardia, heart. Greek, o+eidos, denoting likeness of form, a thing that is like.  (Jaeger 17, 46, 172).       Anacardioides, heart-like.  Resembles the heart-shaped fruit of Anacardium.   Anacardium is the type genus of the family Anacardiaceae. (John Johnson).  Hortus Third lists the species name as anacardiopsis while the New Western Garden Book lists the species name as anacardioides.  Both name endings, opsis and ioides, in Greek mean resembling.  (John Johnson).

General:  Uncommon in the study area, one specimen having been found near the edge of the 23rd St. creek and four more on Shellmaker Island.  It is interesting that of the very few trees on Shellmaker, about a third are Carrot Wood; these are small trees, however,  and not nearly as large as the willows (Salix lasiolepis) and a single acacia (Acacia cyclops) The only other trees species on the island is Myoporum laetum and there are about three of these is one cluster.  (my comments).      Clean, handsome patio, lawn or street tree.  (Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book 1984. 262).      About 55 species of polygamous trees or shrubs, native to Oceania, but mostly to Australia and New Caledonia.  (Bailey, Hortus Third 344).  About 125 genera and more than 1000 species of trees shrubs or rarely herbs, of wide distribution in the tropics and warm regions.  (Bailey 639).

Text Ref:  Bailey 639; Bailey, Hortus Third  344; Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book 1984.  262.

Photo Ref:  Jan-Mar 96 # 12,13.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by John Johnson.

First Found:  March 1996.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 488.

Plant specimen donated to UC Riverside in 2004.

Last edit 8/8/05.

                                             March Photo