Macadamia or Queensland nut
Family Proteaceae
Macadamia ternifolia (= Macadamia integrifolia), macadamia or Queensland nut (M. ternifolia 1), is a small tree, up to 15 m tall, a native of north-eastern Australia, with leathery lanceolate leaves, up to 30 cm long, and creamy-white flowers in terminal and axillary racemes. The globose fruit has a fleshy husk (M. ternifolia 2) and contains a single seed of about 2 cm across. This seed, which is the macadamia or Queensland nut (M. ternifolia 3) is about 2 cm across and contains up to 75% fat.
Distribution
The macadamia is cultivated in Australia and Hawaii. Most of the nuts is used as dessert nut; a small portion is used in pastries.