Warning

Seek urgent medical attention for all ingestions.

Description

A native species that grows to 10m when planted as a garden ornamental or up to 40m in a natural rain forest setting.

The flowers are large, orange and red, pea-flower shaped, clustered on older branches.

The leaves consist of 7–17 large leaflets alternating on the rachis. Leaflets are 9–15cm long and 3–5cm wide, dark green, and asymmetric at the base..

Toxicity

  • Potentially toxic

  • Irritant to skin or eyes

  • Respiratory irritant

Symptoms

If eaten, the seeds can cause severe diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain and dizziness. The sawdust can cause dermatitis, eczema and nasal irritation.

Images

Photo by Mary Louden
Photo by Mary Louden
Photo by Mary Louden

Details

Common name: Black bean

Botanical nameCastanospermum australe

Other common names: Moreton Bay chestnut

Family: Fabaceae

General description: A native species that grows to 10m when planted as a garden ornamental or up to 40m in a natural rain forest setting.

Flowers: The flowers are large, orange and red, pea-flower shaped, clustered on older branches.

Leaves: The leaves consist of 7–17 large leaflets alternating on the rachis. Leaflets are 9–15cm long and 3–5cm wide, dark green, and asymmetric at the base.

Fruit/Berries: The fruit are large, heavy, rounded pods, usually 12–18cm long and 4–6cm wide; containing 3–5 large, dark brown seeds about 3cm in diameter.

Other: The sap is clear.

Last updated: July 2023