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'''''Castanospermum australe''''' ('''Moreton Bay Chestnut''' or '''Blackbean'''), the only species in the genus '''''Castanospermum''''', is a [[flowering plant]] in the family [[Fabaceae]], native to the east coast of [[Australia]] in [[Queensland]] and [[New South Wales]], and to the Pacific islands of [[Vanuatu]] and [[New Caledonia]].
'''''Castanospermum australe''''' ('''Moreton Bay Chestnut''' or '''Blackbean'''), the only species in the genus '''''Castanospermum''''', is a [[flowering plant]] in the family [[Fabaceae]], native to the east coast of [[Australia]] in [[Queensland]] and [[New South Wales]], and to the Pacific islands of [[Vanuatu]] and [[New Caledonia]].
It is a large [[evergreen]] [[tree]] growing to {{convert|40|m}} tall, though commonly much smaller. The [[leaf|leaves]] are {{convert|15|cm}} long and {{convert|6|-|7|cm}} broad, [[pinnate]], with 11-15 leaflets. The [[flower]]s are bicoloured red and yellow, {{convert|3|-|4|cm}} long, produced in [[raceme]]s {{convert|6|cm}} long. The [[fruit]] is a cylindrical [[legume|pod]] {{convert|12|-|20|cm}} long and {{convert|4|-|6|cm}} diameter, the interior divided by a spongy substance into three to five cells, each of which contains a large [[chestnut]]-like [[seed]].
It is a large [[evergreen]] [[tree]] growing to {{convert|40|m}} tall, though commonly much smaller. The [[leaf|leaves]] are {{convert|15|cm}} long and {{convert|6|-|7|cm}} broad, [[pinnate]], with 11-15 leaflets. The [[flower]]s are bicoloured red and yellow, {{convert|3|-|4|cm}} long, produced in [[raceme]]s {{convert|6|cm}} long. The [[fruit]] is a cylindrical [[legume|pod]] {{convert|12|-|20|cm}} long and {{convert|4|-|6|cm}} diameter, the interior divided by a spongy substance into three to five cells, each of which contains a large [[chestnut]]-like [[seed]].
The seeds are poisonous, but become edible when carefully prepared by pounding into flour, leaching with water, and roasting.
The seeds are poisonous, but become edible when carefully prepared by pounding into flour, leaching with water, and roasting.
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<gallery perrow=5>
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Castanospermum australe 01 Pengo.jpg|Pods
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
Image:200410 Castanospermum australe.JPG| Small ''C. asutrale'' tree
</gallery>
</gallery>
