Macadamia nuts are a native food crop of Australia. The tree was first discovered in 1828 by a European named Allan Cunningham. The botanist, Ferdinand von Mueller gave the tree and seeds their scientific name in 1857. He named it after his friend, John Macadam who first described the tree and seed.
There are four different species of the tree. The integrifolia and the tetraphylla are the only two species that produced the edible raw nuts. The other species produce the seed; however due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides, the raw seeds from those species are very toxic making them poisonous for consumption. The seeds from these trees have also been called queen of nuts, maroochi, queensland, bush, and bauple nuts.
Unlike most fruit producing trees, it takes seven to ten years before the macadamia will begin producing. However, once it does begin producing it will continue for one hundred years or more. That is a long time and a lot of seeds.
The macadamia nut has also been called the bush nut, queensland nut, maroochi nut, queen of nuts and the bauple nut. No matter what it is called, it is one of the most popular and abundant nuts, especially in Hawaii. One of the most popular uses of the nut is chocolate covered macadamia nuts.
The seeds are housed in very hard shells making it hard to acquire the edible seeds. Humans and macows are about the only things that can crack the shells. The seeds are inedible for most animals due to being toxic to their bodies; however, the macow is one of the few animals able to eat the seeds.
Out of all the edible seeds, this particular seed is the highest in fat and the lowest in protein. Usually it is the other way around but this particular seed contains the highest amount of monosaturated fats. Unlike most nuts, this particular one is approved for human consumption; however, very few animals should have them because they are toxic to them and most animals are unable to crack the casing which houses the seeds. The one animal that can crack the housing and eat them without concern of toxicity is a large parrot known as the hyacinth macow.
Most animals cannot consume the edible seed like a human. They can be toxic and cause health problems and most animals cannot crack the hard shell in which the seed is housed. The one animal that can crack the shell and is immune to the toxicity is the hyacinth macaws, better described as large parrots. The macaws that are kept in captivity are typically feed these nuts.
Believe it or not the macadamia nuts and trees have more uses than being edible food commodities. The trees themselves have been used for barriers and ornamental landscaping. The edible seeds are just a bonus and became a hot selling commodity. The trees and edible seeds have been around for centuries and have served different purposes. The history of the native Australian crop is fascinating.
There are four different species of the tree. The integrifolia and the tetraphylla are the only two species that produced the edible raw nuts. The other species produce the seed; however due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides, the raw seeds from those species are very toxic making them poisonous for consumption. The seeds from these trees have also been called queen of nuts, maroochi, queensland, bush, and bauple nuts.
Unlike most fruit producing trees, it takes seven to ten years before the macadamia will begin producing. However, once it does begin producing it will continue for one hundred years or more. That is a long time and a lot of seeds.
The macadamia nut has also been called the bush nut, queensland nut, maroochi nut, queen of nuts and the bauple nut. No matter what it is called, it is one of the most popular and abundant nuts, especially in Hawaii. One of the most popular uses of the nut is chocolate covered macadamia nuts.
The seeds are housed in very hard shells making it hard to acquire the edible seeds. Humans and macows are about the only things that can crack the shells. The seeds are inedible for most animals due to being toxic to their bodies; however, the macow is one of the few animals able to eat the seeds.
Out of all the edible seeds, this particular seed is the highest in fat and the lowest in protein. Usually it is the other way around but this particular seed contains the highest amount of monosaturated fats. Unlike most nuts, this particular one is approved for human consumption; however, very few animals should have them because they are toxic to them and most animals are unable to crack the casing which houses the seeds. The one animal that can crack the housing and eat them without concern of toxicity is a large parrot known as the hyacinth macow.
Most animals cannot consume the edible seed like a human. They can be toxic and cause health problems and most animals cannot crack the hard shell in which the seed is housed. The one animal that can crack the shell and is immune to the toxicity is the hyacinth macaws, better described as large parrots. The macaws that are kept in captivity are typically feed these nuts.
Believe it or not the macadamia nuts and trees have more uses than being edible food commodities. The trees themselves have been used for barriers and ornamental landscaping. The edible seeds are just a bonus and became a hot selling commodity. The trees and edible seeds have been around for centuries and have served different purposes. The history of the native Australian crop is fascinating.
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