Quandong is a small, slim tree that grows in the dry parts of Australia. It reaches 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters) in height. Quandongs have narrow, bright-green leaves and small white flowers. They bear large, round fruits that ripen from a light-green color through bluish-purple to rich red. The ripened fruits consist of an outer succulent part and a very hard “stone” that contains an edible nut, known as dong, or quandong, nuts. The fleshy part can be made into good preserves. The stone is brown, wrinkled, and pitted, and is used for beads and as counters. The timber is hard and durable, though small in diameter, and is used in cabinet work. The Aboriginal peoples of Australia used quandong wood for tanning skins.
