h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Lilli Pilli - Native Australian Berries - A9581358
Author: MJ - [Now with 11, yes count them! 11 Entries in Peer Review, take a look if you dare!] - U168592

Another Fruit for the Challenge

Any suggestions?

MJ

I think there should be a note about how popular these are with birds, and how damaging that can be to washing that is hanging somewhere near a Lillipilli tree. Purple stains.

I thought Lillipilli was one word... Not sure why I thought that, though.

Ivan - Good point, I need to add a bit about the fact that small children enjoy throwing both unripe and ripe ones at each other too.

I've found so many different spellings of the Lilli Pilli I'm really not sure which one to go with, but consensus I've found from various other sources is Lilli Pilli. Although, yeah, I've seen lillipilli, lilli-pilli, lilly pilly, lilli pilly, lilly pilly and even lillee pillee. Argh

There we go, updated accordingly Ivan

MJ

Hi, MJ!
This is a nice topic--I'd never heard of these trees or fruit before, and they sound really interesting. I'll look out for them the next time I visit the Botanic Gardens!

I think the entry could be expanded a bit. Checking the botanical background, I can see that it's very confusing, but I think these two points are worth including:

--The name Lilli Pilli is used for a confusing number of plants, with many different species in 3 or 4 genera of the Myrtle family, (Maybe footnote "Including both the genus Acmena and the genus Syzygium." on the word genera)

--Lilli Pillies are widely planted in Australian gardens as hedge and topiary species because of their dense glossy evergreen leaves.

According to http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/APOL15/sep99-6.html
the ones Banks saw were most probably Syzygium paniculatum, not Acmena, so you may need to separate the description of the Common Lilli Pilli from the bit about Banks.

The line "The fruit are much like blueberries," is a bit misleading, since some species seem to have fruits the size of cherries (and even have 'cherry' as part of their English name. )
"The fruits of different species can be as small as blueberries or as large as cherries, and usually have a waxy surface bloom. The colour can range from white through pink to red or lilac." covers the range a bit more.


I wish I could taste that cake!

Azara

Cheers Azara I've taken into account your pointers - see what you think

MJ

That looks great, you've got in enough botany without (I hope) in any way putting people off.

One tiny introduced error: "The colour can range from white through soft pink to red or pale lilac and have a sweet, but slightly acid taste." the two halves of this sentence have ended up mismatched.


Azara

Sorted (I think, I'm not too good at that kind of thing )

MJ

I've updated this a little, think it's looking pretty good now

MJ

I think it looks great! Highly readable, nice mix of information, mouthwatering recipe--it's exactly what a fruit entry should be.


Azara

You've got a 'spon' in the footnote instead of a 'spoon'.

Are you sure it's not a

Azara

Just noticed, I meant Why can't people call them runcible spoons like Edward Lear?

Nice one, MJ... Only one nitpick: befowl is spelled befoul - or have I completely run amok with your pun? If so, abject prostrated apologies

W

Thanks again W Have fixed that little thang up, was wondering if I should add a section about the berry used in dyeing clothes?

MJ

You're welcome!
.. and the answer is yes, I would like to know how it is used to dye fabric, and who by... and whether it is still used in this way?
W

This plant is a fairly common hedge plant in California, although it wouldn't have occured to many that it's edible. I remember trying a few on a neighbors's hedge and not finding them particularly tasty one way or another. It's worth mentioning that these plants grow quickly and are eally really tall, and if left to grow naturally, can out columnar some cypresses (or at least they do, here).

Hi MJ,

Good little nugget

I wondered whether 'acidic taste' sounded better than 'acid taste'?

Jules

Me thinks you're are right, otherwise it reads like they taste like acid...hmm, sulphuric or hydrochloric Much better now

I thought about adding the dyeing in, but now having researched it, there's probably enough info I've found to write a whole Entry on dyeing clothes etc. using berries.

So I'll leave it out for now...

MJ

Good idea.

*sits back to wait for MJ's next entry*



W