News / Northern wild orange

The Northern wild orange is known as Akarley in the Alyawarre language. The small slender tree of this wild orange plant grows about 3½ m high with dark bark and weeping foliage. It produces fragrant, creamy white flowers during the flowering stage that open during the night and wither before the end of the next day. The fruit is green when unripe, turning yellow or with a red tint when ripens in February. The Akarley is eaten raw after pulling off the tough outer skin and has a sweet flavour.

The Akarley is important to the Aboriginal people of Utopia and ceremonies are performed to ensure the health and well-being of this plant, both spiritually and physically.