Owenia vernicosa, the emu apple, is a species of tree found in the north of Australia.

The tree occurs on alluvial sand or black and loamy clays over sandstone.

The habitat may be rocky ridge lines and slopes or alongside creeks.

[1] Indigenous Australians pulverized the inner bark of this species and added it to small water bodies to act as a fish toxin, allowing fish to be easily collected from the surface of the water.

[2] Indigenous Australians boiled the inner bark of this species in water and the resulting liquid was used as an antiseptic wash for open cuts and sores.