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Native Australian Plants with Food
Uses
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Botanical name: Acacia aneura
Common name: Mulga
Other common name(s):
Description: One of the longer-living Acacias - some specimens are
perhaps over 250 years old. Silver leaves, small yellow flowers, to 10m
tall.
Use(s): Seeds mixed with water were ground into an edible paste.
Also, the injured branches produce a sweet edible sticky substance called
"bush lollies" which can either be eaten as is or mixed in water to make a
sweet beverage.
Habitat and conditions: Full sun, drought resistant. Prefers sandy
soil. Native to all mainland Australian states, occurs in arid areas.
Reputedly hardy to -8 deg C.
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Botanical name: Acacia bidwillii
Common name: Corkwood Wattle
Other common name(s): Dogwood
Description: Corky-barked small tree to 4m. Produces cream-coloured
flowers.
Use(s): The roots of younger specimens were roasted for food.
Habitat and conditions: Native to semi-arid tropical inland
Australia. Full sun.
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Botanical name: Acacia colei
Common name: Wattle
Other common name(s):
Description: Tree to 6 m. Silvery leaves.
Use(s): Nutritious and tasty seeds. This plant has been exported to
the Sahel semi-arid region of Africa and is looked upon with great promise
as a local crop.
Habitat and conditions: Full sun, drought resistant. Sandy soil.
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Botanical name: Acacia coriacea
Common name: Wirewood
Other common name(s): Desert Oak
Description: Tree to 8m. Yellow flowers.
Use(s): The pods and seeds are ground & eaten.
Habitat and conditions: Native to Northern arid Australia. Very
drought tolerant. Prefers sandy soil and full sun.
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Botanical name:
Acacia holosericea
Common name: Velvet Wattle
Other common name(s): Candelabra Wattle
Description: Shrub to 2.5m. Small yellow flowers occur on spikes.
Use(s): A water infusion was made with the pounded roots to treat
throat disorders. The leaves exude a substance that disturbs or poisons
fish in waterholes and rivers to make it easy to catch them. The roasted
or boiled seeds are nutritious and tasty.
Habitat and conditions: Native to tropical Australia. Found along
watercourses and in open forest areas. Full sun.
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Botanical name: Acacia kempeana
Common name: Witchetty Bush
Other common name(s): Wanderrie Wattle
Description: Shrub or small tree to 4m. Greyish bark. Yellow
flowers.
Use(s): The roots of this tree are inhabited, in their native
environment, by Witchetty Grubs. Thus this acacia is the host to probably
the most famous bush tucker of them all! Not for the squeamish I'm afraid.
For interest only - Witchetty Grubs not included.
Habitat and conditions: Native to central Australia. Drought
resistant; thrives in a variety of soils. Full sun.
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Botanical name: Acacia murrayana
Common name: Colony Wattle
Other common name(s): Sandplain Wattle
Description: Shrub to 4m. Clustered yellow flowers.
Use(s): The seeds are nutritious. Closely related to A. victoriae.
Habitat and conditions: Native to central Australia. Full sun. Sandy
soil.
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Botanical name: Acacia retinodes
Common name: Wirilda
Other common name(s): Swamp Wattle
Description: Also known as Water Wattle. Small tree to 6m.
Blue-green leaves and yellow flowers.
Use(s): Seeds are edible.
Habitat and conditions: Native to temperate southern Australia and
Tassie. Tolerates clay soils and poor drainage. Part to full sun.
______________________________________________________________ Botanical name: Acacia
tetrogonophylla
Common name: Prickly Wattle
Other common name(s): Dead-finish
Description: Shrub to 3m. Myriad beautiful yellow follows in
globular clusters.
Use(s): Seeds are edible, both in the pod while still green,
and dried, ground, mixed with water & baked in the earth. A root
bark decoction was used to treat sores. The leaves were chewed to
cure dysentery. An infusion was made from the cleaned inner bark and
consumed for coughs. Wood ashes (minus bark) was used as an antiseptic.
Habitat and conditions: Occurs widely throughout Central
Australia. Extremely tough & drought tolerant.
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Botanical name: Acacia torulosa
Common name: Wrinkly-Podded Wattle
Other common name(s): Torulosa Wattle, Deep-Gold Wattle
Description: Shrub to 3m. Profusions of golden flowers.
Use(s): Nutritious and tasty seed.
Habitat and conditions: Arid tropical and subtropical Australia.
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Botanical name: Acacia victoriae
Common name: Elegant Wattle
Other common name(s): Bramble Wattle
Description: Prickly shrub, yellow flowers.
Use(s): Contains compounds called avicins which have been shown to
inhibit inflammation and cancer in laboratory studies. For food, probably
the most popular wattle seed source. Nutritious and tasty.
Habitat and conditions: Occurs in semi-arid and arid southern
Australia.
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Botanical name: Adansonia gregorii
Common name: Australian Baobab Tree
Other common name(s): Bottle Tree
Description: Tree to 15m. Deciduous in the dry season, extremely
distinctive tree with swollen trunk (which can grow to more than 3m in
diameter). Ovoid fruit is around 15cm long. Large creamy white flowers.
Smaller than its Madagascan cousin. Also known as Adansonia gibbosa.
Use(s): The fruit pith & seed is edible - either roasted or
raw. The leaves and roots were used to treat digestive complaints.
Habitat and conditions: Native to tropical semi-arid regions of
northwest Western Australia.
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Botanical name: Aleurites moluccana
Common name: Candlenut Tree
Other common name(s):
Description: Large evergreen tree to 20m. Hairy large leaves crowd
near the ends of branches. Olive-coloured ball-shaped fruit, containing
one or two seeds.
Use(s): The seeds yield oil that is inedible and POISONOUS. When
roasted, the kernels are edible and have laxative and, reputedly,
aphrodisiac effects. The pulped kernels have been used for headaches,
fever and rheumatism.
Habitat and conditions: Northern NSW and SE Queensland. Variants are
also native to many South Pacific and Asian equatorial countries. Prefers
moist warm locations.
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Botanical name: Alpinia coerulea
Common name: Native Ginger
Other common name(s):
Description: Clumping native ginger with long glossy leaves, to 2m.
White flowers cluster on the end of stems, replaced by small blue fruit
about 1-2cm in diameter.
Use(s): The fruit flesh is edible and the seeds within, along with
the young roots, taste like ginger. The leaves were wrapped around other
food for cooking.
Habitat and conditions: Northern NSW, southern Queensland. Moist,
well drained soil. Part shade. Frost tender.
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Botanical name: Araucaria bidwillii
Common name: Bunya Nut Pine
Other common name(s):
Description: Very large tree to 50m, with a single straight trunk
and thin branches extending outwards in all directions with clumps of dark
green leaves on the ends. Spectacular.
Use(s): The nuts of the Bunya Nut Pine fall to the ground in large
coconut-sized cones, and taste great either raw or roasted.
Habitat and conditions: Native to Queensland. Hardy down to about -4
deg C. Prefers a warm subtropical or tropical climate. Likes regular
rainfall.
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Botanical name: Austromyrtus dulcis
Common name: Midgen Berry
Other common name(s):
Description: Shrub to 2m. Glossy green leaves with white flowers
turning to pinkish/white edible berries covered with spots.
Use(s): The berries are edible and sweet.
Habitat and conditions: Native to coastal northern NSW and southeast
Queensland including Fraser Island. Full sun to part shade, good rainfall.
Tolerates light frost.
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Botanical name: Backhousia citriodora
Common name: Lemon Scented Myrtle
Other common name(s): Lemon Ironwood
Description: Small bushy tree to 8m, although can sometimes reach
15m in the wild. Green leaves smell strongly of lemon. The younger leaves
are more reddish. Flowers are cream or white and occur profusely when in
bloom.
Use(s): The leaves smell amazingly like lemon and are used as a
spice. A tea can also be prepared which is said to have a relaxing
effect.
Habitat and conditions: Native to coastal Queensland. Prefers rich,
moist soil. Part to full sun. Hardy to -8 deg C once established. Keep
warm when young though.
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Botanical name: Billardiera cymosa
Common name: Sweet Appleberry
Other common name(s):
Description: Small evergreen climber, beautiful purplish
flowers, edible berries.
Use(s): The berries are sweet and highly regarded as bushfood.
Habitat and conditions: Native to south eastern Australia,
generally in forested coastal areas. Frost tolerant, prefers moist soil.
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Botanical name: Billardiera longifolia
Common name: Purple Appleberry
Other common name(s): Cherry Berry
Description: Evergreen climber, produces beautiful pale green
flowers followed by bright purple, edible fruit.
Use(s): The berries are edible.
Habitat and conditions: Native to south eastern Australia,
generally in forested coastal areas. Frost tolerant once established,
prefers moist soil, full to part sun.
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Botanical name: Brachychiton populneus
Common name: Kurrajong Bottle Tree
Other common name(s):
Description: Usually a small tree but can reach 20m in the wild. The
green leaves are glossy. Cream dumbbell-shaped flowers. Green/grey bark.
Slightly swollen trunk in older specimens.
Use(s): Seeds can be ground into a spice that has been used as a
coffee replacement and also to make bread. The tap root of this tree can
also be eaten as a vegetable. The bark exudes an edible sap as well.
Habitat and conditions: Native to eastern Australia from Victoria to
northern Queensland. Does well in a variety of well-drained soil types.
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Botanical name: Brachychiton rupestris
Common name: Bottle Tree
Other common name(s): Queensland Bottle Tree
Description: Tree to 18m. Small bell-shaped flowers. Has a swollen
trunk, hence the name. Older specimens are spectacular.
Use(s): Exudes a sweet edible jelly-like substance. In the desert,
was a source of water contained between the inner wood and the bark. The
seeds are edible either raw or roasted, and the tap root was eaten as a
vegetable.
Habitat and conditions: Native to arid Queensland and New South
Wales. Hardy to 0 deg C. Full sun.
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Botanical name: Buchanania obovata
Common name: Green Plum
Other common name(s): Wild Plum
Description: Small deciduous tree to 6m. The fruit is a green berry
resembling a plum. The bark is grey and rough. The leaves are light green.
Use(s): The green plum-like fruit was pounded up into a sweet edible
paste. Cavities were treated with minced leaves and a gargled (not
swallowed) mouthwash was prepared against toothache from an infusion of
the inner bark and sapwood. The pure infusion was also used to bathe sore
eyes.
Habitat and conditions: Native to tropical Northern Territory and
Queensland near the Gulf of Carpentaria. Full sun, warm conditions.
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Botanical name: Capparis mitchellii
Common name: Bush Orange
Other common name(s):
Description: Small tree to 10m. Grey/green leaves. White flowers at
several times throughout the year. Produces purple fruits about 7cm in
diameter.
Use(s): The mature fruit is edible.
Habitat and conditions: Native to arid parts of all mainland states.
Full sun. Drought tolerant. Will grow in alkaline soils.
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Botanical name: Capparis spinosa var. nummularia
Common name: Bush Passionfruit
Other common name(s): Australian Caper Bush
Description: Shrub to 2m. Flowers range from
white to pink. The green fruit ripens to yellow, usually off the bush.
Use(s): The ripe (yellow) fruit is edible.
Habitat and conditions: Full sun, drought tolerant. The common
species "spinosa" is apparently of Mediterranean origin; however a history
of Aboriginal use of the "nummularia" variety may indicate that this
variety is indigenous. One Central Australian name for this plant is "Akatyerre".
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Botanical name: Carpobrotus rossii
Common name: Native Pigface
Other common name(s):
Description: Prostrate herb spreading to 3m. Thick, succulent spiky
leaves often tipped reddish or purple. The flowers have a white centre
surrounded by brilliant thin purple petals. The red fruit is fleshy.
Use(s): Was used in Tasmania as a purgative. Both the fruit and the
leaves are edible.
Habitat and conditions: Native in all southern states including
Tasmania, predominantly in sandy coastal areas. Well drained soil; part to
full sun.
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Botanical name: Castanospermum australe
Common name: Moreton Bay Chestnut
Other common name(s): Blackbean
Description: Strong, handsome tall tree to 40m in the wild;
frequently 10 to 20m in cultivation. Shiny green leaves on low spreading
branches. Produces arrays of beautiful small red and yellow flowers hidden
under the foliage. Pods follow which are 15-20cm long.
Use(s): The seeds were sliced and washed, and then boiled or roasted
and eaten. Note that under normal conditions, unless prepared properly,
the seeds are poisonous. Parts of the tree
contain chemicals which, after careful extraction, have been shown to have
anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-HIV properties.
Habitat and conditions: Native to coastal rainforests from northern
NSW to northern Queensland. Prefers moist fertile and well-drained soils.
Also found on some Pacific islands. Part to full sun.
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Botanical name: Cissus hypoglauca
Common name: Native Grape
Other common name(s): Jungle Vine
Description: Tall evergreen woody climber. Clusters of yellow
flowers. Very thick, strong vine.
Use(s): The dark blue berries are edible. The berries were also
crushed and mixed in water and gargled, to treat sore throat.
Habitat and conditions: Forest areas of eastern Victoria, New South
Wales and Queensland. Frost tender, shade to part shade, rich soil.
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Botanical name: Cleome viscosa
Common name: Tickweed
Other common name(s): Sticky Cleome
Description: Annual herb covered in sticky hairs. Flowers are
yellow. The entire plant is fragrant.
Use(s): The seeds can be used as a condiment, and also to relieve the
symptoms of fever. The leaves, stems and flowers can be mashed and applied
externally to relieve body aches and pains, headaches, and skin
irritations.
Habitat and conditions: Occurs in tropical Australia and worldwide.
Tolerates a range of conditions.
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Botanical name: Clerodendrum floribundum
Common name: Lolly Bush
Other common name(s):
Description: Tall shrub to 5m with tapered oval leaves and large
heads of long white flowers, followed by black berries above an enlarged
red calyx.
Use(s): A lotion from the branches or bark was used for bodily
aches. The roots were boiled and eaten.
Habitat and conditions: Native all across tropical Australia. Part to
full sun.
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Botanical name: Cochlospermum fraseri
Common name: Kapok Bush
Other common name(s): Cotton Tree
Description: Deciduous tropical small tree to 6m with starlike
yellow flowers and green ovoid pods filled with cotton-like material.
Use(s): The cooked roots were eaten and also the flowers (cooked or
raw). The leaves were used in a decoction to help fever.
Habitat and conditions: Native to tropical northern Australia.
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Botanical name: Cucumis melo ssp agrestis
Common name: Ulcardo Melon
Other common name(s): Bush Cucumber
Description: An Australian variety of C. melo. Trailing, with
yellow flowers.
Use(s): The ripe fruit is edible.
Habitat and conditions: The species occurs worldwide, and the
Australian variety is widely distributed over arid and semi-arid regions.
Drought tolerant. Central Australian name is "ilkartwe".
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Botanical name: Davidsonia pruriens
Common name: Davidson's plum
Other common name(s):
Description: Small tree to 10m. The ripe purple-blue fruit look like
plums. Large glossy dark green leaves. Very ornamental.
Use(s): The ripe fruit is edible. They have also been used in jams
and even to make wine!
Habitat and conditions: Native to subtropical and tropical east coast
of Queensland and northern NSW (two different varieties for the southern
and northern forms). Likes to be well watered with well drained soil.
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Botanical name: Elaeocarpus grandis
Common name: Blue Quandong
Other common name(s):
Description: Large tree to 35. Stunningly coloured at different
times: the leaves are dark green but also red depending on age; the
dumbbell shaped flowers are cream; and the inch-long edible fruit is
bright blue.
Use(s): The blue fruit is edible but sour. A more palatable past was
made my mixing the pulps with water.
Habitat and conditions: Occurs along the east coast in subtropical
and tropical areas and also in the Northern Territory. Prefers moist
environments.
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Botanical name: Enchylaena tomentosa
Common name: Ruby Saltbush
Other common name(s): Barrier Saltbush
Description: Small trailing evergreen plant to 1m. Small thin
grey-green semi-succulent leaves, stems slightly hairy. Very small (0.5cm)
berries ripen to red from green and yellow.
Use(s): The tiny red berries are edible.
Habitat and conditions: Native to all arid and semi-arid temperate
and subtropical and tropical parts of Australia. Prefers full sun, well
drained.
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Botanical name: Eremophila debilis
Common name: Winter Apple
Other common name(s): Amulla
Description: Small shrub, almost prostrate & trailing to 2m. Light
green leaves; small white to mauvish flowers. The green to pink-purple
fruit is succulent and bitter-tasting. Also known as Myoporum debile.
Use(s): The plant was used as a treatment for venereal disease. The
fruits were eaten and have a bitter taste.
Habitat and conditions: Native to coastal Northern NSW and SE
Queensland.
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Botanical name: Ficus coronata
Common name: Sandpaper Fig
Other common name(s):
Description: Medium fig tree to 12m. Broad dark-green leaves are
rough on the top. The edible fig is between 1 and 2cm in diameter and is
dark purple when ripe.
Use(s): The milky sap of young stems is applied to wounds. A poultice
is made from the bark too. The purple-black fruit are edible and sweet,
once the hairy skin has been removed.
Habitat and conditions: Native to rainforest environments near the
coast, from eastern Victoria through to Queensland and into the Northern
Territory. Prefers moist soil, part shade. ______________________________________________________________
Botanical name: Ficus macrophylla
Common name: Moreton Bay Fig
Other common name(s): Australian Banyan
Description: Massive fig tree, can exceed 35m in height, with a
canopy spread in excess of 55m. The leaves are large, glossy and dark
green. The ripe fruit is reddish with spots. The trunk is wide and
contains many nooks and crannies. Drops aerial roots when mature. Don't
plant this one next to your house. One of those plants where the seed is
hard to mentally associate with the grown tree!
Use(s): The soft, ripe fruit does not taste pleasant when eaten
raw but can be mashed together with honey and flour, and then baked to
make fig cakes.
Habitat and conditions: Occurs across the east coast of
Australia. Prefers decent rain, full sun.
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Botanical name: Ficus platypoda
Common name: Native Rock Fig
Other common name(s): Small-leaved Moreton Bay Fig
Description: Small to medium multi-trunked fig to 15m with smooth
greay bark and aerial roots. The fruit is orange to red and edible.
Use(s): The fruit is soaked in water and an edible pulp is prepared.
Habitat and conditions: Native to northern Australia. These trees can
grow on rocks and in the most unlikely places. Prefers moist location.
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Botanical name:
Haemodorum spicatum
Common name: Mardja
Other common name(s): Bloodroot
Description: Perennial stalky herb to 1m. The flowers are deep
purple, almost black. The bulbs are red, hence the name.
Use(s): The bulbs were roasted and used as a spice. It also
apparently treated dysentery.
Habitat and conditions: Native to Western Australia.
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Botanical name: Hibiscus tiliaceus
Common name: Cotton tree
Other common name(s): Yellow Hibiscus
Description: Small tree to 9m. Round heart-shaped leaves are smooth
and soft and profuse. The flower is a beautiful large yellow spiral funnel
with a crimson centre.
Use(s): The leaves are wrapped around food before cooking to add
flavour, and the flowers are edible. The bark and sap-wood are infused in
water and poured over wounds as an antiseptic.
Habitat and conditions: Occurs in subtropical and tropical coastal
regions of Australia, and worldwide.
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Botanical name: Ipomoea costata
Common name: Native Sweet Potato
Other common name(s): Desert Yam
Description: Perennial climber, becomes medium shrub as it grows
older. The flowers are beautiful pink-mauve circular funnels; the leaves
too are (semi-) circular. A beautiful specimen.
Use(s): The large tuber is edible.
Habitat and conditions: Native to the inland tropics from
Western Australia to the Northern Territory.
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Botanical name: Kunzea pomifera
Common name: Muntries
Other common name(s): Munthari
Description: Prostrate spreading woody shrub with small shiny
leaves. The ripe berries are small and purple.
Use(s): The berries are very delicious and taste like apples without
the acidity. The can be eaten raw or processed into a jam.
Habitat and conditions: Native to the south and west coast of the
continent, including Kangaroo Island. Prefers sandy well-drained soils.
Full sun.
Special note:
New seeds are now available!
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Botanical name: Macadamia integrifolia
Common name: Smooth-shelled Macadamia
Other common name(s):
Description: Small to medium tree to 15m. The leaves are glossy,
medium to dark green. The white flowers occur in a long raceme. The fruit
is, of course, the Macadamia Nut, with a smooth hard green shell about
2.5cm in diameter. It is this species which is the most widely cultivated.
Use(s): The nuts are edible and delicious, either raw or roasted.
Australia's only major native edible commercial crop. The oil from
the nuts can be prepared into a soothing skin lotion. When host to bees,
the honey has antibacterial properties.
Habitat and conditions: Native to a small area of southeastern
Queensland. Subtropical rainforest, part to full sun. This tree is now
cultivated all over the world. Many people mistakenly believe that it is
native to Hawaii.
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Botanical name: Macadamia tetraphylla
Common name: Rough-shelled Macadamia
Other common name(s):
Description: Small to medium tree to 18m. Glossy serrated leaves.
New growth is reddish. Pink-purple flowers similar in form to M.
integrifolia. The nut is brown, rough and hard. This is of course the
other type of Macadamia Nut. Natural hybrids exist between this Macadamia
and its sister species.
Use(s): Nuts are edible, but not as tasty when roasted as M.
integrifolia.
Habitat and conditions: Native to a small area of northern NSW and
southern Queensland. This tree is now cultivated all over the world. Many
people mistakenly believe that it is native to Hawaii.
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Botanical name: Marsdenia australis
Common name: Bush Banana
Other common name(s): Cogla, Native Pear
Description: Long green edible fruit. Also known as Leichardtia
australis.
Use(s): The fruit is edible and sweet.
Habitat and conditions: Occurs in arid and semi-arid areas from
Western Australia to the Northern Territory. Full sun, drought tolerant.
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Botanical name: Mentha australis
Common name: River Mint
Other common name(s): Australian Mint, Native Mint
Description: Creeping herb with small tapered
leaves, with the flowers blooming at leaf junctions. A much stronger mint
than normal peppermint or spearmint.
Use(s): Makes an interesting mint tea, which is reputedly
good for easing the effects of colds. The crushed leaves were sniffed to
relieve headache.
Habitat and conditions: Shaded areas near waterways
(usually inland) in all states.
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Botanical name: Morinda citrifolia
Common name: Great Morinda
Other common name(s): Cheesefruit, Noni
Description: Large shrub or small tree to 12m. Large glossy oval
leaves to 30cm. The small white flowers grow from a fleshy structure. The
ripe fruit is green-white and ovoid, and smells like vomit!
Use(s): The fruit is bland but edible, raw or cooked, sometimes with
salt. The young leaves can be eaten as a vegetable. The juice is high in
Vitamin C and is marketed today as a tonic. An infusion of the rootbark
was used as an antiseptic. A preparation of the roots and trunk has
hypotensive properties. All in all, a very useful tree indeed.
Habitat and conditions: Occurs along the seashore of tropical
Queensland and the Northern Territory, as well as over many Pacific
islands and SE Asia. Prefers wet, swampy ground.
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Botanical name: Owenia acidula
Common name: Emu Apple
Other common name(s): Sour Plum, Native Nectarine, Desert Plum
Description: Small tree. The leaves comprise many darker glossy
mini-leaves. The fruit is reddish and succulent and very sour.
Use(s): The fruit is edible, but not particularly tasty - too sour.
The wood was boiled and the cooled infusion was used to bathe sore eyes.
Was used to treat malaria.
Habitat and conditions: Native to arid Central Australia. Full sun,
drought tolerant.
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Botanical name: Owenia reticulata
Common name: Desert Walnut
Other common name(s):
Description: Small tree to 10m. Large leaves comprise smaller smooth
leathery mini-leaves.
Use(s): The seeds were roasted and extracted, and applied to sores. A
leaf infusion was used as a poultice. The nutty fruits were possibly
eaten.
Habitat and conditions: Coastal areas of tropical Western Australia
and the Northern Territory. Sandy soil. Full sun.
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Botanical name: Podocarpus elatus
Common name: Plum Pine
Other common name(s): Brown Pine
Description: Large tree to 40m. Very fast growing. The fruit is
actually a fleshy blue-black stem attaching the seed to the branch, as a
conifer.
Use(s): The sweet fruit-stems were eaten.
Habitat and conditions: Native to coastal rainforest areas right up
the east coast of Australia.
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Botanical name: Prostanthera rotundifolia
Common name: Round-leaf Mint Bush
Other common name(s):
Description: Shrub to 2.5m. Small medium-green
rounded leaves, sometimes with a purplish hue, pink-purple flowers.
Wonderfully scented!
Use(s): Is used along with Mentha australis to make a
native mint tea. The volatile oil of P. rotundifolia has carminative
properties.
Habitat and conditions: Occurs across the south-eastern
side of Australia, including many areas of NSW and Victoria. Likes a
sheltered position with adequate watering.
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Botanical name: Santalum acuminatum
Common name: Quandong
Other common name(s): Native Peach
Description: Shrub or small tree to 8m but usually around 3m. The
plant is parasitic, with its roots attaching themselves to the roots of
another shrub, herb or grass. The leaves are distinctly grey-green and are
leathery and variable in size. The flowers are small, white, and occur in
clusters at the ends of branchlets. The greenish or yellow fruit is about
3cm in diameter and becomes bright red when ripe.
Use(s): The edible fruit is high in vitamin C and various minerals,
and is made into jams, pies, or eaten raw. The ground seed kernels have
been used as a liniment. The root was ground and an infusion was drunk to
treat rheumatism. The leaves were crushed and a poultice was made to treat
sores and boils.
Habitat and conditions: Native to semi-arid and arid regions of
mainland Australia. Prefers full sun and sandy soils.
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Botanical name: Santalum lanceolatum
Common name: Plumbush
Other common name(s): Northern Sandalwood
Description: Shrub or small tree to 7m. Rough grey bark and medium
sized grey leaves with small clusters of cream flowers. The red berries
are about 1cm in diameter and become dark purple or black when ripe.
Use(s): The sweet-tasting fruit was eaten raw. They are reputed to
be slightly narcotic. A boiled infusion of the leaves and bark was
consumed as a purgative. A poultice of the roots was applied to treat
rheumatism.
Habitat and conditions: Widespread across Australia, throughout the
inland as well as in drier coastal regions.
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Botanical name: Solanum centrale
Common name: Bush Tomato, Bush Raisin
Other common name(s): Desert Raisin, Akudjura
Description: Small shrub. The leaves are pale green-grey with fine
hairs. The green-purplish fruits, which are around an inch in diameter,
dry out on the bush, turning yellowish and resembling raisins.
Use(s): The fruit tastes sweet when ripe with a tomato-like flavour.
The fruit can be fully dried and stored.
Habitat and conditions: Native to arid regions of central Australia
from Western Australia across to South Australia and the Northern
Territory. Full sun. Drought tolerant.
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Botanical name: Solanum aviculare
Common name: Kangaroo Apple
Other common name(s):
Description: Shrub to 2m. Long dark leaves on purplish stems. The
flowers are mauve or purplish. The fruit is a pale orangish berry about
5cm in diameter.
Use(s): The plant is a source of solasodine, which is used to produce
steroidal hormones in the medicine industry as contraceptives. The fruit
is edible but not very tasty.
Habitat and conditions: Occurs widely in southern states from Western
Australia across to Victoria and also Tasmania. Prefers sheltered, moist
locations.
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Botanical name: Syzygium forte
Common name: White Apple
Other common name(s): Flaky-Barked Satinash
Description: Medium tree. The new leaf growth is reddish. The fruit
is whitish and edible.
Use(s): The fruit is edible and crunchy.
Habitat and conditions: Native to tropical mainland Australia.
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Botanical name: Syzygium leuhmannii
Common name: Riberry
Other common name(s):
Description: Tree to 30m, more commonly a shrub to 10m. The leaves
are glossy and dark green, with new leaf growth a striking pinkish colour.
The flowers are creamy white. The fruit is a reddish edible berry.
Use(s): The berries are edible and are used to make jams and even as
an ice cream flavour.
Habitat and conditions: Native to the subtropical and tropical
eastern coast of Australia. Prefers a moist environment.
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Botanical name: Syzygium oleosum
Common name: Blue Lilly Pilly
Other common name(s):
Description: Medium tree to 15m. Leaves are profuse, dense and
glossy. Small soft spiny white flower balls. The inch-wide fruit varies
from pink to blue and is edible. Formerly known as Syzygium coolminianum.
Use(s): The berries are edible and very tasty.
Habitat and conditions: Native to moist forested areas from the mid
coast of NSW to the Northern Territory.
Special note:
This species is currently only available as a young plant, within
Australia. The seeds are due in Winter.
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Botanical name: Tasmannia lanceolata
Common name: Tasmanian Mountain Pepper
Other common name(s):
Description: Shrub to 5m. Leaves are dark green, narrow and leathery
on reddish stems. Small yellow creamy flowers. The fruit is small, dark
red or black.
Use(s): The dried berries or leaves are used to make a very peppery
seasoning. The bark has been used to treat scurvy and as a stomachic.
Habitat and conditions: Native to Tasmania, also found occasionally
in Victoria and southern New South Wales. Prefers to grow at altitude.
Moist conditions.
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Botanical name: Terminalia canescens
Common name: Native Almond
Other common name(s):
Description: Small clustered grey-green leaves.
Use(s): The fruit is edible.
Habitat and conditions: Native to semi-arid Western Australia.
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Botanical name: Terminalia carpentariae
Common name: Gulf Plum
Other common name(s): Salty Plum
Description: The ripe fruit is soft and pale green.
Use(s): The fruit is edible.
Habitat and conditions: Native to tropical Queensland and the
Northern Territory.
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Botanical name: Terminalia catappa
Common name: Sea Almond
Other common name(s): Tropical Almond
Description: Medium deciduous tree to 30m. The overall shape
resembles a pagoda. The large green leaves turn pinkish before falling.
The nutty fruit is green and turns reddish-purple as it ripens.
Use(s): The nuts are edible and taste like almonds.
Habitat and conditions: Occurs in northern tropical Australia and
surrounding islands, and throughout tropical Asia. Full sun, moist
well-drained soil.
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Botanical name: Terminalia ferdinandiana
Common name: Billygoat Plum
Other common name(s): Kakadu Plum
Description: Small deciduous tree to 10m. Large light green oval
leaves. Small flowers are cream coloured and aromatic. Yellow-green
almond-sized fruit.
Use(s): The fruits were eaten raw and can be used to make jams
too. Possibly the world's richest source of Vitamin C.
Habitat and conditions: Native to tropical northern Australia.
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Botanical name: Terminalia platyphylla
Common name: Pear Tree
Other common name(s):
Description: Small tree. Large broad leaves. Cream coloured flower
spikes.
Use(s): The fruit is edible. Also, the hardened exudate from the
trunk is eaten as toffee.
Habitat and conditions: Native to tropical western Queensland and the
Northern Territory. Often found along watercourses. Full sun. ______________________________________________________________
Botanical name: Waterhousia floribunda
Common name: Weeping Lilly Pilly
Other common name(s):
Description: Tree around 8m, can reach 25m, with profuse small
white flowers followed by round green edible fruit. Leaves have a drooping
habit with colourful new growth. Formerly known as
Syzygium floribundum.
Use(s): The berries are edible, but only just!
Habitat and conditions: Native to eastern Australia. Prefers a
moist, well drained environment, full sun. Barely frost tolerant. ______________________________________________________________ Botanical name:
Xanthorrhoea quadrangulata
Common name: Mount Lofty Grass Tree
Other common name(s): Rock Grass Tree
Description: Slow-growing plant to 2m, excluding the flowering
stalk. The long vertical stalks end in flowering cones, especially 1 to 2
years after a fire has passed through. The long spiky leaves radiate in
all directions. In its native environment, the trunks become gradually
exposed with age & the passing of fires which burn the older bottom leaves
off. An eye-catcher.
Use(s): The young leaves and roots are edible. A flour was made
by grinding the seeds. When in flower, the nectar is sweet.
Habitat and conditions: Native to temperate arid regions
in southern Australia. Full sun, well drained soil. Frost hardy. |