ISSN 0811-5354

ASSOCIATION OF SOCIETIES FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN

AUSTRALIAN FOOD PLANTS STUDY GROUP

NEWSLETTER NO. 9 JUNE 1990

Clear- Members, Thank you for your response to the last newsletter. All contributiot-1s for publication gratefully received. As it is now that time of year again, when subscript ions are due, a11 monetary contributions gr-atefully received as well! Annual subs. for this Year (1990-1991) are $3, and we really would appreciate it if YOU could renew promptly. On the subject of newsletters, some of the last batch.have tC!ee1-1 retur-t-led. C.an anyone help by updating any of the following adck-esses please:'

R. Bender Charlotte Elder Frank Jordan A.Moore/J.Blatch R.M.6.2222 6/16 Royal Ave. P.O. Box 39 83 Fitzgerald St Horsham Glenhuntly 5th. Brisbane Katoomba Vic, 3401 Vic. 3163 ~'l'd.dl01 N.S.W. 2780

Rodney Barker has forwarded some articles he had in prer-)at-ation ,for future newsletters, so these will gradually appear in forthconling issues, beginning with the Vic Chericoff interview in this edition. Thank:s Rodney. We would like members to consider the possibility of working on a Grou~:) 13roject of soma sort. Perhaps as a first step, we could consider tz~r-eparins~anarticle for "~ustralianPlants". What material and format should we consider? Edible plants by habitat or climate? Type of ? Part of plant eaten? Your suggestions are solicited. Maybe if we are s~iccessful with an article, we could try for something more ambitious. For-. a start, would individual members be willing to prepare and submit, say two, reports on favourite plants with edible parts, under the following general headings:-

Sc:ient ific Name Common NameCs!/Aboriginal Namets) bescription 4 Natural Yabitat/Climate/Soil Distribution

I='r'o~agation/Cultii,~atior~-/Pestsand Diseases- IPersonal- experience is-most ' important her-e 1 Part saten/Harvesting/Preparation/TASTE!!!!! Nutritional Factors Advantages and Disadvantages Further Reading

Perhaps we could consider publishing in instalments as one option. This material would also form a database of information for future reference. Anyway, everyone put on Your thinking caps. As articles arrive, we'll publish topics to avoid duplication,and also print ideas for thought and discussion. Best wishes, Lenore Lindsay (for

River Wangrcvc

(4tgicorsr cornisul~tu*) SEED BANK

Dianne and Neil Hoy have agreed to fill the POS~~~O~Sof Seed Bank curators for the Study Group. Please send DONA.TIONS and requests directly to them at 12 Anderson St., Rockhampton, O'l'd., 6700, or contact individual members to swap directly. Requests should be accompanied by a stamped envelope.

Getrald Kcrerschner of Elack. Rock via Orroroo, S.A. 5631, is intet-estcd in arid area plants, and has seeds and plants of Santalum acuminatum to exchange.

Fred Bell of 73 Hawkesbury Espl., Sylvania Waters, N.S. W. 2226, wishes to obtain M~lt-t-~~t-~gseed (Microseris scapigera) ,and has seeds of plants listed under- his name in the Members' Garden section to swap.

Russell Starr, 22 Oraston Avc., Briohton, S. A. 5068, is anxious to obtalr-I fresh seed of Passif lora cinnabarina.

Brett Robinson, a research agronomist with the N-S-W. Dept. of Agriculture and Fisheries, requests seeds and/or cutting material of good quality Burdekin Plums (Pleiogyniurn timorense). These are for incorporation into a trial of nativeeplants with potential as food'crops. Out-of-pocket or freight- charges to forward material can be reimbursed. Send to Brett at North Coast Agricultural Institute, Wollonabar, N. S. W. 2680.

POSTSCRIPTS TO LAST NEWSLETTER

Srzygium oleosum: smzll decorative tree with glossy lanceolate , pink when new. Fruit colour is variable, most commonly Purplish pink, and either globulal- or ovoid in shape. ~dibfe,typical lill~pill~taste, not particularly noteworthy.

Eugenia reinwardti,ana:(the only Australian Eugenia left - the others have ~111become Acmenas or Syzygiumsl: An attractive reportedly to 6m, but as a garden subject probably 2m, it is relatively slow growing. The bark is flaky to smooth, leaves shiny, rounded to 5cm x 2cm wide,new bronze foliage is striking. Small axillary k~l?it-rflowers are followed by red globular fruit to 2cm with persistant calyx lobes. The fruit contains a seed which takes UP about half the volume - the bigger the fruit the bigger the seed- and sometimes becomes multiple as the fruit gets larger. It has a pleasant taste, and is very suitable to eat fresh. I find it grows well in a shaded i~osition, but others of our mernbet-s say they grow it well in full sun. It I-leeas frost: free conditions. The seed strik,es readily. but is slow growing. It seems to fruit just about all year, especially after rain or a good watet-i ng. Jim Hill (Edmonton, Q' l'd).

Further to the request for information about native bees in Newsletter 8, Mr. T. Carter has kindly given us permission to print a COPY of the paper hepresented as part of the Arbor Week observances at Tondoon Botanic Gardens in Gladstone in May. \

On a social visit to Byfield mid-June, we were impressed by the Grasstree (Xanthorrhea sp.1 - pale candles in the gloom, echoing the tell straight trunks of the pine trees. On a more mundane level, the flowering spikes can- be sucked like lollypops, or soaked in water to extract the nectar as a sweet drink. HOUSING AND HARVESTING NATIVE BEES.

By Thomas K. Cartel-.

Stingless bees (Tr.igu17a species)

The hive is built from two boxes each being 280mm x 230mm x 130mm deep (internal dimensions). The top box becomes the lid of the bottom box. \ Veneered 18mm Craftwood is OK if painted properly. Plywood is suite good 12mm or- thicl

------Make two. lide,fix with two screws each end.No-2 lid is fitteh when 1 \ No..I 1s removed with honey.

----Bole in bott om a3 tap box.

------Entrance 50mm X 4mrn into top box.

Because of the nature of the brood, the small hole (?O x 50) will discourage any brood buildil-tg in the top box, keeping it free for cleat-\ honey. However, do not make the hole smaller as the bees build passages for air circulation and need some space. Brood temperature is critical and the bees will design an air conditioning system to suit. For the same reason do not shot-ten the entrance hole less than 5CImrn. The bees will. adjust it to suit their needs; longer in the summer, shorter in the winter, sometiKnes sealing it off except for a small hole at each end. When collecting bees from a bush hive be careful not to destroy the brood nest. Carefully place the brood nest in the bottom box and use some of its wax to stick it into place in the back corner of the box. Place it the same war up as it was ot-iginally. Sirnply press the edge of it into the wood and it will stick in place. Do the same with some of the honey p~tsand pollen, then fit the top box, also with some honey pots and pollen. Finally screw on the lid, and the bees will soon find the entrance hole. Collect the colony into its new hive before lunch and they should be all in by nightfall. It may then be shifted if necessary. Honey may be taken from the top box when trees are giving a good honey flow. To keep the hive strong, do not remove the top box once the colony is establisl>ed, thus leaving the Queen and her brood undisturbed. A good colony will give you a layer of honey pots up to 40mm thick c?vering the underside of the lid, but give them a couple of seasons to get properly established, as a lot of work has to go Into the brood chamber at the beginning. * * * * It Mr. Carter--would like to hear from any one with any experiences to recount regarding the keeping of native bees. Please write to him at 42 Luck Ave., Rockhampton, GI' 1' d 4700 . X * * * IC BURDEKIN PLUM JAM

Allow the fruit to ripen and become soft. Remove the pulp, including the skin, from the stone. Cut off any hardened or damaged skin. Dice fruit f inelr, or- process in a food processor. Mash the diced fruit and cover with water. Boil gently for half an hour. Allow one cup of warmed sugar and one dessert spoor^ of lemon juice to every cup of pulp. Boil rapidly until it .jel.lies. This jam is slightly astringent, but quite tangy and delicious. Some people may PI-eiet-to strain the fruit to produce a Jelly.

Dianne Hov (R'ton, Q'l'd).

EDIBLE SPECIMENS TABLED AT MEETINGS - 23-3-90:Avicerlnia marina, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Grevillea banksii , Melaleuca tshvmif olia "Cotton Candy", Rhizophora sty losa, Sterculia . quadrifida, new foliage of Syzygium luehmanii, Aegiceras corniculatum (salt and honer l .

,-27.6.90: In lieu of our usual formal monthly meeting, we prepared a display of flowers, foliage, seeds and fruit for Rockhampton Horticultural Society's "Good Earth Expo" in the auditorium at the Rocky Showgrounds. Member Neil Hoy delivered a slide presentatl.on entitled "Grow Your Clwn -" as part of the Sunday afternoon programme.

25.5.90: Gr,evillea "Honey Gem", Melaleuce leucadendron, fruit u'l:: Plciogyniuin timorense, seedlings of Diospyrus humilis, Syzysium luehmanii, Macrozamia misuellii

22.6.90: Ft-uiting twig and seedling of Antidesma dallachyanum (Herbert

F< i v e r-. C 1-1 e t- r.Y 1 . r EXCURSION REPORTS

25.2.90: Members inspected the parallel dune area behind Kinka Beach on the. Capricorn Coast. Edible species noted were Banksia integrifolia, Cassytha filiformis, Exocarpus latifolius, Ficus opposita, Pleiogynium timorense, Pcllvalthia nitidissirna.

1.h.90: Excursion to "Noonkan Park" at Mt. Hay was washed out.

5,6,7.5.?0: A contingent from Rocky joined Mackay Sgappers for a weekend yet-together at-the "Black's Beach --Bush-Bash" ------~ lCj-17.6.9L1: Carr~p at "Yarra", Gogango, was postponed as Fitzroy Crossing was still impassable.

1.7.90: Trip to Jim Crow National Park. Food plants observed included Alectrvon tomentosus, Coelospermum reticulatum, Diospyros geminata, Dodonea viscosa, Drypetes australasica, Ficus opposita, F. platypoda, F. virens, Hibiscus heterophyllus, Livistona decipiens, Leptospermum flavescens, Melaleuca suinquenervia, Pouteria sericea, Sterculia quadrifida, Xanthot-rhea media, Cissus oblonga, C. opaca, C. repens, Cassytha pubescens, Nymphaea gigantea, Dianella caerulea, Lomandra longifolie,-Exocarpus latifolius, Pleigynium timorense, Dioscorea transversa, Eustrephus latifolius, Geitonoplesium cymosum, Tetrastigma nitens, Rauwenhoffia leichhardt ii. VIC SPEAKS - Exclusive Interview

VIC CHERIKOFP AT THE MELBOURNE WILDFLOWER SHOW

I chased up Vic CHERIKOFF, wild rapt in bush tucker. He is using food proponent extraordinaire, at. wattle essence in a . lot of his the Melbourne Wildflower Show, current recipes, and is calling where he had a very popular his approach "Nouvelle , Cuisine stall. As well as displaying Australienne". He is also photos and samples of many native encouraging his apprentices to do foods, and selling examples of the same, and other chefs are his wares, such culinary delights following suit. as Witchetty Grub & Bunya Nut soup, 's Own (flavouring Rowntrees Restaurant in Sydney agent for coffee, cakes €4 has been using bush foods for 5 ice-cream) - grounds or essence, years. Now Vic supplies 40-odd and a range of chutneys and restaurants with bush foods, sauces featuring native food including some overseas. He ingredients). He also harangued finds it a very strongly growing the crowd with the benefits of field, and demand seems"like1y to bush foods and gave advice on exceed supply for some time. their cultivation & collection. This is obviously a field that Vic believes that most people, d has caught the public given the choice of beef and imagination, and it took me a kangaroo meat at a butchers, while to get through the throng would choose kangaroo - it looks for this exclusive interview.- better, has no fat, and tastes Apologies if it's a bit better. Also emu farming is disjointed - there were many taking off in a big way - even 4 interruptions. with 5/10 new farms in the past year, t-hey will-- not-. be -able to

Vic is working on a Bunya Nut keep up with demand. - Products de-sheller, based on those used include eggs (1 emu egg = 10 hens" for Walnuts and Pecans. At the eggs), meat and leather. moment the cost of manually shelling them adds considerably In some states, both kangarqo and to the price of processed foods. emu meat can be sold for human consumption, but in others e.g - Paul Bocuse (the "god" of French Victoria, selling kanggroo meat cooking who is credited with is still illegal. The advantage inventing "Nouvelle Cuisine) is of emu and kangaroo is that they are suited to our soils, unlike cows and sheep. [Ed. note: on the deaths of Burke and judging from the response to his Wills. In his opinion, they airing of this view on his radio failed to prepare Na rdoo segment on 3 LO recently, there. correctly - it needs to be finely may still be some consumer ground with very smooth stones, resistance to eating "our otherwise the spores are not National emblem" !I broken open. If not properly ground, the spores just pass Vic will be selling some through the digestive tract bush-foods commercially later ("like eating the packet instead this year, including "Wattle-Seed of the Corn Flakes"). Icecream", possibly through the Franklin's supermarket chain. They also poisoned themselves with oxalates, by eating greens He is keen on encouraging without adequate preparation exploitation of existing ("like trying to survive on the resources, rather than leaves of rhubarb and the',.,stalks cultivating bush foods with of spinach"). ... traditional farming (read "monoculture") techniques, thus Vic is writing a book which eliminating the need to use should be out in October. It is

pesticides, and the risk * of to be called "The Bush Tucker growing plants that could become Handbook", and consists mostly of weeds outside their natural gourmet recipes & directions for ecosystems. using native foods. There will also be a few examples of Beth Gott has just introduced Vic traditional outback cookinc). The to a new native food - a root he idea of the book is to provide a has not tried before (?)/heard of resource/reference for field as being edible (??). He also trips and suchlike. tried to talk someone into keeping native bees in hives - R BARKER [Ed. note: which I had not realised was possibile, as I Kathleen McArthur has dropped us a note to say that when she was thought that they had different discussing the edible qualities of spacing requirements ...1 Canavalia maritima in "The Bush in Bloom", and wrote that the raw seeds were eaten by her family Regarding an enquiry about with impunity, she should have added "after first . being 'sprung ' Nardoo, Vic expounded his views in water changed daily - the way the Aborigines treated certain seeds, being the equivalent of running water." .. I haven't been very active in the The best Alectryon , £ruit I have I food plants arena this year. The found is from the rare Alectrvon 1 1 Bunya Nuts fruited last season unllobadim. This plant occurs on : I (February) and we had a trem- Mt. Eerwah on the Sunshine Coast 1 endous call on our Wild Food (where Planchonella Cookbook. Sold about 600 copies another rare plant, was first -I i and orders are still coming in. discovered). Planchonella eerwa

This came about from a chance has an edible, plum-like fruit, i item on Ian Macnamara's program similar to Planchonella australis. j on ABC radio - "Australia All 1' Over". Someone asked about Bunya Earlier this year I was given a Nuts. Then the following week bottle of pickled S~zvaium there was another enquiry on the -luehmanni fruit; I have not been same subject. I happened to be able to discover the recipe, .but listening at the time; so I sent the fruit appears to have been Ian a letter and a copy of our pickled young before any seed Cookbook. He was delighted, gave developed. I find them very it heaps of publicity and the tasty - a little bit like capers orders and letters have been - and I think I might try to rolling in from all over Australia pickle some myself next fruiting ever since. -We have had to do t6o seascn. reprints, as we only print 300 I each time. I agree with the Rockhampton Branch about Leea indica fruit. I notice in your article on Glenn It leaves quite a nasty irritation t Leiper, that he speaks of a' in the throat sometime after Syzygium from the' Lockhardt River eating it. that does not set seed. This I find is so with at least two I would like to make a comment 011 other north Qld. Syzygium - the native seed beverage and S. ~Iliilianeurnand S. fibrosum. flour produced by the Bush Tucker

They both produce fruit down here Supply Co. I bought a 100 gram ' I at Lawnton, but the fruit does packet at Expo 88 for:1$6.75 1 not contain seed. Perhaps the (highly overpriced, but I was i fruit Glenn was speaking about curious). I found the product ,I was S. iiligtlle~un - the had an unpleasant, burnt smell. description matches. It was full of very hard gritty pieces. It made b foul beverage end ruined any icecream or cakes comparisons can be made. This value (sugars etc.). Does your is of particular interest group do this, or have knowledge as you know, being very wide of any analyses like this having spread, from PNG through been done ? This exercise is two Australia to Wilson's Prom. fold - to determine if differ- ences do occur between locations, Acmena smithii appears to be and second, if the' from favoured by the jam makers out one particular area or region are there; this was realised when a better nutritional value. This recent visit to Buriya Mountains is on a per species per distrib- (near Brisbane) had most of the ution idea. I suspect the latter fruit in jars rather than still will be of interest to you. on the trees - the jam was quite I t nice, but the fruit a little hard ! Regards I to germinate ! ! Geoff Power.

At present, the project has been going for 1% years, and will be expected to continue through MEMBERS AT WORK until March 1991, and quite* A number of our members are possibly past that date. Should involved, either full time, part you or your associates wish to time, or on a voldntary basis, in employment or commercial ventures assist with the collection of associated with their interest in flowering or fruiting specimens Australian flora, particularly the . food plants. Following are some of Acmena this would be very much details to hand:- appreciated. The genus is very COMMUNITY NURSERY at Ferntree wide spread and logistically . Gully High School, Victoria: open impossib.leXor ..me to go to - all Sundays 10-12 and 2-4;--Operation Manager, Andr,ew Paget P11.7585416. areas at the most opportune time. TREEHOME NURSERY in Learmonth Street, Teesdale, Victoria: open At the end of the project, all weekends and by appointment; Prop. collectors will be acknowledged Stephen Murphy P11. (052)815254. in the usual manner, and a BUSH REPAIR: Environmental ~ebi~n, complete understanding of the * construction and Services ' (includes nursery and seed supply) genus realised. ; at 54 Hunter Street, Castlemaine, - Victoria, 3450; Ian Higgins Ph. (054)723093. Lastly, I have been toying with the idea of having Acmefia fruits analysed for their hutritional ACMEEJA SURVEY OF AUSTRALIA

The amount of material to collect from each tree/shrub is quite minimal. When collecting and/or flowering material, five 45) specimens is sufficient from each tree. Material can be kept fresh for later pressing in a large plastic bag with the top tied off, making sure samples from the same tree are CLEARLY LABELLED as such. Drying and pressing is best done between sheets of newspaper, with a complete paper change the next day to sbop fungus, etc. Check that the specimens are clearly labelled. Once dry (after about a week), the pressed specimens should be placed between cardboard and posted.

FRUIT

In the case of fresh fruit, about 30 of these per tree, wrapped in plastic, is adequate. Make sure the fruit lots are adequately labelled when making collections from several trees. Please ensure prompt postage as these 4ruit are for germination studies.

COLLECTION DETAILS

Please take details of where and when the collection was made, and if possible, giving accurate details of the surrounding vegetatipn - and terrain. Do not forget to ;include the collectors name.

POSTAL ADDRESS

Please post all samples to the following address:-

GEOFF POWER BOTANY DEPARTMENT SAMES COOK UNIVERSI TOWNSVILLE Qld 481 Wild Food in Australia by Cribb, Growing Unusual Fruits by Simmona, The Complete Book of Fruit by Johns and Stevenson, Life is never dull on SGAP and The Book by ] Counci 1. We recently had a endr ricks on. They all inferred; letter from a gentleman in the fruit was pleasant ! ....ll I California who subscribes to our journal . . . . "A request for Does anyone know of a go& recipe! assistance please. I am growing for ~illardieraJam ? lonqiflora and this year have the first crop of - from the Hobart Region SGAP fruit. Am rather disappointed in Newsletter Vol. 8(4) Dec. '88 the flavour: pithy, mealy, dry, insipid, and a slightly unpleasant lingering aftertaste. Am I doing something wrong or is this the normal fruit ? The seed was received from England and the plants are in fairly well-drained soil, ample water, and protected from the hot afternoon sun and heat. They are quite hardy I found, withstanding several I nights of 24 F with heavy frost and our latest heat wave of 98 to 106 F. If this is the normal condition of the fruit, how does one make an acceptable jam and do you know where I could secure a recipe ? The plants are quite attractive, but the purpose of growing was to add to my collect- ion of unusual fruits ...."

We are unaware of a recipe but we BIL,LXRDIERA LONG1 F LOP.-$ (climbing responded as best we could to his Blueberrh-1: X s?e:;tir;:. ~oody; climbing shrub it 1-1 b1-ight blue plea. The reply came . . . ."At fruits (sometimes ::I;-ep purple, least you removed any doubt I was pink or white) in autumn and t ~inter,and sho~ytubular creamy- balmy regarding my evaluation of greenish flo~ersin spring and the taste of lardiera summer. The lance-shaped leaves are scattered along the stems. It lonw~f-. I had grown the is very common ill tile shrubby plant based on the information in under-storey of all but the driest teinperate f orer-:t c:u~~inlunities. Easily propagated from cuttings or i seed. 1;. Fred Bell is gr-owing the following near Sydney: Araucaria bidwillii (f3unyel Pine], Austr-.omyrtusdulcis (Midyim), Dioscorea transversa (yam), D. bulbifera (Cheeky Yarn), Diploglottis campbelli, Eustrephus latifolius (Wombat Berrvl, Ficus coronata (Sandpaper Fig), F. rubiginosa (Rusty ~ig), F. watkinsiana (Strangler Fig), ~ubus'rosifolius (Native Haspberry) , Syzygium luehmannii (Riberry), S. oleosum (Blue Lill~pill~),S. paniculatum [Magenta Lillypill~:).

Russell Stat-r has Macadamia, a lill~pill~,Podocarpus elatus, ~uanbong, Billardiera, Nitraria, and a couple of Burdekin Plums growing at Brighton in Soutt-I P,ustralia.

Glenn Leiper has a well established garden at Beenleigh in S.E. Q'l'd. on deep loamy soil with town water. A couple of species are in slightly raised gardens more as a matter of available space than necessity. Species include:-Acmena smithii, AustromYrtus dulcis, A. hillii (sweet and $uicy, 8-9mm diameter), (4. acmenoides, A. bidwillii, A. fragrantissima, A. metrosideros, A. gonoclada [rar-e local species similar to A. smithii), A. inophloia, (difficult to maintain), Carissa ovata, Flanchonella australis (repeatedly infested with scale and mould), P. eerwah (one of favourites - best when over ripe), P. pohlrnaniana, Syzysium australe, S. paniculata, S. aequem (Lockhart River - delicious and juicy), 5. joh~isonii,S. wilsonii subsp. wilsonii, S. wilsonii subsp. cr-vptophlebia, S. oleosum, S. luehmannii, Eugenia reinwardt iana, Salacia chinensis, Uavidsonia pruriens (unusual form - 6 tt-unks only lrn tall, f r-uits ever7 year), Eupomatia laurina, E. bennett ii, Ehretia acuminata, Dendrocr~idepl-~otino~>l-ylla (sour but juicy), Diploglottis australis, Mi.crocitr.us.australis, M. australasica var. australisica, M. australisica var. sanguinea, M. garrawayiae, N. inodora, Eremocitrus g1,auca (struggling for 4 years), Linospadix monostachyus, Melastoma af f ine, Musa sp. indet. , Rhodomyrtus trineura (sweet and juicy), Dianella caerulea, Dioscorea transversa, Pilidiostigma rhytispermum, Backhousia citriodora, B. ansustifolia, B. anisata, B. myrtifolia, Brachrchiton bidyillii, Acronychicl laevis,,Rhaphidophora pinnata, Macadamia intesrifolia, Arytera lautereriana (another favourite - sour but juicy), A. microphylla, Sterculia quadrifida, Fodocar~uselatus, P. spinulosus, Exocarpus latifolius (has been struggling on for 5 years), Alpi.nea caerulea, Trachymene incisa, Freycinetia scandens, Ilibiscus diver-..~.ifolius, herbertiana, Psvchotria loniceroides, Diostz)yros hun~ilis, F'ipturus argenteus, Cordylir~e petiolaris, Dry~etgs al-rstralasica, Lomandra longif,olia, Mentha SP., and is about to try Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia (for the Ccth time], and Schizomeria ovata.

RAUWENHOFFIA LEICHHARDTIl

This vigorous woody climber is a common local (i.e. Hockhampton District) srlecies found in depauperate rainforests. Although the vine usually disappears high irk0 the canopy, it also forms clumps on scree slopes where the orange fruit are easily accessible. The fruits are either rounded or elongate with one or more constrictions between the seeds. Although . variable in quality, they are at best tangy and succulent with a refheshing citrus taste. The fruiting was prolific in central Queensland in the summer-. of 88-89, and there seemed to be ripe fruit available on every scrub visit between December and February. However, last summer being the driest on record,there was almost a complete crop failure. After extolling the virtues of Kauwenhoffia to bushwalkers on a bushtucker expedition, we were embarrassed when the only fruit found was dry and unpalatable. Without flowers or fruit, ~auwenhoffiacan be a difficult species to identify. The dark green oblong leaves lack distinction, but they do have a characteristic fruity smell when crushed. Our family refers to this plant as the "Fruit Salad Vine". Common names in publications include "Wild Bananas" and "Zigzag Vine".

The fruit could offer potential for use as a flavouring. Dianne Hoy.

FREYCINETIA PROPINQUA 11-3-90.:A very handsost: scrambling plant. This specimen from the bank of Waterpark Creek at Byfield. Common name Climbing Pandanus. Fruit in terminal bunches of 3, 4-5cm long, light red and soft when ripe, composed of small segments with a black raised spot in the centre of the external skin,Land attached to a central "core". Soft and squashy, but a little "grainy" in texture from skin residue etc. which could be irritant. Slightly aromatic taste - a cross between a fairly tasteless banana and a tube of lipstick Looks good, taste and texture so-so. Lenore Lindsay

A GLIMPSE OF THE PAST Dick Dietsch writes, "My old Grandgather, Adam Braten, lived at Dolan's Bay, Port Hacking, from 1914-47, and as the eldest grandson, I spent a lot of time with him. In those days it was principally bushland,, and we would take Grandma's tortoise shell comb and an umbrella and comb the Native Currants (Leptomeria acida), and Grandma would make a rather tart tasting jam. We would also pick the leaves of the Native Sarsparilla vine (Smilax glycophylla). These he would keep in the pocket of his vest, which in those days, always had red flannel on the back. In the summer days when our mouths were dry they provided a refreshing taste. I decided I should be growing these plants in memory of days long ago, so here I am, a member of the Study Group."

From:L.Lindsay 323 Philp Ave., Frenchville. Q'l'd, 4701