ASSOCIATION OF SOCIETIES FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN

AUSTRALIAN FOOD PLANTS STUDY GROUP ISSN 0811 5362

NEWSLETTER------NUMBER 23. FEBRUARY 1995

323 Philp Ave., Frenchville. Qld. 4701. 28/2/95.

Dear Members,

Well here we are at the end of February, and the Wet is still playing hide and seek somewhere to the north of us! X few promising storms to green up the grass, and that's been it to date. Xow that's browning off too, so we're hoping for a cyclone offshore, even if it's a bit late in the season for one. There seems to have been rain to spare do~risouth, and some up north, while Ke sit in our little rain shadow in the centre.

It follo~sthat most of our activities have tended to be low key, and heavy on the planning side rather ti-ian the doir~g one. The basic organizing for the September 1996 Queensland SGAP Conf eren-ce--is wel-1- underway, with the Rockhampton Grammar School booked as the venue, prospective speakers contacted, notification circulated and a short list of possible escursion sites decided upon. We are planning to visit these places during hugust/Septen~ber/October this year before we make our final selection. The post conference tour will be a 3 dak- camping trip to Blackdown Tableland.

Groundwork continues on the new Yurri (Aboriginal) useful complex at Lakes Creek State School. Eric An&erson- and I have been editing and proof reading the material for the inforn~ationcards in the school library and the name plates. The Nurries of the Rockhampton area sere the Daran~baltribe (a number of alternative spellings are possible), within which xere about 21 clans named according to the particuIar territory occupied by that group. For example, the Wara-bura lived south of the river round Gracemere %here the Wara or wild guava grew, and the Bikal- bura on th,e river flats where the trees harbouring the Bikal grubs were found. I'll include a list of the proposed plantings later in this letter. Further to my comments relating to Peter Hardwick's claim that Hibiscus heterophj~llusis toxic, we have an article based-on an interview by Rodney Barker which sheds some light on the matter. However, I would like to add that I have never previously heard of anyone making a tea from the of this plant. The commercially availabl e Hibiscus herbal teas are rnade from the flc~wers,and this is what I would try if I were experimenting. As the Rosella, of jam and tart fame, is also the calyx of the immature seed of another Hibiscus, and Okra the green seed pod of t.he related Abelmoscl?us, it seems to me that common sense dictates that it is with the flower and associated parts that. c)ne wc)l.lld begin. As well, available information indicates that the ec1j.ble parts are young shoots and huds, and flowers, SC) perhaps xe are at cross purposes here. Over to you!

I have received notification of the 1995 Wildflo~erFestival to be held at Rouse Hill c~n12/13 Aug~ist,wljicl? contains an invitation for the group to mount a display. As anythi~lgwe did would require someone in attendance, it doesn't seem to me to be a practical proposition. However, 1 'in open t.c) suggestj-on if anyone frcim the ar-ea would like to volunteer to do/co-ordinat.e somethi r~g.

There is a cc)nference and ~orkshopon the development of the Herbs and Essential Oils industries scheduled for 19-21 April at Paterson, near Xencastle, hosted by the X. S. LC. Departriient c)f Agricillture. -4 special feature Cin Irlie fi.eld tour da\r is "A forage th!-ough the _iustralian ?Cilcl Herb Industry" - a discussion and tasting with \;ic Chei-ikof f .

Dick Di.etsch turned me green %-it11envy by sending brochures and press clippings ~hilehe was overseas, including infc>rmation on Hadrian's Kall, edible wild fungi of the U.K. : and other delights. The Brit.s have used "wi1.d" foods for SO long that people forget that's \+hat the&- are!

Also in the mail was the December 1994 catalogue of the Florilegium specialist book store.

New ~iiernber John McCart.k~~hgs sent rnqterj.al from Australian Native Produce Industries Pty Ltcl (P.O.Rox 163, Parinya. S .A. 53401, incl.uding a descriptive native food p1ant.s nursery -catalogue wliicl-I lists species under headings whiEh include Estimated Yleld and Gross Return, a list of Red Ochre gourmet products avail-able from retail outlets, and a menu from the Red Ochre Grill Cafe Restaurant with some really int.erest.ing listings.

And finally, a beaut iful image to share : my Backhousia citriodora in a froth of creamy blossom surrounded by a dancii~gcloud of Blue Tiger butterflies last Xovember. (I didn't have exclusive rights though, as all over town the Blue Wanderers or Blue Tigers, Danaida melissa hamata, fluttered round f lowerii~gBach-l~ousia', Acacia hidwillii , Parso~lsiasp. and iVarsdei~iasp. and probably other plants as well. Later they were joined by other variet-ies of butterflies and insects, and then by insect eating birds, but for a while there it was pure enchantment.) Since anything else would smack of anti-cli~nax, I'll say my farewells.

Regards, 6 / Lenore Lindsay and Rockharnptc)n S .G. A. P.

NEW >1E3lBIZRS.

Welconie to the f ollo~ingnew members :

Sue ARNOLD: 9 Keirs Lane, Euroka. X.S.W. 2440. Georgina BALDOCK: 11 Lawson Rd . , Happy Valley. S .A. 5159. Colleen KEEKA: 222 Kangaroo Gully Rd., Bellhc~~rie.Q. 4070. Library, Grovely TAFE Centre: 72 Fitzsinimons St. , Grovely. Qd 405-2. John YcCARTHY: 183 15th St., Renrnark. S.A. 5341. (Dr) Elwyn HEGARTY: 5 Jenkinson St. : Indooroopi.lly. Q. 3068.

EDIBLE SPECIMENS TABLED AT YEETIXGS:

24/11/94 : Backhousla citriodora , Raeckea \:irgata, Gei tonoplesiu~~ic~~rnosum, Leptosper~nu~n flnvescens, L. petersc)nii, Scaevo1.a sp., Syzygiurn luehrnannii, S. rubrimolle (fruit , and a selection of flowers of , Grevillea and Flelal euca s1:)ecies.

27/1/95: Acacia salicina, Canthiu~nattenuatum, Capparis canescens (fruit.), C. lasiantha (flower) , Coelospei-rnuri~ reticulatum, Cyperus gracilis , W5:oporum ellipticurn, Plectranthus graveolens , Pipt-uris argen teus , Pit-tosporu~n venulosum, Viola hederacea, assorted flowers of Callistemc~ns, Grevilleas and Melaleucas , Orthosip11c)n aristartulr~ (medicinal! .

24/2/95: Acacia c)'shanesii, Dianella sp., Geitonoplesium cyrnosum, Lon~andralc>~~gifol id, Sr~iila.\;australis, Teti-ast ignia nitens, Viola hecleracea, a variety of Callistemon, Eucalypt and Grevillea bloon~s,and Xlpllitonia excelsa and Orthosiphon aristartus (medicinal) .

EXCURSIONS:

6/11/94: Keppel Sands: Acacia aulacocarpa, Acronychia imperforata, Alectryon connat.us, Arytera divaricata(?), Avicennia marina, Bruguiera exaristata, Canthium coprosmoides, Carissa ovata , Clerode~~drumf loribundum, C. inerme, Cc)elospern~urnreticulatua, Cupaniopsis anacardioides, Diospyros gemina tat Dodonaea viscosa ssp. burmanniana, Drypeyes australasica, Euroscllinus falcata, Exocarpus latifolius, Ficus sp. F. opposita, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Lantana caniara*, Lysiphyllum hoolieri, acuminatum, Pleiogynium timorense, Pouteria sericea, Rhizophora stylosa, Sterculia quadrifida, Vitex acuminata, Livistona decipiens, Pandanus sp., Eustrephus latifolius, Ipornea pes-caprae, Malaisia scandens, Melodorurn leichhardtii, Passiflora suberosa*, Smilax sp., Opuntia stricta*, Sesuvium portulacastrum, Suaeda australis, Dianella caerulea, Gahnia aspera..

4/12/94: Sydney Gully: washed out by the only rain in 8 months !

5/2/95: Kooyalee: Acacia aulacocarpa, A. salicina, Coelospermum reticulaturn, Cupaniopsis anacardioides, Diospyros geminata, Drypetes australasica, Euroschinus falcata, Ficus opposita, Ficus sp-, Lantana camara*, Melaleuca leucadendra, Planchonia careya, Livistona decipiens, Eustrephus latifolius, Passiflora suberosa*, Commelina cyanea, Emilia sonchifolia*, Glycine tabacina, ~rewialatifolia, Myoporurn debile, Rhagodia sp.,Cyperus gracilis, C. rotundis, Dianella caerulea, Lomandra longifolia, Then~eda triandra, Panicum decomposi turn.

- . - Quandon~ Vol19 No 3 Third Quarter 1993 are safe to eat. They havea mica1pentagonal flower, like apotato, with yellow stamens and WA Bush Foods meeting a great success a spiky calyx. Sofanlun nigrwn has the Stalking the wild WAAsparagus: Native Plant Foods of WA was the topic structure of a tomato inside, with black seeds at our 19 May 1993 meeting, presented by Peter Bindon, Head of the Only the white parts inside can be eaten; the pulp and black seeds must be squeezed out In Anthropology Department at the WA Museum. (WANATCA). southern Russia it used to be processed into Peter opened his talk by saying that this is eat the fruit, which is really a thickened stem steroids and hormones. 'Ihe fust estrogen an interminable topic, and there are hundreds and has a rainy grape flavour. Its timber is pills were made from it The dried hit of of plants that the Aborigines used for food. consideredgood. Podocarprcsdrouynianusis Solanwn cenlrale is called "bush raisins". For the purpose of this talk he mainly chose a waist-high bush with piny foliage used by neycan be left on the bush to dry, collected plants that grow in SW , plus a few florists. It prefers to grow in the Jarrah fores~ and pounded int0.a paste and reionstituted~ other interesting ones. There is one in Kings Park. with water. The Aborigines shaped the paste Canfhium laifolium, the "Native Planchonia careya, called "wild into large balls, impaled them on a branch of Currant Bush", has great quantities of small quince", or "cocky applc". has large, a tree and left them in storage formonths. The black fruit which are beaten off the bush with attractive flowers with long white and pink flavour is good and vaguely curry-like. a stick and gathered from the ground. Eating stamens, resembling the crest of a Major Thysanoluspatersonii,"fringed lily". a large quantity of them might make your Mitchell cockatoo. The apricot-sized fruit is is the yam of the Nullabor mentioned in Daisy mouth sore. eaten when sofc the leathery skin is pierced Bates' notes about Aboriginal fd. The top There are myspecies of fig; there is and the sweet pulp is squeezed Ot is dies back, and the tubcrs are Iwted by a diK-t fig for every ecological niche and typicalof A~~fdhbushfruit that donvt scqing away the mould to find a little almost have evergreen foliage. In the change colour when ripe, but simply soften* thread which is followed into the soil. The no&, trees hvery large. Most of them and the.,skin is usually unp1-t to- the tubers are usually not dee~,are the diameter have simple, lanmlate leaves and it is palate.) Phchonias usually have a nest of of a finger and about 30 cm long. They are difficult to work out the correct names. Ficm greenants in their foliage. A~leasant,lemon~sweet and watery and can be eaten raw or macrophylla is very common in Perth. The drink can be made by plunging the nest baked. fruit has good flavour and possibly extra (quickly) into a billy of water. Exocarpos is another family that fills protein, from the native fruit fly in them. The Quandong (Sanfalum acwninatum) many niches and that has a mefiuit with seed & drops iu'leaves during drought. Ficus has an edible kernel and pectin in its flesh, on a fleshy stalk. ?he seed is discarded and racemosa bears its fruit in clusters. There is Saaalum lanceolatum has the best tasting the stalk eaten. ?hey huit in winter (many a specimen in Kings Park near the ' flesh in the Santalurn family, but the kernel is winter fruits are high in vitamin C.). Most glasshouses. not edible. The fruit is the size of the end of have piny foliage. Emcarpos hifolius has There are many species of, a thumb, and it grows from Gmldton fruitthe size of a fingernail. E. cupress$onnis Podocarpus, all with edible fruit. Pod0carpu.s m-hwards. Sarualum murrayanwn tastes and E. strictus are soine other edible ones. elafus, ?Brown pine", is fruiting now. There terrible. There is one that grows on the beaches at is a specimen in the Zoo outside the walk-in The Solanum family, native mmatos, Swanbourne. bird aviary, and another in Russell Park, N. is very large and varied. About half of them Terminalia is a family of large trees. - Peh. You are supposed to break off and 1. are poisonous. It is very important to have Some of them have good fit, such as discard the seed pmtruding from the end, and correct identification and to howwhat parts Terrmrmnaii0fer&ron~u4. T.petiolaris fruit ( Con+inud pn P. rr)

$ I P.O.Box 65, Edmonton. Q. 4869. 8.2.95.

Dear Lenore,

Enclosed is a copy, for the library, of an early "Bush Tucker Man" video which was made as an army training film- It has lost a bit of quality over the years but it is still watchable. I don't know how much of this one he put into the commercial programmes, but no doubt he was working on them while he was with the army. He does not, in my opinion, give much away as to identification or distribution, but every bit more inforn~ationhelps.

The enclosed label is a bit hard to read (they don't intend it to collie off the bottle), but the first 2 ingredients are interesting. White Horehound is, 1 believe, introduced but now grows wild, ~hileAstl~n~a Plant is a native. It would be interesting to see this groxing as a cornrnerc:ial crop.

We have also been very dry up here. January was 300 rnm belox average. Last night and today t-here have been steady showers so we hope they will cont-inue.

Good gro~ing. Regards, Jim (Hill).

# Thanks very much for that, Jim. It's certainly interesting and you can see where the ABC series is coming from. However, l.ike them, it keeps most of the nitty gritty inforn~ationunder wraps. What I'd really like is a full set of snack maps ! (Ed. )

From new member Elwyn Hegarty (among other matters) :-

I don't know if I mentioned that my interest in the group is partly as a rainforest botanist (who specialised in vines) and partly because our private company (Plantchem Pty Ltd) specialises in the chemistry of plants used in foods and pharmaceuticals, especially where there might be some toxic3ty . 11 Lancaster St., East Bentleigh. Vic. 3165. 20.2.95.

Dear Lenore,

Another plant I find grows in weed proportions in my garden is our Native Flax, Linurn marginale.

A discussion on the ABC today indicated the need and willingness for farmers to diversify - in particular the Indian Hemp has discussed and its uses, including the production of newspaper (long f i.bres compared witl1 short eucalypt fibres) - lessen pressure 0x1 OLIY. forests?

The Native Flax has l.ong fibres. Has this been researched for paper manufacture?

-fours sincerely, Stef anie Rennick.

# Does anyone knc)w? Please drop us a li.ne if you can shed any light on Stefanie's query. (Ed.)

Western .Australial-l Museum, Francis St . , Perth. W.A. 6000.

...... I arn pl.easec1 to see that iiiy suggestic~nt.o culti~a te St_~-lolnasiulil ]-)as been t alien up by so many people. S. spathulaturn is a northern species in Western Australia and does not do so \dell around Perth, needing higher winter teniperatures. S. austr-ale is Illore suitable for the south of Australia. b I have been running courses for S.W. Aboriginal groups on Bush Tucker (gardens, tours, supply of products, etc.) for- about 18 months ...... Regarcis, Peter Bindon.

Colleen Keena is building up a collection of edible Australian plants, with particular interest in AAhelmoschus and Hibiscus species. They used to eat. H. rnanil1c)t in PNG but the plants they have been so far able to obtain here are not as tasty as they remelnber. * Sue Arnold writes that she has conle across a number of enquiries lately regarding organizations seeking growers to supply native herbs, nut.s, fruits, etc., and as such is very inte~-estedin learning more. Bush TucLer Supply AusfI'TY Ll'Dralia Act'dOOJ 355 753 AUSTRALIAN NATIVE GOURMET FOOD 24th Feb..1995

Dear Lenore,

Great to talk to you again about bushfoods (what else). This is an appeal to members to become a part of the growing bushfood industry. BTSA is in dire need of large quantities of selected types of Backhousia citriodora and 6. anisata.

As most people know, the bushfood industry started with harvests of fruits, leaves, seeds and nuts from domestic trees and urban plantings since the bush could never supply economically harvested quantities of bushfoods. The move from planted species to mixed plantations has taken many years since traditional farmers have proven to be very conservative and hard to move from their usual crops. The number of farmers now growing bushfoods in polycultural systems still cannot maintain supplies to meet demand and now necessitates a co-ordinated collection from domestic plantings. It is in this area that SGAP members can help.

My suggestion is a wide scale collection of leaves of the Backhousia species. Initially, we need to analyse samples of about half kilo quantities of dried, clean, older leaves (one kilo should of fresh leaves will dry to around 500g). These need to be dried in the dark and sent down to us for analysis and naturally, records kept so we know what samples come from which trees. Many native species are highly variable in the aromatic oils they contain with a few undesirable components occurring even in the same stands of the same species. The absence of any undesirables is essential as bushfoods enter the mainstream food industry and bushfoods need to be fully screened and ultimately approved by the National Food Authority. For widespread consumption as flavourings and use of these in manufacturing, BTSA prepares specification sheets for each bushfood describing mechanical, chemical and microbiological characteristics. These are usually tailor-made to production methods and whether the final product is cold-formulated, what expected shelf-life is required etc.

Each analysis for essential oils costs $300 so once appropriate trees have been found we are naturally keen to establish continuous supplies. For this purpose BTSA provides an agreement to purchase/supply which is a commitment from both sides and specifies prices and shipment details.

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CATERING SUPPLY 482 GLADE VIEW ESTATE VlCTORIA ROAD GLADESVILLE . . P.O. BOX R103 RORONlA PARK N.S.W. 2111 AUSTRALIA PHONE: (02)8i7 1060 FAX: (02)\8173587 I 7 Guidelines for potential suppliers:

500g samples of appropriately dried leaves sent and approved by BTSA for oil quality records of location of each tree harvested kept older leaves or new growth, fully hardened off clean leaves, free of mould or other extraneous material picked with due consideration of their ultimate use as food leaves on soft wood sprigs are acceptable but no stems thicker than a match and not woody drying of leaves in subdued light in an airy and hygienic location No harvesting in National Parks or nature reserves

I hope that SGAP members can rally to this cause and get involved in developing our native food industry while earning some income as well. The potential to add to the list also exists since BTSA is keen to obtain next season's harvests of riberry (Syzygium leuhmannii) for example as well as other selected fruits.

Kindest regards,

11 Lawson ~d., Vic Cherikoff Happy Valley. S.A. 5159. 9/ .L 19/9/94.

Dear Lenore,

I am writing to you in regard to the Australian Food Plants Study Group after find-ing your name in a S.G.A.P. publication. Recently I have written to 20 seed and plant distributors all over Australia enquiring about native foods. From their responses I have found that there is a lack of information and availability of native food plants. -...... -.....* My partner, his parents and I have recently bought a 30 ha. block of land on which we intend to cultivate native foods. We hope to one day make it a business. Howeve'r, E;e shall enj~ygrowing them as a hobby, as it ties in with our philosophy of conserving native plants and aninials .

I am particularly interested in Astroloma conostephioides, A .humif usu~n,E,r;ocarpus spp. and Leucopogon parvi florus . I am able to obtain their seeds but am aware that they are very difficult' to germinate. Are you aware of any technique that aids germination? I am also interested to know of any methods tried and failed for these species (and also Billardiera spp. and Solanu~nspp.) . I look forward to your reply. Yours faithfully, Georgina Baldock. A CHAT WTTB PETER HARDWICK

:- During a visit to New South Wales last year, I called in on Peter Hadwick, proprietor of WILDERNESS FOODS.

Peter has been an advocate of growing an using native plants for many years. He has a nursery at The Epicentre in Byron Bay (see separate article - free advertisement, really).

Peter is concerned over mis-information about edible natives - for example, numerous references indicate that Hibiscus hefet-ophyllus is edible. In his experience, this is not the case, as he suffered kidney damage from drinking tea made from this plant over a few days. Discussions with Aborigines have confirmed that they use it only sparingly as a medicinal plant, rather than to eat.

He believes that many early reports of the edibility of native plants are suspect - pioneers saw Aborigines collecting plants and assumed they were going to eat them. But everywhere white people were, Aborigines were suffering badly from 'flu and other introduced diseases, so were desperately seeking to relieve these ill~~esseswith their traditional medines.

Some species, like Hicksbeachia pilu~atifoliahave different varieties. One variety of Hicksbeachia is poisoi~ousraw, so Peter always advises that the nuts are roasted before eating, in case they belong to the poisonous variety.' However, many references only tell you that this-species can be eaten raw, with no warnings.

Some books have errors which have not only been left uncorrected over several editions, but are then quoted by other authorities eg. MUTOOROO (a generally excellent book) confuses Hardenbergia violama with Smilax gIyciphyla. Peter tries to steer clear of potentially dangerous plants in case of misuse.

He also tries to keep a connection with the Aborigines in his- business and---works with them, instead of the prevalent philosophy of take, take, take and not return anything. For example, CSlRO is developing an antibiotic from Quandong kernels.

Will the Aborigines who first recognised its medicinal properties reive any. . share of this commercial development ?

Peter has mixedfeelings about the sprad of information on uses of native plants - although' he would like to see informati011 shared, a problem is that overseas concerns (with greater funds at their disposal) may step in and beat us to the best prospects, as has mred with macadamia and the cut-flower trade He started a non-profit venture at the Epicentre several years ago. Called the Cobiotic Foundation, its function was to share information about using native plants This has evolved into the current (commercial) concern. In spite of his interests, a lot of the business consists of rainforest plantings/regei~eration, not food plants as such. Sales are concentrated in the Byron Bay vicinity, and he regards it is a victory when he can sell a client (say) lillypillies for a windbreak, knowing that he may later be able to foster interest in their fruit.

Peter has given talks to the local SGAP and they have visited his nursery and bought plants, so he expects interest to grow.

He is experimenting with numerous plants, including medicinal uses. He consumes vast quantities of tea in large lnugs (without offering guests any !) made from leaves of natives, such as Lemon-scented Tea Tree and the Backhousias. He is been involved in their clonal propagation (to maintain desirable characteristics of particular plants) and analysis of their essential oils (e.g. citral vs. citronal in the lemon-scented species), in conjunctioi~with the Department of Agriculture of NSW.

One interesting analysis has been for the Riberry, Syzygiuni leuhmanii, which Peter regards as one of the best native foods, especially in cooking. The fruit contain the essential oils limonene (a flavour component of Bay leaves), myrcene (nutmeg), and . pinene (found in many culinary herbs), plus lesser amounts of other oils. This provides clues for how the fruit can be used in cooking, and suggests possibilities for selective breeding. He has also hybridized Plectranthus species, but has not pursued this avenue much, though he feels considerable gains could- be made breeding Lillypillies and other species. - Rodney Barker

WILDERNESS FOODS NURSERY

Specialises in bush food plants Provides seedling and clonal (ie cuttings) propagated plants Accepts orders by phone, fax and written orders. Supplies plants at various stages of development (50 to 200 mm pots). Plantstock available from selected provenances. Plants also grown to order. If they don't have it, they will chase it. Nursery visits by appointment. Planting consultancy also available.

The catalogue is available for free upon request. It includes 72 species of native food plants (plus another 29 provenances), 3 species of iilsedicides/repellants, plus many pioneers, cut-flowers and ornamentals. There are also plants held in too small a quantity to be catalogued, including medicinal plants. Freight and certification anywhere in Australia call be arranged '.

Also there is a database of native plant uses and cultivation, which could be accessed for ii~forination about a particular species, or to locate a range of species meeting particular requirements. I didn't ask, but I expect there would be a fee involved, according to the amount of work required. The address is:

Wilderness Foods Nursery Border St (P.O. Box 201), Byron Bay, NSW, 2481 Telephone: (066) 85 - 8025 - (066) 85 - 6962

Of course, whether this is a Good Idea or not is open to question. If you live in e.g. Perth, should you be growing plants from the opposite end of the continent ? Geographically Indonesia is closer, and in evolutionary terms, some plants of South Africa would have more in common with your environment.

I'm sure Peter would recommend &st growing local forms o£ native speC;es, and only if these did not meet your needs, go on to use non-local forms - R. ~arker. parts of different species; fruit flesh, hit and it is known that Maoris ate them from kernel and the tuber. All parts contain the cultivatedplots. Thesuggestedpreparation is have the highestvitaminCofany known fruit. powerful toxin macrozamin, and must be to boil the rhizomes in two changes of water. Other Terminalias have only a leathery processed to make them safe. The toxin can There is some evidence that the hairy parts of covering over the edible kernel, and are called be removed by leaching with water, the bracken fiddleheads might be toxic. "bush peanuts". A lot of research and plant fermentation or high temperature. Responses to Questions breeding is being done, particularly in Israel. On the west coast, Aborigines buried the Some of the answers given to audience toimprove the fruit and nuts of Tenninalia sp. fruits for fermentation, and ate the outside questions, were:- Peter calls Stylobasiwn spalhulalum which then resembled dates. Shipwrecked Q. Can you describe the "Taste Test"for the best nut in the world. It is small, about the sailors at Exmouth relmrted being given mqling unknownfoods? size of a fingernail, andgrows on a low bush. "dates". In the east, the nuts were cracked, A. The first step is to examinebe fd The nuts are gathered from the-ground. hen placed in mesh bags in running water for decide what might be edibk - Special stones with a particular sized dimple ten days. Then were dried*ground fruit, vegetable? If it looks like it might be have been found in Aboriginal camps, for the meal and made into damper. acceptable, purpose of cracking these nuts. They are tasty How did they work out what they had to and nutritious - a good survival food. 2. smell it. Try to identify if there is do? Peter's Own personal is that the bitterness, a smell of cyanide or oxalic acid or Vigna lanceolata, "pencil yam", has a very people learned how to with other unpleasant smell. ~f it passes the smeq typical bean plant appearance with trifoLiate cycads from the time they began to spread out test, then leaves. The tubers are dug when be foliage from their origin in the Rift Valley of Africa. dies back, and have a potato taste.' There are It must have been by mal and error. If not 3. If you think it might be a vegetabk, a number of native beans, but as with be prwsscd properly, this is a "food- you can cook it - bake it, boil it, etc. If you boil 4 Solanum family, exact identification is eat - once - and then you ,-anst tell anyone discard the fist water. Then, or if you important, as many of them are poisonous. about it. The early explorers like Cook and it is fruity* Cycads (macrozamias), are found all over Freycinet found evidence in Aboriginal 4. Rub some of it on a soft part of yorm Australia. They date from the Cretaceous camps that the people were eating Zamia, and skin. Does it sting, make blisters or in any period of the Earth's history. They are a fire- tooksomeback to their ships to try out on their way irritate? If not, climax plant that cover-entire hillsides, and crews, with most unpleasant results. 5. Put a small piece in the comer of ycnmx were managed by the burning programs of Ihc Rhizomes from bracken fern mouth. Wait awhile. Does it burn or mabe Aborigines. The Aborigines used various (Pteridurn esculerum) are reputedly edible blistks? If not, (Con+'d I? 14) Species Ofan fhem bracfea fa Kort h. Common Name: Pink Berry Distribution: North Queensland Where Sampled: Wilderness Foods, Byron Bay

The Plant. Small, multi-stemmed shrub of attradive "exotic" appearance (like MAtoma or Tibouchina). The flowers and berries are pink, and can be seen at the same time on plants, and are produced at the ends of branches. Plants fruit while still young and small.

Cultivation Hints: I am unable to locate any information on this. However, they are native to far-northern Queensland, & grow well in northern NSW. Try treating as for Lasiandra (Tibuchjna), which require a sunny position neither too hot not too dry, & protected from heavy frost.

Edible Park The fruit.

Description: The fruit are pink and grow to about 1 to 1.5 cm. They drop off when ripe in summer. Fruit contain hundreds of small seeds, which is not a problem as they are easily chewed or swallowed.

The fruit are succulent and blandly sweet, with unpleasant undertones at first, but leaving a pleasant aftertaste. It re~ni~~dsme of the taste and texture of the (non- native) fuschia (an even more flattering comparison would be to a miniature, pink kiwi fruit). Unfortunately, the unpleasant component of the flavour tends to

accumulate as subsequent fruit - are consumed, - Peter Hardwick suggests growing several plants in the garden to provides nibbles as you roam around He regards them as blandly sweet also, but not as unpleasantly flavoured.

Overall: An interesting plant, worth including in a wildfood garden for its appearance Yield not high, flavour disappointing but perhaps an acquired taste

Rating: 5/10. - Rodney Barker -. MURRI USEFUL PLANT PROJECT - LAKES CREEK STATE SCHOOL.

Acacia hol osericea Silver-leaved Wattle. Alphi tonia excelsa Red Ash, Soap Tree. Alpinia caerulea Native Ginger. Banksia integrifolia Coast Banksia. Bracllychi ton populneus Kurrajong. Brachychi ton rupestris Narrow-leaved Bottle Tree. Canavalla rosea Coastal Jack Bean, Fire Bean. Capparis canescens Wild Orange. Carissa ovata Current Bush. Carpobrotus glaucescens Pigface, Beach Bananas - Cissus hypogl auca Native Grape. Cissus opaca Native Grape, Pepper Vine. C1el-odendrum f1 oribund uii, Lollybush. Clerodendrum inerme Mangrove Lollybush. Commel ina cyanea Scurvy Weed. Crinum peduncul a Cum River Lily, Crinurn Lily. Cupani opsis anacardi oi des Tuckeroo, Cupania Tree. Cymbi diurn cahal i cul a turn Black Orchid, Wild Arrowroot. Oianella caerulea Flax Lily. Dioscorea trans!-ersa Long Yam. EncAyl aena t rimer:, t n-sa Ruhv Saltbush. ~uca~l~ptnscool abah cuoiihah. Eus trephus 1 a tifoli us Wombat Berry. E-yocarpus .l a tifol i LIS Native Cherry. Gahnia aspera Sak: Sedge. Grevillea banksi i Red Silky Oak. Hardenbergi a vi 01 acea False Sarsaparilla. Hibiscus 11 e t el-c>phyllus Xative Rosella. Iposoea pes -capra e Goat ' s Foot Convc~lvulus Ficus opposi ta Sandpaper Fig. ~~ivistonadecipiens Cabbage Palm. Lornandra 1 ongi fol ia Long-leaved Mat Rusli . Lysil-711yll unl Isookeri Pegunny, White Bauhinia. Placara~lga taisari us Tumkullurn. Me1 a1 euca 1 eucadendra Weeping Tea-tree, paperbark. Pa17dallus tectori us Pandanus. Passiflora auran tia Red Passion Flower. Pipturus argen teus Native lulberry . P1 anchoni a, careya Cocky Apple. - Pl eiogyni urn t in~orense Burdekin Plum. Portulaca ol eracea Pigweed. Pteridium esclil en turn - Bracken. - Rl~husf raxi ni f ol i us Wild Raspberry. Sa~ltal um 1 aisceol a tum Sandalwood. Sterculia quadrifida Peanut Tree. Syzygiurn australe Scrub Cherry, Lillypilly. Themeda triandra Kangaroo Grass. Vigna marina Dune Bean, Beach Bean. Xan thorrhoea johnsonii Conf'd Crom F? 1 1 .

6. Put asmall piece in your mouth and roll it around various parls of your tongue cancer. I)r BFU ~hrtg49, of Thomhnds, Iirst heard of the (differenttaste buds in differentparts of your plant fmmiti.vebrinary researcher who used its mouth). If it seems OK, crude extraeti in retard.'. ing the pwthof cancer. .' . By OSCAR KORNYEl 7. Swallow the piece and wait 4 hours. lntheeywof cattle. , -. Only test one food at a time. You don't want During,the next -10. at: the ~tiiverrrit~of years, Dr Cham worked Queensland - not a. to see that particular piece of food again in any on iindlng' the active practising doctor, said form. If you still feel OK, ingredient of the plmt Aborigines were the first (solasodhe .gIycoside), to discover the plant's 8. Try a larger portion. and is now treallng sped. healing properties and men5 in his iaboratory used it to treet ulcers. In experimenting with unknown foods, do agnlnst bwel, lung and ~r Cham, who w.as labsuccess: .; not consider birds as good indicators;they can Iyrnphattc cancer. wm in the West Indies "The active plant mdholds edlplomaio pnlytseatmenbf&cap eat things that are poisonous to people. Bush Inmeat trom the ap ch%mistryand bia;chem- cer - are acoepted lor rats like the zarnia fruits. Avoid plants that ples Idled the cancerous . ktry and 8 PU in me& f3end use, theiimoalue have trumpet-shaped flowers, prickly seed cells without affecting cine, said the next shp .. and.safety bave to be thenopmaldkand- was to-find out how proved b sclentiiicatly pods, red seeds, milky sap, pea-shaped 'e8peciallyeU~ttvewlth..muchofthedrug-uld controlf ed clinical flowers and pods (wattles are not included - ovarian cancer speci- wmhto humans trials." mens," he said. , . ..; in order to be ettecUvo. To finance the' re- they don't have pea-shaped flowers). "Bfxause of .&* corn-. _. But tho Quoensland ?;~barchii';r~r,Chk&.h&: me~iaipot8nW 0f:th.hCancer Fund's medical ',develpped a range ot Unknown fungi are the most dangerous of active ingredient. no.~,andsieaUilccommft~more than 20 skin care all, as the toxic reaction can be delayed by grants are available. chslrmaa, Prof John products which are days. If you must try unknown fungi, pick With or without govern- McCaffroy, said they claimed to be effective ment assistance or cor- were unnblo to comment against acne. psoriasis, two, eat oneand leave a note with the other to porate backin 1 will on the drug's potanud eczeme, cold sores and tell the world what you did. Udthe lnhm3 cancer hfom results of clinical dermatitis research myself. . trials were avallabk. worFrench cosmet- The information might bc uscful to your "The outcome of the: :: -:"me &mnsIand caa- ic cornparties have p&e sWIVO~S. observations with the eer mdis nlways inter- unsuc.cessful~offersto terminalcanc6rreSearcb ested In the development .buy the fonnuk. . . Q. What scope is there for individual show. a medical break- of positive cancer treat. ::-a '!Tile formulaisproud- growers for plant breeding? thr~lghand must be rnents, end we will watch ' ly.Australian mads and pursued - the next sb?p with inbrest the develop. not for sale." said Dr A. There is a big scope for supp!ying Bush is pharmacology and ment ot this product Cham. Tucker Restavts. People gather and then testLng humans" through cud& trfals He said one of his Dr Cham, who Is a . "Before new treat- products.VCAPRn prepare bush food on contract. principal rese8rcb.feUow ments of any kind - not cream, whlch was de- signed to relieve artMtic Q. Can' you suggest plants lhar have chnic potential for improvement by breeding? ng injuries, had been. he Fragramt Garden. NIL 7. used by the head tmbr A. Santalums, Podocarpus, Terminalia. of the Broncos Finely chop lemon herbs (lemon thyme. lemon Dr Cham's other pa& Q. Are there native Canarium? -pdqnisand to find cures Lor A. yes. ~i~~ publishe, by balm. lemon basil. young shoots of lemon-grass. a little audio-vascular disease; organisations. lemon rerbcna or lemon nl)-l.tle)iidd to hall a cup of .,-,-he with y butter a squeeze of lemon juice and finel grated 2.10.94 Peter by that he lemon zest Used this lenlon had touched only very lightly on a few edible herb butler to make a herhd plants, mainly fiuits and a few vines tree bread. A pat on baked 01. , Bush Onions can be peeled idroasted because time did not allow a COverage of all grilled fish or on steamed the herbs, toots, nectar flowers, etc. In vegetables just before servins. on hot coals before being eaten, perhaps thanking him, it was recognized that he had makes a delicious sauce. with seed cake or Witchetty Grubs. dehed up to everyone present, a satisfying dinner of information and humour selected from the vast range of menus in this gastronomically fascinating topic.

The Quandon fruir, nut, kernel, and leaves in tie W~TCAlogo

USTWLIAN FOOD PLA~S STUDY GROUP 323 Phllp Ave..