Shrubs Shrubs 86 87 biibaya Broom bush Language name biibaya (yuwaalaraay) Scientific name Melaleuca uncinata Plant location Shrubs The biibaya (Broom Bush) is widespread through mallee, woodland and forest in the western part of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments. It often grows on sandy soils. Plant description The biibaya is an upright shrub with many stems growing from the main trunk. It grows between 1 to 3 metres high. The bark on older stems is papery. It has long, thin leaves which look like the bristles on a broom. Many fruit join together in a cluster which looks like a globe. Traditional use Can you guess what this plant was used for from its common name? The stems and girran.girraa (leaves) of the biibaya provided a useful broom. Bungun (branches) can also be cut and dried for use in brush fences. Paperbark trees (plants belonging to the genus Melaleuca) had many other uses also. The papery nganda (bark) was used to wrap meat for cooking and as plates, as well as being used as bandages, raincoats, shelter, blankets, twine and many other things. The nectar from the gurayn (flowers) could be eaten or drunk, steeped in water, as a sweet drink. Crushing the girran.girraa provides oil. Young girran.girraa can be chewed, or pounded and mixed with water, to treat colds, respiratory complaints and headaches. This mixture was also used as a general tonic. Inhaling the steam from boiling or burning the leaves provides relief from cold, flu and sinusitis (Howell 1983, Stewart & Percival 1997). The gurayn were also used for decoration. Fruit Shrub habit 88 89 nguu Black tea-tree, Honey myrtle Language name nguu (yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay) Scientific name Melaleuca bracteata and other Melaleuca species Plant location Shrubs The nguu (Black Tea-tree) is widespread throughout the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments. It grows along watercourses and in depressions where soil is damp or heavy. Plant description nguu is a shrub or small tree which grows to 15 metres high. It has a very dense canopy. The leaves are twisted and grow to 2cm long. The flowers are white or cream and grow in cylindrical spikes. The bark is smooth on young stems, and on older stems can be hard and fissured. Traditional use Papery bark The oil found in girran.girra (leaves), nganda (bark), and gurayn (flowers) of the nguu are very useful. The girran.girraa are particularly used for medicine - for the relief of headaches, coughs and runny nose, the young tips were breathed deeply. The girran.girraa were also boiled then the steam inhaled, after which the girran. girraa and liquid were rubbed on the forehead. The leaves of some paperbarks were also made into an infusion and drunk in small quantities for coughs. This infusion was poured over the body for generalised aches and pains (Purcell 2002). In some parts of Australia, the girran.girraa of the paperbark tree is drunk as a type of tea. The nectar can be sucked from the gurayn (flower) or added to water to produce a sweet drink. gurayn were also sometimes used as decoration. The flexible and absorbent nganda (barks) were quite useful shelters, bandages, blankets, carriers, a type of food wrapping or container. The wugan (wood) as some nguu species is said to be light and strong (Howell 1983). Shrub habit Flowers Leaves 90 91 nguu Tea tree Language name nguu (yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay) Scientific name Leptospermum species Plant location Shrubs There are many species of nguu (Tea tree) found throughout the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments. nguu often grow on poor soils and along streams. Plant description nguu are usually shrubs with many small flowers which are usually white. They have many small, woody fruits. Their leaves may have an aroma when they are crushed. Tea trees often grow in dense clumps. Traditional use nguu have traditionally been used as pegs to hold clothing and skins. The girran. girraa (leaves) contain high amounts of oil, which can be rubbed on the skin as an insect repellent. The oil can also be used as a disinfectant. The girran.girraa can also be drunk in boiled water as a tea. For the treatment of tooth ache, nguu girran. girraa can be chewed (Hudson, in press). Branches Flower Fruit 92 93 bambul Native orange, Bumble tree Language name bambul (gamilaraay, yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay) Scientific name Capparis mitchellii Plant location Shrubs bambul (Native orange) grows in woodlands throughout the western half of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments. Plant description bambul is a shrub that grows to 6 metres high. It has a very dense crown which makes it easy to recognise. The branches and leaves are a yellowish, grey-green colour and they have paired spines when they are young. The flowers are white and showy. The round fruit are about 5 centimetres in diameter with long stems connecting them to the branch. They are a yellowish colour with rough skin. Traditional use This shrub is important in the Boobera Lagoon area in the north of the catchment. Locally known as ‘bumble’, it is thought to be a ‘woman’s tree’, used to cure women’s illnesses. The girran.girraa (leaves) are boiled in water and drunk to cure venereal disease. The fruit is filled with a brightly coloured yellow-orange pulp and when eaten raw is very tasty. The seeds inside can be ingested and are best swallowed without chewing. The fruit is a favourite bush tucker providing moderate energy, water and carbohydrates. It is a good source of vitamin C and thiamine (Purcell 2002). The fruit can be eaten fresh or used to make a drink. Some say the fruit tastes like passionfruit with a kerosene aftertaste (Low 1991) while others say it is like an apple or an orange. It is generally agreed that bambul is pleasant eating (Howell 1983). Unripe fruit were green and had a hottish taste. Flower Leaves Fruit 94 95 ngaybaan Nepine, Native passionfruit Language name ngaybaan (gamilaraay) barigan (yuwaalaraay) guwiibirr (yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay) Scientific name Capparis lasiantha Shrubs Plant location ngaybaan (Nepine) grows in woodlands in the western half of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments. It is common in the western area of the catchment. Plant description ngaybaan is a climber when young, growing into a scrambling shrub which can reach a height of 7 metres. It is covered all over with hairs or scales and has zig- zagging, spiny stems. The leaves are dull green and leathery with blunt ends. The fruit grow to 3 centimetres in length, are egg shaped and yellow. They split to reveal their seeds when ripe. Flowers are pale yellow or white in colour. Traditional use ngaybaan (Nepine or Capparis lasiantha) and bambul (Native orange or Capparis mitchelli) are closely related. The fruit of both of these species is said to be pleasant eating. ngaybaan produces yellow passionfruit-like fruit which ripen in autumn. The fruit can be eaten fresh and nectar from flowers can be used as a remedy for coughs. The unripe fruit were picked and placed in sand to ripen, away from ants. The plant including warran (roots) can be soaked and the water applied to swellings, snake bites, insect bites and stings (Purcell 2002). Leaves Shrub habit Flowers 96 97 dharrday Native mandarine, Narrow leaf bumble tree Language name dharrday (yuwaalayaay) Scientific name Capparis loranthifolia Plant location Shrubs dharrday (Native mandarine) is actually a rare plant in New South Wales but it is found in the western area of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments, near the border with Queensland. It also grows in Queensland and the Northern Territory. Plant description dharrday is a dense tree or shrub which grows to a height of 8 metres. The young shoots have a dense covering of rust coloured hairs which disappear as the shoot grows older. The leaves are 7 cm long and small spines (7mm) can be found growing from the stems. Many cream flowers can be found on the plant. A reddish-brown fruit measuring 4cm in diameter grows on a long stalk, and sometimes has a netted appearance. Traditional use dharrday has an edible smooth-skinned fruit. This is similar to bambul (Native orange tree), but smaller and more spiny. All Australian plants belonging to the Capparis genus are edible, and were important foods for Aboriginal people (Low 1991). dharrday is thought of as a woman’s tree and therefore has spiritual significance to Aboriginal people. Leaf Leaves Photos: Hugh Nicholson 98 99 badha Budda or False sandalwood Language name badha (yuwaalaraay) Scientific name Eremophila mitchellii Plant location Shrubs The badha (Budda or False Sandalwood) is found in the central and western area of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments. It is found in woodlands on red soil ridges and floodplain rises. Plant description This shrub or small tree grows up to 10 metres high. It has rough, dark brown, scaly bark. The leaves are bright green, smooth and a little bit sticky. The flowers are white or cream in colour. The leaves are long and thin, growing to 6cm long, with a hook on the end. This tree often has more than one trunk (‘multi-stemmed’). Traditional use The girran.girraa (leaves) of the badha are used for smoking people and places, including children who have misbehaved, the houses of the dead, and as a mosquito repellent. They are also boiled in water to make a medicine with many uses, often used for bathing sores. If a woman cannot conceive a child they make a long fire, put badha over it, and the woman sleeps on the hot badha.