Volume 2: Plant Species Flashcards
Atriplex muelleri “lagoon saltbush”
Species unconfirmed but many of the Genus are edible.
Studies on Atriplex species demonstrated their potential use in agriculture. Meat from sheep which have grazed on saltbush has surprisingly high levels of vitamin E, is leaner and more hydrated than regular lamb and has consumer appeal equal to grain-fed lamb. The vitamin E levels could have animal health benefits while extending the shelf-life and maintaining the fresh red colour of saltbush lamb.
Atriplex muelleri “lagoon saltbush”
Species unconfirmed but many of the Genus are edible.
Studies on Atriplex species demonstrated their potential use in agriculture. Meat from sheep which have grazed on saltbush has surprisingly high levels of vitamin E, is leaner and more hydrated than regular lamb and has consumer appeal equal to grain-fed lamb.[18] The vitamin E levels could have animal health benefits while extending the shelf-life and maintaining the fresh red colour of saltbush lamb.
Syzygium (formerly Acmena) smithii lillypilly satinash
Confirmed. white to maroon edible berries.
Syzygium smithii (formerly Acmena smithii) is a summer-flowering, winter-fruiting evergreen tree, belonging to the myrtle family Myrtaceae.
The trunk is sometimes buttressed. The bark is brown and scaled and flakes off easily. Its dark green shiny leaves are arranged oppositely on the stems, and are lanceolate or ovate and measure 2–10 by 1–3 cm (1–4 by 0.5–1 in). The cream-white flowers appear from October to March, occurring in panicles at the end of small branches. Berries follow on, appearing from May to August, and are oval or globular with a shallow depression at the top.They measure 0.8 to 2 cm in diameter, and range from white to maroon in colour.
The Australian king parrot, crimson rosella, rose-crowned fruit-dove, superb fruit-dove, topknot pigeon, white-headed pigeon, wonga pigeon, satin bowerbird, and pied currawong have all been recorded eating the berries as well as brushtail possums and flying foxes. Ringtail possums also eat fresh leaves. In New Zealand, wood pigeons (kererū) eat the fruit and disperse the seeds. The leaf-mining larvae of the moth species Pectinivalva acmenae feed on the leaves. Other moth larvae that feed on the leaves include the species Agriophara horrida, Cryptophasa pultenae and Macarostola formosa.
Syzygium (formerly Acmena) smithii lillypilly satinash
Confirmed. white to maroon edible berries.
Syzygium smithii (formerly Acmena smithii) is a summer-flowering, winter-fruiting evergreen tree, belonging to the myrtle family Myrtaceae.
The trunk is sometimes buttressed. The bark is brown and scaled and flakes off easily. Its dark green shiny leaves are arranged oppositely on the stems, and are lanceolate or ovate and measure 2–10 by 1–3 cm (1–4 by 0.5–1 in). The cream-white flowers appear from October to March, occurring in panicles at the end of small branches. Berries follow on, appearing from May to August, and are oval or globular with a shallow depression at the top.[7]They measure 0.8 to 2 cm in diameter, and range from white to maroon in colour.
The Australian king parrot, crimson rosella, rose-crowned fruit-dove, superb fruit-dove, topknot pigeon, white-headed pigeon, wonga pigeon, satin bowerbird, and pied currawong have all been recorded eating the berries as well as brushtail possums and flying foxes. Ringtail possums also eat fresh leaves. In New Zealand, wood pigeons (kererū) eat the fruit and disperse the seeds. The leaf-mining larvae of the moth species Pectinivalva acmenae feed on the leaves. Other moth larvae that feed on the leaves include the species Agriophara horrida, Cryptophasa pultenae and Macarostola formosa.
Syzygium (formerly Acmena) smithii lillypilly satinash
Confirmed. white to maroon edible berries.
Syzygium smithii (formerly Acmena smithii) is a summer-flowering, winter-fruiting evergreen tree, belonging to the myrtle family Myrtaceae.
The trunk is sometimes buttressed. The bark is brown and scaled and flakes off easily. Its dark green shiny leaves are arranged oppositely on the stems, and are lanceolate or ovate and measure 2–10 by 1–3 cm (1–4 by 0.5–1 in). The cream-white flowers appear from October to March, occurring in panicles at the end of small branches. Berries follow on, appearing from May to August, and are oval or globular with a shallow depression at the top.[7]They measure 0.8 to 2 cm in diameter, and range from white to maroon in colour.
The Australian king parrot, crimson rosella, rose-crowned fruit-dove, superb fruit-dove, topknot pigeon, white-headed pigeon, wonga pigeon, satin bowerbird, and pied currawong have all been recorded eating the berries as well as brushtail possums and flying foxes. Ringtail possums also eat fresh leaves. In New Zealand, wood pigeons (kererū) eat the fruit and disperse the seeds. The leaf-mining larvae of the moth species Pectinivalva acmenae feed on the leaves. Other moth larvae that feed on the leaves include the species Agriophara horrida, Cryptophasa pultenae and Macarostola formosa.
Alphitonia excelsa
soap tree
Not Edible! Misc use.
A. Excelsa is a species of tree in the family Rhamnaceae. It is endemic to Australia.
The crushed leaves can be lathered to produce a bush soap that cleanses and disinfects skin.
The plant contains saponin and this was put to many uses. Crushed leaves and berries were used to stun fish that were trapped in small ponds. The fish to be eaten were caught and killed. The rest recovered and swam away….. very sustainable fishing!
This tree reaches a height of 7–25 metres (23–82 ft), by 5–10 metres (16–33 ft) across. The Red Ash has a spreading shade-producing habit when a larger tree with an overall greyish green appearance. The alternate leaves measure 5–14 cm (2–6 in) in length and 2–5 cm (1–2 in) wide and are dark glossy green above and silvery with fine hairs underneath, making an attractive contrast on windy days. The trunk and larger branches bear fissured grey bark, while smaller branches have smoother grey or white bark. It bears small greenish white flowers in late autumn and early winter, followed by globular dark fruit around 1.5 cm (0.5 in) in diameter, which contain two seeds. When young shoots are bruised, they give off a typical odour of sarsaparilla. The flowers are fragrant in the evening.
It serves as a food plant for the caterpillars of the moonlight jewel (Hypochrysops delicia), and the caterpillars of the small green-banded blue (Psychonotis caelius taygetus).
Alphitonia excelsa
soap tree
Not Edible! Misc use.
A. Excelsa is a species of tree in the family Rhamnaceae. It is endemic to Australia.
The crushed leaves can be lathered to produce a bush soap that cleanses and disinfects skin.
The plant contains saponin and this was put to many uses. Crushed leaves and berries were used to stun fish that were trapped in small ponds. The fish to be eaten were caught and killed. The rest recovered and swam away….. very sustainable fishing!
This tree reaches a height of 7–25 metres (23–82 ft), by 5–10 metres (16–33 ft) across. The Red Ash has a spreading shade-producing habit when a larger tree with an overall greyish green appearance. The alternate leaves measure 5–14 cm (2–6 in) in length and 2–5 cm (1–2 in) wide and are dark glossy green above and silvery with fine hairs underneath, making an attractive contrast on windy days. The trunk and larger branches bear fissured grey bark, while smaller branches have smoother grey or white bark. It bears small greenish white flowers in late autumn and early winter, followed by globular dark fruit around 1.5 cm (0.5 in) in diameter, which contain two seeds. When young shoots are bruised, they give off a typical odour of sarsaparilla. The flowers are fragrant in the evening.
It serves as a food plant for the caterpillars of the moonlight jewel (Hypochrysops delicia), and the caterpillars of the small green-banded blue (Psychonotis caelius taygetus).
Alphitonia excelsa
soap tree
Not Edible! Misc use.
A. Excelsa is a species of tree in the family Rhamnaceae. It is endemic to Australia.
The crushed leaves can be lathered to produce a bush soap that cleanses and disinfects skin.
The plant contains saponin and this was put to many uses. Crushed leaves and berries were used to stun fish that were trapped in small ponds. The fish to be eaten were caught and killed. The rest recovered and swam away….. very sustainable fishing!
This tree reaches a height of 7–25 metres (23–82 ft), by 5–10 metres (16–33 ft) across. The Red Ash has a spreading shade-producing habit when a larger tree with an overall greyish green appearance. The alternate leaves measure 5–14 cm (2–6 in) in length and 2–5 cm (1–2 in) wide and are dark glossy green above and silvery with fine hairs underneath, making an attractive contrast on windy days. The trunk and larger branches bear fissured grey bark, while smaller branches have smoother grey or white bark. It bears small greenish white flowers in late autumn and early winter, followed by globular dark fruit around 1.5 cm (0.5 in) in diameter, which contain two seeds. When young shoots are bruised, they give off a typical odour of sarsaparilla. The flowers are fragrant in the evening.
It serves as a food plant for the caterpillars of the moonlight jewel (Hypochrysops delicia), and the caterpillars of the small green-banded blue (Psychonotis caelius taygetus).
Alpinia caerulea
wild ginger
Confirmed Edible. The white pulp of native ginger has a sour flavour, used to activate salivary glands to moisten the mouth when bushwalking, with the seeds usually being discarded. The capsules can also be used as a flavouring spice, using the whole fruit and seed dried and ground. They can also be used to impart a sour flavour and red color in herbal teas.
The centers of new shoots have mild gingery flavour, and are excellent in various dishes as a ginger substitute. The roots can also be used in cooking, and have a more earthy resinous flavour.
Commonly known as native ginger. Is an understorey perennial herb to 3 m, growing under rainforest, gallery forest and wet sclerophyll forest canopy in eastern Australia. Leaves are up to 40 cm long and 3–10 cm wide. The inflorescence is 10–30 cm long. The blue capsule is globose 1 cm across, with a brittle outer covering containing black seed and white pulp.
Alpinia caerulea
wild ginger
Confirmed Edible. The white pulp of native ginger has a sour flavour, used to activate salivary glands to moisten the mouth when bushwalking, with the seeds usually being discarded. The capsules can also be used as a flavouring spice, using the whole fruit and seed dried and ground. They can also be used to impart a sour flavour and red color in herbal teas.
The centers of new shoots have mild gingery flavour, and are excellent in various dishes as a ginger substitute. The roots can also be used in cooking, and have a more earthy resinous flavour.
Commonly known as native ginger. Is an understorey perennial herb to 3 m, growing under rainforest, gallery forest and wet sclerophyll forest canopy in eastern Australia. Leaves are up to 40 cm long and 3–10 cm wide. The inflorescence is 10–30 cm long. The blue capsule is globose 1 cm across, with a brittle outer covering containing black seed and white pulp.
Alpinia caerulea
wild ginger
Confirmed Edible. The white pulp of native ginger has a sour flavour, used to activate salivary glands to moisten the mouth when bushwalking, with the seeds usually being discarded. The capsules can also be used as a flavouring spice, using the whole fruit and seed dried and ground. They can also be used to impart a sour flavour and red color in herbal teas.
The centers of new shoots have mild gingery flavour, and are excellent in various dishes as a ginger substitute. The roots can also be used in cooking, and have a more earthy resinous flavour.
Commonly known as native ginger. Is an understorey perennial herb to 3 m, growing under rainforest, gallery forest and wet sclerophyll forest canopy in eastern Australia. Leaves are up to 40 cm long and 3–10 cm wide. The inflorescence is 10–30 cm long. The blue capsule is globose 1 cm across, with a brittle outer covering containing black seed and white pulp.
Alpinia caerulea
wild ginger
Confirmed Edible. The white pulp of native ginger has a sour flavour, used to activate salivary glands to moisten the mouth when bushwalking, with the seeds usually being discarded. The capsules can also be used as a flavouring spice, using the whole fruit and seed dried and ground. They can also be used to impart a sour flavour and red color in herbal teas.
The centers of new shoots have mild gingery flavour, and are excellent in various dishes as a ginger substitute. The roots can also be used in cooking, and have a more earthy resinous flavour.
Commonly known as native ginger. Is an understorey perennial herb to 3 m, growing under rainforest, gallery forest and wet sclerophyll forest canopy in eastern Australia. Leaves are up to 40 cm long and 3–10 cm wide. The inflorescence is 10–30 cm long. The blue capsule is globose 1 cm across, with a brittle outer covering containing black seed and white pulp.
Argyrodendron trifoliolatum booyong
No Uses.
Known as white booyong. Its flowers, produced from July to September, are in great numbers and are creamy-colored bell-shaped. The most distinctive feature of Argyrodendron trifoliolatum is that the trunks form large characteristic buttresses.
Grows in well developed rain forest on a variety of sites but probably reaches its best development on upland sites on deep red soils derived from basalt.
Argyrodendron trifoliolatum booyong
No Uses.
Known as white booyong. Its flowers, produced from July to September, are in great numbers and are creamy-colored bell-shaped. The most distinctive feature of Argyrodendron trifoliolatum is that the trunks form large characteristic buttresses.
Grows in well developed rain forest on a variety of sites but probably reaches its best development on upland sites on deep red soils derived from basalt.
Argyrodendron trifoliolatum booyong
No Uses.
Known as white booyong. Its flowers, produced from July to September, are in great numbers and are creamy-colored bell-shaped. The most distinctive feature of Argyrodendron trifoliolatum is that the trunks form large characteristic buttresses.
Grows in well developed rain forest on a variety of sites but probably reaches its best development on upland sites on deep red soils derived from basalt.
Argyrodendron trifoliolatum booyong
No Uses.
Known as white booyong. Its flowers, produced from July to September, are in great numbers and are creamy-colored bell-shaped. The most distinctive feature of Argyrodendron trifoliolatum is that the trunks form large characteristic buttresses.
Grows in well developed rain forest on a variety of sites but probably reaches its best development on upland sites on deep red soils derived from basalt.
Arthropodium milleflorum vanilla lily
Confirmed Edible. Fleshy tubers and edible flowers.
the pale vanilla lily, is a species of herbaceous perennial plants native to Australia. It occurs in various habitats including alpine areas and grows to between 0.3 and 1.3 metres high and 0.3 metres wide. The fleshy tubers were eaten by Aboriginal Australians. The plant has a strong vanilla fragrance, especially noticeable on warm days.
Flowering stems appear in late spring and summer, with two or more pendulous white, pale blue or pink flowers at each node. The tubers are 20–30 mm long and 3–5 mm in diameter. Arthropodium minus is a similar but smaller species with only one flower per node.
Plants may be propagated from seed or by dividing the tubers.
The flowers are hermaphroditic and consist of six white-lilac petals, purple anthers and distinctive white or cream hairy filaments.
The plant has many features which make it ideal for the home garden or landscaping. It is low maintenance, frost tolerant and has relatively low water requirements.
The flowers are also edible. The presence of flowers may have signalled to hunters that game animals, such as bandicoots (which eat the tubers of this species), were nearby.
Arthropodium milleflorum vanilla lily
Confirmed Edible. Fleshy tubers and edible flowers.
the pale vanilla lily, is a species of herbaceous perennial plants native to Australia. It occurs in various habitats including alpine areas and grows to between 0.3 and 1.3 metres high and 0.3 metres wide. The fleshy tubers were eaten by Aboriginal Australians. The plant has a strong vanilla fragrance, especially noticeable on warm days.
Flowering stems appear in late spring and summer, with two or more pendulous white, pale blue or pink flowers at each node. The tubers are 20–30 mm long and 3–5 mm in diameter. Arthropodium minus is a similar but smaller species with only one flower per node.
Plants may be propagated from seed or by dividing the tubers.
The flowers are hermaphroditic and consist of six white-lilac petals, purple anthers and distinctive white or cream hairy filaments.
The plant has many features which make it ideal for the home garden or landscaping. It is low maintenance, frost tolerant and has relatively low water requirements.
The flowers are also edible. The presence of flowers may have signalled to hunters that game animals, such as bandicoots (which eat the tubers of this species), were nearby.
Arthropodium milleflorum vanilla lily
Confirmed Edible. Fleshy tubers and edible flowers.
the pale vanilla lily, is a species of herbaceous perennial plants native to Australia. It occurs in various habitats including alpine areas and grows to between 0.3 and 1.3 metres high and 0.3 metres wide. The fleshy tubers were eaten by Aboriginal Australians. The plant has a strong vanilla fragrance, especially noticeable on warm days.
Flowering stems appear in late spring and summer, with two or more pendulous white, pale blue or pink flowers at each node. The tubers are 20–30 mm long and 3–5 mm in diameter. Arthropodium minus is a similar but smaller species with only one flower per node.
Plants may be propagated from seed or by dividing the tubers.
The flowers are hermaphroditic and consist of six white-lilac petals, purple anthers and distinctive white or cream hairy filaments.
The plant has many features which make it ideal for the home garden or landscaping. It is low maintenance, frost tolerant and has relatively low water requirements.
The flowers are also edible. The presence of flowers may have signalled to hunters that game animals, such as bandicoots (which eat the tubers of this species), were nearby.
Arthropodium milleflorum vanilla lily
Confirmed Edible. Fleshy tubers and edible flowers.
the pale vanilla lily, is a species of herbaceous perennial plants native to Australia. It occurs in various habitats including alpine areas and grows to between 0.3 and 1.3 metres high and 0.3 metres wide. The fleshy tubers were eaten by Aboriginal Australians. The plant has a strong vanilla fragrance, especially noticeable on warm days.
Flowering stems appear in late spring and summer, with two or more pendulous white, pale blue or pink flowers at each node. The tubers are 20–30 mm long and 3–5 mm in diameter. Arthropodium minus is a similar but smaller species with only one flower per node.
Plants may be propagated from seed or by dividing the tubers.
The flowers are hermaphroditic and consist of six white-lilac petals, purple anthers and distinctive white or cream hairy filaments.
The plant has many features which make it ideal for the home garden or landscaping. It is low maintenance, frost tolerant and has relatively low water requirements.
The flowers are also edible. The presence of flowers may have signalled to hunters that game animals, such as bandicoots (which eat the tubers of this species), were nearby.
Austrosteenisia glabristyla giant blood vine
No Use.
Species of legume.
Flowers in summer. Tall woody climber, young branches and leaves covered with golden-brown silky hairs, ± glabrescent with age.
Leaves 5–20 cm long; leaflets 9–15, oblong to lanceolate or oblanceolate, 3–7 cm long, 7–20 mm wide, apex acuminate and mucronate, margins entire, upper surface glabrous, lower surface paler and ± silky; petiole 2–5 cm long, stipels present.
Corolla 6–8 mm long, mauve and white
Pod 4–7 cm long, 10–15 mm wide, pubescent; seeds 1–3.
Austrosteenisia glabristyla giant blood vine
No Use.
Species of legume.
Flowers in summer. Tall woody climber, young branches and leaves covered with golden-brown silky hairs, ± glabrescent with age.
Leaves 5–20 cm long; leaflets 9–15, oblong to lanceolate or oblanceolate, 3–7 cm long, 7–20 mm wide, apex acuminate and mucronate, margins entire, upper surface glabrous, lower surface paler and ± silky; petiole 2–5 cm long, stipels present.
Corolla 6–8 mm long, mauve and white
Pod 4–7 cm long, 10–15 mm wide, pubescent; seeds 1–3.
Austrosteenisia glabristyla giant blood vine
No Use.
Species of legume.
Flowers in summer. Tall woody climber, young branches and leaves covered with golden-brown silky hairs, ± glabrescent with age.
Leaves 5–20 cm long; leaflets 9–15, oblong to lanceolate or oblanceolate, 3–7 cm long, 7–20 mm wide, apex acuminate and mucronate, margins entire, upper surface glabrous, lower surface paler and ± silky; petiole 2–5 cm long, stipels present.
Corolla 6–8 mm long, mauve and white
Pod 4–7 cm long, 10–15 mm wide, pubescent; seeds 1–3.
Beilschmiedia elliptica grey walnut
No Use.
Known as the grey walnut is a rainforest laurel growing in eastern Australia. Not a rare species, but seldom identified in the rainforest.
A medium to large tree reaching to 30 metres tall and 90 cm in trunk diameter. The cylindrical trunk is reddish brown or grey, with raised dots and depressions in the bark. The tree’s base is somewhat buttressed or flanged.
Shoots and stems hairy. The elliptic shaped leaves are alternate and not toothed, 8 to 10 cm long and 2 to 3 cm wide. Leaf venation is prominent on both sides, with a raised midrib and prominent intramarginal vein.
Cream flowers form in panicles from August to October. The fruit is a black round drupe with a glaucous bloom, 12 mm long with a single seed inside. Fruit ripe from February to April. As with most Australian laurels, removal of the fleshy aril is advised to assist seed germination, which is slow but fairly reliable with Beilschmiedia elliptica.
The fruit is eaten by a variety of birds, including rose-crowned fruit dove, topknot pigeon and white-headed pigeon.
Beilschmiedia elliptica grey walnut
No Use.
Known as the grey walnut is a rainforest laurel growing in eastern Australia. Not a rare species, but seldom identified in the rainforest.
A medium to large tree reaching to 30 metres tall and 90 cm in trunk diameter. The cylindrical trunk is reddish brown or grey, with raised dots and depressions in the bark. The tree’s base is somewhat buttressed or flanged.
Shoots and stems hairy. The elliptic shaped leaves are alternate and not toothed, 8 to 10 cm long and 2 to 3 cm wide. Leaf venation is prominent on both sides, with a raised midrib and prominent intramarginal vein.
Cream flowers form in panicles from August to October. The fruit is a black round drupe with a glaucous bloom, 12 mm long with a single seed inside. Fruit ripe from February to April. As with most Australian laurels, removal of the fleshy aril is advised to assist seed germination, which is slow but fairly reliable with Beilschmiedia elliptica.
The fruit is eaten by a variety of birds, including rose-crowned fruit dove, topknot pigeon and white-headed pigeon.
Beilschmiedia elliptica grey walnut
No Use.
Known as the grey walnut is a rainforest laurel growing in eastern Australia. Not a rare species, but seldom identified in the rainforest.
A medium to large tree reaching to 30 metres tall and 90 cm in trunk diameter. The cylindrical trunk is reddish brown or grey, with raised dots and depressions in the bark. The tree’s base is somewhat buttressed or flanged.
Shoots and stems hairy. The elliptic shaped leaves are alternate and not toothed, 8 to 10 cm long and 2 to 3 cm wide. Leaf venation is prominent on both sides, with a raised midrib and prominent intramarginal vein.
Cream flowers form in panicles from August to October. The fruit is a black round drupe with a glaucous bloom, 12 mm long with a single seed inside. Fruit ripe from February to April. As with most Australian laurels, removal of the fleshy aril is advised to assist seed germination, which is slow but fairly reliable with Beilschmiedia elliptica.
The fruit is eaten by a variety of birds, including rose-crowned fruit dove, topknot pigeon and white-headed pigeon.
Beilschmiedia elliptica grey walnut
No Use.
Known as the grey walnut is a rainforest laurel growing in eastern Australia. Not a rare species, but seldom identified in the rainforest.
A medium to large tree reaching to 30 metres tall and 90 cm in trunk diameter. The cylindrical trunk is reddish brown or grey, with raised dots and depressions in the bark. The tree’s base is somewhat buttressed or flanged.
Shoots and stems hairy. The elliptic shaped leaves are alternate and not toothed, 8 to 10 cm long and 2 to 3 cm wide. Leaf venation is prominent on both sides, with a raised midrib and prominent intramarginal vein.
Cream flowers form in panicles from August to October. The fruit is a black round drupe with a glaucous bloom, 12 mm long with a single seed inside. Fruit ripe from February to April. As with most Australian laurels, removal of the fleshy aril is advised to assist seed germination, which is slow but fairly reliable with Beilschmiedia elliptica.
The fruit is eaten by a variety of birds, including rose-crowned fruit dove, topknot pigeon and white-headed pigeon.
Beilschmiedia elliptica grey walnut
No Use.
Known as the grey walnut is a rainforest laurel growing in eastern Australia. Not a rare species, but seldom identified in the rainforest.
A medium to large tree reaching to 30 metres tall and 90 cm in trunk diameter. The cylindrical trunk is reddish brown or grey, with raised dots and depressions in the bark. The tree’s base is somewhat buttressed or flanged.
Shoots and stems hairy. The elliptic shaped leaves are alternate and not toothed, 8 to 10 cm long and 2 to 3 cm wide. Leaf venation is prominent on both sides, with a raised midrib and prominent intramarginal vein.
Cream flowers form in panicles from August to October. The fruit is a black round drupe with a glaucous bloom, 12 mm long with a single seed inside. Fruit ripe from February to April. As with most Australian laurels, removal of the fleshy aril is advised to assist seed germination, which is slow but fairly reliable with Beilschmiedia elliptica.
The fruit is eaten by a variety of birds, including rose-crowned fruit dove, topknot pigeon and white-headed pigeon.
Bouchardatia neurococca union nut
No Use.
Commonly known as union nut, is a species of small rainforest tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. Flowers summer to autumn. It has pinnate leaves with three or five narrow elliptical leaflets, white flowers arranged in panicles, and oval follicles.
Bouchardatia neurococca is a tree that typically grows to a height of 8 m (26 ft) and has smooth greyish brown to dark brown bark. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs and pinnate with three or five narrow elliptical to lance-shaped leaves with the narrow end towards the base.
Bouchardatia neurococca union nut
No Use.
Commonly known as union nut, is a species of small rainforest tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. Flowers summer to autumn. It has pinnate leaves with three or five narrow elliptical leaflets, white flowers arranged in panicles, and oval follicles.
Bouchardatia neurococca is a tree that typically grows to a height of 8 m (26 ft) and has smooth greyish brown to dark brown bark. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs and pinnate with three or five narrow elliptical to lance-shaped leaves with the narrow end towards the base.
Bouchardatia neurococca union nut
No Use.
Commonly known as union nut, is a species of small rainforest tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. Flowers summer to autumn. It has pinnate leaves with three or five narrow elliptical leaflets, white flowers arranged in panicles, and oval follicles.
Bouchardatia neurococca is a tree that typically grows to a height of 8 m (26 ft) and has smooth greyish brown to dark brown bark. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs and pinnate with three or five narrow elliptical to lance-shaped leaves with the narrow end towards the base.
Bouchardatia neurococca union nut
No Use.
Commonly known as union nut, is a species of small rainforest tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. Flowers summer to autumn. It has pinnate leaves with three or five narrow elliptical leaflets, white flowers arranged in panicles, and oval follicles.
Bouchardatia neurococca is a tree that typically grows to a height of 8 m (26 ft) and has smooth greyish brown to dark brown bark. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs and pinnate with three or five narrow elliptical to lance-shaped leaves with the narrow end towards the base.
Bulbophyllum minutissimum grain-of-wheat orchid
No Use.
commonly known as the red bead orchid or grain-of-wheat orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with small, flattened, reddish or green pseudobulbs, scale-like leaves and small whitish to reddish flowers with broad dar red stripes. It grows on trees and rocks, mostly in swamps and near streams in eastern Australia.
Bulbophyllum minutissimum grain-of-wheat orchid
No Use.
commonly known as the red bead orchid or grain-of-wheat orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with small, flattened, reddish or green pseudobulbs, scale-like leaves and small whitish to reddish flowers with broad dar red stripes. It grows on trees and rocks, mostly in swamps and near streams in eastern Australia.
Bulbophyllum minutissimum grain-of-wheat orchid
No Use.
commonly known as the red bead orchid or grain-of-wheat orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with small, flattened, reddish or green pseudobulbs, scale-like leaves and small whitish to reddish flowers with broad dar red stripes. It grows on trees and rocks, mostly in swamps and near streams in eastern Australia.
Bulbophyllum minutissimum grain-of-wheat orchid
No Use.
commonly known as the red bead orchid or grain-of-wheat orchid, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with small, flattened, reddish or green pseudobulbs, scale-like leaves and small whitish to reddish flowers with broad dar red stripes. It grows on trees and rocks, mostly in swamps and near streams in eastern Australia.
Calamus muelleri lawyer vine
Confirmed use. Edible fruit. Young tips were chewed by Aborigines, to cure stomach upsets. They also used the long flexible spined tendrils to pull witchetty grubs from holes in timber.. The canes and leaves were used to make baskets and fish nets and traps. Pioneers used the cane for making furniture and crab pots. Fruit attracts birds.
commonly known as lawyer vine, or wait-a-while, is a vine-like climbing palm with sharp hooks along its leaf sheath, leaf edged, and along flagella that extend from the end of each vine. It flowers and fruits in all months of the year.
Calamus muelleri lawyer vine
Confirmed use. Edible fruit. Young tips were chewed by Aborigines, to cure stomach upsets. They also used the long flexible spined tendrils to pull witchetty grubs from holes in timber.. The canes and leaves were used to make baskets and fish nets and traps. Pioneers used the cane for making furniture and crab pots. Fruit attracts birds.
commonly known as lawyer vine, or wait-a-while, is a vine-like climbing palm with sharp hooks along its leaf sheath, leaf edged, and along flagella that extend from the end of each vine. It flowers and fruits in all months of the year.
Calamus muelleri lawyer vine
Confirmed use. Edible fruit. Young tips were chewed by Aborigines, to cure stomach upsets. They also used the long flexible spined tendrils to pull witchetty grubs from holes in timber.. The canes and leaves were used to make baskets and fish nets and traps. Pioneers used the cane for making furniture and crab pots. Fruit attracts birds.
commonly known as lawyer vine, or wait-a-while, is a vine-like climbing palm with sharp hooks along its leaf sheath, leaf edged, and along flagella that extend from the end of each vine. It flowers and fruits in all months of the year.
Calamus muelleri lawyer vine
Confirmed use. Edible fruit. Young tips were chewed by Aborigines, to cure stomach upsets. They also used the long flexible spined tendrils to pull witchetty grubs from holes in timber.. The canes and leaves were used to make baskets and fish nets and traps. Pioneers used the cane for making furniture and crab pots. Fruit attracts birds.
commonly known as lawyer vine, or wait-a-while, is a vine-like climbing palm with sharp hooks along its leaf sheath, leaf edged, and along flagella that extend from the end of each vine. It flowers and fruits in all months of the year.
Capparis arborea brush caper berry
Confirmed edible. Ripe pulp around seeds in fruit.
Up to 8 metres tall with a stem diameter of 25 cm, but usually seen much smaller. The trunk is crooked, short and irregular in appearance. Many sharp prickles grow on younger plants. Grey bark, with less sharp spines in older trees. Small branches fairly thick, dark grey though more green at the end.
Leaves alternate on the stem, simple, oblong-lanceolate in shape. Sometimes ovate oblong in shape. 5 to 10 cm long, 1.5 to 5 cm wide. Mostly rounded at the tip, although some leaves pointed at the tip. Juvenile leaves smaller than adult leaves with a prickly pointed leaf tip. Leaf veins visible on both surfaces. The midrib is raised under the leaf, but sunken on the top of the leaf.
Single white flowers form from the leaf axils, around 4 cm in diameter. The attractive open wiry flowers form from January to March. Petals 15 mm long, fringed at the edges. The thin flower stalks are 30 to 50 mm long.
From December to March, a fruit resembling a guava forms. Green, smooth and soft, globular in shape. Around 2.5 to 6 cm in diameter. Fruit stalks 3 to 5 cm long. The seeds are round and flattened, 8 to 10 mm in diameter. The ripe fruit are yellow, with the pulp surrounding the seeds being edible, and were a source of food for Aboriginal people. Germination from fresh seed is not particularly difficult, with the first seeds germinating after three weeks.
Capparis arborea brush caper berry
Confirmed edible. Ripe pulp around seeds in fruit.
Up to 8 metres tall with a stem diameter of 25 cm, but usually seen much smaller. The trunk is crooked, short and irregular in appearance. Many sharp prickles grow on younger plants. Grey bark, with less sharp spines in older trees. Small branches fairly thick, dark grey though more green at the end.
Leaves alternate on the stem, simple, oblong-lanceolate in shape. Sometimes ovate oblong in shape. 5 to 10 cm long, 1.5 to 5 cm wide. Mostly rounded at the tip, although some leaves pointed at the tip. Juvenile leaves smaller than adult leaves with a prickly pointed leaf tip. Leaf veins visible on both surfaces. The midrib is raised under the leaf, but sunken on the top of the leaf.
Single white flowers form from the leaf axils, around 4 cm in diameter. The attractive open wiry flowers form from January to March. Petals 15 mm long, fringed at the edges. The thin flower stalks are 30 to 50 mm long.
From December to March, a fruit resembling a guava forms. Green, smooth and soft, globular in shape. Around 2.5 to 6 cm in diameter. Fruit stalks 3 to 5 cm long. The seeds are round and flattened, 8 to 10 mm in diameter. The ripe fruit are yellow, with the pulp surrounding the seeds being edible, and were a source of food for Aboriginal people. Germination from fresh seed is not particularly difficult, with the first seeds germinating after three weeks.
Capparis arborea brush caper berry
Confirmed edible. Ripe pulp around seeds in fruit.
Up to 8 metres tall with a stem diameter of 25 cm, but usually seen much smaller. The trunk is crooked, short and irregular in appearance. Many sharp prickles grow on younger plants. Grey bark, with less sharp spines in older trees. Small branches fairly thick, dark grey though more green at the end.
Leaves alternate on the stem, simple, oblong-lanceolate in shape. Sometimes ovate oblong in shape. 5 to 10 cm long, 1.5 to 5 cm wide. Mostly rounded at the tip, although some leaves pointed at the tip. Juvenile leaves smaller than adult leaves with a prickly pointed leaf tip. Leaf veins visible on both surfaces. The midrib is raised under the leaf, but sunken on the top of the leaf.
Single white flowers form from the leaf axils, around 4 cm in diameter. The attractive open wiry flowers form from January to March. Petals 15 mm long, fringed at the edges. The thin flower stalks are 30 to 50 mm long.
From December to March, a fruit resembling a guava forms. Green, smooth and soft, globular in shape. Around 2.5 to 6 cm in diameter. Fruit stalks 3 to 5 cm long. The seeds are round and flattened, 8 to 10 mm in diameter. The ripe fruit are yellow, with the pulp surrounding the seeds being edible, and were a source of food for Aboriginal people. Germination from fresh seed is not particularly difficult, with the first seeds germinating after three weeks.
Carissa ovata currantbush
Confirmed edible. Purplish black berries.
Commonly known as Currant Bush. Sprawling habit, leaves have spines at base, tubular perfumed white flowers in Spring & edible purplish black berry which is Bush tucker. Hardy & mildly frost tolerant. Attracts butterflies. Useful as a prickly hedge or screen.
Carissa ovata currantbush
Confirmed edible. Purplish black berries.
Commonly known as Currant Bush. Sprawling habit, leaves have spines at base, tubular perfumed white flowers in Spring & edible purplish black berry which is Bush tucker. Hardy & mildly frost tolerant. Attracts butterflies. Useful as a prickly hedge or screen.
Carissa ovata currantbush
Confirmed edible. Purplish black berries.
Commonly known as Currant Bush. Sprawling habit, leaves have spines at base, tubular perfumed white flowers in Spring & edible purplish black berry which is Bush tucker. Hardy & mildly frost tolerant. Attracts butterflies. Useful as a prickly hedge or screen.
Carissa ovata currantbush
Confirmed edible. Purplish black berries.
Commonly known as Currant Bush. Sprawling habit, leaves have spines at base, tubular perfumed white flowers in Spring & edible purplish black berry which is Bush tucker. Hardy & mildly frost tolerant. Attracts butterflies. Useful as a prickly hedge or screen.
Castanospermum australe black bean
Confirmed edible seeds. Extensive prep needed.
The genus Castanospermum belongs to the Fabaceae family and has only one species - Castanospermum australe, commonly referred to as the Black Bean or the Moreton Bay Chestnut.
Due to its importance as a food, the blackbean tree was a seasonal gathering point for Aboriginal peoples, and this acted as a catalyst for ceremonies. Songlines featuring the black bean seeds have been collected. The bark fibre has been used for fish and animal traps, nets and baskets, and the empty seed pods have been used as toy boats. Additionally, the tree has been used as a seasonal signal for when to hunt jungle fowl.
The unprocessed seeds are poisonous, and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, but they become edible when carefully prepared by roasting, cutting up into small pieces, leaching with running water for several days, and pounding into flour and roasting it as a damper. The seeds have been prepared and eaten for at least 2,500 years.
An attractive Australian rainforest tree with dark glossy leaves and masses of yellow and red flowers during summer. Flowers attract lorikeets.
The leaves and seeds are toxic to livestock. Due to its extensive root system, it should not be planted within 10 metres of drainage lines, sewers, house foundations, garages or swimming pools.
The Black Bean has also proved valuable as a timber species, it’s seeds have been utilized - following extensive preparation as a food by Aborigines and it contains alkaloids which have been shown to have anti-HIV and anti -cancer properties.
Castanospermum australe black bean
Confirmed edible seeds. Extensive prep needed.
The genus Castanospermum belongs to the Fabaceae family and has only one species - Castanospermum australe, commonly referred to as the Black Bean or the Moreton Bay Chestnut.
Due to its importance as a food, the blackbean tree was a seasonal gathering point for Aboriginal peoples, and this acted as a catalyst for ceremonies. Songlines featuring the black bean seeds have been collected. The bark fibre has been used for fish and animal traps, nets and baskets, and the empty seed pods have been used as toy boats. Additionally, the tree has been used as a seasonal signal for when to hunt jungle fowl.
The unprocessed seeds are poisonous, and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, but they become edible when carefully prepared by roasting, cutting up into small pieces, leaching with running water for several days, and pounding into flour and roasting it as a damper. The seeds have been prepared and eaten for at least 2,500 years.
An attractive Australian rainforest tree with dark glossy leaves and masses of yellow and red flowers during summer. Flowers attract lorikeets.
The leaves and seeds are toxic to livestock. Due to its extensive root system, it should not be planted within 10 metres of drainage lines, sewers, house foundations, garages or swimming pools.
The Black Bean has also proved valuable as a timber species, it’s seeds have been utilized - following extensive preparation as a food by Aborigines and it contains alkaloids which have been shown to have anti-HIV and anti -cancer properties.
Castanospermum australe black bean
Confirmed edible seeds. Extensive prep needed.
The genus Castanospermum belongs to the Fabaceae family and has only one species - Castanospermum australe, commonly referred to as the Black Bean or the Moreton Bay Chestnut.
Due to its importance as a food, the blackbean tree was a seasonal gathering point for Aboriginal peoples, and this acted as a catalyst for ceremonies. Songlines featuring the black bean seeds have been collected. The bark fibre has been used for fish and animal traps, nets and baskets, and the empty seed pods have been used as toy boats. Additionally, the tree has been used as a seasonal signal for when to hunt jungle fowl.
The unprocessed seeds are poisonous, and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, but they become edible when carefully prepared by roasting, cutting up into small pieces, leaching with running water for several days, and pounding into flour and roasting it as a damper. The seeds have been prepared and eaten for at least 2,500 years.
An attractive Australian rainforest tree with dark glossy leaves and masses of yellow and red flowers during summer. Flowers attract lorikeets.
The leaves and seeds are toxic to livestock. Due to its extensive root system, it should not be planted within 10 metres of drainage lines, sewers, house foundations, garages or swimming pools.
The Black Bean has also proved valuable as a timber species, it’s seeds have been utilized - following extensive preparation as a food by Aborigines and it contains alkaloids which have been shown to have anti-HIV and anti -cancer properties.
Cinnamomum oliveri Oliver’s sassafras
Not wholly edible. Confirmed use: The bark contains tannin, also an essential oil, rich in camphor, safrole and methyleugenol or cinnamic aldehyde and eugenol depending on the chemical variety of the species. The oil may be used for medicinal purposes such as treating diarhoea. Also good as a cinnamon substitute.
The trunk is cylindrical or occasionally flanged. Grey or brown bark with a corky layer. The trunk has vertical lines of corky pustules.
Leaves are opposite, simple, entire wavy margins, smooth, lanceolate, pointed, gradually tapering to the base. 8 to 15 cm long, 2 to 4 cm broad. Shiny green above, bluish grey glaucous below. Leaf stalk 6 to 12 mm long. Leaf venation is distinct on both surfaces. The midrib is raised on both surfaces. Flowers appear from October to November.
Fruit is eaten by rainforest birds including the white-headed pigeon, pied currawong and green catbird. Like most Australian laurel fruit, removal of the fleshy aril is advised to assist seed germination. The seed has short longevity due to deterioration on drying.
Cinnamomum oliveri Oliver’s sassafras
Not wholly edible. Confirmed use: The bark contains tannin, also an essential oil, rich in camphor, safrole and methyleugenol or cinnamic aldehyde and eugenol depending on the chemical variety of the species. The oil may be used for medicinal purposes such as treating diarhoea. Also good as a cinnamon substitute.
The trunk is cylindrical or occasionally flanged. Grey or brown bark with a corky layer. The trunk has vertical lines of corky pustules.
Leaves are opposite, simple, entire wavy margins, smooth, lanceolate, pointed, gradually tapering to the base. 8 to 15 cm long, 2 to 4 cm broad. Shiny green above, bluish grey glaucous below. Leaf stalk 6 to 12 mm long. Leaf venation is distinct on both surfaces. The midrib is raised on both surfaces. Flowers appear from October to November.
Fruit is eaten by rainforest birds including the white-headed pigeon, pied currawong and green catbird. Like most Australian laurel fruit, removal of the fleshy aril is advised to assist seed germination. The seed has short longevity due to deterioration on drying.
Cinnamomum oliveri Oliver’s sassafras
Not wholly edible. Confirmed use: The bark contains tannin, also an essential oil, rich in camphor, safrole and methyleugenol or cinnamic aldehyde and eugenol depending on the chemical variety of the species. The oil may be used for medicinal purposes such as treating diarhoea. Also good as a cinnamon substitute.
The trunk is cylindrical or occasionally flanged. Grey or brown bark with a corky layer. The trunk has vertical lines of corky pustules.
Leaves are opposite, simple, entire wavy margins, smooth, lanceolate, pointed, gradually tapering to the base. 8 to 15 cm long, 2 to 4 cm broad. Shiny green above, bluish grey glaucous below. Leaf stalk 6 to 12 mm long. Leaf venation is distinct on both surfaces. The midrib is raised on both surfaces. Flowers appear from October to November.
Fruit is eaten by rainforest birds including the white-headed pigeon, pied currawong and green catbird. Like most Australian laurel fruit, removal of the fleshy aril is advised to assist seed germination. The seed has short longevity due to deterioration on drying.
Cinnamomum oliveri Oliver’s sassafras
Not wholly edible. Confirmed use: The bark contains tannin, also an essential oil, rich in camphor, safrole and methyleugenol or cinnamic aldehyde and eugenol depending on the chemical variety of the species. The oil may be used for medicinal purposes such as treating diarhoea. Also good as a cinnamon substitute.
The trunk is cylindrical or occasionally flanged. Grey or brown bark with a corky layer. The trunk has vertical lines of corky pustules.
Leaves are opposite, simple, entire wavy margins, smooth, lanceolate, pointed, gradually tapering to the base. 8 to 15 cm long, 2 to 4 cm broad. Shiny green above, bluish grey glaucous below. Leaf stalk 6 to 12 mm long. Leaf venation is distinct on both surfaces. The midrib is raised on both surfaces. Flowers appear from October to November.
Fruit is eaten by rainforest birds including the white-headed pigeon, pied currawong and green catbird. Like most Australian laurel fruit, removal of the fleshy aril is advised to assist seed germination. The seed has short longevity due to deterioration on drying.
Cinnamomum oliveri Oliver’s sassafras
Not wholly edible. Confirmed use: The bark contains tannin, also an essential oil, rich in camphor, safrole and methyleugenol or cinnamic aldehyde and eugenol depending on the chemical variety of the species. The oil may be used for medicinal purposes such as treating diarhoea. Also good as a cinnamon substitute.
The trunk is cylindrical or occasionally flanged. Grey or brown bark with a corky layer. The trunk has vertical lines of corky pustules.
Leaves are opposite, simple, entire wavy margins, smooth, lanceolate, pointed, gradually tapering to the base. 8 to 15 cm long, 2 to 4 cm broad. Shiny green above, bluish grey glaucous below. Leaf stalk 6 to 12 mm long. Leaf venation is distinct on both surfaces. The midrib is raised on both surfaces. Flowers appear from October to November.
Fruit is eaten by rainforest birds including the white-headed pigeon, pied currawong and green catbird. Like most Australian laurel fruit, removal of the fleshy aril is advised to assist seed germination. The seed has short longevity due to deterioration on drying.
Corymbia tessellaris Moreton Bay ash
NOT edible. Confirmed use: An infusion of the bark is drunk as a treatment for dysentry.
Kino resin, obtained from the bark and trunk, is very astringent. Diluted, it can be taken internally as an effective treatment for dysentery, working because it is not absorbed at all from the stomach and only very slowly from the intestine, and is thus able to directly treat the lower part of the intestine. It can be used as a gargle and mouthwash to treat relaxed throat, loose teeth.
Applied externally as a wash, it is an effective styptic and can used to treat cuts and skin problems.
Corymbia tessellaris Moreton Bay ash
NOT edible. Confirmed use: An infusion of the bark is drunk as a treatment for dysentry.
Kino resin, obtained from the bark and trunk, is very astringent. Diluted, it can be taken internally as an effective treatment for dysentery, working because it is not absorbed at all from the stomach and only very slowly from the intestine, and is thus able to directly treat the lower part of the intestine. It can be used as a gargle and mouthwash to treat relaxed throat, loose teeth.
Applied externally as a wash, it is an effective styptic and can used to treat cuts and skin problems.
Cryptocarya obovata pepperberry
NOT edible.
Is a large laurel growing on basaltic and fertile alluvial soils in eastern Australian rainforests. The hairy underside of the leaves gives the tree a rusty appearance when viewed from below. Flowering occurs between February to May.
Eaten by Australasian figbird, rose-crowned fruit-dove, topknot pigeon and wompoo fruit dove.
Cryptocarya obovata pepperberry
NOT edible.
Is a large laurel growing on basaltic and fertile alluvial soils in eastern Australian rainforests. The hairy underside of the leaves gives the tree a rusty appearance when viewed from below. Flowering occurs between February to May.
Eaten by Australasian figbird, rose-crowned fruit-dove, topknot pigeon and wompoo fruit dove.
Cryptocarya obovata pepperberry
NOT edible.
Is a large laurel growing on basaltic and fertile alluvial soils in eastern Australian rainforests. The hairy underside of the leaves gives the tree a rusty appearance when viewed from below. Flowering occurs between February to May.
Eaten by Australasian figbird, rose-crowned fruit-dove, topknot pigeon and wompoo fruit dove.
Cupaniopsis anacardioides tuckeroo
Confirmed edible: bears bright orange fruit that is edible when ripe.
Is a species of flowering tree in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. Growing up to 10 metres (33 ft) with a stem diameter of 50 centimetres (20 in). The bark is smooth grey or brown with raised horizontal lines. The bases of the trees are usually flanged.
Leaves are pinnate and alternate with six to ten leaflets. These are not toothed, and are egg-shaped to elliptic-oblong, and 7 to 10 centimetres (2.8 to 3.9 in) long. The tips are often notched or blunt. Leaf veins are evident on both sides. The veins are mostly raised underneath.
Greenish white flowers form on panicles from May to July. The fruit is an orange to yellow capsule with three lobes. There is a glossy dark brown seed inside each lobe. The seeds are covered in a bright orange aril. Fruit ripens from October to December, attracting many birds including Australasian figbird, olive-backed oriole and pied currawong.
Cupaniopsis anacardioides tuckeroo
Confirmed edible: bears bright orange fruit that is edible when ripe.
Is a species of flowering tree in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. Growing up to 10 metres (33 ft) with a stem diameter of 50 centimetres (20 in). The bark is smooth grey or brown with raised horizontal lines. The bases of the trees are usually flanged.
Leaves are pinnate and alternate with six to ten leaflets. These are not toothed, and are egg-shaped to elliptic-oblong, and 7 to 10 centimetres (2.8 to 3.9 in) long. The tips are often notched or blunt. Leaf veins are evident on both sides. The veins are mostly raised underneath.
Greenish white flowers form on panicles from May to July. The fruit is an orange to yellow capsule with three lobes. There is a glossy dark brown seed inside each lobe. The seeds are covered in a bright orange aril. Fruit ripens from October to December, attracting many birds including Australasian figbird, olive-backed oriole and pied currawong.
Cupaniopsis anacardioides tuckeroo
Confirmed edible: bears bright orange fruit that is edible when ripe.
Is a species of flowering tree in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. Growing up to 10 metres (33 ft) with a stem diameter of 50 centimetres (20 in). The bark is smooth grey or brown with raised horizontal lines. The bases of the trees are usually flanged.
Leaves are pinnate and alternate with six to ten leaflets. These are not toothed, and are egg-shaped to elliptic-oblong, and 7 to 10 centimetres (2.8 to 3.9 in) long. The tips are often notched or blunt. Leaf veins are evident on both sides. The veins are mostly raised underneath.
Greenish white flowers form on panicles from May to July. The fruit is an orange to yellow capsule with three lobes. There is a glossy dark brown seed inside each lobe. The seeds are covered in a bright orange aril. Fruit ripens from October to December, attracting many birds including Australasian figbird, olive-backed oriole and pied currawong.
Cupaniopsis anacardioides tuckeroo
Confirmed edible: bears bright orange fruit that is edible when ripe.
Is a species of flowering tree in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. Growing up to 10 metres (33 ft) with a stem diameter of 50 centimetres (20 in). The bark is smooth grey or brown with raised horizontal lines. The bases of the trees are usually flanged.
Leaves are pinnate and alternate with six to ten leaflets. These are not toothed, and are egg-shaped to elliptic-oblong, and 7 to 10 centimetres (2.8 to 3.9 in) long. The tips are often notched or blunt. Leaf veins are evident on both sides. The veins are mostly raised underneath.
Greenish white flowers form on panicles from May to July. The fruit is an orange to yellow capsule with three lobes. There is a glossy dark brown seed inside each lobe. The seeds are covered in a bright orange aril. Fruit ripens from October to December, attracting many birds including Australasian figbird, olive-backed oriole and pied currawong.
Cyperus exaltatus tall flatsedge
Confirmed edible. The rhizomes are grated and eaten.
This and other large sedges are burnt to produce a vegetable salt.
Large tussocking perennial to 1.8m with showy flowers heads to over 1m. Grows in shallow water and on stream & lagoon banks. Valuable water bird habitat & erosion control.
Cyperus exaltatus tall flatsedge
Confirmed edible. The rhizomes are grated and eaten.
This and other large sedges are burnt to produce a vegetable salt.
Large tussocking perennial to 1.8m with showy flowers heads to over 1m. Grows in shallow water and on stream & lagoon banks. Valuable water bird habitat & erosion control.
Cyperus exaltatus tall flatsedge
Confirmed edible. The rhizomes are grated and eaten.
This and other large sedges are burnt to produce a vegetable salt.
Large tussocking perennial to 1.8m with showy flowers heads to over 1m. Grows in shallow water and on stream & lagoon banks. Valuable water bird habitat & erosion control.
Dendrobium aemulum ironbark orchid
Unconfirmed if edible.
is an epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and grows on trees that retain their bark, especially ironbarks. It has reddish or purplish pseudobulbs, two to four leathery leaves and up to seven white, feathery flowers.
Flowering occurs from August to October. The flowers are reputed to produce a sweet scent at night, “suggesting pollination by night-flying insects”.
This is always the first orchid to flower, so when it comes out, that means that the spring orchid sequence has begun again.
Is a plant that is picky about its trees. There are five different forms, each with its favourite tree. Our local is the ironbark form and prefers its Eucalyptus hosts to be at the edges of vine forest. It is the only orchid beside Cymbidiums that prefers to grow on a Eucalypt.
This is a very sensitive plant which usually dies if moved, unless it is very young indeed.
Dendrobium aemulum ironbark orchid
Unconfirmed if edible.
is an epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae and grows on trees that retain their bark, especially ironbarks. It has reddish or purplish pseudobulbs, two to four leathery leaves and up to seven white, feathery flowers.
Flowering occurs from August to October. The flowers are reputed to produce a sweet scent at night, “suggesting pollination by night-flying insects”.
This is always the first orchid to flower, so when it comes out, that means that the spring orchid sequence has begun again.
Is a plant that is picky about its trees. There are five different forms, each with its favourite tree. Our local is the ironbark form and prefers its Eucalyptus hosts to be at the edges of vine forest. It is the only orchid beside Cymbidiums that prefers to grow on a Eucalypt.
This is a very sensitive plant which usually dies if moved, unless it is very young indeed.
Decaspermum humile silky myrtle
Confirmed edible. Black currants.
Ornamental tree to 12m with spreading canopy. Fluffy perfumed pale flowers, small black currant edible fruit. Grows easily in well drained soil.
Sun (80%-100%)
Preferred Soil Type: Good Drainage
Soil pH Neutral: (6.6 - 7.3)
Decaspermum humile silky myrtle
Confirmed edible. Black currants.
Ornamental tree to 12m with spreading canopy. Fluffy perfumed pale flowers, small black currant edible fruit. Grows easily in well drained soil.
Sun (80%-100%)
Preferred Soil Type: Good Drainage
Soil pH Neutral: (6.6 - 7.3)
Decaspermum humile silky myrtle
Confirmed edible. Black currants.
Ornamental tree to 12m with spreading canopy. Fluffy perfumed pale flowers, small black currant edible fruit. Grows easily in well drained soil.
Sun (80%-100%)
Preferred Soil Type: Good Drainage
Soil pH Neutral: (6.6 - 7.3)
Decaspermum humile silky myrtle
Confirmed edible. Black currants.
Ornamental tree to 12m with spreading canopy. Fluffy perfumed pale flowers, small black currant edible fruit. Grows easily in well drained soil.
Sun (80%-100%)
Preferred Soil Type: Good Drainage
Soil pH Neutral: (6.6 - 7.3)
Decaspermum humile silky myrtle
Confirmed edible. Black currants.
Ornamental tree to 12m with spreading canopy. Fluffy perfumed pale flowers, small black currant edible fruit. Grows easily in well drained soil.
Sun (80%-100%)
Preferred Soil Type: Good Drainage
Soil pH Neutral: (6.6 - 7.3)
Decaspermum humile silky myrtle
Confirmed edible. Black currants.
Ornamental tree to 12m with spreading canopy. Fluffy perfumed pale flowers, small black currant edible fruit. Grows easily in well drained soil.
Sun (80%-100%)
Preferred Soil Type: Good Drainage
Soil pH Neutral: (6.6 - 7.3)
Dendrobium gracilicaule slender orchid
Not confirmed if edible.
Is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cylindrical pseudobulbs, between three and seven thin leaves and up to thirty often drooping, cream-coloured to yellow or greenish flowers, sometimes with reddish brown blotches on the back.
Dendrobium gracilicaule slender orchid
Not confirmed if edible.
Is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cylindrical pseudobulbs, between three and seven thin leaves and up to thirty often drooping, cream-coloured to yellow or greenish flowers, sometimes with reddish brown blotches on the back.
Dendrobium gracilicaule slender orchid
Not confirmed if edible.
Is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cylindrical pseudobulbs, between three and seven thin leaves and up to thirty often drooping, cream-coloured to yellow or greenish flowers, sometimes with reddish brown blotches on the back.
Dendrobium gracilicaule slender orchid
Not confirmed if edible.
Is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cylindrical pseudobulbs, between three and seven thin leaves and up to thirty often drooping, cream-coloured to yellow or greenish flowers, sometimes with reddish brown blotches on the back.
Dendrobium tetragonum tree spider orchid
Not confirmed.
is a variable species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid endemic to eastern Australia. Tree spider orchids are unusual in having pendulous pseudobulbs that are thin and wiry near the base then expand into a fleshy, four-sided upper section before tapering at the tip.Flowers september to october.
Tree spider orchids are usually epiphytes which grow on trees in rainforest or shady places beside streams, but also sometimes on paperbark trees, especially Melaleuca styphelioides and occasionally on rocks.
Dendrobium tetragonum tree spider orchid
Not confirmed.
is a variable species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid endemic to eastern Australia. Tree spider orchids are unusual in having pendulous pseudobulbs that are thin and wiry near the base then expand into a fleshy, four-sided upper section before tapering at the tip.Flowers september to october.
Tree spider orchids are usually epiphytes which grow on trees in rainforest or shady places beside streams, but also sometimes on paperbark trees, especially Melaleuca styphelioides and occasionally on rocks.
Dendrobium tetragonum tree spider orchid
Not confirmed.
is a variable species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid endemic to eastern Australia. Tree spider orchids are unusual in having pendulous pseudobulbs that are thin and wiry near the base then expand into a fleshy, four-sided upper section before tapering at the tip.Flowers september to october.
Tree spider orchids are usually epiphytes which grow on trees in rainforest or shady places beside streams, but also sometimes on paperbark trees, especially Melaleuca styphelioides and occasionally on rocks.
Dendrocnide excelsa giant stinging tree
Confirmed edible: Fruit - raw. The fruits have a crisp texture and an acid flavour. Extreme care should be exercised if trying to eat this fruit - the stinging hairs are particularly virulent and need to be completely removed before eating the fruit.
The fruits are produced in small clusters which can fall to the ground when ripe.
Pops up particularly in disturbed areas, previously flattened by storms or cyclones. All aerial parts of the tree have stinging hairs, and can cause a severe reaction on contact with skin.
The sting is considered more severe than Dendrocnide photinophylla (shining-leaved stinging tree), but not as severe as Dendrocnide moroides (gympie stinger). The tree delivers neurotoxin proteins which researchers named gympietides, similar to toxins found in spiders and cone snails, and not previously seen in plants. It was postulated that the long-term pain from the gympietides may be due to permanent changes in the sodium channels in sensory neurons.
The venom binds to and fires pain receptors in the nervous system; there are hopes that understanding how these proteins work could lead to the creation of new painkillers.
Minor stings can last for an hour or two. However, severe stinging can last for months. First aid for the sting is to apply wax hair-removal strips and then yank them off to remove the trees’ hairs. Dendrocnide stings have been known to kill dogs and horses that have brushed against them. It was found that even heavy welding gloves did not protect researchers from stings while studying the tree.
Dendrocnide excelsa giant stinging tree
Confirmed edible: Fruit - raw. The fruits have a crisp texture and an acid flavour. Extreme care should be exercised if trying to eat this fruit - the stinging hairs are particularly virulent and need to be completely removed before eating the fruit.
The fruits are produced in small clusters which can fall to the ground when ripe.
Pops up particularly in disturbed areas, previously flattened by storms or cyclones. All aerial parts of the tree have stinging hairs, and can cause a severe reaction on contact with skin.
The sting is considered more severe than Dendrocnide photinophylla (shining-leaved stinging tree), but not as severe as Dendrocnide moroides (gympie stinger). The tree delivers neurotoxin proteins which researchers named gympietides, similar to toxins found in spiders and cone snails, and not previously seen in plants. It was postulated that the long-term pain from the gympietides may be due to permanent changes in the sodium channels in sensory neurons.
The venom binds to and fires pain receptors in the nervous system; there are hopes that understanding how these proteins work could lead to the creation of new painkillers.
Minor stings can last for an hour or two. However, severe stinging can last for months. First aid for the sting is to apply wax hair-removal strips and then yank them off to remove the trees’ hairs. Dendrocnide stings have been known to kill dogs and horses that have brushed against them. It was found that even heavy welding gloves did not protect researchers from stings while studying the tree.
Dendrocnide excelsa giant stinging tree
Confirmed edible: Fruit - raw. The fruits have a crisp texture and an acid flavour. Extreme care should be exercised if trying to eat this fruit - the stinging hairs are particularly virulent and need to be completely removed before eating the fruit.
The fruits are produced in small clusters which can fall to the ground when ripe.
Pops up particularly in disturbed areas, previously flattened by storms or cyclones. All aerial parts of the tree have stinging hairs, and can cause a severe reaction on contact with skin.
The sting is considered more severe than Dendrocnide photinophylla (shining-leaved stinging tree), but not as severe as Dendrocnide moroides (gympie stinger). The tree delivers neurotoxin proteins which researchers named gympietides, similar to toxins found in spiders and cone snails, and not previously seen in plants. It was postulated that the long-term pain from the gympietides may be due to permanent changes in the sodium channels in sensory neurons.
The venom binds to and fires pain receptors in the nervous system; there are hopes that understanding how these proteins work could lead to the creation of new painkillers.
Minor stings can last for an hour or two. However, severe stinging can last for months. First aid for the sting is to apply wax hair-removal strips and then yank them off to remove the trees’ hairs. Dendrocnide stings have been known to kill dogs and horses that have brushed against them. It was found that even heavy welding gloves did not protect researchers from stings while studying the tree.
Dendrocnide excelsa giant stinging tree
Confirmed edible: Fruit - raw. The fruits have a crisp texture and an acid flavour. Extreme care should be exercised if trying to eat this fruit - the stinging hairs are particularly virulent and need to be completely removed before eating the fruit.
The fruits are produced in small clusters which can fall to the ground when ripe.
Pops up particularly in disturbed areas, previously flattened by storms or cyclones. All aerial parts of the tree have stinging hairs, and can cause a severe reaction on contact with skin.
The sting is considered more severe than Dendrocnide photinophylla (shining-leaved stinging tree), but not as severe as Dendrocnide moroides (gympie stinger). The tree delivers neurotoxin proteins which researchers named gympietides, similar to toxins found in spiders and cone snails, and not previously seen in plants. It was postulated that the long-term pain from the gympietides may be due to permanent changes in the sodium channels in sensory neurons.
The venom binds to and fires pain receptors in the nervous system; there are hopes that understanding how these proteins work could lead to the creation of new painkillers.
Minor stings can last for an hour or two. However, severe stinging can last for months. First aid for the sting is to apply wax hair-removal strips and then yank them off to remove the trees’ hairs. Dendrocnide stings have been known to kill dogs and horses that have brushed against them. It was found that even heavy welding gloves did not protect researchers from stings while studying the tree.
Dendrocnide excelsa giant stinging tree
Confirmed edible: Fruit - raw. The fruits have a crisp texture and an acid flavour. Extreme care should be exercised if trying to eat this fruit - the stinging hairs are particularly virulent and need to be completely removed before eating the fruit.
The fruits are produced in small clusters which can fall to the ground when ripe.
Pops up particularly in disturbed areas, previously flattened by storms or cyclones. All aerial parts of the tree have stinging hairs, and can cause a severe reaction on contact with skin.
The sting is considered more severe than Dendrocnide photinophylla (shining-leaved stinging tree), but not as severe as Dendrocnide moroides (gympie stinger). The tree delivers neurotoxin proteins which researchers named gympietides, similar to toxins found in spiders and cone snails, and not previously seen in plants. It was postulated that the long-term pain from the gympietides may be due to permanent changes in the sodium channels in sensory neurons.
The venom binds to and fires pain receptors in the nervous system; there are hopes that understanding how these proteins work could lead to the creation of new painkillers.
Minor stings can last for an hour or two. However, severe stinging can last for months. First aid for the sting is to apply wax hair-removal strips and then yank them off to remove the trees’ hairs. Dendrocnide stings have been known to kill dogs and horses that have brushed against them. It was found that even heavy welding gloves did not protect researchers from stings while studying the tree.
Dendrocnide excelsa giant stinging tree
Confirmed edible: Fruit - raw. The fruits have a crisp texture and an acid flavour. Extreme care should be exercised if trying to eat this fruit - the stinging hairs are particularly virulent and need to be completely removed before eating the fruit.
The fruits are produced in small clusters which can fall to the ground when ripe.
Pops up particularly in disturbed areas, previously flattened by storms or cyclones. All aerial parts of the tree have stinging hairs, and can cause a severe reaction on contact with skin.
The sting is considered more severe than Dendrocnide photinophylla (shining-leaved stinging tree), but not as severe as Dendrocnide moroides (gympie stinger). The tree delivers neurotoxin proteins which researchers named gympietides, similar to toxins found in spiders and cone snails, and not previously seen in plants. It was postulated that the long-term pain from the gympietides may be due to permanent changes in the sodium channels in sensory neurons.
The venom binds to and fires pain receptors in the nervous system; there are hopes that understanding how these proteins work could lead to the creation of new painkillers.
Minor stings can last for an hour or two. However, severe stinging can last for months. First aid for the sting is to apply wax hair-removal strips and then yank them off to remove the trees’ hairs. Dendrocnide stings have been known to kill dogs and horses that have brushed against them. It was found that even heavy welding gloves did not protect researchers from stings while studying the tree.
Dioscorea transversa native yam
Confirmed edible: tubers.
The tubers were a staple food of Australian Aboriginals and are eaten after cooking, usually in ground ovens.
The leaves are heart-shaped, shiny, with 5-7 prominent veins. The seed pods are rounded, green or pink before drying to a straw brown papery texture. The edible tubers are typically slender and long. There are two forms: an eastern rainforest and wet sclerophyll form which doesn’t have bulbils, and a northern form which occurs in open forests and has small bulbils and large inground tubers.
Dioscorea transversa native yam
Confirmed edible: tubers.
The tubers were a staple food of Australian Aboriginals and are eaten after cooking, usually in ground ovens.
The leaves are heart-shaped, shiny, with 5-7 prominent veins. The seed pods are rounded, green or pink before drying to a straw brown papery texture. The edible tubers are typically slender and long. There are two forms: an eastern rainforest and wet sclerophyll form which doesn’t have bulbils, and a northern form which occurs in open forests and has small bulbils and large inground tubers.
Dioscorea transversa native yam
Confirmed edible: tubers.
The tubers were a staple food of Australian Aboriginals and are eaten after cooking, usually in ground ovens.
The leaves are heart-shaped, shiny, with 5-7 prominent veins. The seed pods are rounded, green or pink before drying to a straw brown papery texture. The edible tubers are typically slender and long. There are two forms: an eastern rainforest and wet sclerophyll form which doesn’t have bulbils, and a northern form which occurs in open forests and has small bulbils and large inground tubers.
Dioscorea transversa native yam
Confirmed edible: tubers.
The tubers were a staple food of Australian Aboriginals and are eaten after cooking, usually in ground ovens.
The leaves are heart-shaped, shiny, with 5-7 prominent veins. The seed pods are rounded, green or pink before drying to a straw brown papery texture. The edible tubers are typically slender and long. There are two forms: an eastern rainforest and wet sclerophyll form which doesn’t have bulbils, and a northern form which occurs in open forests and has small bulbils and large inground tubers.
Diospyros australis black plum
Confirmed edible: black berries.
Black Plum, also known as Grey Plum or Yellow Persimmon, is a small tree producing plum-like berries in Autumn and Winter.
An attractive small tree, rarely reaching a height of 20 metres and a trunk diameter of 25 cm (10 in). The yellow tinged foliage and black berries make identification relatively easy.
Fruiting usually starts in February and continues until July. Berries are 10-15mm in size, starting out yellow and turning black as they ripen. They are most edible when black and soft, with a sweetness that makes them perfect for jellies, chutneys and jams.
Small cream/yellow flowers appear en masse from October, and will self-pollinate.
They are also known for fire retardant properties, making them a worthwhile inclusion in your landscape design.
Diospyros australis black plum
Confirmed edible: black berries.
Black Plum, also known as Grey Plum or Yellow Persimmon, is a small tree producing plum-like berries in Autumn and Winter.
An attractive small tree, rarely reaching a height of 20 metres and a trunk diameter of 25 cm (10 in). The yellow tinged foliage and black berries make identification relatively easy.
Fruiting usually starts in February and continues until July. Berries are 10-15mm in size, starting out yellow and turning black as they ripen. They are most edible when black and soft, with a sweetness that makes them perfect for jellies, chutneys and jams.
Small cream/yellow flowers appear en masse from October, and will self-pollinate.
They are also known for fire retardant properties, making them a worthwhile inclusion in your landscape design.
Diospyros australis black plum
Confirmed edible: black berries.
Black Plum, also known as Grey Plum or Yellow Persimmon, is a small tree producing plum-like berries in Autumn and Winter.
An attractive small tree, rarely reaching a height of 20 metres and a trunk diameter of 25 cm (10 in). The yellow tinged foliage and black berries make identification relatively easy.
Fruiting usually starts in February and continues until July. Berries are 10-15mm in size, starting out yellow and turning black as they ripen. They are most edible when black and soft, with a sweetness that makes them perfect for jellies, chutneys and jams.
Small cream/yellow flowers appear en masse from October, and will self-pollinate.
They are also known for fire retardant properties, making them a worthwhile inclusion in your landscape design.
Diospyros australis black plum
Confirmed edible: black berries.
Black Plum, also known as Grey Plum or Yellow Persimmon, is a small tree producing plum-like berries in Autumn and Winter.
An attractive small tree, rarely reaching a height of 20 metres and a trunk diameter of 25 cm (10 in). The yellow tinged foliage and black berries make identification relatively easy.
Fruiting usually starts in February and continues until July. Berries are 10-15mm in size, starting out yellow and turning black as they ripen. They are most edible when black and soft, with a sweetness that makes them perfect for jellies, chutneys and jams.
Small cream/yellow flowers appear en masse from October, and will self-pollinate.
They are also known for fire retardant properties, making them a worthwhile inclusion in your landscape design.
Diploglottis australis native tamarind
Confirmed edible: fruits.
It also is used as the basis for a tangy cool drink.
Large Leaf Tamarind is a slender, palm-like gully tree that bears sweet, tart fruits prolifically each season.
Creamy brown flowers form in Spring, maturing from October to January. The fleshy yellow-orange fruit is sour to taste, but like the Asian Tamarind, may be enjoyed raw or processed into jams, jellies, sauces, candies and drinks.
Fruits will fall from the tree when ripe, and should be collected as soon as possible as they are a favourite of ants, birds, bats and other garden creatures.
Many species of rainforest birds eat the fruit, particularly the aril, and disseminate the seed. Prominent examples of such birds include the brown cuckoo dove, crimson rosella, Australasian figbird, green catbird, regent bowerbird, Australian brush-turkey, rose-crowned fruit-dove, topknot pigeon and wompoo fruit-dove.
Diploglottis australis native tamarind
Confirmed edible: fruits.
It also is used as the basis for a tangy cool drink.
Large Leaf Tamarind is a slender, palm-like gully tree that bears sweet, tart fruits prolifically each season.
Creamy brown flowers form in Spring, maturing from October to January. The fleshy yellow-orange fruit is sour to taste, but like the Asian Tamarind, may be enjoyed raw or processed into jams, jellies, sauces, candies and drinks.
Fruits will fall from the tree when ripe, and should be collected as soon as possible as they are a favourite of ants, birds, bats and other garden creatures.
Many species of rainforest birds eat the fruit, particularly the aril, and disseminate the seed. Prominent examples of such birds include the brown cuckoo dove, crimson rosella, Australasian figbird, green catbird, regent bowerbird, Australian brush-turkey, rose-crowned fruit-dove, topknot pigeon and wompoo fruit-dove.
Diploglottis australis native tamarind
Confirmed edible: fruits.
It also is used as the basis for a tangy cool drink.
Large Leaf Tamarind is a slender, palm-like gully tree that bears sweet, tart fruits prolifically each season.
Creamy brown flowers form in Spring, maturing from October to January. The fleshy yellow-orange fruit is sour to taste, but like the Asian Tamarind, may be enjoyed raw or processed into jams, jellies, sauces, candies and drinks.
Fruits will fall from the tree when ripe, and should be collected as soon as possible as they are a favourite of ants, birds, bats and other garden creatures.
Many species of rainforest birds eat the fruit, particularly the aril, and disseminate the seed. Prominent examples of such birds include the brown cuckoo dove, crimson rosella, Australasian figbird, green catbird, regent bowerbird, Australian brush-turkey, rose-crowned fruit-dove, topknot pigeon and wompoo fruit-dove.
Diploglottis australis native tamarind
Confirmed edible: fruits.
It also is used as the basis for a tangy cool drink.
Large Leaf Tamarind is a slender, palm-like gully tree that bears sweet, tart fruits prolifically each season.
Creamy brown flowers form in Spring, maturing from October to January. The fleshy yellow-orange fruit is sour to taste, but like the Asian Tamarind, may be enjoyed raw or processed into jams, jellies, sauces, candies and drinks.
Fruits will fall from the tree when ripe, and should be collected as soon as possible as they are a favourite of ants, birds, bats and other garden creatures.
Many species of rainforest birds eat the fruit, particularly the aril, and disseminate the seed. Prominent examples of such birds include the brown cuckoo dove, crimson rosella, Australasian figbird, green catbird, regent bowerbird, Australian brush-turkey, rose-crowned fruit-dove, topknot pigeon and wompoo fruit-dove.
Diploglottis australis native tamarind
Confirmed edible: fruits.
It also is used as the basis for a tangy cool drink.
Large Leaf Tamarind is a slender, palm-like gully tree that bears sweet, tart fruits prolifically each season.
Creamy brown flowers form in Spring, maturing from October to January. The fleshy yellow-orange fruit is sour to taste, but like the Asian Tamarind, may be enjoyed raw or processed into jams, jellies, sauces, candies and drinks.
Fruits will fall from the tree when ripe, and should be collected as soon as possible as they are a favourite of ants, birds, bats and other garden creatures.
Many species of rainforest birds eat the fruit, particularly the aril, and disseminate the seed. Prominent examples of such birds include the brown cuckoo dove, crimson rosella, Australasian figbird, green catbird, regent bowerbird, Australian brush-turkey, rose-crowned fruit-dove, topknot pigeon and wompoo fruit-dove.
Dockrillia linguiformis tongue orchid
Not confirmed edible.
Previously known as Dendrobium linguiforme.
It grows on trees or on rocks, with wiry, prostrate stems, prostrate, fleshy leaves and spikes of up to twenty white to cream-coloured flowers in early spring.
Dockrillia linguiformis tongue orchid
Not confirmed edible.
Previously known as Dendrobium linguiforme.
It grows on trees or on rocks, with wiry, prostrate stems, prostrate, fleshy leaves and spikes of up to twenty white to cream-coloured flowers in early spring.
Dockrillia linguiformis tongue orchid
Not confirmed edible.
Previously known as Dendrobium linguiforme.
It grows on trees or on rocks, with wiry, prostrate stems, prostrate, fleshy leaves and spikes of up to twenty white to cream-coloured flowers in early spring.
Dockrillia linguiformis tongue orchid
Not confirmed edible.
Previously known as Dendrobium linguiforme.
It grows on trees or on rocks, with wiry, prostrate stems, prostrate, fleshy leaves and spikes of up to twenty white to cream-coloured flowers in early spring.
Dockrillia teretifolia rat’s tail orchid
Not confirmed edible.
is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has long, thin hanging stems, pencil-like leaves and rigid flowering stems bearing up to twelve crowded white to cream-coloured flowers. With a preference for hoop pine Araucaria cunninghamii in Queensland.
Dockrillia teretifolia rat’s tail orchid
Not confirmed edible.
is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has long, thin hanging stems, pencil-like leaves and rigid flowering stems bearing up to twelve crowded white to cream-coloured flowers. With a preference for hoop pine Araucaria cunninghamii in Queensland.
Dockrillia teretifolia rat’s tail orchid
Not confirmed edible.
is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has long, thin hanging stems, pencil-like leaves and rigid flowering stems bearing up to twelve crowded white to cream-coloured flowers. With a preference for hoop pine Araucaria cunninghamii in Queensland.
Dockrillia teretifolia rat’s tail orchid
Not confirmed edible.
is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has long, thin hanging stems, pencil-like leaves and rigid flowering stems bearing up to twelve crowded white to cream-coloured flowers. With a preference for hoop pine Araucaria cunninghamii in Queensland.
Elaeocarpus grandis blue quandong
Confirmed edible: Indigenous Australians ate the fruit raw or buried the unripe fruit in sand for four days making it sweet and more palatable. Early settlers used the fruit for jams, pies and pickles.
Quandongs have a vitamin C content higher than oranges.
Flowers march to june with fruits forming in spring.
It is a large tree with buttress roots at the base of the trunk, oblong to elliptic leaves with small teeth on the edges, racemes of greenish-white flowers and more or less spherical blue fruit.
The fruit of E. grandis is attractive to birds, including the Australian brushturkey and southern cassowary and the flying foxes (genus Pteropus).
Elaeocarpus grandis blue quandong
Confirmed edible: Indigenous Australians ate the fruit raw or buried the unripe fruit in sand for four days making it sweet and more palatable. Early settlers used the fruit for jams, pies and pickles.
Quandongs have a vitamin C content higher than oranges.
Flowers march to june with fruits forming in spring.
It is a large tree with buttress roots at the base of the trunk, oblong to elliptic leaves with small teeth on the edges, racemes of greenish-white flowers and more or less spherical blue fruit.
The fruit of E. grandis is attractive to birds, including the Australian brushturkey and southern cassowary and the flying foxes (genus Pteropus).
Elaeocarpus grandis blue quandong
Confirmed edible: Indigenous Australians ate the fruit raw or buried the unripe fruit in sand for four days making it sweet and more palatable. Early settlers used the fruit for jams, pies and pickles.
Quandongs have a vitamin C content higher than oranges.
Flowers march to june with fruits forming in spring.
It is a large tree with buttress roots at the base of the trunk, oblong to elliptic leaves with small teeth on the edges, racemes of greenish-white flowers and more or less spherical blue fruit.
The fruit of E. grandis is attractive to birds, including the Australian brushturkey and southern cassowary and the flying foxes (genus Pteropus).
Elaeocarpus grandis blue quandong
Confirmed edible: Indigenous Australians ate the fruit raw or buried the unripe fruit in sand for four days making it sweet and more palatable. Early settlers used the fruit for jams, pies and pickles.
Quandongs have a vitamin C content higher than oranges.
Flowers march to june with fruits forming in spring.
It is a large tree with buttress roots at the base of the trunk, oblong to elliptic leaves with small teeth on the edges, racemes of greenish-white flowers and more or less spherical blue fruit.
The fruit of E. grandis is attractive to birds, including the Australian brushturkey and southern cassowary and the flying foxes (genus Pteropus).
Elatostema reticulatum rainforest spinach
Confirmed edible: The leaves and young stems are edible and can be used as a substitute for spinach.
A herbaceaous plant to about 30 cm tall in subtropical rainforest, along streams in the bed-low bank position, or in otherwise wet sites.
Leaves are alternate, ovate-elliptical up to 20cm long and 7cm wide with an uneven base and serrated margin.
Flowers are greenish-creamy coloured, occurring on peduncles which arise from leaf axils from December-May.
Fruit is inconspicuous achenes.
Easily propagated from cuttings. The aborigines boiled it in bark or in large sea-shells.
The taste is delicate, with a slightly ‘mucously’ texture - much more discrete than our native spinach - Warrigal greens - Tetragonia tetraganoides.
Elatostema reticulatum rainforest spinach
Confirmed edible: The leaves and young stems are edible and can be used as a substitute for spinach.
A herbaceaous plant to about 30 cm tall in subtropical rainforest, along streams in the bed-low bank position, or in otherwise wet sites.
Leaves are alternate, ovate-elliptical up to 20cm long and 7cm wide with an uneven base and serrated margin.
Flowers are greenish-creamy coloured, occurring on peduncles which arise from leaf axils from December-May.
Fruit is inconspicuous achenes.
Easily propagated from cuttings. The aborigines boiled it in bark or in large sea-shells.
The taste is delicate, with a slightly ‘mucously’ texture - much more discrete than our native spinach - Warrigal greens - Tetragonia tetraganoides.
Elatostema reticulatum rainforest spinach
Confirmed edible: The leaves and young stems are edible and can be used as a substitute for spinach.
A herbaceaous plant to about 30 cm tall in subtropical rainforest, along streams in the bed-low bank position, or in otherwise wet sites.
Leaves are alternate, ovate-elliptical up to 20cm long and 7cm wide with an uneven base and serrated margin.
Flowers are greenish-creamy coloured, occurring on peduncles which arise from leaf axils from December-May.
Fruit is inconspicuous achenes.
Easily propagated from cuttings. The aborigines boiled it in bark or in large sea-shells.
The taste is delicate, with a slightly ‘mucously’ texture - much more discrete than our native spinach - Warrigal greens - Tetragonia tetraganoides.
Elatostema reticulatum rainforest spinach
Confirmed edible: The leaves and young stems are edible and can be used as a substitute for spinach.
A herbaceaous plant to about 30 cm tall in subtropical rainforest, along streams in the bed-low bank position, or in otherwise wet sites.
Leaves are alternate, ovate-elliptical up to 20cm long and 7cm wide with an uneven base and serrated margin.
Flowers are greenish-creamy coloured, occurring on peduncles which arise from leaf axils from December-May.
Fruit is inconspicuous achenes.
Easily propagated from cuttings. The aborigines boiled it in bark or in large sea-shells.
The taste is delicate, with a slightly ‘mucously’ texture - much more discrete than our native spinach - Warrigal greens - Tetragonia tetraganoides.
Elatostema reticulatum rainforest spinach
Confirmed edible: The leaves and young stems are edible and can be used as a substitute for spinach.
A herbaceaous plant to about 30 cm tall in subtropical rainforest, along streams in the bed-low bank position, or in otherwise wet sites.
Leaves are alternate, ovate-elliptical up to 20cm long and 7cm wide with an uneven base and serrated margin.
Flowers are greenish-creamy coloured, occurring on peduncles which arise from leaf axils from December-May.
Fruit is inconspicuous achenes.
Easily propagated from cuttings. The aborigines boiled it in bark or in large sea-shells.
The taste is delicate, with a slightly ‘mucously’ texture - much more discrete than our native spinach - Warrigal greens - Tetragonia tetraganoides.
Elattostachys nervosa green tamarind
Not confirmed.
A medium-sized tree, up to 30 metres tall and a stem diameter of 50 cm. Usually seen much smaller. The trunk is flanged or buttressed in larger trees. Relatively smooth bark, paper thin, grey. Though with vertical lines and stripes in certain broader tree trunks. Small branches thick, greyish brown with rusty hairs towards the end. Shoots with dense woolly hairs.
Popular with birds.
Elattostachys nervosa green tamarind
Not confirmed.
A medium-sized tree, up to 30 metres tall and a stem diameter of 50 cm. Usually seen much smaller. The trunk is flanged or buttressed in larger trees. Relatively smooth bark, paper thin, grey. Though with vertical lines and stripes in certain broader tree trunks. Small branches thick, greyish brown with rusty hairs towards the end. Shoots with dense woolly hairs.
Popular with birds.
Elattostachys nervosa green tamarind
Not confirmed.
A medium-sized tree, up to 30 metres tall and a stem diameter of 50 cm. Usually seen much smaller. The trunk is flanged or buttressed in larger trees. Relatively smooth bark, paper thin, grey. Though with vertical lines and stripes in certain broader tree trunks. Small branches thick, greyish brown with rusty hairs towards the end. Shoots with dense woolly hairs.
Popular with birds.
Elattostachys nervosa green tamarind
Not confirmed.
A medium-sized tree, up to 30 metres tall and a stem diameter of 50 cm. Usually seen much smaller. The trunk is flanged or buttressed in larger trees. Relatively smooth bark, paper thin, grey. Though with vertical lines and stripes in certain broader tree trunks. Small branches thick, greyish brown with rusty hairs towards the end. Shoots with dense woolly hairs.
Popular with birds.
Elattostachys nervosa green tamarind
Not confirmed.
A medium-sized tree, up to 30 metres tall and a stem diameter of 50 cm. Usually seen much smaller. The trunk is flanged or buttressed in larger trees. Relatively smooth bark, paper thin, grey. Though with vertical lines and stripes in certain broader tree trunks. Small branches thick, greyish brown with rusty hairs towards the end. Shoots with dense woolly hairs.
Popular with birds.
Endiandra pubens
hairy walnut
Confirmed edible: fruits.
Attractive tree with dense canopy comprising large glossy green leaves with rust coloured hairs along veins. Produces large edible pale green turning deep red fruit – attractive to native wildlife.
The habitat is subtropical rainforest growing near streams in valleys. The base of the tree may be flanged or somewhat buttressed in larger trees. Fruit matures from October to February being a large fleshy drupe, 3 to 6 cm in diameter. Greenish or a deep red in colour. Inside is a single large seed.
Endiandra pubens
hairy walnut
Confirmed edible: fruits.
Attractive tree with dense canopy comprising large glossy green leaves with rust coloured hairs along veins. Produces large edible pale green turning deep red fruit – attractive to native wildlife.
The habitat is subtropical rainforest growing near streams in valleys. The base of the tree may be flanged or somewhat buttressed in larger trees. Fruit matures from October to February being a large fleshy drupe, 3 to 6 cm in diameter. Greenish or a deep red in colour. Inside is a single large seed.
Endiandra pubens
hairy walnut
Confirmed edible: fruits.
Attractive tree with dense canopy comprising large glossy green leaves with rust coloured hairs along veins. Produces large edible pale green turning deep red fruit – attractive to native wildlife.
The habitat is subtropical rainforest growing near streams in valleys. The base of the tree may be flanged or somewhat buttressed in larger trees. Fruit matures from October to February being a large fleshy drupe, 3 to 6 cm in diameter. Greenish or a deep red in colour. Inside is a single large seed.
Endiandra pubens
hairy walnut
Confirmed edible: fruits.
Attractive tree with dense canopy comprising large glossy green leaves with rust coloured hairs along veins. Produces large edible pale green turning deep red fruit – attractive to native wildlife.
The habitat is subtropical rainforest growing near streams in valleys. The base of the tree may be flanged or somewhat buttressed in larger trees. Fruit matures from October to February being a large fleshy drupe, 3 to 6 cm in diameter. Greenish or a deep red in colour. Inside is a single large seed.
Eremophila debilis
winter apple
Confirmed edible: fruits confirmed.
These plants bear edible fruit, seed, leaves or roots. Some require treatment before use.
There are not many truly sweet native fruits like this.
You don’t see it very often in the bush either, as it gets eaten off above the ground down to the dirt.
Everything here has a go at it. The Kangaroos, Parrots, Bandicoots everything really. I have even seen the Magpies eating the fruits.
Growing up the centre of dead gums, over dry stony creek beds, up sheer cliff faces, rocky ledges, even in the crumbled cracked bitumen on the side of a highway.
Eremophila debilis
winter apple
Confirmed edible: fruits confirmed.
These plants bear edible fruit, seed, leaves or roots. Some require treatment before use.
There are not many truly sweet native fruits like this.
You don’t see it very often in the bush either, as it gets eaten off above the ground down to the dirt.
Everything here has a go at it. The Kangaroos, Parrots, Bandicoots everything really. I have even seen the Magpies eating the fruits.
Growing up the centre of dead gums, over dry stony creek beds, up sheer cliff faces, rocky ledges, even in the crumbled cracked bitumen on the side of a highway.
Eremophila debilis
winter apple
Confirmed edible: fruits confirmed.
These plants bear edible fruit, seed, leaves or roots. Some require treatment before use.
There are not many truly sweet native fruits like this.
You don’t see it very often in the bush either, as it gets eaten off above the ground down to the dirt.
Everything here has a go at it. The Kangaroos, Parrots, Bandicoots everything really. I have even seen the Magpies eating the fruits.
Growing up the centre of dead gums, over dry stony creek beds, up sheer cliff faces, rocky ledges, even in the crumbled cracked bitumen on the side of a highway.
Eremophila debilis
winter apple
Confirmed edible: fruits confirmed.
These plants bear edible fruit, seed, leaves or roots. Some require treatment before use.
There are not many truly sweet native fruits like this.
You don’t see it very often in the bush either, as it gets eaten off above the ground down to the dirt.
Everything here has a go at it. The Kangaroos, Parrots, Bandicoots everything really. I have even seen the Magpies eating the fruits.
Growing up the centre of dead gums, over dry stony creek beds, up sheer cliff faces, rocky ledges, even in the crumbled cracked bitumen on the side of a highway.
Eupomatia laurina
bolwarra
Confirmed edible: fruit flesh.
The branches bear the globose to urn-shaped fruits of a green external colour, measuring 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) diameter and yellowing when ripe with pale coloured edible jelly flesh inside, interspersed by many non-edible seeds (similar appearance to guava contents).
is a species of shrubs to small trees, of the Australian continent ancient plant family Eupomatiaceae. They often grow between 3 and 5 m (10 and 16 ft) tall, larger specimens may attain 15 m (50 ft) and a trunk diameter of 30 cm (12 in).
They are one of the ancient lineages of flowering plants, usually growing as part of an understorey in rainforests or humid Eucalypt forests.
The sweet, aromatic fruit is used as a spice-fruit in cooking, being included in beverages, jams and desserts. It is best used in combination with other ingredients that complement its strong flavour, and hence should be considered one of the Australian spices.
Eupomatia laurina
bolwarra
Confirmed edible: fruit flesh.
The branches bear the globose to urn-shaped fruits of a green external colour, measuring 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) diameter and yellowing when ripe with pale coloured edible jelly flesh inside, interspersed by many non-edible seeds (similar appearance to guava contents).
is a species of shrubs to small trees, of the Australian continent ancient plant family Eupomatiaceae. They often grow between 3 and 5 m (10 and 16 ft) tall, larger specimens may attain 15 m (50 ft) and a trunk diameter of 30 cm (12 in).
They are one of the ancient lineages of flowering plants, usually growing as part of an understorey in rainforests or humid Eucalypt forests.
The sweet, aromatic fruit is used as a spice-fruit in cooking, being included in beverages, jams and desserts. It is best used in combination with other ingredients that complement its strong flavour, and hence should be considered one of the Australian spices.
Eustrephus latifolius
wombat berry
Confirmed edible: The tubers of wombat berry are reported to have a sweet earthy flavour when eaten raw.
Eustrephus latifolius is the sole member of the genus. It is usually a reasonably vigorous twining plant but may also occur as a scrambling ground cover.
Eustrephus latifolius
wombat berry
Confirmed edible: The tubers of wombat berry are reported to have a sweet earthy flavour when eaten raw.
Eustrephus latifolius is the sole member of the genus. It is usually a reasonably vigorous twining plant but may also occur as a scrambling ground cover.
Eustrephus latifolius
wombat berry
Confirmed edible: The tubers of wombat berry are reported to have a sweet earthy flavour when eaten raw.
Eustrephus latifolius is the sole member of the genus. It is usually a reasonably vigorous twining plant but may also occur as a scrambling ground cover.
Excoecaria dallachyana
scrub poison tree
The habitat is rainforest by streams or in the drier form of rainforest. The leaves are toxic to livestock and the sap is irritating to human skin. It is a slender tree which may reach 15 m (49 ft) in height.
Excoecaria dallachyana
scrub poison tree
The habitat is rainforest by streams or in the drier form of rainforest. The leaves are toxic to livestock and the sap is irritating to human skin. It is a slender tree which may reach 15 m (49 ft) in height.
Excoecaria dallachyana
scrub poison tree
The habitat is rainforest by streams or in the drier form of rainforest. The leaves are toxic to livestock and the sap is irritating to human skin. It is a slender tree which may reach 15 m (49 ft) in height.
Glycine tabacinaa
glycine pea
Confirmed edible: Unconfirmed is legumes are…
No toxic features have been recorded for G. tabacina. It is quite palatable to stock and is avidly grazed when accessible. Indigenous people chewed the tap root which is liquorice flavoured.
Glycine tabacinaa
glycine pea
Confirmed edible: Unconfirmed is legumes are…
No toxic features have been recorded for G. tabacina. It is quite palatable to stock and is avidly grazed when accessible. Indigenous people chewed the tap root which is liquorice flavoured.
Persoonia sericea
silky geebung
Unconfirmed if edible. Other genus confirmed yet described like sweet cotton wool.
It is a shrub with hairy yellow flowers and silky-hairy young branches and leaves.
Clumps of young seedlings of P. sericea have been observed emerging from decaying kangaroo dung near Brisbane.
Persoonia sericea
silky geebung
Unconfirmed if edible. Other genus confirmed yet described like sweet cotton wool.
It is a shrub with hairy yellow flowers and silky-hairy young branches and leaves.
Clumps of young seedlings of P. sericea have been observed emerging from decaying kangaroo dung near Brisbane.
Petalostigma triloculare
forest quinine
Confirmed edible: fruit high in quinine.
The fruit and leaves of this plant have been used by many different Aboriginal groups historically as an antibacterial, antifungal and contraceptive agent, and modern science backs these findings.
The inner bark is very bitter hence the name, and rubbed or taped onto wounds or infections like tropical ulcers it is said to speed healing times.
Grows as a small tree up to 15 metres (50 ft) tall with a stem diameter of 25 cm (10 in). Green or fawn coloured flowers form from October to January, though occasionally as early as July. Male and female flowers are on different trees. The male (but not female) flowers have a strong lemon scent.
Fruit matures from March to October. The fruits open explosively, throwing out parts of the fruit as far as four metres away, and scattering the seeds more than two metres away. The fruit are a lot like an Indian Gooseberry and just like them once the flesh fruit is removed, and the seed dries fully it explodes shooting the seeds out in all directions.
Petalostigma triloculare
forest quinine
Confirmed edible: fruit high in quinine.
The fruit and leaves of this plant have been used by many different Aboriginal groups historically as an antibacterial, antifungal and contraceptive agent, and modern science backs these findings.
The inner bark is very bitter hence the name, and rubbed or taped onto wounds or infections like tropical ulcers it is said to speed healing times.
Grows as a small tree up to 15 metres (50 ft) tall with a stem diameter of 25 cm (10 in). Green or fawn coloured flowers form from October to January, though occasionally as early as July. Male and female flowers are on different trees. The male (but not female) flowers have a strong lemon scent.
Fruit matures from March to October. The fruits open explosively, throwing out parts of the fruit as far as four metres away, and scattering the seeds more than two metres away. The fruit are a lot like an Indian Gooseberry and just like them once the flesh fruit is removed, and the seed dries fully it explodes shooting the seeds out in all directions.
Petalostigma triloculare
forest quinine
Confirmed edible: fruit high in quinine.
The fruit and leaves of this plant have been used by many different Aboriginal groups historically as an antibacterial, antifungal and contraceptive agent, and modern science backs these findings.
The inner bark is very bitter hence the name, and rubbed or taped onto wounds or infections like tropical ulcers it is said to speed healing times.
Grows as a small tree up to 15 metres (50 ft) tall with a stem diameter of 25 cm (10 in). Green or fawn coloured flowers form from October to January, though occasionally as early as July. Male and female flowers are on different trees. The male (but not female) flowers have a strong lemon scent.
Fruit matures from March to October. The fruits open explosively, throwing out parts of the fruit as far as four metres away, and scattering the seeds more than two metres away. The fruit are a lot like an Indian Gooseberry and just like them once the flesh fruit is removed, and the seed dries fully it explodes shooting the seeds out in all directions.
Santalum obtusifolium
sandalwood
Confirmed edible: fruit.
Unlike other sandalwood species, little is known of its fruit, wood, or other uses. However, there are reports the fruit is edible. According to Butaud, there is Ximenynic acid (71.5%) and Oleic acid (14.3%) in the fruit kernels.
A shrub. Often seen around a metre tall, it may grow to 2.5 metres high.
Santalum obtusifolium
sandalwood
Confirmed edible: fruit.
Unlike other sandalwood species, little is known of its fruit, wood, or other uses. However, there are reports the fruit is edible. According to Butaud, there is Ximenynic acid (71.5%) and Oleic acid (14.3%) in the fruit kernels.
A shrub. Often seen around a metre tall, it may grow to 2.5 metres high.
Santalum obtusifolium
sandalwood
Confirmed edible: fruit.
Unlike other sandalwood species, little is known of its fruit, wood, or other uses. However, there are reports the fruit is edible. According to Butaud, there is Ximenynic acid (71.5%) and Oleic acid (14.3%) in the fruit kernels.
A shrub. Often seen around a metre tall, it may grow to 2.5 metres high.
Strychnos psilosperma
strychnine tree
Not confirmed edible. Not confirmed poison.
It may reach a height of 18 metres. The bark is grey, with glossy pointed leaves creating a thick canopy. Small white, scented flowers occur in the warmer months. Fruit are orange to red berries, ripening to black. All parts of this plant are toxic. It may be grown in full sun with good drainage.
Although this species is suspected of being poisonous to stock there is little or no evidence to substantiate the claim.
Strychnos psilosperma
strychnine tree
Not confirmed edible. Not confirmed poison.
It may reach a height of 18 metres. The bark is grey, with glossy pointed leaves creating a thick canopy. Small white, scented flowers occur in the warmer months. Fruit are orange to red berries, ripening to black. All parts of this plant are toxic. It may be grown in full sun with good drainage.
Although this species is suspected of being poisonous to stock there is little or no evidence to substantiate the claim.
