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Australian Bush Food Plants Guide

This document provides a list of 40 bush food plants that are edible and used by Aboriginal Australians. It includes the genus, species, common name, food use, and Aboriginal use for each plant. It also provides contact information for the author if you need help planning a bush food garden or require a free sketch design for a school garden. The references cited at the bottom provide additional resources on Aboriginal plant use.

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Ivlivs Pelaivs Magnvs
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137 views1 page

Australian Bush Food Plants Guide

This document provides a list of 40 bush food plants that are edible and used by Aboriginal Australians. It includes the genus, species, common name, food use, and Aboriginal use for each plant. It also provides contact information for the author if you need help planning a bush food garden or require a free sketch design for a school garden. The references cited at the bottom provide additional resources on Aboriginal plant use.

Uploaded by

Ivlivs Pelaivs Magnvs
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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40 Bush Food Plants

To plan your bush food garden, consider a number of alternatives as not all plants are available at all times. Contact us
with your requests or if you would like your garden designed for you. For schools, a free sketch design is available.
Genus Species Common Name Food Use Aboriginal Use
Acacia longifolia Sydney Golden Wattle green seeds steamed in pods Y
Acmena smithii Creek Lillypilly fruit Y
Alpinia caerulea Ginger edible fruit, young root tips Y
Araucaria bidwilli Bunya Nut nuts Y
Arthropodium milleflorum Vanilla Lily small fleshy roots edible
Austromyrtus dulcis Midyim berries can be eaten raw Y
Backhousia citriodora Lemon Myrtle leaves for tea, flavouring Y
Baeckea virgata Twiggy Myrtle leaves a tea substitute Y
Banksia spp. Banksias nectar soaked from flowers overnight Y
Billardiera scandens Apple Berry ripe purple fruits
Brachychiton populneus Kurrajong roasted seeds Y
Carpobrotus glaucescens Pigface raw fruit, roasted leaves Y
Cissus antarctica Kangaroo Vine raw berries eaten Y
Cupaniopsis anacardioides Tuckaroo edible orange fruit Y
Davidsonia pruriens Davidson's Plum juicy purple fruit Y
Eucalyptus gummifera Red Bloodwood nectar soaked from flowers Y
Ficus spp. Figs ripe fruit eaten Y
Gahnia spp. Saw Sedges leaf buds and seeds ground to flour Y
Grevillea spp. Grevilleas nectar soaked from flowers Y
Hardenbergia violacea Sarsaparilla leaves a tea substitute Y
Hibiscus heterophyllus Native Rosella flower buds, young shoots raw or cooked Y
Leptospermum petersonii Lemon-Scented Tea Tree leaves a tea substitute Y
Lomandra confertifolia Mat Rush flowers eaten Y
Lomandra longifolia Mat Rush white leaf bases eaten Y
Macadamia spp. Macadamia Nut nuts Y
Melaleuca spp. Paperbarks flowers sucked or soaked for drink Y
Melastoma affine Blue Tongue sweet (sometimes bitter) fruit Y
Mentha spp. Native Mints aromatic herbs
Microcitrus australasica Finger Lime sour citrus fruit raw or crushed for drink Y
Podocarpus spp. Plum Pines purplish stalk of fruit eaten Y
Prostanthera incisa Cut-Leaf Mint Bush dried leaves used for flavouring
Randia fitzalanii Yellow Mangasteen raw yellow fruit Y
Sollya heterophylla Bluebell Creeper small black fruits Y
Syzygium luehmanni Riberry bright red fruits with spicy taste Y
Syzygium spp. Lilly Pilly pink fruits great for jam Y
Tasmannia spp. Pepper Tree leaves and seeds used for flavouring
Tetragona tetragonoides Warrigal Greens blanched leaves used like spinach
Viola hederacea Native Violet flowers can be used in salads
Wahlenbergia spp. Bluebell flowers can be used in salads

References:
Leiper, Glenn Mutooroo: Plant Use by Australian Aboriginal People (1984, Eagleby South State School)
Godfrey, Ken Aboriginal Plant Bioresouces of the Western Cumberland Plain (Greening Australia)
Low, Tim Wild Food Plants of Australia (1988, Angus & Robertson)

Mark Ferrington, Assoc. Diploma Horticulture, M.A. I. H.


mobile: 043 828 4448 email: [email protected]

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