'tending to'

'tending to'

'tending to' was compiled and illustrated by Lachlan Bell, a non-Indigenous third generation child of Estonian migrants and I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging of the Wallumedegal and Gadigal people of the Eora nation. It is on their unceded Country that I study, work, live and learn.

This document could not have been made without the assistance ofTess Allas, Clare Milledge & Audrey Pfister along with a litany of Internet sources written by dedicated Elders, researchers, botanists and community members who have generously made their knowledge accessible to all.

Some plants can be harmful, even toxic. reactions may range from an allergy to actual poisoning. Indigenous people had thousands of years to study and learn about plants in their environment. Treat all plants with caution and do not treat yourself as an expert where First Nations people were.

No responsibility will be taken by the author for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Anyone intending to collect seed or any part of a plant must have a licence if the relevant species, population or ecological community in which it occurs is listed under the Threatened Species conservation act 1995 [NSW].

Seed collection can have a negative impact on natural areas and should be undertaken in compliance of the national floraBank Guidelines, in order to minimise the impact on source area.

Anyone intending to collect or grow native plants must have a licence if the relevant species is listed as a Protected Native Plant on Schedule 13 of the National Parks and Wildlife act 1974 [NSW].

Anyone intending to collect native plants must first have the landowner’s approval, including if the landholder is a council or is National Parks or State forests. Indigenous elders should also be contacted if you intend to remove endemic flora.

CENTRAL HEART / COASTAL HEATH GARDEN

You are currently standing on the land of the Bidjigal and Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. In front of you is the heart of our garden and our Art & Design campus.

The space is very exposed and suits Sydney sandstone coastal heath (aka wallum country in SE QLD and NE NSW).

The Heart Garden features two Xanthorrhoea, the larger is called Esme (named by Tess Allas after Bidjigal elder and artist Esme Timbery) and the smaller is named Bidi (after the Bidjigal people). Esme was gifted to us by Mark Clark at UNSW Estate management and Bidi was gifted by Clare who grew her from a baby seedling.

Artist Dale Harding gifted cuttings of some of the Carpobrotos pigface, and the Plectranthus cremnus, a rare coastal herb, was collected by Clare's mother Annette McKinley who is a botanist.

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HEART GARDEN - Plectranthus & Geranium Plectranthus cremnus (syn. Coleus cremnus) Family: Lamiaceae Donated by: Annette McKinley Range: A rare Endangered herb found in shallow sandy soils of rocky coastal headlands on the North Coast of NSW, around Evans Head, Lennox Head and Sawtell in unforgiving conditions Flowers: Purple-maroon clusters of flower bloom throughout the year attracting bees and pollinators

Geranium sp. (G. homeanum/potentilloides/solanderi) Family: Geraniaceae Dirramaay (Wiradjuri), Native / Alpine geranium, Native Carrot, Cinquefoil Geranium, Cut-leaf Cranesbill Range: Endemic to eastern half of Australia and NZ, Indonesia Flowers: Single white flowers appear in late Summer to Spring Uses: Its large, swollen taproot resembles a turnip or carrot, and can be eaten raw or cooked. It is starchy and astringent, and often only the young roots would only be eaten as they aren’t as bitter. Noongar people of south west Western Australia cooked the older, red tuberous roots to treat diarrhoea.

Leaves can be squashed and applied to burns and blisters and the raw tuber can also be used as medicine for internal complaints.

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HEART GARDEN - Pigface Carpobrotos glaucescens Family: Aizoaceae Kupburril (D’harawal), Korowal (D’harawal), Biradur (Wiradjuri - Sarcozona praecox), Pigface, Iceplant, Beach Banana, kanikung/canajong (palawa kani), Karkalla (Carpobrotos rosii) Donated by: Dale Harding Range: Near-coastal areas of QLD south from near Mackay to NSW and the far east of VIC where it has been confused with C. rossii. It is also found on Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island, usually only grows close to the sea Flowers: Deep purple flowers from Spring to Autumn Uses: Juice from the triangular leaves is astringent and can be used for treating blisters, burns and be relieve pain from biting midges and Portuguese man o' wars (Physalia physalis). The leaves can be eaten raw or baked and consumed with meat.

The flowers can be eaten as food and are used to indicate that schools of tailor/bluefish/chopper (Pomatomus saltatrix) are on the run, and can be caught at shallow beach areas. Once pollinated, the fruiting body swells up and turns deep red with a pronged crown.

The centre of the ripe purple fruit is eaten raw, either whole or peeled. The peel has a salty taste and the inside has a sweet taste similar to a kumquat and texture like a strawberry. Some describe it as tasting like a salty apple and early European explorers used the plant as an anti-scurvy treatment.

Note: Pigface is a potent accumulator of heavy metals, specifically cadmium, and it advised not to eat any native pigface that may be growing on contaminated soils.

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HEART GARDEN - Xanthorrhoea Xanthorrhoea (X. australis, resinifera, concava & macronema) Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae Gulgadya (Dharug), Cadi (Gadigal), Yakka/Yacca (Kaurna), Maybal (Wiradjuri), Balga (Noongar - X. preissii), Grasstree Esme donated by Mark Clark, Bidi grown from seed Range: Across Australia in various soils Flowers: towering spike up to 2m high will flower in Spring but not guaranteed to flower annually, often prolific flowering occurs following a bushfire Uses: The name for the Gadigal people draws its name from the plant. The area of Sydney was originally called ‘Cadi’, coming from the grass tree species Xanthorrhoea, and ‘Gal’ meaning people, so Gadigal literally means the people of Cadi.

People collected nectar from the long flowering spikes (yagali Dharug) with a sponge made of stringybark. In the bush the flowers can be used as a compass as flowers on the warmer, sunnier side of the spike (usually the north facing side) often open before flowers on the cooler side facing away from the sun.

The long dry stem (galun - Dharug) could make lightweight composite spear. Such a spear would consist of a hardwood shaft inserted into the lightweight grass tree material. This was desirable considering the overall kit weight a warrior traditionally would have been required to carry whilst hunting or in transit.

The soft wood provided the base for a hardwood fire-drill in making fire. The stalks from old flowers and fruits were used as tinder in making fire. In the leaves, the soft bases of the young leaves were sweet and had a nutty flavour. Tough leaves were used as knives to cut meat. The heart of the stem is edible.

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HEART GARDEN - Rosemary & Bottlebrush Westringia fruticosa Family: Lamiaceae Coastal / Native Rosemary Range: along the coast of NSW Flowers: small white - mauve flowers often flower throughout the year except in extreme heat or cold, in November flowers are abundant Uses: Due to its salt tolerance and hardy nature growing along the coast and hugging cliffs by the sea, it is a good plant for coastal gardens. Requiring low maintenance and as an insect and butterfly attracting plant, it can also be used as a windbreak, bank binder and sand dune stabilizer.

Callistemon / Melaleuca sp.

Family: Myrtaceae Mahram (Bundjalung), Galgang (Wiradjuri - C. brachyandrus), Bottlebrush Uses: Bottlebrushes have a sweet nectar that can either be consumed by sucking on the flowers, brushed onto the hand or by soaking them in water to make a sweet drink. Similar nectar can be sourced from banksias and fermented with wattle gum to form a low-alcoholic beverage called ‘bool’.

The nectar-rich flowers attract many flying animals, including rosellas and wattlebirds. The shrub is also known to attract snakes, such as carpet snakes.

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THE KITCHEN & MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN The Kitchen Garden is for food production for students and staff. It receives good sun and is suitable for a compost area featuring a beautiful avocado tree. The banana trees were brought in by Tess Allas and donated

by Brendan Smith, a macadamia tree was donated by Fernando do Campo, an orange tree was donated by Denis Cooper, the parsley was donated by Tess Allas, the oregano donated by Clare Milledge, lemon balm from a former student and the fig under the avocado tree was added sometime later. Tess donated a grape vine and two passionfruit vines (the Nellie Kelly variety), which were initially planted in the Hanging Garden, near the screenprinting rooms, but were moved on 28th May 2021 to the Kitchen Garden by Audrey Pfister and Oscar Davis, with the Plectranthus cremnus planted there instead. The other passionfruit and grape vine were donated by former Judith Neilson Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Yu-Chieh Li. The chicken and owl were gifted to the garden by Rumpa Paweenpongpat in 2019. Native warrigal greens were donated by Tess’ ‘uni-mum’ Liz Hilton from her garden in Wollongong, as well as the tree stumps which were sourced from a eucalyptus tree from her backyard. In May 2021, an additional lemon tree, mini lime tree, mini macadamia were planted and paid for by staff and student donations.

The Mediterranean herb garden is in a place that is exposed and dry. It suits herbs that are hardy and enjoy rocks. Tess and Clare collected rocks from a nearby skip and used the old rosemary cutting from the Heart Garden.

The sage, oregano and thyme were donated by Clare.

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THE KITCHEN & MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN Edible plants located in the Kitchen Garden nclude: Gyndl/Jindilli/Boombera, Macadmia (Macadamia sp.)

Warrigal Greens, NZ spinach (Tetragonia tetragonoides) Banana (Musa sp.)

Dwarf Lime (Citrus latifolia) Dwarf Lemon (Citrus limon) Orange (Citrus sinensis) Avocado (Persea americana) Fig (Ficus carica) Grape (Vitis spp.)

‘Nellie Kelly’ Pasisonfruit (Passiflora edulis) Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) Garlic Chives, Chinese chives/leek (Allium tuberosum) Rocket, Arugula (Eruca vesicaria) Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) Lemongrass, Cochin/Malabar grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) In the Mediterranean Herb Garden, you can find: Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) Sage (Salvia officinalis) Oregano (Origanum vulgare) Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

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THE SECRET GARDEN & WEAVING WALKWAY The Weaving Walkway once housed clivias (Clivia miniata) and looked very scrappy. The idea was to grow native lily and lomandra for students and staff to use for weaving.

Anyone who wished to use the leaves will require a long handled tool to cut the leaves as students are not allowed to climb over the rail due to safety concerns.

At the end of the walkway is the Secret Garden. This space was once barren concrete and brick. Mark Clark brought chairs and benches, Tess and Clare placed them and then they were concreted in. This is where the garden first began with a few pot plants brought in from home.

Sculpture students sometimes showed their work in here for assessment time with Allan Giddy. The Secret Garden is a place to relax and escape in peace and quiet. The Native Indigo is a substantial shade tree and Native Ginger from the land of the Djirrbal and Ngadjonji people (Atherton Tablelands) lines the back wall.

There are two plants of personal significance in the garden.

One is a Brachychiton acerifolius (Illawarra Flame tree) and this represents Tess Allas who is a Wiradjuri woman who was born and raised in the Illawarra. The Illawarra Flame tree traditionally from her country. The other is a Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (Bangalow Palm) that Clare grew from seed and is from Bundjalung country. They grow side by side at the end of the ramp.

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WEAVING - Hardenbergia Hardenbergia violacea Family: Fabaceae Waraburra (Worimi/Gadjang), Ngawang (Wiradjuri), Climbing Morning Glory, Purple Coral Pea, Native Sarsaparilla, Native Woodrose, Happy Wanderer Range: North-eastern TAS, SA, VIC, NSW and QLD Uses: The vine is used as a rope and woven together to make nets and traps. Used as a bush medicine, the leaves and flowers were used to treat mouth ulcers and brewed as a hot drink to treat chest infections and complaints.

According to D’harawal elder Aunty Fran Bodkin, the leaves were boiled, liquid strained and sweetened with native bee honey, to treat stomach cramps.

Flowers were eaten for the purpose of detox and cleansing.

The flowers are a seasonal indicator for the Wiradjuri that signified that certain fish are fat and ready to be caught. A grey-blue dye apparently can be obtained from the flowers.

Roots have been used as food by Indigenous people and the often were experimented with by early European settlers as a substitute for Smilax ornata (sarsparilla) which is a natural medicine with many uses from treating skin diseases, arthritis, increasing urination to reduce fluid retention and increasing sweating. These properties were not found in native sarsparilla.

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WEAVING - Paper Bark Melaleuca sp.

Family: Myrtaceae Paperbark sp.

Melaleuca decora Bujor (Dharug), White Feather Honey Myrtle, Paperbark Melaleuca stypheloides Naambarr (D’harawal) prickly-leaved paperbark Melaleuca quinquenervia/linarifolia Budjur, Gurrundurrung/Kurunderung (Dharug), Gurreet dtheerah (D’harawal), Paperbark tea tree, Soft Leafed tea tree Uses: The flowers can be sucked on or immersed in water for a sweet drink. Leaves of the bunya/coast tea tree (Leptospermum laevigatum) or gurrendurren/lemon-scented tea tree (Leptospermum petersonii), related species under the Myrtaceae family, would be bruised then placed in the nasal septum to clear congestion associated with colds. Other medicinal uses were to treat rheumatism, intestinal worms and neuralgia. Melaleuca oils are claimed to eliminate warts and are used as an antiseptic in the treatment of minor burns.

The soft bark was used to swaddle babies or peeled off in strips and used for bandaging and dressing wounds. Baby carriers were made of Bangalow Palm was lined with the soft paperbark. Bedding, blankets and baby napkins were also made and bark could be fashioned to make a torch or fishing float. Tea-tree wood was suitable for spears, clubs, digging sticks aka yam sticks.

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WEAVING - Xanthorrhoea Xanthorrhoea sp. (X. australis, resinifera, concava & macronema) Gulgadya (Dharug), Cadi (Gadigal), Yakka/Yacca (Kaurna), Maybal (Wiradjuri), Balga (Noongar - X. preissii), Grasstree Flowers: Towering spike up to 2m high will flower in Spring but not guaranteed to flower annually, often prolific flowering occurs following a bushfire Uses (Continued): A hard, water-proof resin can be collected from the base of each leaf and used as a glue to fasten barbs to spears or stone axes to handles. This resin would often be found as exuded nodules attached to the tree’s trunk; having fallen onto the ground and occasionally buried, either at the base of the plant; or having rolled away if the tree is found on an incline.

The resin in most species is ruby red in colour, appearing black and dull on the trunk, unless the resin has been broken (red), or shattered (orange). At least one variety of the plant is known to provide a brilliant yellow resin, likely X. resinosa fka X. hastilis, and is the source of the plant’s Latin name Xanthorrhoea (meaning ‘yellow flow’) The resin nodules are harvested and heated to form a type of heat sensitive, re-usable glue. This material is somewhat brittle and is often mixed with other materials for binding, such as animal droppings, charcoal, or fur, to stablise the resin.

The glue was important in binding one material to another. As the resin is also water-proof (in contrast to tree sap/gum known as kino), the resin becomes useful in patching damaged water containers such as coolamons, yidaki and water crafts.

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WEAVING - Blue-flax Lily Dianella caerulea / revoluta Family: Asphodelaceae Pokulbi (D’harawal), Nidbul (Wiradjuri - D. revoluta), Murmbal (Wergaia), Mangar (Noongar), Blue-flax lily, Paroo lily, Blueberry lily, Snake whistle Range: Found from Nowra northwards through NSW to QLD Flowers: Smalll blue flowers with yellow anthers bloom in Spring to Summer followed by edible bright blue berries Uses: Bluish-purple berries are sweet and turn nutty when chewed and can dye tongue and lips a dark purple colour.

The ripe fruit is also used as a medicine for sea ulcers (which result from injuries and scrapes in salt water). The flower petals can be used as an ingredient for medicines.

The fruit when ripe can indicate certain saltwater fish are big and fat enough to catch, for example, flathead and flounder, which frequent shallow, sandy areas. The roots were pounded into flour and roasted on hot rocks then eaten.

It is the host plant for the Large Dingy Skipper Butterfly.

The plant can be used for making weavings due to the strong, silky, linear fibre in its dark green strappy leaves.

These dry to an olive green colour, good for contrast in an exposed core coil weave.

Yuin Elder Patricia ‘Trish’ Ellis speaks of how Indigenous people would make high-pitched snake whistles from the leaf. Blowing through this whistle mimics the chirping sound made by blue fairy wrens and silvereyes and consistent vibrations would attract snakes to the apparent sound of an injured bird.

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WEAVING - Lomandra Lomandra longifolia Family: Lomandraceae Durawi (Dharug), Gurgi (Gadigal), Kurawan (Wurundjeri), Spiny-Headed Mat-rush, Basket grass Range: Grows profusely across eastern Australia Flowers: Scented clustered flower head often seen as brown seed capscules throughout the year, and flowers in late Winter to early Spring attracting pollinating beetles. Fruiting occurs 1-2 months after flowering.

Uses: String for everyday use was made from this common plant. The items made included necklaces and armband ornaments. The fleshy part of the leaf shoot is eaten raw which has a pea-like taste or mixed with other ingredients. Parts of the root provide a medicine for ant and hairy grub stings and the leaves are wrapped tightly around aching parts of the body to lessen pain. The small seeds from this plant can be crushed and mixed with other plant ingredients, or ant larvae, to make a whole meal and a flour substitute for bread and johnny cakes (a type of bush scone). Indigenous people have been grinding seeds into flour for at least 65,000 years, making them the world’s first bakers.

The habitat of this plant indicates a good place for hunting small marsupials and reptiles for food. Many groups utilised this plant, from Wurundjeri to the Bundjalung people, where women would gather the smooth strap-shaped leaves from the water’s edge to make baskets. Each rush was split, drawn through hot ashes or tied into bundles and dried for 3+ days and soaked in water for 24 hours to allow fibres to become pliable for weaving into bags, baskets, or weir-like eel traps placed along a stream.

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WEAVING - Native Ginger Alpinia coerulea Family: Zingiberaceae Dargahn (Dharug), Native ginger, Blue ginger Range: Rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest canopy across eastern Australia Flowers: Late Spring to early Summer Uses: Young root tips, shoots and fruits are edible, and it is said that the tangy flesh around the seeds can encourage salivation while walking through the forest, often a trail of spat-out seeds would be left scattered through the forest on their journeys.

The centres of new shoots and young rhizomes (underground stems) are edible and taste slightly of ginger. The shoot centres can be used for to add flavour to savoury dishes as well as desserts, jams, marmalade and tea.

Leaves of the native ginger were laid under meat being cooked in an earth oven or used to provide a roof for thatch shelters.

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SECRET - Illawarra Flame Tree Brachychiton acerifolius Family: Malvaceae Kurrajong (Dharug - Brachychiton populneus), Weery wegne (D’harawal), Illawarra flame tree, Lacebark tree, Bottle tree (USA) Donated by: Mark Clark, representing Tess Flowers: Red bell-shaped flowers bloom all over the whole tree, ripening in May to August to reveal a pod of seeds which can be irritating if touched Uses: The seeds of Brachychiton species are edible raw or roasted, after removing the irritating hairs that surround them in the pod. Seeds are roasted over a fire to help remove hairs. The seeds are nutritious containing 18% protein and 25% fat with high levels of zinc and magnesium. Early settlers from the 1790s would roast seeds as a coffee substitute and are eaten by Australian King Parrots and Regent & Satin Bowerbirds. The roots of young trees can also be eaten.

Extreme caution must still be taken with the seed hairs as they irritate the skin and are easily inhaled and known to cause blindness. Like other trees in the Sterculiaceae family, the flame tree produces a viscous mucilage when cut or wounded by insects and has a corrosive effect. If it lands on any car parked under the tree it often strips the paint.

The soft spongy wood and bark was used to make nets and fishing lines, and the word kurrajong originates from the Dharug word garrajung (fishing line) made of the bark. The timber was used to make artifacts for the tourist trade. It is a host plant for the larvae of the pencilled blue, shining pencil-blue, common aeroplane and tailed emperor butterflies.

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SECRET - Bangalow Palm Archontophoenix cunninghamiana Family: Arecaceae Bangalla (Arakwal), Pikki (Turrbal), Bangalay (D’harawal), Bangalow palm, piccabeen palm (QLD), Common King palm, Illawara palm Grown from seed by: Clare Milledge representing Clare Range: Wet subtropics between central eastern NSW and Mackay, QLD Uses: The names bangalow and piccabeen are said to be derived from the Arakwal-Bundjalung word bangalla (water carrying basket) and the Turrbal word pikki (carrying basket); as the crown-shaft can be fashioned, using some clever folds, into a watertight vessel, with the bare leaf stem aka petiole used as its handle. The baskets could also be lined with paperbark to create a baby carrier. Leaves were also used as a makeshift umbrella.

Like Livistonia australis aka Dtharowal (D‘harawal), Binkar (Turrbal) or Cabbage-tree Palm, the growing tip of the palm including its surrounding young leaves and tissue is edible and was widely collected by both Indigenous people and early settlers. Consuming the fleshy growing heart of this palm unfortunately resulted in the death of the palm.

Bangalow palms are well suited to areas around springs and dams, providing stability to the soil.

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SECRET - Australian Indigo Indigofera australis Family: Fabaceae Duwabili (D’harawal), Barrinan (Wiradjuri), Australian/Austral Indigo, Hill Indigo Range: Widespread across southern Australia from south eastern WA to north eastern QLD Flowers: Range of showy soft purple, pinkish flowers flower in Spring from late August to October Uses: The roots can be used as a fish poison. As the leaves can contain cyanide, the leaves were crushed and added these to water to kill or stun fish and eels such as Murray Cod. Fish were stunned by the plant’s active chemicals which de-oxygenated the water, and made them very easy to catch. Once enough were taken to feed their family, the remaining fish or immature fish could be put through running water currents. This brought them out of their temporary coma and the fish were released back into the river.

Flowers of the plant were documented as being used by European settlers in the early 1900’s as a dye for clothing. While unrelated to Japanese indigo (Persicaria tinctorium), they both contain indican - a precursor to indigo dye. It was documented these flowers made one of the strongest and longest lasting dyes in the world at that time.

The leaves and stems produce yellow-fawn dye with alum as mordant. There are different recipes, some call for Sodium Hydrosulphite, direct dye, solar method and normal dye bath. results vary between blue, green, yellow and beige depending on the material, mordant, weather conditions and time of year.

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SECRET - Sandpaper Fig Ficus coronata Family: Moraceae Marrulang/Ulowang (D’harawal), Sandpaper Fig, Rough Fig Range: Eastern QLD and NSW Flowers: Sweet figs turn purple to black from January - June Uses: Historically many groups of Indigenous people from mainland Australia ate these figs. Some were eaten raw and others were beaten to make a paste and then mixed with honey and water.

Sandpaper fig leaves can be used in conjunction with stinking passionflower (Passiflora foetida) to relieve insect bites. The rough texture of the leaves would be used to rub the skin until it bled and then the passion flower would be applied.

The leaves of the sandpaper fig were also used as a cure for ringworm infections and treating wounds. The skin would again be rubbed raw with the leaves and the sap applied. The corrosive properties of the milky latex sap could be placed on the warts to remove them.

The rough sandpapery texture of the leaves can be used to finish off wooden tools and polish their wooden boomerangs (warrangan - D’harawal) and spears. Straight branches were used for fire starter sticks and string could also be made from the bark.

The fruit is a food plant for the Australasian figbird, green catbird, olive-backed oriole, topknot pigeon and the grey-headed flying fox.

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THE RAINFOREST GARDEN Previously a clump of bamboo, with the help of Mark Clark at Estate Management the bamboo was removed. Replantings were made of rainforest trees and the memory of Clare’s childhood creek was a model for the garden. A creek bed was made of rocks and we collected logs and branches and stones to build form and provide shelter for animals and plants.

The native frangipanis and many other species were brought from Bundjalung country slowly by Clare. Anna Tow gifted a cinnamon myrtle.

Tess Allas has always wanted to build a pond at the bottom of the creek for frogs.

Species growing here include Crinum Lily, Sandpaper Fig, Black Bean, Tree Fern, Birds Nest Fern, Native Frangipani, Cape York Turmeric, Native Indigo, Native Violet & Midyim Berry.

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RAINFOREST - Knobby Club-Rush Ficinia nodosa (syn. Isolepis nodosa) Family: Cyperaceae Knobby Club-rush, Knotted Club-sedge, Fish Rush Range: Several habitats across Australia (and in South Africa & New Zealand), with a distribution across coastal and saltwater habitats in all states except the NT, and commonly found in wet and moist non-saline areas of VIC Flowers: flowers in the Summer and seeds appear for longer period between November and May (seed heads often are retained year-round) Uses: The plant has shown promising success in biofiltration systems within constructed wetlands to remove heavy metals, phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations. Often knobby club-rush is used as a sand binder or landscape feature around bodies of water. It is also often used in revegetation of coastal wetlands and dune restoration projects to control sand movement.

The leaves can be used for basket weaving as well as for bush tucker. The rushes are used in cooking by the Ngarrindjeri people of the lower Murray River for smoking their local fish, the Coorong mullet (Aldrichetta forsteri) alongside other meats leaving behind a faint green tea flavour.

The Māori people utilised several native sedges and similar plants including F. nodosa to thatch the rooves of buildings such as houses, known as whare.

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RAINFOREST - Bird's Nest Fern & Native Violet Asplenium australasicum Family: Aspleniaceae Bird's nest fern, Crow's nest fern Range: Wet forests and rainforests of NSW south and central coast and coastal QLD to Cape York. The species also occurs in Asia Uses: Aside from ornamental propagation, the bird's nest fern is a popular vegetable in Taiwan, particularly in the Eastern part of the island where the young emerging fronds are used as a leafy vegetable from both wild and cultivated plants. The fronds are now also gaining in popularity elsewhere because of the pleasant texture and taste.

Viola hederacea Family: Violaceae Warrabira (D’harawal), Australian violet, Ivy-leafed violet Range: Widespread in Victoria and Tasmania, along the Great Dividing Range in NSW north to the Barrington Tops area, in the far south-east of South Australia, and in a small area of the Adelaide Hills between Belair and Mt Lofty.

Flowers: Produces edible flowers throughout most of the year, primarily during June to March, providing a significant reliable food source for insects.

Uses: The leaves and flower were eaten by Indigenous people untreated as a preventative against arthritis. Commonly used for bank stabilsation, landscaping and a lawn substitute.

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RAINFOREST - Blackbean Castanospermum australe Family: Fabaceae Irtalie (Githabul), Bogum (Northern NSW), Baway (Yalanji), Yiwurra (Djabugay), Junggurraa (Yidin), Mirrayn (Jumbun), Ganyjuu (Ngadjon), Binyjaalga (Gumbaygnggirr), Black bean, Moreton Bay chestnut Range: Grows along the east coast of Australia in QLD and NSW, and to the Pacific islands of Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and the island of Niu Briten (an island in Papua New Guinea) Flowers: Pea-shaped orange and red flowers in March to May, followed by large cylindrical seed pods measuring 12-20cm long Uses: As an important food source for at least 2,500 years, the blackbean tree was a seasonal gathering point for Indigenous people, and this acted as a catalyst for ceremonies. The unprocessed seeds are poisonous and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Seeds become edible following careful preparation; following roasting, cutting, pounding, leaching under running water within a dilly bag for several days and pounding into flour and roasting finally into a damper. This tree contains chemicals that after extraction and experimentation show properties that are anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-HIV AIDS. The bark fibre can be used for fish and animal traps, nets and baskets and empty seed pods have been used as toy boats.

Additionally, in Southeast Asia the flowers have been used as a seasonal signal for when to hunt jungle fowl. The wood was used to make woomeras (spear throwers). The timber resembles that of walnut, and is soft, fine-grained and takes a good polish. The wood has a durability rating above-ground of over 40 years longevity.

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RAINFOREST - Midyim Berry Austromyrtus dulcis Family: Myrtaceae Midyim berries, Midgen berry, Sand berry, Silky myrtle Range: Naturally grows in coastal, heath, scrub, open forest and rainforest areas of northern NSW from Valla and SE QLD, up to K’gari (Fraser Island), but can grow further south into Illawarra Flowers: small white star-shaped flowers appear in early Summer, by later Summer the shrub bears small white berries with small blue-black spots, giving them a mauve or grey appearance. Berries grow profusely until early Autumn Uses: The berries have a unique taste likened to blueberries with a hint of spice or eucalytpus. Sweet and tangy, they are best eaten fresh or used in pies and preserves. It is a close relative of the lilly pilly (tdjerail - D’harawal). Because it hardly suffers from pests and disease it is a useful plant for gardeners who want to minimise their environmental impacts by avoiding chemicals sprays and fertilisers.

The berries contain 3-9 pale brown seeds and the soft pulp is described as being one of the most delicious of all bush foods.

It has a sweet mildly aromatic flavour with soft skin and small edible seeds that attracts birds too. The berries are considered bush lollies by Arakwal Elders around the Cavenbah (Byron Bay) area.

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RAINFOREST - Swamp Lily Crinum pedunculatum Family: Amaryllidaceae Swamp lily, Spider lily, River lily, Mangrove lily Range: Distributed along coastal Queensland and NSW as far south as Newcastle along streams and tidal areas; also found in New Guinea and across various Pacific Islands.

Flowers: Fragrant white showy blooms on long stalks appear in late Summer to Autumn Uses: One of the treatments for the sting of Box Jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) at Bingil Bay in northern Queensland is to rub crushed plant material on the sting site. The plant contains lycorine, a toxic crystalline alkaloid, which is found in many other plant species including clivias and daffodils. Lycorine inhibits protein synthesis and if ingested symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea or convulsions may occur, however topically it may be responsible for its numbing therapeutic effect, but it is not a cure for stings.

This plant was also once used to produce lures for fishing. The stem or 'lily root' as it was more commonly known was retted (soaked in water) and the resultant pale-coloured fibrous material was attached to the line around the hook. When trailed from a moving boat this lure attracted fish such as mackerel.

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RAINFOREST - Native Frangipani Hymenosporum flavum Family: Pittosporaceae Native Fangipani Range: QLD and NSW in rainforest and tall open forests.

Also occurs in New Guinea.

Flowers: Highly fragrant cream flowers bloom in early Spring to Summer and darken with age to a deep yellow before dropping Uses: Flowers contain a strong scent and are highly perfumed. The bark of the tree is very fibrous and has been used by Indigenous people to make string and rope for weaving and tools. Provides nectar for birds and insects, unlike non-native frangipanis, making it an important plant for local fauna.

In Australia, the tree is listed as having low flammability, making it suitable for growing within a building protection zone. It is commonly planted in suburban streets, in shopping boulevards and in walkways between tall buildings. It is related to other plants in the Pittosporum genus or cheesewood family, known for their sweet scents, sticky resinous seeds, and flowers with five petals and five sepals.

The Pittosporum undulatum, also known as sweet pittosporum, Australian cheesewood, native daphne, mock orange is also in this family.

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RAINFOREST - Bracken Pteridium esculentum Family: Dennstaedtiaceae Gurgi (Dharug), Gunggai (D’harawal), Moo-laa (Tjapwurong), Rārahu/Rauaruhe (Māori - Pteridium aquilinum), Bracken fern, Austral bracken Range: Common to abundant, widespread across all states and territories (including Norfolk Island) Uses: Whilst a native plant, bracken is often considered a weed as it is quick to colonise disturbed areas and can outcompete other plants to form a dense understorey.

The dried root will store for years and contains 60% starch.

Once the root (rhizome) is cooked, starchy contents could be separated from the tough fibre. In New Zealand, the Māori used the aruhe (rhizome) as a staple food, especially for exploring or hunting groups away from permanent settlements. Rhizomes were air-dried so that they could be stored and became lighter and once ready for consumption, were briefly heated and then softened with a patu aruhe (rhizome pounder). Starch could then be sucked from the fibers by each diner, or collected if it were to be prepared for a larger feast. Patu aruhe were significant items and several distinct styles were developed Juice from young stems relieves the pain when rubbed on insect and nettle stings. Do not eat the green shoots as contain the carcinogenic compound ptaquiloside, known to cause haemorrhagic disease and bright blindness in livestock and oesophageal, gastric cancer in humans.

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RAINFOREST - Native Turmeric Curcuma australasica Family: Zingiberaceae Kumbigi (Gugu Yimithirr), Native Turmeric, Cape York Lily Donated by: Dale Harding and Annette McKinley Range: Typically found growing in moist pockets in sandstone areas, and in wet woodland and forest areas along the Cape York Peninsula of QLD and a few areas in the NT and PNG Flowers: yellow flowers on a spike with pink, red, mauve or green bracts (occassionally white) from November to March.

The showy flower spikes emerges quickly overnight from the dormant rhizome.

Uses: Native turmeric is a type of ginger, related to the Asian Curcuma longa, similar to culinary turmeric.

People from the Injinoo, Umagico and New Mapoon Communities and the Seisia and Bamaga Saibai Islander Communities in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) near Cape York traditionally roasted and ate the rhizomes of this plant. As the established plant spreads, the outer rhizomes can be harvested and used in similar ways to the common turmeric.

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RAINFOREST - Cinnamon Myrtle Backhousia myrtifolia Family: Myrtaceae Cinnamon Myrtle, Grey Myrtle, Carrol, Grey Myrtle, Ironwood, Neverbreak, Australian Lancewood Range: Grows in subtropical eastern Australia Flowers: Tiny cream-white star-shaped flowers usually bloom in Summer Uses: Its strong timber led to early settlers calling the trees ‘Ironwood’ & ‘Neverbreak’ and used the timber widely for tool handles. The leaves produce oils that have a cinnamon-like aroma, and display both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Therefore, it has potential applications as not only a spice in food preparation, but also in the medical field as a treatment option for microbial infection.

B. myrtifolia’s oils also make it suitable for use as an insect repellent against common disease-carrying insects such as mosquitoes, flies and beetles. Elemicin, a compound derived from the oils of B. myrtifolia leaves can replace substances such as citronella oil, which is the common active ingredient in candle and torch insect repellents.

Popularised as a bushfood in the 1980s, it makes a calming medicinal tea useful for indigestion, heartburn, colic and an upset digestive system. Leaves give off a cinnamon fragrance when rubbed or crushed, much like the leaves of the curry plant and kaffir lime. Cinnamon myrtle leaves may be used in place of conventional cinnamon spice to flavour curries, stews, soups, roasts, ribs and sauces. In desserts, they add a warm, earthy flavour to pies, biscuits, sweets, pastries and slices.

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April 2022