Indigenous Australian foods

[kyrie]

Hello fellow travellers,

Ok right now I am obsessed with finding out more about native indigenous australian foods. It's a fascinating topic, some can be eaten raw, some are not edible unless cooked.

Once I have more details I will post my findings.

But I am very interested in food that Monsanto have not figured out how to f*&^k up.



Carla.

[GingerGrant]

I would be interested in your findings as well, but this reminds me of a book I read a few years ago about a woman's journey, spiritual and physical, across Australia, and I can't remember the name... hmmmm

[kyrie]

This indigenous Australian peppermint makes a tea that is supposedly very good for that time of the month for women.


RAINFOREST MINT
Australian Native Mint (Prostanthera Incisa) is a rainforest understory plant with delicate leaves and pretty pale purple flowers. This is amongst the worlds strongest mints and a small amount is all that is needed for a truly unique flavour. Mint is a stimulant and acts primarily on the digestive system. Mint can be effective treatment for flatulence and nausea. Rainforest mint has a very dominating woody peppermint flavour and an exquisite but very powerful aroma. This mint makes a mint sauce to die for. With the simple additions of sugar and vinegar, this mint is delicious. Use as a substitute for exotic mints, but remember this is very powerful, so go carefully


NB: There are other Australian peppermints, eg: Eucalyptus dives (a.k.a. - Peppermint gum); Prostanthera Rotundifolia, Prostanthera Ovalifolia.

More to come. Stay tuned.

Carla

[kyrie]

I believe that bananas had seeds orginally, look at the indigenous Australian banana in the link below and the pictures too. My friend has eaten these native bananas and said that they are the original bananas and they are the sweetest fruit you will ever eat.:D;)

Also look at the cluster fig, and the banana fig, makes you think when you realise that these figs growing unadulterated or unhybridised in their natural state are not very sweet.:eek::rolleyes:

Click here for info and pictures

http://www.wettropics.gov.au/st/rainforest_explorer/Resources/Documents/factsheets/bushTuckerOfTheWetTropics.pdf

Gotta go and eat.

Happy trails.

Carla.

[kyrie]

Emu apple Owenia acidula (family Meliaceae) #230E (H11)

The purplish-red round fruits have dark rich tangy pulp
resembling a plum in flavour but are only palatable after
they have fallen. Explorer Major Mitchell was among the
first Europeans to taste the fruits which he found to be
agreeable. The fruits are also very palatable to emus which
swallow them whole and disperse the seeds widely. Indeed
the seeds probably need to pass through an emu's gut before
they can germinate.

Desert lime Citrus glauca (family Rutaceae)
#163 (J11)
This desert plant produces plentiful tiny yellow
fruits which are sour but rich in vitamin C.(N.B.They look like tiny lemons).
They are used to make a refreshing drink.

Native capers Capparis species (family Capparaceae) #1152A (H11)
Mitchell's caper or native orange, C. mitchellii, is a small compact tree,
widespread in outback Australia. The round warty fruits are reputed to
taste like passionfruit, and refreshing drinks may be made from them. The
sweet fruit of another species C. spinosa var. nummularia is a significant
Aboriginal food being rich in protein and vitamin B.

[spicyfull]

It might be like other thing, there are some foods that if you choose to be 100%, you just Never eat them again.

[klomasius]

OMG Kyrie!

Thanks for the PDF of the bush tucker! I will forward this on as it's handy to have. :D

[kyrie]

http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/native_passion_fruit.htm

Passiflora herbertiana

Rare, edible passion fruit native to Austrlia. Fruits are green-skinned, white fleshed, with quite tasty flavor.

Description: Fast-growing vine, preffering subtropical, moist conditions, though it seems to grow quite well in slightly more arid climates such as California. Flower occurs in spring, followed by fruits ripening 3-4 months later.

Hardiness: Hardy to at least 32F, maybe lower.

Propagation: Usually from seed, cuttings can be difficult to root in this species.

Uses: Pulp is eaten fresh or used in drinks.:D

Native Range: Native to Australia, from NE NSW, to South Queensland.


Stay tuned for information about:muntries, native grapes, and molucca berries ( a sweet dark cherry-red native raspberry). Yumminess with a big old dessert spoon!

Carla.

[kyrie]

Native Raspberry
Plant Description
Botanical Name: Rubus sp.
The Australian native raspberries are small to medium prickly shrubs, some being scramblers. The photograph shows Rubus moluccanus also known as Rubus hillii (click URL to see photo). This species has a metallic sheen on the underside of the leaf. It bears white flowers followed by 10 mm red berries in spring to summer. Other species include Rubus parvifolius and Rubus rosifolius.

The shape and size of the berries, the shape of the leaves, and the habit whether a scrambing vine or more upright canes, all vary from one species to another.

Many do not realise that Australia has it own raspberries, which are not cold climate plants, but plants of the subtropics and tropics rainforests. (N.B. Australia has 8 species of raspberries in the true botanical sense that are indigenous to Australia). The plants grow on the edge of the rainforest where there is more light, but in cultivation they certainly grow in full sun situations. The Molucca berry (Rubus moluccanus also known as Rubus hillii) can be grown in your backyard.;)

Usage
The sweet red berries can be gathered and eaten raw. They can be used as substitutes for the exotic raspberries. I do not know of much development done with our native raspberries, although some nurserymen have tried to bring selected forms into cultivation. However they are uncommon in nurseries. If more work is done on slective breeding of the plants, who knows, raspberries may be grown commercially one day in the subtropics. So far, they are not important in the Bush Food industry.

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~peterrjones/bushtucker/native_raspberry.htm

http://www.playingwithfire.com.au/index.php?p=1_25. {The native molucca raspberry (i.e. molucca bramble or molucca berry) is being investigated as a treatment for cancer here in Australia. For more information click on the playing with fire URL.}
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P.S. Also delicious is the Atherton raspberry:

http://www.happyearth.com.au/atherton-raspberry/

ATHERTON RASPBERRY
Rubus probus
ROSACEAE

DESCRIPTION

Fruit: The large bright red fruits are 10 - 30 mm in diameter and form in clusters shortly after flowering. They're delicious eaten fresh, tasting a little milder than European raspberries, and they're popularity is seeing them reach supermarket shelves. It's the best of Australia’s native raspberries and one of the most promising bush tucker fruits.

Growth Habit: The Atherton raspberry is a dense, evergreen shrub with a habitat similar to that of the common raspberry. It is a rampant grower that suckers forming an impenetrable thicket of prickly canes 2-3m high. It can become a nuisance if not properly managed via pruning - it's best to plant them in a contained area - for example between paths and walls. It can be left to bramble and sucker over the ground although it is more commonly trellised.

Foliage/Flowers: The pinnate leaves are bright green and usually with 5-9 elliptical leaflets tapering to a point. Leaflets are about 50 - 60 mm long by 20 - 30 mm wide with toothed margins. The white, 5-petalled flowers occur throughout most of the year.

CULTURE
Adaptation : Although the Atherton raspberry originated from the Queensland tropics, it thrives in sub-tropical and warm temperate climates that have regular rainfall. It is ideally suited to warmer areas that are unable to grow the traditional raspberry well. They will grow and fruit in part shade but are more productive in full sun.

Soils : This hardy plant is not particularly fussy about soil, but will grow best in fertile, well-drained soils.

Irrigation : Will grow and fruit in Wollongong without additional irrigation, but respond well to additional irrigation during its growing and fruiting period.

Pruning : New canes are generally tied onto a supporting trellis and pruned to height of 1-2m to encourage fruiting laterals. 5-7 vigorous canes from each plant are allowed to develop each year, pruning out any surplus. After two years, canes are harvested for their fruits and pruned out. It's also beneficial to control suckers from spreading over the rest of the garden and reducing fruit yield.

Propagation : Can be grown from seed but more commonly grown cuttings using firm, current season's growth. Suckers also transplant readily.

Pests and diseases : Very few pest or diseases, although birds relish the fruit and netting may be required.

Harvest: One plant can produce up to 3 kg of fruit a year. Fruiting begins within the first year of planting and continues throughout most of the year except perhaps in early spring.

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Stay tuned for - muntries: delightful tiny, berries that look like teeny tiny granny smith apples, with an apple, cinnamon and slight gooseberry flavour. Then it's on to the hot hot stuff, native peppers!!:eek::D

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Happy trails, and Monsanto is the true definition of evil.
Carla.

"You are what you eat"

[kyrie]

It might be like other thing, there are some foods that if you choose to be 100%, you just Never eat them again.

Sorry spicyfull, I don't understand your post?:confused:

Carla

[kyrie]

http://www.outbackpride.com.au/species/

Please click the link above to find out info about a vast array of indigenous fruits and vegetables and herbs, most of which can be eaten raw. Ignore their listing for native thyme, as the true indigenous native thyme is a different plant.(see below)

Native Thyme (Ocimum tenuiflorum syn sanctum)

Muntries or Munthari berry seeds are available here:

http://www.outbackchef.com.au/product_info.php/cPath/34_46/products_id/149.

Will add more info later.

Outback Chef also has seeds for native thyme.

Most of these natives can be grown in your backyard or in a pot on your balcony or verandah.

I also have info to post about non native thornless blackberries, and growing your own mushrooms indoors in pots, as well as growing white morels in your backyard.

I also have info about the native wild desert fig( commonly known as pigface), the fruit's pulp tastes like strawberries or juicy succulent figs, while the rind is bitter, salty and unpalatable.

It is becoming clearer to me that we live in abundance especially food wise, particularly if we don't confine ourselves to what is in the supermarket, and take responsibility for our food supplies, by growing what we can and being as self sufficient as possible.

P.S. The bush cucumber and the rainforest banana (the original very sweet banana with seeds) and the native raspberry (including the prized molucca berry)can all be grown in the back yard, or in pots, if the pots are a suitable size for the particular plant.

Carla.

"You are what you eat"

[kyrie]

Click URL for photos and contact information.

http://www.sgapqld.org.au/article37.html


QUEENSLAND RASPBERRIES
by
Tony Bean


Raspberries (and Blackberries) belong to the vast genus Rubus in the family Rosaceae. Rubus species are found all over the world, but especially in the northern hemisphere.

The centres of diversity for Rubus appear to be Europe, Asia and North America. China for instance, has around 100 species; the tiny country of Bhutan has 41 species; Indonesia has 40 species. In Australia, there are just eight indigenous species and one hybrid of Rubus.

Broadly speaking, raspberries are red-fruited and blackberries (naturally enough) have black fruit, and they belong to different subgenera in Rubus. Australia has no indigenous blackberries, but we have inherited quite a few from other countries, notably the common blackberry (R. fruticosus agg.) from Europe which is rampant in many parts of southern Australia. All Rubus spp., as far as I know, have edible fruits, but there is a lot of variation between species in their flavour and succulence.

Queensland is the stronghold for Australian Rubus species. This is probably because Queensland has most of the rainforest, and Rubus characteristically grow in rainforest or on rainforest edges. However, the widespread R. parvifolius grows in eucalypt woodland, well away from the rainforest. Another notable feature of Rubus spp. are their very prickly stems and even leaves. There is again an exception, as R. gunnianus from Tasmania is totally without prickles.
My recent taxonomic studies into Rubus have resulted in the naming of a couple of new taxa, and regrettably, a few name changes. Here is a summary of raspberry species occurring in Queensland:

1. Rubus probus - a pinnate leaved species, with 5-petalled flowers and bright red fruits which are considerably broader than they are long. It is widespread in Queensland, from Helidon Hills to Cooktown, and also in New Guinea. It was named in 1923, strangely enough, from Puerto Rico, where it is naturalised. Apparently, seeds were sent to the U.S.A. in the early part of this century and then distributed. It obviously thrived in Puerto Rico. R. probus was previously known by the name of R. fraxinifolius, but that species occurs only in south-east Asia and Indonesia. A photograph of R. probus appears in ‘Australian Plants’ Volume 18, page 76, but labelled as R. rosifolius.

2. Rubus rosifolius - a pinnate leaved species. The red fruits are somewhat conical in shape, longer than they are wide. It is very widespread, extending from China and Taiwan to southern Australia. In Queensland it occurs from the N.S.W. border to as far north as Kroombit Tops. It is photographed in Keith Williams’ Native Plants of Queensland, Volume 3, p. 274. There are two varieties, which look identical, but differ in the number of petals; var. rosifolius has 5 petals and var. commersonii has 9-13 petals.

3. Rubus queenslandicus - a pinnate leaved species which is closely related to R. rosifolius, but differs by the hairless stems and leaves, the longer stalks on the leaflets, the sparse cover of glands on the leaves and the hairy petals. It has red fruits, rather dry in texture. It is endemic to coastal ranges of north Queensland, especially the Atherton Tableland.

4. Rubus parvifolius - a small species which is often quite prostrate, but can form a shrub to 90 cm high. The leaves are generally trifoliolate, but sometimes have 5 leaflets, and the red fruits while rather small, are very succulent and tasty. R. parvifolius occurs in Japan, southern China and North Vietnam, and throughout south-eastern Australia. In Queensland it is distributed from the N.S.W. border to Eungella N.P. near Mackay.

5. Rubus moorei (Silky Bramble) - this palmate leaved species (like spokes of a wheel), is a vine which scrambles over rainforest vegetation and can reach tree canopy height. It is dioecious, which means that there are separate male and female plants. The fruits, which are borne in summer, are succulent and black at maturity. It is relatively restricted in distribution from Lismore to the Conondale Ranges, but it is quite common around O’Reillys and adjacent areas of Lamington N.P. R. moorei is photographed in Keith Williams’ Native Plants of Queensland, Volume 3, p. 274.

6. Rubus nebulosus (Green-leaved Bramble) - another palmate leaved species. Like R. moorei, it is a dioecious vine which can reach canopy height. The fruits are borne in the summer. It is easily distinguished from R. moorei by the longer virtually glabrous leaflets. It is widespread in NSW, but in Queensland is confined to the high altitude areas near the border. It is most readily seen at Springbrook, where it often grows adjacent to R. moorei. As this species was only recently named, it was referred to in the Flora of NSW as Rubus sp. A, and illustrated in Nicholson’s Rainforest Plants Volume 4, page 61, again as Rubus sp. A.

7. Rubus ellipticus - a trifoliolate species with long arching canes bearing red bristles. The fruits are bright yellow, and fairly succulent and tasty. It is an introduced species which comes from India, Sri Lanka, south-east Asia and the Philippines. Seeds were sent to Brisbane (from India) in 1891, and these were distributed to various parts of the state. It first became naturalised at Eumundi, and now is quite common on the Blackall Range. While it is a weed, it never forms large thickets and does not seem too serious.

8. Rubus alceifolius - a vigorous shrubby-vine or sprawling shrub up to 4 metres high, with simple 5-7 lobed leaves, with all lobes more or less equal. The fruits are red and succulent. It is a naturalised weed which is a problem at low altitudes in the Wet Tropics of north Queensland. It is indigenous to south-east Asia and the western parts of Indonesia. It is illustrated in Noxious Weeds of Australia (1992) p. 576.

9. Rubus moluccanus (Molucca berry, or Molucca raspberry)- a simple leaved species which forms a scrambling shrub to 3 metres high. It is a native species, but its natural range extends far beyond Australia into south-east Asia. There are five taxonomic varieties, of which two occur in Queensland:

moluccanus var. moluccanus has a shallowly lobed leaf, white petals and erect brown to yellow hairs on the leaf stalks and branchlets. This variety is common in north Queensland, but does occur sporadically in the south, at low altitudes. It includes moluccanus var. dendrocharis, a name which has appeared in some books in recent years.

moluccanus var. trilobus has a distinctly 3-lobed leaf, mostly pink petals and appressed greyish hairs on the leaf stalks and branchlets. This variety is common in New South Wales and extends into eastern Victoria. In Queensland, it is mainly in the south, but does extend to the Atherton Tableland. It was formerly (incorrectly) known as R. hillii.

The fruits of both varieties are red, succulent and tasty.

10. Rubus x novus - this is a naturally occurring hybrid between R. moluccanus var. trilobus and R. parvifolius. The ‘x’ in front of the species epithet indicates that it is a hybrid. It is usually trifoliolate, with leaflets much larger than R. parvifolius. The flowers are pink. Interestingly, this hybrid is sterile - it never sets fruit. This explains why it is not terribly common. It occurs very sporadically from eastern Victoria to near Sarina in central Queensland, and could be expected to occur wherever the two parents are growing in close proximity.

Why not try growing a Rubus or two? Admittedly, they are not ideal for beside the driveway or where young children play, but they would make a good hedge or fill in a sunny hole in your rainforest planting.

They are readily propagated by cuttings and I have observed layering on R. moluccanus var. trilobus, where a branch has lain on the ground and struck root. I have not tried raising them from seed, and I suspect they may take a long while to germinate as the seeds are enclosed by a very hard case, as those of you who like blackberry jam will know.

All Rubus are light loving, and will flower and fruit best in full sun. On the down side, they have quite a high water requirement, so unless you live near the coast, they will need supplementary water (except R. parvifolius which is quite drought tolerant); and they don’t like poorly drained soil. They do respond well to pruning, so could be made to fit the space you have available, and the big bonus of course is that they will bear edible fruits for you.


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I have to collate all the info I have at moment which is why I haven't put in information about Tasmanian pepper, Tasmanian thyme, muntries, native ginger, wattleseed, kunkerberries(a.ka. konkerberries), native currants (all the different species) etc. That should be coming by end of next week. I'll also include info for a site where you can get non-native white blackberries.

Stay tuned...

Carla.

[kyrie]

These are non-native white blackberries, developed from a wild American cultivar.

http://www.whiteblackberryplant.com/index.html

Above is the source for these white blackberries.

Carla.