Austral Grass-tree / Kangaroo Tail (a name used in Victoria in reference to the shape and size of the flower spike)

Xanthorrhoea australis

Known as Bukkup by the Gunditchmara (Daung Wurrung), Kawee by the Djapwurrung and Baggup by people of the Yarra Valley.

Grass trees are distantly related to lilies. This species is the largest, commonly growing to three or more metres in height. There is a remarkable specimen in the Geelong Botanic gardens that is 6 or so metres tall. They are extremely slow growing, generally by about a centimetre a year.

Aboriginal people had numerous uses for grass trees. Both the nectar and roots were eaten. Resin, which is released after fire was used as an adhesive in the making of implements, often in combination with bindings made from plant fibres of sinew. Flower spikes are produced after fire. The base of the flower spike was used in fire making. It would be split lengthways and a stick would spun rapidly into it to create heat through friction. The flower spike was also used to make the buts of hunting spears. Being light, this would ensure that spears flew strait

Spiny-headed Mat-rush

Lomandra longifolia

Known as Karawun by people of the Yarra River Valley

This sedge is found in forests and woodlands throughout eastern Australia. (Due to an apparent deep affection for the species by civil engineers it is now ubiquitous in revegetation belts beside roads and freeways.)

The tough shiny leaves grow up to a meter long. They were widely used by Aboriginal people in the weaving of baskets, eel traps, mats, string bags etc.

River Red Gum
Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Known as Peeal by the Tjapwurung (Djab Wurrung), Be-al by Aborigines of the Melbourne area, Ta'art by the Gunditchmara, and Dharnya by the Jota-jota of the Murray River.

This majestic tree is one of the most widely distributed species of Eucalyptus, occurring besides waterways throughout the Australia and in forests and woodlands in wetter regions of the south. It can reach up to 45m in height and live for over 500 years.

Aborigines cut bark from River Red Gum trunks for creating canoes, dishes and other implements. The section with the bark removed then becomes a scar. Scar trees are still found beside waterways throughout Victoria and other parts of Australia.

The sap was used as a treatment for burns and the leaves were used medicinally in steam baths. The inhalation of Eucalyptus oil is still used as a treatment for congestion.

Large gnarled burls were cut off and hollowed out to create bowls that were used for soaking blossoms to extract nectar, among other uses.

Water Ribbons
Triglochin procerum

In Victoria, known as Pol-an-go by the Wathaurong (Wada Wurrung), and as Nareli by the Wemba Wemba people of the Murray River.

This is an aquatic plant that occurs in shallow permanent and semi-permanent wetlands, and along the shores of lake and waterways. It is found Australia-wide and is quite variable - in some places having leaves that are emergent, and at others having leaves that float across the water surface.

The tubers are white, tending to brown when older and are starchy and sweet. They were cooked in earth ovens. The pale fleshy bases of the leaf blades are a favourite food of swans and other waterbirds.

*** A dangerous plant ***

There are a number of Kangaroo Apples in Eastern Australia. They belong to the same genus (Solanum)as Tomatoes, Potatoes and Deadly Nightshade.

Kangaroo Apple, Solanum aviculare

Large Kangaroo Apple, Solanum laciniatum (pictured). Called Mookitch or Mayakitch by the Lake Condah people.

Forest Nightshade, Solanum prinophyllum

Gunyang, Solanum vescum

The fruit are poisonous when green and edible when ripe. Depending on the species, they are red, orange or yellow when ripe, at which point they are soft and begin to split open. They apparently have a soapy flavour that is not particularly pleasant to the modern palate. Kangaroo apples, and in particular S. alviculare and S. lanciniatum are one of the world's major sources of steroids, and are used in contraceptives and anti-inflammatory products. Plantations are grown for this purpose, mostly in the Soviet Union and Hungary. Some researchers have suggested that preparations from the leaves and fruit of these species may also have anti-cancer properties.

Leopard Orchid

Diuris pardina

Known by the Tjapwurong (Djab Wurrung) as Hinnaehinnitch, which means 'bat-faced'

There are six or seven species of Diuris in Victoria, including the Donkey Orchid, Wallflower Orchid, Tiger Orchid and Golden Moths Orchid. The starchy tubers are edible and were eaten raw or cooked.

Ruby Saltbush
Enchaelena tomentosa

This hardy plant produces edible berries year-round. Apparently, early explorers and settlers sometimes ate the leaves in the belief that they were a source of vitamin C. However, the members of the Sturt expedition consumed it and none-the-less suffered from scurvy, one of them dying from the disease.

Milk Maids

Burchardia umbellata

Called Popoto by the people of Lake Condah (Daung Wurrung / Gunditjmara).

A native lilly flowering in spring and found throughout most of Victoria other than the semi-arid Mallee in the north-west.

The tubers taste like potato.

Cherry Ballard / Native Cherry

Exocarpus cuppressiformis

Called the Palatt or Ballot by the people of Lake Condah (Daung Wurrung / Gunditjmara).

A cypress-like tree that does not have leaves, but instead photosynthesises through it's soft green branchlets.

The stalk of the seed capsule becomes swollen to produce an edible fruit. The wood was used to make spear throwers and (in Gippsland) bullroarers which are a flat device that is swung rapidly from a string to make a roaring noise. The sap was said to be a medicine for snake-bite.

Murnong

Microceris lanceolata

The tuber of the Murnong was the staple source of starch to Aboriginal people prior to settlement.

Unfortunately It was also a favoured fodder to sheep and cattle. Within several years of the introduction of livestock to an area of the plains, Murnong was eliminated and along with it the foundation of the Aboriginal economy.

Melbourne was founded in 1834. By 1842 there were 1.4 million sheep and 100,000 cattle on the plains, and the Aboriginal societies were in a state of collapse. The settlers were shooting out the wildlife and retaliating harshly and sometimes brutally against Aborigines who speared livestock.

All that and more encapsulated in one image! It's a very handy card to include in the Connies kit. Every Victorian should understand the significance of this plant. It should be planted widely in memory of the first peoples of this land.