Food
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Water Ribbons Melbourne Museum
Water Ribbons Melbourne Museum
Polango (Wathaurong), Loombrak (Gunaikurnai)
Botanical name: Triglochin procera
Family: Juncaginaceae
Uses
This plant was an important food source. People ate the tubers raw or cooked.
Distribution
This plant is common in shallows of freshwater lakes and streams across Australia. It is found within water bodies of swamp scrub, riparian woodland, grassy low open forest and moist sclerophyll forests.
Water Ribbons Cultivation
Water Ribbons leaves can grow 0.1–2 m long and float on the water surface. This plant likes a lot of rich organic matter and to be submerged when planted.
Common Nardoo Melbourne Museum
Common Nardoo Melbourne Museum
Dullum Dullum (Wemba Wemba)
Botanical name: Marsilea drummondii
Family: Marsileaceae
Uses
A food source in drier country, spore-cases of this water fern appear as the water recedes and detach from the plant as the soil dries out. The spore-cases were roasted and the soft spores were separated out and mixed with water to make a damper.
Common Nardoo Distribution
Common Nardoo grows in all mainland states in flood plains, bogs and swamps in box and Red Gum woodland, riparian scrub and wetlands.
Cultivation
The stalks of this water plant reach 2–30 cm tall. It grows in boggy soil and can cover the surface of shallow ponds. Common Nardoo is dormant during winter in cooler areas, and it can be propagated by spores or by division.
Bulbine Lily Melbourne Museum
Bulbine Lily Melbourne Museum
Pike (Woi wurrung)
Botanical name: Bulbine bulbosa
Family: Asphodelaceae
Uses
Under the stalk and soft long leaves of the Bulbine Lily is a plump, round, sweet-tasting corm with many thick roots radiating from it. Traditionally, the corm can be eaten all year round and was probably cooked first.
Distribution
This perennial herb is widespread in dry and valley sclerophyll forests, Red Gum woodland, and plains grassland in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia.
Cultivation
Bulbine Lily prefers moist well drained soil and it will die back to tuberous rootstock in dry weather. If it’s provided with additional water it will continue to grow leaves throughout the year. It grows about 20 60–cm tall and 30–cm wide.
The flower of the Bulbine Lily (Bulbine bulbosa) in Milarri Garden
Pigface Melbourne Museum
Pigface Melbourne Museum
Keeng-a (Bunganditj), Katwort (Gunaikurnai)
Botanical name: Carpobrotus rossi
Family: Aizoaceae
Uses
The fruits are red when ripe in summer, and were eaten raw; the tiny seeds and sweet pulp can be sucked out from the base. The green leaves were eaten as a salad or were cooked and eaten with meat. They are often salty, but when old are unpalatable because of the tannin they contain.
Inland Pigface was once abundant on the northern plains of Victoria, but was destroyed by cattle and sheep.
Distribution
Pigface is common in the primary dune scrub and Coast Banksia woodland of Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.
Cultivation
This trailing, low-growing succulent loves sandy soil and is easily propagated from cuttings. Full sun promotes vigorous growth and it can be pruned to shape. It grows 2–3 m wide.
Small-leaved Clematis Melbourne Museum
Small-leaved Clematis Melbourne Museum
Botanical name: Clematis microphylla
Family: Ranunculaceae
Uses
The leaves can relieve skin irritation but may cause blisters unless used in moderation. The roots can be eaten raw and taste peppery. The roots can be also be cooked in baskets and kneaded on a small sheet of bark into dough.
Pigface (Carpobrotus rossi) growing in Milarri Garden
Small-leaved Clematis Distribution
Small-leaved Clematis is found across Australia except the Northern Territory. This climber grows in grassy low open forests and, Coast Banksia woodland, plains grassland, primary dune scrub and dry sclerophyll forest.
Cultivation
This climbing plant requires well drained soil and will scramble up fences and other plants to about 1.5 m. It can grow in sun to part shade.
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