Medicine
Native Geranium Melbourne Museum
Terrat (Woi Wurrung)
Botanical name: Geranium solanderi
Family: Geraniaceae
Uses
This plant is high in medicinal tannin used to treat diarrhoea. Geraniums have tuberous roots like radishes which contain nutritious starch. These roots can be pounded to break down the fibrous texture before being cooked and eaten.
Distribution
Native Geranium grows in grassy open forests, riparian scrub, sclerophyll forests and Red Gum habitat. It is found in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.
Cultivation
This prostrate perennial will thrive in damp areas and well-drained soils. With the right conditions it can create a dense mound of foliage about 0.5 m tall and 0.6–1.5 m wide.
Native Geranium (Geranium solanderi) growing in Milarri Garden
Kangaroo apple
??/kangaroo apple/Solanum aviculare/poultice (poisonous when green!)
Old Man Weed Melbourne Museum
Gukwonderuk (Wotjobaluk, Lake Hindmarsh)
Botanical name: Centipeda cunninghamii
Family: Asteraceae
Uses
To prepare a tonic used for colds and chest complaints including tuberculosis and as a general restorative, big bunches of the plant were gathered. It can be rubbed on directly for skin complaints or prepared by boiling or soaking in very hot water in a wooden or bark vessel at the edge of the fire.
Old Man Weed Distribution
Old Man Weed grows in all states including Tasmania. It is rare in some areas and can be found in low soaks adjacent to rivers and in areas prone to flooding.
Cultivation
This plant grows about 10–50 cm tall and 30 cm wide. It tolerates full sun to filtered light in a range of soil conditions and can withstand wet conditions. It is fast-growing and sets seed readily.
River Mint Melbourne Museum
Poang-Gurk (Djab Wurrung, meaning 'bad smell')
Botanical name: Mentha australis
Family: Lamiaceae
Uses
The leaves can be used in earth ovens to add flavour to cooked food. People also crush the mint and inhale the aroma to treat coughs and colds.
Distribution
River Mint grows across Australia in wet sclerophyll forests and riparian scrub.
River Mint Cultivation
This small spreading herb can grows well in cool, moist areas on the edges of ponds and paths. It also grows in wet soils.
