Bush Tucker Plants

The following is a list (no doubt incomplete) of various locally indigenous plants used traditionally for food. The base data has come from Bungalook Nursery’s list with additions from other sources. In particular, the Woiwurrung names IN CAPITALS used by the Wurundjeri in our area are derived from the guidebook: ABORIGINAL PLANTS in the grounds of Monash University (School of Biological Sciences, 2010). Note: We understand that the latter would have been based on original work (1998) authored by Dr Beth Gott (who passed away in 2022 aged nea 100).  She was an academic at Monash and pioneer of researching aboriginal food plants – decades ahead of her time.   

Botanical Name	Woiwurrung & Common Names	Part of Plant	Usage
— Tree gums and sap
Acacia dealbata	MOY-YAN, Silver Wattle	Gum	Gum is edible – sucked like candy; soaked in water to make a jelly.
Acacia mearnsii	GARRONG, Black Wattle	Gum	Gum used as a chewing gum that dissolves as you chew.
Acacia pycnantha	Golden Wattle	Gum, seed	Roasted seeds and gum eaten.
Allocasuarina littoralis	WAYETUCK, Black Sheoak	Gum, seed	The gum chewed or made into a jelly by melting in hot water. The young cones were eaten.
Eucalyptus viminalis	WURUN, Manna Gum	Sap	Sugary sap eaten and flowers soaked in water to make a sweet drink.
— Leaves
Lomandra longifolia	KURAWAN, Spiny-headed Mat-rush	Leaf base	White leaf bases chewed to release starch.
Mentha australis	PANARYLE, River Mint	Leaves	Leaves used to make tea and also to treat coughs and colds.
Prostanthera lasianthos	CORANDERRK, Victorian Christmas-bush	Leaves	Aromatic leaves used to make tea or flavour food.
Prostanthera melissifolia	Balm Mint-bush	Leaves	Aromatic leaves used to make tea or flavour food.
— Berries, fruit, flowers
Acrotriche serrulata	BURGIL BURGIL, Honey Pots	Flowers	The small flowers, underneath the plant, are full of a fragrant nectar.
Billardiera mutabilis	GARAWANG, Common Apple Berry	Fruit	Fruit eaten raw when ripe or roasted when green.
Cassytha melantha	Dodder Laurel	Fruit	Aromatic and tangy fruit look like small olives.
Coprosma quadrifida	MORR, Prickly Currant-bush	Fruit	Berries are sweet and high in Vitamin C.
Dianella admixta	Black-anther Flax-lily	Fruit	Dark blue or purple berries edible.
Dianella laevis	Pale Flax-lily	Fruit	Dark blue or purple berries edible.
Dianella tasmanica	Tasman Flax-lily	Fruit	Dark blue or purple berries edible.
Einadia nutans	Nodding Saltbush	Fruit, leaves	Red berries are sweet to eat. Leaves can also be eaten but should be boiled first.
Exocarpus cupressiformis	BALLEE, Cherry Ballart	Fruit	Small orange berries turn red when ripen to a sweet and palatable fruit. Green seed not eaten.
Rubus parvifolius	EEPAEEP, Native raspberry	Fruit	Has edible small fruit somewhat like small raspberries but not as sweet.
Solanum aviculare	Kangaroo Apple	Fruit	Has berries/fruit which are poisonous while green, only edible once fully ripe (orange).
— Tubers/ roots
Arthropodium milleflorum	Pale Vanilla Lily	Tuber, flowers	Tubers can be eaten raw or cooked. Flowers can be eaten raw.
Arthropodium strictum	Chocolate Lily	Tuber	Tubers can be eaten raw or cooked.
Bulbine bulbosa	PIKE, Bulbine Lily	Tuber	Tubers can be roasted and eaten, they are sweet tasting and contain calcium and iron.
Burchardia umbellata	Milkmaids	Tuber	Tubers can be roasted and eaten.
Clematis aristata	Austral Clematis, Old Man’s Beard	Taproot	Taproot can be roasted and eaten.
Clematis microphylla	Small-leaved Clematis	Taproot	Taproot can be roasted and eaten.
Geranium solanderi	Crane’s Bill, Native Carrot	Taproot	Woody taproot rich in starch can be cooked and eaten.
Kennedia prostrata	KABIN, Running Postman	Nectar, stems	Nectar is sweet like honeysuckle, stems can be used for twine.
Microseris walteri	MURNONG, Yam Daisy	Tuber	Tuber can be roasted or fried.
Typha sp	BOURT-DEET, Cumbungi, Bulrush	Rhizome	Rhizome is rich in starch. Also the young flowering stems were eaten raw.
— Seed
Acacia melanoxylon	BURN-NA-LOOK, Blackwood	Seed	Seeds are edible and flowers can be cooked and eaten.
Acacia pycnantha	Golden Wattle	Seed, gum	Roasted seeds and gum can be eaten.
Linum marginale	Native Flax	Seed	Numerous small seeds eaten.
Themeda triandra	Kangaroo Grass	Seed	Seeds can be ground to produce flour.