Issue 2 , May-June 1997

...News

Essential Oil Producers' Association of Australia

The Essential Oil Producers' Associa­tion of Australia has been formed to promote the production of Australian essential oils and natural plant prod­ucts, to provide a forum for members to exchange information, develop working relationships and promote a unified approach for the industry in areas such as industrial relations, gov­ernment regulation and quality stand­ards.

The Association also assists with co­ordination of research into essential oils and allied natural plant extracts, and helps to disseminate research findings to members. This year the Association will begin producing a regular newsletter to keep members up-to-date with new developments in industry policy, es­sential oils and plant extracts research and other issues of interest to mem­bers.

Full membership is open to produc­ers of essential oils, plant extracts and producers of plant material for the production of essential oils or plant extracts.

The end users of the products, con­sultants and other commercial inter­ests in the industry can take up asso­ciate membership (commercial), while individual or institute associate mem­bership is open to non-commercial in­stitutes, researchers and other inter­ested individuals or organisations. For further information contact: Victor Fuchs President, Essential Oil Producers' Association of Australia

Telephone: 02 9484 1341 Facsimile: 02 94818145

Sustainable Native Animal Report Sparks Interest

A new report that examines the po­tential of farming native fauna has at­tracted great interest in the commu­nity. The aim of the report was to iden­tify the potential of and to propose a management regime for an industry based on the export of native birds and reptiles while also enhancing con­servation and biodiversity. Full report:

RIRDC Research Paper 97/26,

$25 (+$6p&h).

Summary report:

RIRDC Research Paper 97/26a

$15($4P&H):from:

RIRDC PO Box 4776 Kingston ACT 2604

Nursery News

Indigenous Nurseries Network (INN)

The INN has been established to rep­resent producers of indigenous plants and seed collectors across Victoria.

Why is the use of indigenous plants important?

Flora and habitat conservation In many areas across Victoria natural vegetation is under threat from a wide variety of pressures. By planting lo­cal species we contribute to the con­servation of the natural flora of the region. Many species of birds, mam­mals, reptiles, and other fauna are de­pendent on locally occurring natural vegetation for their continued exist­ence in an area. Only by planting local species can these complex interactions between plants and animals be main­tained.

Genetic conservation

Through the use of indigenous plants we contribute to genetic conservation by the maintenance of natural varia­tion within species. By planting non­local plant species we risk losing ge­netic diversity through interbreeding with nearby natural vegetation. Many species are kept distinct in the wild because they are geographically iso­lated from similar species. When planted outside their natural range these plants may hybridize with local species and lead to the eventual de­mise of the population.

Economic benefits

Indigenous plants have adapted over long periods of time to suit local con­ditions. Thus the use of locally col­lected seed should result in greater long-term survival rates of plantings undertaken. Indigenous plants gener­ally only require watering at planting and will not require fertilisation or other soil improvement. Because lo­cal species provide habitat for local birds, wasps, spiders, lizards and other insectivorous animals, their use can provide natural pest control.

Local Character

The character of our landscape is pro­vided by the indigenous vegetation. By planting local species we preserve the unique character of different re­gions.

Weeds

A range of exotic and native species, many of which have been deliberately planted in gardens and farms have spread into bushland and other areas. The problems caused by weed inva­sion are often underestimated, and are considered to be a major threat to our flora and fauna.

Education

The use of locally occurring plants provides excellent opportunities for learning about our indigenous herit­age. Many indigenous species pro­vided (and still provide) food for Abo­riginal people throughout Australia. Indigenous plantings can provide a medium for ecological and social edu­cation.

The INN has been established to rep­resent producers of indigenous plants and seed collectors across Victoria. Over sixty such nurseries exist and they will be able to assist you with information and advice. Contact phone numbers for rural suppliers can be obtained from the network, Con­tact INN for membership details: Roger Jones, (03) 923 9455.24 Clarence St., East Brunswick VIC 3057.

Nursery industry associations in other States take note!

Every Council should be this keen...

In response to my request, the Caloundra City Council (Sunshine Coast) nursery sent me a run-down of their available bushfood species. Space permits only highlights of the more than seventy (70!) on their list:

Pigface

Plums - Davidson, Burdekin, Black and Java

16 (!) different Syzygium

Native quava, tamarind,

ginger and yam

Midyim

Blue Quandong.

Give Len Milne a call on

0754933424

Products

A regular round-up of old, new, home made, high-tech or simply interesting bushfood products...

Wild about you…

Hand-made, individually wrapped chocolates...rustic pine box packaging...a Gold medal at the 1996 Royal Melbourne Show and a taste test from Mick Jagger himself - "Wild about you" bushfoods are one of a small number of firms taking our native delictables into the market place with style. Mary Ann Thomas and Susan Harper took their back­ground in catering, added Quandong, Illawarra plum. Wat­tle seed and a range of other na­tive delights and created a range of chocolates which is, in a word, sensational. They also make bushfood mustards and Boobyalla cake (an Australian panforte of wild figs, macadamia nuts, wattle seed and Quandong kernals encased in a toffeed honey). Why wasn't I suprised to find their Chocolate Designs range includes a Witjuti Grub?

Products I haven't found...

1. A device to quickly extract bunya nuts from their shell.
2. A contraption to aid in the harvest of Midyim berries.
3. An inexpensive 'bench top bush still' for essential oils..

Got a product? Let us know. Original, interesting, authentic or simply unusual products will be featured here each issue,

From the 'net

Australian Plants online

Capricornia Cuisine:

Bush Tucker in Central Queensland Lenore Lindsay

Wild foods have always been signifi­cant in Central Queensland. They formed the total sustenance of the Aboriginal people; they kept explor­ers alive, settlers healthy and the local kids happily occupied. Today, after a brief resurgence during the Depres­sion and World War 2, they are being "rediscovered" as the basis of a com­mercial industry, and there is renewed interest in them generally as part of our shared cultural heritage. Our knowledge of the food plants of the Aborigines is sketchy, relying, as it does, mainly on early European ac­counts, and the oral traditions of the community as a whole, which includes Aboriginal, Islander and pioneer sources.

Although some use of wild foods and medicines was maintained by the local Aboriginal people, much of the infor­mation relating to those from plants has been lost, as they were replaced by other items of overseas origin. Our sources include accounts from the Archer family's papers and oral histo­ries, the explorer Leichhardt's journals, and the little booklet "Notes on some of the Roots, Tubers, Bulbs and Fruits, used as Vegetable Food by the Abo­riginals of Northern Queensland, Aus­tralia " by French botanist Anthelme Thozet. The establishment of the Dreamtime Cultural Centre and its sur­rounding gardens on Rockhampton's northern outskirts has continued to fuel the renaissance of interest in our wild food plants.

"....it is fairly difficult to be poisoned by eating plants, with a few notable exceptions."

Most poisonous plants warn adven­turous experimenters by their taste, and a few unpleasant moments are the worst one might experience. The dan­gerous plants are those which are both palatable and toxic such as cycad seeds and some fungi, or in which re­action is delayed, such as cunjevoi. Nevertheless, the prudent forager will approach a new and unknown plant cautiously, first rubbing what appears to be the edible part on the sensitive skin of the inner wrist or elbow. If, af­ter a reasonable time lapse, there is no adverse reaction, it may be touched by the lips or tongue, or bitten, but not chewed or swallowed. If all seems well, a little may be chewed and swal­lowed. Then wait at least 24 hours to gauge the body's response before sampling larger quantities, or experi­menting with preparation and cook­ing.

Obviously, some good reference books reduce the number of times this procedure is necessary, and a short list of some of those available is in­cluded as an appendix. Plant foods are generally available only seasonally, and the season for some is very lim­ited, availability is also governed by habitat, some ecosystems being richer, or offering more variety, than others. From the beaches to the dry interior, each niche has its own particular food products, and in this paper just a few typical examples from each are men­tioned.

The Seashore The leaves of many of the common succulent plants of the foreshores are edible, raw, cooked or pickled. These include samphire (Sarcocornia quinqueflora), seablite (Suaedia australe) and pigface (Carpobrotus glaucescens). The fruits of pigface are also known as beach bananas because the flesh inside their thick reddish skin resembles a small salty banana in both taste and appear­ance. The pandanus (Pandanus sp.) has other uses besides fixing the foredunes. The fruit segments may be

Climatic Regions and Species,

Please note: this guide is a work-in-progress. Information is based on where the species occurs naturally. Micro-climates are important and should be taken into account.

A ? indicates that it is likely the species will grow outside its bio-geographical region. Your input is important.

Map adapted from the Philips' Modern Commonwealth Atlas

Index: 2

From the Editor...

Notes - Pepper - Chris Read

Why Farm Bushfoods - Larry Geno

Bush Heritage - Pat & Sim Symons

To BC or not - Dennis Archer

Eat your garden - Jenny Allen

Watch your Lang'gwij - names & oddities

A rosella by any other name - Colleen Keena

Lemon Aspen - and how!

Ethel, in her own words - Ethel Richardson

On the Ground - Elizabeth Blakeman

Book Reviews

Foraging and Processing - Vic Cherikoff

Bushfoods in History - Pat & Sim Symons

DPI Note - Bushfood plants of western Queensland

Some thoughts on CSIRO Research in Bushfoods - DJ Boland

News

Nursery News

Products

Resources

Climatic regions and species, 1

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