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Comments and Recommendations by Kimberley Specialists.
The following list comprises the bush foods and medicinal plants identified by Ju Ju ‘Burriwee’ Wilson, David Harrington, Lee Scott-Virtue and Dr Jim Kohen in the Faraway Bay Bush Camp, Gumboot Bay and general area along Gumboot Creek. The list is not considered to be comprehensive and further survey work needs to be undertaken to determine the variation and fruiting times during both the wet and dry seasons.
Recommendations:
That further survey work be undertaken to determine the fruiting times for the bush foods plants identified in the above specified areas.
That further research work be undertaken to determine what impact the proposed Striker development of the Gumboot Bay area have on both the bush foods and medicinal plants identified as important to Aboriginal people by Ju ju ‘Burriwee’ Wilson.
Fruits.
Yada. Cassytha filiformis
Creeping dodder.
Small, sweet, white fruits eaten raw. Early dry season. Vine of heavily disturbed areas. Commonly used “treat” species.
Sites 2,4,8 and 9.
Woolawoolun. Fluggea virosa.
Dogwood.
Small, sweet, white berry eaten. Eaten raw. Late wet/ early dry season. Frequently coppiced shrub of creek beds, banks and vine thickets. Fire tolerant. Commonly used ‘treat’ species.
Sites 2,3,5,9,10,12,14 and 15.
Mapura. Carrissa lanceolata.
Conkerberry.
Sweet, black berries. Eaten raw. Mid to late dry season. Shrub forming dense thickets on plains and slopes. Fire tolerant. Commonly used ‘treat’.
Sites 3,5,8,9,12,14 and 15.
Juguru. Terminalia carpentariae.
Green plum.
Sour green fruits. Eaten raw. Boiled in water with sugar to make drink. Late dry season. Tree of riparian and gallery forest. Fire intolerant. Infrequent usage. ‘’Treat species.’
Sites 2,3,5,8,and 14.
Gooseberry. Physalis minima.
Cosmopolitain. Sweet green berry. Eaten raw. Through dry. Herb of disturbed land, farmland and urban areas. Fire intolerant. Commonly used “treat’.
Sites 4,8 and 9.
Wild passionfruit. Passiflora foetida.
Cosmopolitain. Sweet yellow ‘passionfruits’. Eaten raw. Year round. Vine of disturbed areas, towns and farmland. Fire intolerant??????. Commonly used ‘treat’.
Sites 1,2,3,4,5,7,8, 10,14 and 15.
Midyurun. Ampelocissus acetosa.
Wild grape.
Spicy and sweet black ‘grapes’. Eaten raw. Early dry. Vine of vine thickets, riparian woodland and disturbed areas. Fire intolerant. Infrequently used ‘treat’.
Sites 10,12 and 13.
Pouteria sericia.
Sweet black fruits. Eaten raw. Early dry. Tree of gallery forest, vine thickets and gully floors. Fire intolerant. Infrequently used ‘treat’.
Sites 3,5,12 and 13.
Djamudet. Ficus leucotricha.
Rock fig.
Large sweet yellow figs. Eaten raw and dried and stored. Late dry and wet. Tree of rock faces and gully floors. Fire intolerant. Infrequently used ‘treat’.
Sites 3,5,6,9 and 12.
Sandpaper fig. Ficus oppisita.
Small sweet red/black figs. Eaten raw. Late dry through wet. Shrub/tree of river levees and sandy plains. Common on disturbed ground. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used ‘treat’.
Sites 2,3,5,8,9,12,14 and 15.
Girdiwun. Adamsonia gregorii.
Boab.
Large hard ovate fruits encasing white pulp. Pulp eaten raw, mixed with water and sugar. Late wet/early dry. Fruits persist on tree. Tree of slopes and plains. Common along drainage lines. Fire tolerant. Frequently used staple.
Sites 3,7,8,10,14 and 15.
Cucumis melo.
Small round, green ‘melons’. Eaten raw. Early dry. Vine of coastal dunes and slopes. Fire intolerant. Infrequently used ‘treat’.
Site 10.
Bush bananna. Marsdenia viridiflora.
Elongate highly prized green fruits. Eaten raw when ripe, cooked when seeding. Vine of open woodland. Fire intolerant. Infrequently used staple.
Site 2.
Emu berry. Grewia retusifolia.
Lobed sweet red fruits. Eaten raw. Mid dry. Frequently coppiced shrub of plains and slopes. Fire tolerant. Frequently used ‘treat’.
Sites 2,3,5,7,8,10,12,14 and 15.
Bardigi. Owenia vernicosa.
Emu apple.
Unpaletable hard green to red fruits. Mid dry. Tree of open woodland, slopes and ridges. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used ‘treat’.
Sites 3,7,12,14 and 15.
Darlung. Buchanania obovata.
Wild mango.
Green fleshy fruits. Eaten raw. Late dry/early wet. Tree of open woodland, slopes and ridges. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used staple.
Sites 2,3,5,8,12,13,14 and 15.
Midyurung. Terminalia platyphylla.
Black plum.
Beaked black fruit. Eaten raw. Late wet/ early dry. Tree of open woodland slopes and ridges. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used staple.
Sites 5 and 6.
Madjugun. Persoonia falcata.
Emu tucker.
Green fleshy fruits. Eaten raw. Late dry through wet. Tree of open woodland, slopes and ridges. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used ‘treat’.
Sites 3,5,12,14 and 15.
Ficus liliputiana.
Tiny yellow figs. Eaten raw. Wet. Shrub of sandstone cliffs. Fire intolerant. Never used ‘treat’.
Site 5.
Ficus coronulata.
Large yellow figs. Eaten raw. Late dry/ wet. Tree of riverbanks. Fire intolerant. Infrequently used ‘treat’.
Sites 3 and 5.
Passionfruit tree.
Large green fruits. Early wet. Tree of plains and riverbanks. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used ‘treat’.
Kunja. Cochlospermum fraserii.
Kapok.
Large taproot cooked in ashes and eaten. Available all year, but younger plants more paletable. Tree of open woodland, stoney slopes and plains. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used staple.
Sites 1,3,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,14 and 15.
Bush onion. Cyperus bulbosus.
Large bulb at base of plant eaten raw or cooked in ashes. Early dry. Forb of waterlogged soils. Fire tolerant. Never used staple.
Site 10.
Waterlilly. Nymphaea violacea.
Rhizome at base of plant eaten raw or cooked. Year round. Aquatic herb found in waterholes. Never used staple.
Site 12, 13.
Bush bananna. Marsdenia viridiflora.
Small white tubers cooked and eaten. Vine of open woodland. Fire intolerant. Never used staple.
Site 2.
Bunjung. Atalaya hemiglauca.
Whitewood.
Large taproot roasted and eaten. Young plants more paletable. Older plants cooked and mashed. Shrub of open woodland and slopes. Fire tolerant. Never used staple.
Sites 1,2,3,5,7,8,9,12,14 and 15.
Pandanus. Pandanus spiralus.
Large fruits roasted and cracked to remove edible kernels. Mid to late dry. Tree of watercourses, also found on plains and slopes. Associated with underground water. Fire tolerant. Never used staple.
Sites 2,3,5,8,9,12,14 and 15.
Nyngorgun. Brachychiton tridentatus.
Pods roasted and seeds removed. Eaten after removal of irritating hairs.
Tree of open woodland and slopes. Several varieties exploited over north. Fire tolerant????. Never used staple.
Site 10.
Girdiwun. Adamsonia gregorii.
Boab.
Large hard ovate fruits encasing white pulp and large seeds. Seeds eaten raw or roasted. Late wet/early dry. Fruits persist on tree. Tree of slopes and plains. Common along drainage lines. Fire tolerant. Frequently used staple.
Sites 3,7,8,10,14 and 15.
Bardigi. Owenia vernicosa.
Emu apple.
Hard green to red fruits cracked to allow access to seeds. Cooked and ground, then made into damper. Mid dry. Tree of open woodland, slopes and ridges. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used staple.
Sites 3,7,12,14 and 15.
Bardigi. Terminalia arostrata.
Nutwood.
Nuts cracked and eaten. Early dry. Tree of dry plains and slopes. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used ‘treat’.
Site 7.
Nyallung. Terminalia canescens.
Edible gum. Year round. Tree of pains and heavily disturbed areas. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used staple.
Sites 3,7,6,12,14 and 16.
Grevilleas. Grevillea spp.
Flower heads sucked, soaked in hot or cold water to make drink. Dry season. Common shrubs or small trees of most environments. Showy flowers. Fire tolerant. Frequently used treat.
All sites.
Dimalum. Melaleuca argentea.
Silver leafed paperbark.
Flowerheads sucked, soaked in hot or cold water to make drink. Late dry season. Tree of riverbanks. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used treat.
Sites 2,3,5,13,14 and 15.
Rosella. Hibiscus sabdariffa.
Flower heads eaten. Early to mid dry. Shrub of floodplains other disturbed areas. Fire intolerant. Infrequently used treat.
Sites 1,2 and 3.
Tea tree. Melaleuca minutifolia.
Flowerheads sucked, soaked in hot or cold water to make drink. Late dry season. Shrub of floodplains and plains. Often on disturbed land. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used treat.
Sites 4,7 and 8.
Long fruited bloodwood. Corymbia polycarpa.
Galls formed by the action of insect larvae form on brancehes. Interior eaten. Year round. Tree of open woodland. Fire tolerant. Frequently used staple.
Sites 3,5,8,11,12,14 and 15.
Yada. Cassytha filiformis
Creeping dodder.
Twining foliage and stems used as fishing nets and as shoes. Vine of heavily disturbed areas. Never used.
Sites 2,4,8 and 9.
Nyallung. Terminalia canescens.
Good firewood. Tree of pains and heavily disturbed areas. Fire tolerant. Frequently used.
Sites 3,7,6,12,14 and 16.
Woolawoolun. Fluggea virosa.
Dogwood.
Stems used as firesticks, rubbed against harder wood to start fire. Frequently coppiced shrub of creek beds, banks and vine thickets. Fire tolerant. Never used.
Sites 2,3,5,9,10,12,14 and 15.
Spinifex. Triodia spp.
Resin collected and heated with roo blood to form adhesive. Used in affixing spear heads etc. Widespread group of hard grasses, on plains, slopes, ridges and escarpments. Fire tolerance variable. Infrequently used.
Sites 3,5,6,7,12,14 and 15.
Wild passionfruit. Adenia heterophylla.
Stems and fruit crushed and used as fish poison. Year round. Cosmopolitain. Vine of disturbed areas. Fire sensitive, but quick to regrow. Never used.
Sites 1,2,3,4,5,7,8, 10,14 and 15.
Wild passionfruit. Passiflora foetida.
Cosmopolitain. Sweet yellow ‘passionfruits’ used as fish bait. Year round. Vine of disturbed areas, towns and farmland. Fire intolerant. Commonly used if other bait unavailable.
Sites 1,2,3,4,5,7,8, 10,14 and 15.
Dimalum. Melaleuca argentea.
Silver leafed paperbark.
Bark used to wrap foods for cooking and transport. Late dry season. Tree of riverbanks. Fire tolerant. Commonly used.
Sites 2,3,5,13,14 and 15.
Girdiwun. Adamsonia gregorii.
Boab.
Large hard ovate ‘nuts’, carved into decorative patterns and sold. Fruits persist on tree through the year. Tree of slopes and plains. Common along drainage lines. Fire tolerant. Frequently used.
Sites 3,7,8,10,14 and 15.
Crabs eye bean. Abrus precatorius.
Red and black seeds used as beads, made into jewelery. Early dry. Vine of dunes and coastal areas. Fire sensitive. Frequently used.
Site 10.
Stinkwood. Gyrocarpus americanus.
Soft wood carved into coolamons. Year round. Tree of vine thickets and open woodland. Fire resistant. Never used.
Sites 2,3,5,7,8,12,13,14 and 15.
Caustic bush. Grevillea pyramidalis.
Caustic sap used in initiation ceremonies to produce scarring. Year round. Tree of dry open woodland, plains and ridges. Fire promoted. Never used.
Sites 1,3,5,6,7,12,14 and 15.
Soap bush. Acacia holosericia.
Leaves, stems and pods crushed and used as fish poison. Year round. Tree of dry open woodland and disturbed areas. Fire promoted. Never used.
Sites 1,2,3,5,7,8,12,14 and 15.
Madjugun. Persoonia falcata.
Emu tucker.
Dense hard wood good for boomerang making. Year round. Tree of open woodland, slopes and ridges. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used.
Sites 3,5,12,14 and 15.
Warumbu.
Heart leaf vine.
Wrapped around digeridoos, burnt to make pattern. Year round. Vine of disturbed areas, creeks and open woodland. Fire sensitive. Frequently used.
Sites 2,3,5,12,14 and 15.
Gutta percha. Excoecaria parvifolia.
Hard wood used for boomerangs. Year round. Tree of dry river banks, floodplains and drainage lines. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used.
Sites 3,7,8,9 and 14.
Nyallung. Terminalia canescens.
Wood burnt and ashes mixed with chewing tobacco. Tree of pains and heavily disturbed areas. Fire tolerant. Frequently used.
Sites 3,7,6,12,14 and 16.
Perfume vine.
Aromatic stems and flowers used to deodorise houses. Vine of watercourses and vine thickets. Infrequently used.
Site 9.
Bush tobacco. Nicotiana benthamiana.
Leaves dried, broken up, mixed with ashes (see above) and chewed as tobacco. Bush of open woodland. Frequently used.
Site 9.
Soap bush. Acacia holosericia.
Leaves, stems and pods crushed and used as soap for washing. Year round. Tree of dry open woodland and disturbed areas. Fire promoted. Commonly used.
Sites 1,2,3,5,7,8,12,14 and 15.
Gutta percha. Excoecaria parvifolia.
Wood burnt, ashes mixed with chewing tobacco. Year round. Tree of dry river banks, floodplains and drainage lines. Fire tolerant. Frequently used.
Sites 3,7,8,9 and 14.
Wanyari. Lysiphyllum cuninghamii.
Bauhinia.
Wood burnt, ashes mixed with chewing tobacco. Year round. Tree of plains, floodplains and drainage lines. Fire tolerant. Frequently used.
Sites 2,7,8,9 and 12.
Yada. Cassytha filiformis
Creeping dodder.
Small white fruits considered a cold remedy. Vine of heavily disturbed areas. Never used.
Sites 2,4,8 and 9.
Spinifex. Triodia sp.
One particular species used as contraceptive. Leaves made into ‘tea’and drunk. Widespread group of hard grasses, on plains, slopes, ridges and escarpments. Fire tolerance variable. Never used.
Sites 3,5,6,7,12,14 and 15.
Lowoo. Dolichandrone heterophylla.
Lemonwood.
Leaves and stems of young plants chopped, boiled and applied topically for skin lesions, boils and scabies. Year round. Tree of ridges and floodplains, widespread through Kimberley. Frequently coppiced. Fire tolerant. Commonly used.
Sites 1,2,3,5,7,8,9,14 and 15.
Milkweed. Euphorbia hirta.
White sap applied topically for skin lesions and boils. Year round. Cosmopolitain. Weed of lawns, farmland and disturbed areas. Commonly used.
Sites 4 and 9.
Girdiwun. Adamsonia gregorii.
Boab.
White pulp in nut used to treat colds. Fruits persist on tree through the year. Tree of slopes and plains. Common along drainage lines. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used.
Sites 3,7,8,10,14 and 15.
Wanyari. Lysiphyllum cuninghamii.
Bauhinia.
Inner red bark shredded, boiled and applied topically to treat skin complaints, cuts and lesions. Year round. Tree of plains, floodplains and drainage lines. Fire tolerant. Infrequently used.
Sites 2,7,8,9 and 12.