Local Edible Plants
Name
Citriobatus
pauciflorus
Diploglottis
australis
Common name
Orange Thorn
Acmena smithii
Lilly Pilly
Syzygium
australe
Syzgium
paniculatum
Bush Cherry
Eupomatia
laurina
Bolwarra
Exocarpus
cupressiformis
Cherry Ballart
Ficus coronata
Sandpaper fig
Native Tamarind
Lilly Pilly
Fruits – Trees and Shrubs
Description / habitat
Shrub of the sub tropical rainforest.
A tall rainforest tree. Fruit is a brown
hairy capsule, (1-3 lobes each)
containing a large seed enclosed by an
orange-yellow juicy pulp. This is very
acrid but refreshing.
Shrub/small tree found in temperate
rainforest.
Small tree found in sub tropical
rainforests. Fruit is pink or red.
This medium tree of the temperate
rainforest is listed as rare and
endangered. The magenta red berry is
edible and refreshing.
An erect shrub with arching arms in
sub tropical rainforest. Whitish fruit are
sweet and pleasant to eat.
Small tree found in eucalypt forests. A
hard green fruit rests on a swollen red
stalk that is fleshy and edible. English
writers likened them to a cherry with
the stone on the outside.
Small tree found on creek banks in sub
tropical rainforests. Reported to have
the best flavour of all the figs. Fruit
Use
The hard yellow fruits were eaten by
Aborigines.
Early settlers used them for jams and
drinks.
The purple fruit was eaten by
Aborigines. Early settlers made jam
from the fruit.
Eaten by Aborigines and used for jam
by early settlers.
It was first sampled by Cook’s party
and used by the early settlers.
Aboriginies used ‘tan’ of acacia or
persoonia bark then twisted the
strands together in sap from Corymbia
gummifera (prev. Eucalyptus
gummifera).
This sweet stalk was eaten by
Aborigines and early settlers.
The rough leaves were used by
Aborigines for the final smoothing of
weapons made of wood or bone.
Ficus
rubiginosa
Jackson fig
Leptomeria
acida
Native currant
Leucopogon
parviflorus
Coastal beard
heath
Lissanthe
strigosa
Peach heath
Mistletoes
Myoporum
insulare
Boobialla
must be fully ripe (purple-black) and
looking similar to a domestic fig.
Small tree found on sides of gullies. It
begins life as an epiphyte in crevices of
sandstone cliffs, eventually enveloping
the rock with its massive coalesced
root system. Katandra rainforest has a
fine specimen.
Leafless shrub, broom like in
appearance. The fruit a succulent
drupe is quite acid, but improves when
cooked with sugar.
A bushy shrub found on open sea
coast and in hind-dune scrub.
A small prickly shrub of the heath
lands, the rigid leaves have needle-like
points. Small white fruits 4mm across
are sweet and edible.
All mistletoes are edible. Having small
berries, however, the gelatinous pulp is
often so sticky that it is difficult to spit
the seed out. Birds can be seen wiping
their beaks on the branches and in
doing so, often deposit seeds in a
favourable position for germination on
the branches.
A tall shrub found on the coastline.
Small white flowers are purple spotted
on the petals. The bluish-purple fleshy
Fruits were eaten by Aborigines and it
is a favourite food for bats.
Early settlers used it to make jam.
Small white succulent fruits were
eaten by Aborigines. Riche, a
naturalist with the La Perouse
expedition, ate these fruits when he
was lost while looking for La Perouse
who was also lost.
Persoonia (all
species)
Geebung
Planchonella
australis
Black apple
Podocarpus
spinulosis
Native plum
Rubus
rosifolius
Roseleaf bramble
Rubus hillii
Broad-leaf bramble
Rubus
parvifolius
Small-leaf bramble
Rubus moorei
Bush lawyer
fruits are edible, but salty and bitter.
Shrubs and small trees in woodland
areas. The yellow tubular flowers have
rolled back petals. The yellow-green
fruit is sweet, but has many fibres. It
has been likened to eating sweet
cotton wool.
A tall rainforest tree. Fruits are large,
black and plum-like. Unpleasant to eat
raw, but can be made into a jelly.
A scrambling shrub found in coastal
areas. The fleshy stalk, resembles a
purple-black grape, and is edible.
Sharp dagger-shaped leaves are a
deterrent to gathering leaves.
A weak shrub with arching canes that
is found in sunny gullies near
rainforests forming dense thickets.
Leaves are briar-like, flowers are white.
The raspberry-like fruits are pleasant to
eat.
A scrambling shrub with long stems
resembling a climber. Flowers are pink,
or occasionally white. Fruits are
pleasant to eat.
A scrambling shrub found on rain
forested slopes. Flowers are pink to
red. Fruit is relatively large and juicy.
A vigorous climber, flowers are white
and fruits are dark red. The common
name refers to its clinging habit when
walking through it. A ‘bush lawyer’ was
thought to be difficult to escape once
The stalk can be made into jam.
Aborigines made a medicinal drink to
relieve upset stomachs by soaking the
leaves in water.
Sambucus
australasica
Yellow elderberry
Styphelia
triflora
Five corners
Tasmannia
insipida
Pepper tree
Acronychia
oblongifolia
Acrotriche
divaricata
Amyema
cambagei
Astroloma
humifusum
Avicennia
marina
Clerodendrum
tomentosum
Conospermum
longifolium
Lemon Aspen
All Mistletoes
Grey Mangrove
he got his hands on you.
A tall shrub found in sheltered
rainforests. The flowers are creamy or
pale yellow and develop into yellow
fleshy berries which are pleasant to
eat.
The common name refers to the lobes
that remain on the fruit. An erect shrub
that grows up to 2 metres. The flowers
have pink tubes, curled lobes and
yellow and the calyx is yellow-green.
The sweet flesh surrounds a large
stone.
A tall shrub, that grows to 1-2 metres
and can reach 5 metres. Found in sub
tropical rainforests. Fruit is an oval
berry changing from red to purple as it
matures. The flesh of the fruit is edible,
but the seed has a very hot flavour.
Tree, rainforest
Fruit
Shrub, forests
Fruit
Epiphyte, forests
Fruit
Shrub, forests
Fruit
Tree, sandy beaches and tidal
Fruit
Shrub, rainforest
Fruit
Shrub, forests
Fruit
Cupaniopsis
anacardioides
Dendrophthoe
vitellina
Diospyros
pentamera
Diploglottis
Australis
Ehretia
acuminata
Elaeocarpus
reticulatis
Enchylaena
tomentosus
Endiandra
discolour
Endiandra
sieberi
Ficus fraseri
Ficus oblique
Tuckeroo
Corkwood
Tree, sandy beaches and tidal
Fruit
Epiphyte, rainforest
Fruit
Tree, rainforest
Fruit
Soft wooded perennial, rainforest
Fruit
Tree, rainforest
Fruit
Tree, rainforest
Fruit
Soft wooded perennial, sandy beaches
and tidal
Shrub, rainforest
Fruit
Tree, Rainforest
Fruit
Shiny sandpaper fig Tree
Tree, rainforest
Fruit
Fruit
Fruit
Fruits – climbers and scramblers
Name
Billardiera
scandens
Common name
Apple berry
Cassaytha
glabella
Dodder, Devil’s
twine
Cissus
antartica
Water vine
Cissus
hypoglauca
Five leaf water vine
Passiflora
herbertiana
Yellow passiobn
flower
Cayratia
clematidea
Description / habitat
A twining plant in the undergrowth. The flowers
are yellow and bell shaped. The fruit is
cylindrical, fleshy and yellow-green.
A parasite twiner. The seed germinates in the
ground. The roots only function until the stem
becomes parasitic, attaching themselves to the
host plant by suckers along the stem. Stems are
reddish, flowers white, and the egg-shaped
reddish-brown fruit is edible.
A tall climber in the rainforest. The young shoots
and leaf stalks have rusty coloured hairs. The
fruit is a round black berry.
A tall climber. It is easily identified by the five
digitate leaflets. Blue-black berries grow in
clusters. Reported to be edible, beware of
possible throat irritation.
A climber, with a 1-2 metre tall stem. Flowers are
white to yellow-orange. Fruit is typical passion
shape and green. Fruit can be up to 4cm long.
The fruit is pleasant to eat.
Vine/cimber, rainforests
Use
Aborigines ate the ripe fruit raw and the green
fruit roasted.
The fruit was eaten by Aborigines. The early
settlers made jam from the fruit. The berries
have been reported to cause throat irritation.
Fruit
Fruits and Herbs
Name
Carpobrotes
glaucescens
Common name
Pigs face
Marsilea mutica Nardoo
Description / habitat
A prostrate herb found on coastal sand dunes.
Flowers are pink-purple. The fruit is red to purple
and fleshy.
Water fern found in fresh water ponds and
lagoons. Spores are borne in sporocarps attached
to the rhizome near the base of the leaf stalk.
Use
Fruit was eaten by Aborigines. The leaves
were roasted and could have been a salt
substitute. Juice from fresh leaves can be used
to relieve stings from biting midges and
Portuguese man-o-war.
Aborigines ground the sporocarps between
two stones, removing the black husks to leave
a yellow starchy powder, which was made into
nardoo cakes. Apparently very low in nutrients.
Wills (explorer) commented in his diary, that
“starvation on nardoo is by no means
unpleasant, but for the weakness one feels,
and the utter inability to move oneself, for as
far as appetite is concerned, it gives me
greatest satisfaction”.
Seeds – Trees and Shrubs
Name
Acacia
longifolia var.
sophrae
Avicennia
marina var.
australasica
Common name
Coastal wattle
Brachychiton
populneus
Kurrajong
Macrozamia
Burrawang
Grey mangrove
Description / habitat
Found on coastal dunes, its many branches and
deep roots prevent the sand from drifting. Beware;
many other acacia seeds are poisonous.
A small tree of inter-tidal flats. Fruits are flattened,
green velvety with one seed.
A tree that grows up to 15 metres on rocky
hillsides. Mature fruits become black, hard and
leathery. When split, they reveal numerous seeds
covered in fine irritating hairs.
A palm-like slow growing ancient species. The
Use
Aborigines are reported to have roasted the
ripening pods, and then pick out the seeds to
eat.
Seeds were steamed for about two hours on
hot stones covered with bark and soil. Then
washed and soaked before eating. The flavour
is reminiscent of avocado or olives.
The seeds are prepared by rubbing between
two boards to remove the hairs, before being
eaten raw or roasted.
Aborigines prepared flour from the seeds after
communis
Xylomelum
pyriforme
Linum
marginale
Native flax
Acacia
terminalis
Alectryon
tomentose
Amaranthus
macrocarpa
Brachychiton
acerfolia
Cryptocarya
glaucescens
Cryptocarya
microneura
Sunshine Wattle
seeds are poisonous. See also leaves and shoots.
A small tree in the open forest. The very hard
wooden fruit opens to reveal two winged seeds
which are edible.
A slender open plant that grows up to 60cm. It is
found in grassland and open forest. Flowers have
five petals, and are blue with darker blue veins.
The seed coat swells when wet as does
commercial flax.
Tree, forest
Red Jacket
Tree
Seeds
Soft wooded perennial, cleared grassland
Seeds
Tree
Seeds
Tree, rainforest
Seeds
Tree, rainforest
Seeds
Name
Alpinia caeulea
Common name
Native ginger
Woody pear
Flame Tree
a long preparation process.
Seeds
Seeds - Herbs
Description / habitat
Found near rainforests in shady areas. The erect
canes bear white flowers and blue fruits.
Use
Aborigines ate the flesh surrounding the
seeds, and the young tips of the underground
stem.
Seeds – Grasses and Sedges
Name
Gahnia aspera
Common name
Saw edge
Description / habitat
The long grass-like leaves are very sharp. Flowers
are black. The seed is orange-red or red-brown
Use
Aborigines pounded them to make flour. The
leaf buds were also eaten.
when ripe.
Leaves and Shoots
Name
Ficus species
Common name
Figs
Description / habitat
Sandpaper figs have silicified hairs on the leaves
and should be avoided.
A tall shrub that grows in moist eucalypt forests.
Flowers are white with a pink blush on the
underside of petals.
Use
The young shoots of most figs can be boiled as
a vegetable.
The young shoots and buds can be eaten raw or
cooked.
Hibiscus
hetrophyllus
Native rosella
Macrozamia
species
Burrawang
Livistonia
australis
Cabbage tree palm
Xanthorrhoea
species
Grasstree
Atriplex cinerea
Avicennia
marina
Backhouse
myrtifolia
Cardamine sp.
Centella
asiatica
Chenopodium
carinaturm
Saltbush
Grey Mangrove
The stems of Macrozamia contain a starch
which was used as a laundry starch in the
1930s. This starch is edible, but may not have
been used by the Aborigines.
A tall palm that grows in rainforests and sheltered The heart or apical buds were eaten raw or
eucalypt forests.
baked in ashes by Aborigines. Early settlers also
used it as a vegetable and made ‘cabbage tree’
hats from the fronds.
Found on rocky outcrops in open forests. It has a The soft white base of the leaves can be eaten,
distinctive black trunk, burnt by past bushfires.
but this destroys these slow-growing ancient
See also nectar plants.
plants.
Shrub, sandy beaches and tidal
Leaf greens
Tree, sandy beaches and tidal
Fruit
Native Cinnamon
Tree
Leaf greens
Pennywort
Soft wooded perennial, forests
Soft wooded perennial, cleared grassland
Leaf greens
Leaf greens
Soft wooded perennial, cleared grassland
Leaf greeens
Climbers and Scramblers
Name
Flagellaria
indica
Common name
Whip vine
Use
Young leafy shoots can be used as a vegetable.
Beach Bean
Description / habitat
Found in rainforests. The solid cane-like stems
can reach 10m. Very distinctive by the ‘watch
spring’ like tendrils at the end of leaves, which
clings to other branches.
A branching climber that can reach 2m. Found in
moist eucalypt forests and creek banks. The
slender young shoots resemble asparagus.
Vine/climber, sandy beaches and tidal
Geitonoplesium
cymosum
Scrambling lily
Canavalia
maritima
Hardenbergia
violacea
Happy Wanderer
Vine/climber
Roots and tubers
Seeds
Herbs and Grasses
Name
Commelina
cyanea
Dendrobium
speciosum
Doryanthus
excelsa
Common name
Scurvy weed
Pragmites
australis
Persicaria
hydropiper
Common reed
Suada australis
Sea blite
Rock orchid
Gymea lily
Water pepper
Description / habitat
A trailing herb with blue flowers. It grows in
shaded forests.
Found in large clumps on rocks.
Use
Used as a green vegetable. Early settlers used
this plant to combat scurvy.
Aborigines ate the fleshy stems.
A giant lily. The robust stem reaches 4m and
bears a head of red flowers that are rich in
nectar.
Tall reeds that grow in creeks and brackish
water. They may grow to 3m.
A weak herb found in creek beds and swampy
places. Plant has small pink flowers.
Aborigines are reported to have roasted the
stems.
Bushy hairless plants found on land-ward side of
mangrove swamps, behind beaches. The
Young shoots from rhizome are delicious as a
green vegetable.
Used by Aborigines to catch fish. Plants were
pounded, then thrown into pools to stupefy fish.
Stems were also roasted and then peeled before
eating. The sap from this plant can be irritating
to lips and eyes.
The tips of the stem with leaves can be eaten
raw while still crisp. They can also be used as a
Tetragonia
tetragonioides
Warrigal cabbage
or New Zealand
spinach
Cyanthea and
Dicksonia
species
Tree ferns
branched stems are succulent. Leaves are pale
green with a flush of red or purple.
Semi-erect coastal herb with broad leaves, which
are thick and succulent when young. Also found
in New Zealand. The young shoots can be
treated as spinach.
Found in rainforests and moist eucalypt gullies.
The apex of the trunk contains a large amount of
starch.
green vegetable. Early settlers pickled the young
shoots to add to pickled onions.
This was one of the first foods used by Cook’s
party. Captain Cook was reported to have
ordered that it be served to his men twice a day,
every day, perhaps to combat scurvy.
The starch was used raw or baked by the
Aborigines. This practice kills the plant.
Roots, Tubers and Bulbs
Name
Dioscorea
transversa
Common name
Native yam
Eustrephus
latifolius
Wombat berry
Glycine
tabacina
Love creeper
Marsdenia
flavescens
Milk vine
Burchardia
umbellata
Milkmaids
Gastrodia
Potato orchid
Description / habitat
Slender climber with a stem reaching several
metres. Found in rainforests and moist eucalypt
gullies. The fruit is a three-winged capsule that is
easy to identify. This species, found only in
Southern Queensland and New South Wales, is
much smaller.
A branching climber with prickles or tendrils. It
can climb to several metres. Flowers are white
with three petals. It produces a cluster of white
tuberous roots which can be eaten raw.
A slender vine with trifoliate leaves, and small
pink flowers. It grows in forests and partly clearer
areas.
Tall twiner found mainly in rainforests. It has
clusters of small yellow flowers.
The flowering stem rises 15-35cm from 1-2
grass-like basal leaves. Flowers are borne in
clusters.
Leafless, is easily recognised by its straight
Use
Yams are a very important vegetable for
Aborigines living in the warmer climates. Its
pencil-like yams can be eaten raw, needing only
to be washed. Easy to eat, but harder to collect
being some 50cm underground. Can also be
boiled like a carrot.
They are crisp with a slightly earthy flavour.
Its taproot was eaten by Aborigines, tasting like
licorice.
Hawkesbury Aborigines used the roots as food
after much careful preparation. Explorers who
ate this plant without the proper treatment
because very ill.
Aborigines ate the roots.
The fleshy tubers were roasted by Aborigines.
sesamoides
Hypoxis
hygrometrica
Golden star
unbranched stem and bell-shaped cream flowers
(unusual in an orchid). The flowers have a
cinnamon-like perfume.
Flowers are yellow with three petals and three
sepals giving the appearance of a six petal
flower.
Orchids
Thysanotus
Fringe lily
Acianthus
Pixie Caps
fornicatus
Alocasia
Cunjevoi
macrorrhizos
Arthropodium
minus
Blechnum
cartilagineum
Bulbine bulbosa
Caesia
Pale Grass Lily
parviflora
Caladenia alata
Cryptocarya
obovoata
Cryptostylis
erecta
Cymbidium
suave
Found in open forests on dry, sandy soil. Its
slender leaves shoot annually, but die off at
flowering time. This three petal purple flower is
easily seen amongst the undergrowth.
Tree, rainforest
The short underground stem was eaten by
Aborigines.
Many terrestrial orchids have fleshy
underground parts that were eaten by
Aborigines. These included the following
species: Caladenia, Cryptostylis, Diuris,
Pterostylis, and Thelmitra.
Aborigines ate the tuberous roots.
Roots and tubers
Soft wooden perennial, rainforest
Roots and tubers
Soft wooded perennial, cleared grassland
Roots and tubers
Fern, rainforest
Roots and tubers
Soft wooded perennial, cleared grassland
Soft wooded perennial, cleared grassland
Roots and tubers
Roots and tubers
Soft wooded perennial, forests
Tree, rainforest
Roots and tubers
Roots and tubers
Soft wooded perennial, forests
Roots and tubers
Epiphyte, rainforest
Roots and tubers
Davallia
pyxidata
Dichopogon
fimbriatus
Dipodium
variegatum
Diuris alba
Eleocharis
sphacelata
Geranium
homeanum
Geranium
solanderi
Haemododorum
corymbosum
Haemodorum
Blood Root
planifolium
Imperata
cylindrica
Isolepis nodosa Nodding Cluebrush
Epiphyte, rainforest
Roots and tubers
Soft wooded perennial, forests
Roots and tubers
Soft wooded perennial, forests
Roots and tubers
Soft wooded perennial, cleared grassland
Soft wooded perennial, wetlands
Roots and tubers
Roots and tubers
Soft wooded perennial, cleared grassland
Roots and tubers
Soft wooded perennial, forests
Roots and tubers
Soft wooded perennial, heath lands
Roots and tubers
Soft wooded perennial, forests
Roots and tubers
Soft wooded perennial, cleared grassland
Roots and tubers
Soft wooded perennial, wetlands
Roots and tubers
Name
Banksia
aemula
Banksia
integrifolia
Banksia serrata
Breynia
oblongifolia
Eucalyptus
gimmifera
Glossodia
Common name
Heath Banksia
Description / habitat
Shrub, heathlands
Flowers
Coast Banksia
Tree, sandy beaches and tidal
Flowers
Old Man Banksia
Breynia
Tree, forests
Shrub, forests
Flowers
Flowers
Tree, forests
Flowers
Soft wooded perennial, rainforests
Flowers
Flowers
Use
major
Grevillea
arenaria
Shrub, forests
Flowers
Grasses and Sedges
Name
Lepironia
articulata
Common name
Name
Blechum
indicum
Common name
Bungwall fern
Description / habitat
A sedge forming dense stands in thick mud, in
fresh water lakes. It has rigid cylindrical grey-green
stems that grow up to 2-3 metres. The cone-like
flowering branch has a pointed stem.
Use
Aborigines ate the underground stem.
Ferns
Description / habitat
Use
Found in swampy areas. Fronds reach more than a The underground stems were an important
metre. The underground stems contain starch in
vegetable for Aborigines. They were dried in
large quantities.
the sun, roasted, and then bruised with a
stone.
Nectar
In most flowers, nectar is only available to those types of insects, birds, and mammals that are adapted to collecting it. There are a few
species that produce nectar in large quantities, and can be available to man. Most may be sucked out or washed out with water to make a
drink. Banksia, Doryanthus, Hakea, Lambertia, Lomatia, Melaleuca, Melichrus, and Telopea.
Gums
Acacias are a prolific producer of gum. The gum may be sucked or soaked in water for a few hours, and the resulting jelly can be eaten.
Mana and Lerps in Eucalyptus
Some insects feeding on eucalyptus leaves and twigs produce such considerable quantities of exudate (sugary substance) that the tree
appears to be raining. The irregular, whitish sugary deposits left on the leaf by evaporation is generally called mana. With some species of
insects the sugary solution together with a starch-like material is used by the larva to form a cap-lerps. These products formed an important
part of the Aboriginal diet for limited periods. Various species of eucalypts are good producers of mana and lerp. Aborigines collected the
fallen flakes from the ground (can be found in large quantities) or scraped the material off the leaves. They are also reported to have
pounded heavily covered leaves and baked them. Best producers of mana and lerps are: E. viminalis and E. punctata.
Salt
Salt is not a food, but a desirable addition to food. River Mangrove (Aegiceras corniculatum) is found in coastal rivers and takes up salt
though its roots, then excretes it through glands and the upper surface of the leaves. The solution evaporates, leaving deposits of salt
crystals. These deposits are readily seen and can be used to identify this mangrove.
Prepared by Audrey Taggart, Australian Plants Society, Central Coast Group.
References used:
Wild Food in Australia, A.B. & J.W. Cribb
Native Plants of the Sydney District, Alan Fairley and Phillip Moore
Field Guide of Native Plants of Sydney, Les Robinson