Banksias (Banksia) Wattle (Acacia)
In many of the classification systems of Aboriginal Peoples organisms are grouped based on function and use. For example, the classification of wood-bearing plants may have the same name as the function of the finished object such as spear trees, string trees, shield trees, canoe trees or resin trees.
Plants of all sorts are extremely important and valuable to Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people. They are used for food, crafts, medicine, clothing, and much more. They are also closely connected to the sky!
Whereas 'indigenous plants' refer to plants from a certain locality,” explains Steph Chan, a science alumna who works at La Trobe's indigenous plant nursery. “We encourage people to plant indigenous plants in their gardens because those species have evolved to suit the local environmental conditions.
The fruits of some plants were eaten including the Native Cherry (Exocarpus cupressiformis), Geebung (Persoonia pinifolia), Wild Raspberry (Billardiera scandens) and Alpine Pepper (Drimys xerophilia).
There are a number of Aboriginal names for eucalyptus trees, including: Jarrah (Noongar and common name for Eucalyptus marginata) Moich (Noongar name for Eucalyptus rudis aka flooded gum) Wandoo (Noongar and common name for Eucalyptus wandoo)
Leaves: The soft bases of the young leaves were sweet and had a nutty flavour. Tough leaves were used as knives to cut meat. This in one of the native plants which flowers in response to fire. Barbed hunting spear with base made from Grass Tree flower stalk.
Lilly Pilly
This fruit features widely in traditional Aboriginal medicine, used as a treatment for sore ears, wounds and skin conditions, and generally consumed as an immune system booster.
Indigenous (local native) plants are locally unique. Natives is a term commonly used to refer to plants that come from anywhere in Australia. For example, certain Western Australian plants are native to Australia, but not native to Hornsby Shire.
The Australian flora is particularly rich in aromatic plants such as eucalyptus, tea-trees, boronias and mints and these have always been considered especially suitable for treating respiratory diseases. Aborigines have used a large number of them for treating illnesses.
Plants and animals are totems for Aboriginal Peoples. Aboriginal Peoples share the land with them and their relationship is fundamental to the continued practice, and cultural responsibility – for food, health, shelter, cultural expression and spiritual wellbeing.
They help the environment: Native plants provide food and shelter – many attract birds, butterflies and lizards. Certain species of Eucalypt provide food for the local koala population. Native plants can provide a wildlife corridor helping to connect animal and plant populations.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people pay close attention to the positions of the stars to determine seasonal change. This informs them about the behaviours of plants and animals that are used for food and medicine.
Researchers found that Aboriginal people grew crops of tubers such as yams, grain such as native millet, macadamia nuts, fruits and berries. People reared dingoes, possums, emus and cassowaries, moved caterpillars to new breeding areas and carried fish stock across country.
Aboriginal people have long used bark, wood and trees for practical and symbolic purposes. These include making canoes, containers, shields and wooden implements, accessing food resources, and marking ceremonial and burial locations.
Xanthorrhoea comes from the Greek xanthos, which means 'to flow' and refers to the yellow gum or resin that flows from the stem. The grass tree is important to Aboriginal people across Australia. This resin is traditionally used as glue in spear-making and in patching up water containers.
Eucalyptus oil infusions were used by Indigenous Australians long before white settlers arrived in the country. They used these infusions for sinus infections, congestion, fever, and colds as well as for body pains.
These significant trees would have had their young, supple branches fused together using string woven from cumbungi reeds. The binding process trained the branches to grow in the form of a ring shape over time. The number of rings in an individual tree varies. Sometimes there can be up to four rings in a single tree.
The Koala is the only mammal, other than the Greater Glider and Ringtail Possum, which can survive on a diet of eucalyptus leaves. Eucalyptus leaves are very fibrous and low in nutrition, and to most animals are extremely poisonous. To cope with such a diet, nature has equipped Koalas with specialised adaptations.
Ghost Gums have a deep connection with the Aboriginal people. Generations were taught that the glow of the trees at night was evidence of the presence of living spirits. Eucalyptus trees were an important medicinal plant for Indigenous Australians who used different parts for many uses.
There are four Sacred Medicines: Tobacco, cedar, sage, and sweetgrass. These are traditional medicines that have physical qualities for medicinal purposes, and a spiritual aspect used in traditional healing and ceremonies.
Plants. Food from plants and trees include wild orange, wild passionfruit, wild fig, bush tomato, conkerberry, mistletoe, bush banana and bush coconut, quandongs, pencil yams, mulga apple, bush plums and sultanas.
Examples of Australian native plant foods include the fruits quandong, kutjera, muntries, riberry, Davidson's plum, and finger lime. Native spices include lemon myrtle, mountain pepper, and the kakadu plum. Various native yams are valued as food, and a popular leafy vegetable is warrigal greens.