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Shrubs

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biibayaBroom bush

Language name biibaya (yuwaalaraay)

Scientific name Melaleuca uncinata

Plant location The biibaya (Broom Bush) is widespread through mallee, woodland and forest in the western part of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments. It often grows on sandy soils.

Plant description The biibaya is an upright shrub with many stems growing from the main trunk. It grows between 1 to 3 metres high. The bark on older stems is papery. It has long, thin leaves which look like the bristles on a broom. Many fruit join together in a cluster which looks like a globe.

Traditional use Can you guess what this plant was used for from its common name? The stems and girran.girraa (leaves) of the biibaya provided a useful broom. Bungun (branches) can also be cut and dried for use in brush fences. Paperbark trees (plants belonging to the genus Melaleuca) had many other uses also. The papery nganda (bark) was used to wrap meat for cooking and as plates, as well as being used as bandages, raincoats, shelter, blankets, twine and many other things. The nectar from the gurayn (flowers) could be eaten or drunk, steeped in water, as a sweet drink. Crushing the girran.girraa provides oil. Young girran.girraa can be chewed, or pounded and mixed with water, to treat colds, respiratory complaints and headaches. This mixture was also used as a general tonic. Inhaling the steam from boiling or burning the leaves provides relief from cold, flu and sinusitis (Howell 1983, Stewart & Percival 1997). The gurayn were also used for decoration.

Fruit Shrub habit

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nguuBlack tea-tree, Honey myrtle

Language name nguu (yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Melaleuca bracteata and other Melaleuca species

Plant location The nguu (Black Tea-tree) is widespread throughout the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments. It grows along watercourses and in depressions where soil is damp or heavy.

Plant description nguu is a shrub or small tree which grows to 15 metres high. It has a very dense canopy. The leaves are twisted and grow to 2cm long. The flowers are white or cream and grow in cylindrical spikes. The bark is smooth on young stems, and on older stems can be hard and fissured.

Traditional use The oil found in girran.girra (leaves), nganda (bark), and gurayn (flowers) of the nguu are very useful. The girran.girraa are particularly used for medicine - for the relief of headaches, coughs and runny nose, the young tips were breathed deeply. The girran.girraa were also boiled then the steam inhaled, after which the girran.girraa and liquid were rubbed on the forehead. The leaves of some paperbarks were also made into an infusion and drunk in small quantities for coughs. This infusion was poured over the body for generalised aches and pains (Purcell 2002). In some parts of Australia, the girran.girraa of the paperbark tree is drunk as a type of tea. The nectar can be sucked from the gurayn (flower) or added to water to produce a sweet drink. gurayn were also sometimes used as decoration. The flexible and absorbent nganda (barks) were quite useful shelters, bandages, blankets, carriers, a type of food wrapping or container. The wugan (wood) as some nguu species is said to be light and strong (Howell 1983).

Shrub habit Flowers Leaves

Papery bark

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nguuTea tree

Language name nguu (yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Leptospermum species

Plant location There are many species of nguu (Tea tree) found throughout the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments. nguu often grow on poor soils and along streams.

Plant description nguu are usually shrubs with many small flowers which are usually white. They have many small, woody fruits. Their leaves may have an aroma when they are crushed. Tea trees often grow in dense clumps.

Traditional use nguu have traditionally been used as pegs to hold clothing and skins. The girran.girraa (leaves) contain high amounts of oil, which can be rubbed on the skin as an insect repellent. The oil can also be used as a disinfectant. The girran.girraa can also be drunk in boiled water as a tea. For the treatment of tooth ache, nguu girran.girraa can be chewed (Hudson, in press).

Branches Flower Fruit

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bambul Native orange, Bumble tree

Language name bambul (gamilaraay, yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Capparis mitchellii

Plant location bambul (Native orange) grows in woodlands throughout the western half of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments.

Plant description bambul is a shrub that grows to 6 metres high. It has a very dense crown which makes it easy to recognise. The branches and leaves are a yellowish, grey-green colour and they have paired spines when they are young. The flowers are white and showy. The round fruit are about 5 centimetres in diameter with long stems connecting them to the branch. They are a yellowish colour with rough skin.

Traditional use This shrub is important in the Boobera Lagoon area in the north of the catchment. Locally known as ‘bumble’, it is thought to be a ‘woman’s tree’, used to cure women’s illnesses. The girran.girraa (leaves) are boiled in water and drunk to cure venereal disease. The fruit is filled with a brightly coloured yellow-orange pulp and when eaten raw is very tasty. The seeds inside can be ingested and are best swallowed without chewing. The fruit is a favourite bush tucker providing moderate energy, water and carbohydrates. It is a good source of vitamin C and thiamine (Purcell 2002). The fruit can be eaten fresh or used to make a drink. Some say the fruit tastes like passionfruit with a kerosene aftertaste (Low 1991) while others say it is like an apple or an orange. It is generally agreed that bambul is pleasant eating (Howell 1983). Unripe fruit were green and had a hottish taste.

Flower Leaves Fruit

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ngaybaan Nepine, Native passionfruit

Language name ngaybaan (gamilaraay) barigan (yuwaalaraay) guwiibirr (yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Capparis lasiantha

Plant location ngaybaan (Nepine) grows in woodlands in the western half of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments. It is common in the western area of the catchment.

Plant description ngaybaan is a climber when young, growing into a scrambling shrub which can reach a height of 7 metres. It is covered all over with hairs or scales and has zig-zagging, spiny stems. The leaves are dull green and leathery with blunt ends. The fruit grow to 3 centimetres in length, are egg shaped and yellow. They split to reveal their seeds when ripe. Flowers are pale yellow or white in colour.

Traditional use ngaybaan (Nepine or Capparis lasiantha) and bambul (Native orange or Capparis mitchelli) are closely related. The fruit of both of these species is said to be pleasant eating. ngaybaan produces yellow passionfruit-like fruit which ripen in autumn. The fruit can be eaten fresh and nectar from flowers can be used as a remedy for coughs. The unripe fruit were picked and placed in sand to ripen, away from ants. The plant including warran (roots) can be soaked and the water applied to swellings, snake bites, insect bites and stings (Purcell 2002).

Leaves Shrub habit Flowers

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dharrday Native mandarine, Narrow leaf bumble tree

Language name dharrday (yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Capparis loranthifolia

Plant location dharrday (Native mandarine) is actually a rare plant in New South Wales but it is found in the western area of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments, near the border with Queensland. It also grows in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Plant description dharrday is a dense tree or shrub which grows to a height of 8 metres. The young shoots have a dense covering of rust coloured hairs which disappear as the shoot grows older. The leaves are 7 cm long and small spines (7mm) can be found growing from the stems. Many cream flowers can be found on the plant. A reddish-brown fruit measuring 4cm in diameter grows on a long stalk, and sometimes has a netted appearance.

Traditional use dharrday has an edible smooth-skinned fruit. This is similar to bambul (Native orange tree), but smaller and more spiny. All Australian plants belonging to the Capparis genus are edible, and were important foods for Aboriginal people (Low 1991). dharrday is thought of as a woman’s tree and therefore has spiritual significance to Aboriginal people.

Leaf Leaves

Photos: Hugh Nicholson

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badha Budda or False sandalwood

Language name badha (yuwaalaraay)

Scientific name Eremophila mitchellii

Plant location The badha (Budda or False Sandalwood) is found in the central and western area of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments. It is found in woodlands on red soil ridges and floodplain rises.

Plant description This shrub or small tree grows up to 10 metres high. It has rough, dark brown, scaly bark. The leaves are bright green, smooth and a little bit sticky. The flowers are white or cream in colour. The leaves are long and thin, growing to 6cm long, with a hook on the end. This tree often has more than one trunk (‘multi-stemmed’).

Traditional use The girran.girraa (leaves) of the badha are used for smoking people and places, including children who have misbehaved, the houses of the dead, and as a mosquito repellent. They are also boiled in water to make a medicine with many uses, often used for bathing sores. If a woman cannot conceive a child they make a long fire, put badha over it, and the woman sleeps on the hot badha. The smouldering green girran.girraa of Native fuchsias (including Eremophila freelingii and Eremophila latrobei and known as dhalandjaa in the yuwaalayaay language) can be smouldered and used as a decongestant or to treat coughs and aches and pains. badha provides a possible cure for venereal disease: it is thought that one cure is to warm up badha leaves, chew and swallow them. The urine becomes green as a result. The wood is used for bundi (club, waddy). The gurayn (flowers) of these species are sometimes sucked as a sweet (Hudson, in press).

Shrub habit Leaves Flowers

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yuurraaEurah

Language name yuurraa (gamilaraay)

Scientific name Eremophila bignoniiflora

Plant location yuurraa (Eurah) is found in the western area of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments, from Warialda to the western border. It grows mostly in Black Box and River Red Gum communities on periodically flooded heavy clay soils of river floodplains and drainage lines.

Plant description yuurraa is a shrub or small tree which grows to 7 metres high. The leaves are long and thin, growing to 20cm long. The flowers are a creamy yellow colour with pink spots on the petals. The fruit are green, oval in shape and 2cm long. There is often a split towards the end of the fruit.

Traditional use The yuurraa has been used traditionally for ceremonial, spiritual and medicinal purposes. It has also been used to construct implements and it provides habitat for wildlife. The smoke of Eremophila species is used to treat coughs and general aches and pains. The tree was also used to heal skin ailments such as boils, rash, itch, sores and scabies. The pale green girran.girraa (leaves) can be crushed and used as a laxative which aids digestion and cures constipation (Williams & Sides 2008). The green girran.girraa of Native fuchsias (including Eremophila freelingii and Eremophila latrobei) can be smouldered and used as a decongestant. Native fuchsias, known as dhalandjaa in the yuwaalayaay language have been used for smoking ceremonies and fumigation. The gurayn (flowers) of these species are sometimes sucked as a sweet (Hudson, in press). The leaves were stripped from the branches and placed in a kerosene tin with water and boiled over a fire. The water then turned a greeny-brown colour. The liquid was then used for healing skin diseases. The mixture had to be made strong (more yuurraa than water) to have maximum effect. Many families had a kerosene tin of yuurraa by the fire, which was left to boil for many days, making the mixture very strong (Holten et al. 1989).

Fruit Flower Leaves

Shrub habit

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ngawil Emu bush

Language name ngawil (yuwaalaraay)

Scientific name Eremophila longifolia

Plant location The ngawil (Emu bush) is found in woodlands and shrublands in the western area of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments.

Plant description This shrub grows to 8 m high and has drooping branches and foliage. The flowers are pink to reddish-brown and spotted inside. The leaves are very long and thin (up to 20cm long by 14mm wide). The fleshy fruit is almost egg-shaped and has a diameter of approximately 12mm.

Traditional use ngawil is known as the Emu bush in English as emus like to eat the fruit from the shrub. A decoction lotion made from the Emu bush is used to wash sores, and is also used internally to treat colds. ngawil has also been used to treat skin problems and stomach ulcers (Williams & Sides 2008). The nectar can be sucked from the flowers, while the fruit is also eaten fresh. The bruised leaves have been used to tan wallaby skins.

Fruit Flower Leaves

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guwadhaa Quandong

Language name guwadhaa (gamilaraay, yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Santalum acuminatum

Plant location The guwadhaa (Quandong) is found in woodland communities in the central and western areas of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments.

Plant description guwadhaa is a shrub or small tree that grows to 6 metres high and has pale to olive green foliage. The leaves are long and thin and can sometimes have a yellowish tinge. guwadhaa has a bright shiny red fruit, approximately 2.5cm in diameter. The skin of the fruit is sometimes a little wrinkly. The flowers are white and are found on the ends of branches.

Traditional use guwadhaa fruit is delicious and high in vitamin C. It is used by Aboriginal people and others, not just as bush tucker, but to make jams, chutneys, sauces, jellies and pies. It is also occasionally served in restaurants (Low 1991). Traditionally, the ripe red fruit and the oily kernel can be eaten. The dried fruit can also be pounded into paste and made into cakes (Howell 1983). The fruit is infused in water to make a sweet drink. guwadhaa fruit and kernels can be used to treat aches and pains, and as an oil to keep skin soft (Hudson, in press). If you pound the kernel and mix them with some grease, this can be applied to the skin to treat a number of complaints. The wugan (timber) of large guwadhaa trees is used to make Coolamons because it is a soft wood to work. The kernel can also be used to make necklaces and anklets. In some areas, guwadhaa kernels and emu feathers were used as decoration in women’s ceremonies (Stewart & Percival 1997).

Tree habit Leaves Fruit

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ngamumbirraWild plum, Sandalwood

Language name ngamumbirra (yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Santalum lanceolatum

Plant location The ngamumbirra (Wild plum) is found in woodland communities in the central and western areas of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments.

Plant description The ngamumbirra has a black fruit (when ripe) which is about 1.5cm in diameter with a scar at the end. It has spreading branches with leaves that dangle towards the ground - it is sometimes described as a ‘scrawny shrub’ (Low 1991). The ngamumbirra shrub or small tree grows to 7 metres high. It has blue green foliage and the leaves grow to 9cm long.

Traditional use The fresh fruit of the ngamumbirra is sweet and can be eaten fresh or infused with water to make a sweet drink. Dried fruits found beneath the shrub can be soaked in water and eaten. This fruit is high in vitamin C (Low 1991). The fruit and kernels are also good medicine for the treatment of aches and pains and the oil is used to keep skin soft (Hudson, in press). A decoction made from the ngamumbirra can be used as a purgative whilst an infusion of the warran (roots) is said to relieve rheumatism and itching. The girran.girraa (leaves) can be burned to drive away mosquitoes. In some places the fruit juice is used as a dye (Low 1991).

Shrub habit Bark Flower buds

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yiilay Hop bush

Language name yiilay (yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Dodonaea species

Plant location Various species of yiilay (the Hop bush) are found in open forests and woodlands throughout the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments, often on hillsides and ridges.

Plant description The Australian Hop bush gets its name from the fruit which looks like the European hop fruit which is used to make beer. The yiilay is an upright or spreading shrub which grows to a height of 8 metres. The edges of the leaves are often smooth, although they can sometimes be toothed or wavy. The leaves are often shiny and sticky. The flowers are small and insignificant, while there are 3 – 4 winged fruit.

Traditional use In the local area, parts of the yiilay were placed in a pit and the smoke was used to relieve pain (Hudson, in press). yiilay can also be used to conduct a smoking ceremony for newborn babies (Purcell 2002). For insect and other stings, the bruised yiilay leaf can be applied. For cuts and wounds, the roots of the yiilay can be beaten and bruised, then mixed to a paste with a small amount of water and applied to heal the wound. A poultice derived from the yiilay can be used to treat snake bites. For body pains, girran.girra (leaves) can be bruised, mixed with water and drunk, or the affected part bathed. An ointment can be made by heating goanna fat with crushed leaves and allowing it to set (Howell 1983). The warran (roots) of the yiilay can be boiled or the juice extracted and applied to cuts and toothaches, to heal them (Purcell 2002). The dense timber of the yiilay shrub is highly prized for making clubs (Williams and Sides 2008).

Shrub habit Fruit Flowers

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gadibundhuQuinine bush

Language name gadibundhu (yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Alstonia constricta

Plant location gadibundhu (Quinine bush) is found in woodlands throughout the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments.

Plant description gadibundhu is a shrub or tree which grows to 12 metres high. The darkly coloured bark is cracked (‘fissured’) and corky. The flowers are small, white and scented. The fruits are long and thin. gadibundhu bushes often form thickets.

Traditional use The gadibundhu is poisonous, and has been used by Aboriginal people to stun fish so that they can catch them. Bruised stems and girran.girraa (leaves) are put into a waterhole to stupefy the fish so that they are easier to catch. The gadibundhu also has medicinal uses. The nganda (bark) of the gadibundhu has been used to treat diabetes, diarrhoea, dysentery, fever, toothache, rheumatism, worms, snake bite and in some countries (as related species occur outside Australia), malaria. The latex is used to treat coughs, sore throats and fever. gadibundhu can also be used to prepare a tonic which can act as a tranquilliser or treat high blood pressure. gadibundhu is also claimed to assist in the case of blindness (Purcell 2002). This shrub has a very bitter tasting bark.

Leaf Flower Seed pod

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bin.gawin.galNeedlewood

Language name bin.gawin.gal (yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Hakea leucoptera

Plant location The bin.gawin.gal (Needlewood) is found in woodland and shrubland communities in the western half of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments.

Plant description The bin.gawin.gal shrub has stiff, cylindrical leaves with a sharp point at the tip- like a needle. The shrub grows from 2 to 5 metres high. It has white flowers which grow in short spikes or clusters. Many woody seeds pods are often found on the shrub. These grow to 3cm long and have a bird-like beak. The seed pods remain open on the shrub after the seeds are released.

Traditional use The warran (roots) of the bin.gawin.gal shrub were used to make pipes for smoking. Aboriginal people dig the warran of the shrub up and place one end in a slow fire to extract moisture which provides an important water source. The ends of the warran could be plugged with clay and carried around while hunting and gathering as a drink (Purcell 2002). The nectar of Hakea plants, which is said to be tangy in flavour, is used as a sweet when the flower is sucked. It can also be used to make a cordial by soaking the flowers in water. The bin.gawin.gal, and other Hakea plants, also have healing properties. The nganda (bark) can be burnt and used as a powder to heal sores, wounds and burns. It can also be mixed with animal fat and used as an ointment for the same purpose (Low 1991, Hudson, in press).

Seed pods Tree habit Open seed pods

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mirrii Native cherry, Ballart

Language name mirrii (yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Exocarpos cupressiformis and Exocarpos strictus

Plant location The mirrii (Native Cherry) is widespread in a variety of habitats and soils throughout the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments.

Plant description mirrii plants are often found growing near large trees such as gum trees, as they grow as parasites on the roots of these trees. The fruit of the mirrii is a nut, attached to the swollen, succulent stem called a receptacle, which is coloured either lilac-pink or red. The shrub grows between 3.5 and 8 metres and often appears yellowish-green in colour. The flowers are very small and green. The shrub has a dense crown of drooping stems in the Exocarpos cupressiformis, while in Exocarpos strictus species, the branches are short, rigid and often erect.

Traditional use Bull-roarers (a ceremonial instrument), spears and spear throwers can be made from the mirrii wugan (wood). The tiny sweet fruit of the mirrii is eaten fresh, though it can taste quite astringent. Early European settlers made jam from the fruit and Cherry Tree Hill near Graman is named after the mirrii as many of these shrubs were found there in the 1880s (Howell 1983). The dhani (sap) of the mirrii can also be used to treat snake bites (Hudson, in press). The Leafless Ballart (Exocarpos aphyllus) was used to make a decoction to treat sores and colds. This plant was also used to make a poultice to rub on the chest for wasting diseases. mirrii shrubs are used for smoking for protection (Purcell 2002).

Leaves and fruit Shrub habit Fruit

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lwaynta Geebung

Language name lwaynta (nganyaywana)

Scientific name Persoonia sericea and other Persoonia species

Plant location Various species of lwaynta (Geebung) are found in woodland, forest and sometimes heath throughout the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments.

Plant description The lwaynta is an upright or spreading shrub with broad, flat leaves and yellow flowers. The flowers have four slender, arched petals. The fruit are egg-shaped or round and green in colour, or sometimes they can be black or have purple streaks. The fruit grow to 2cm long and have a stalk at the tip (this is the style of the fruit). The fruit have a large stone surrounded by sticky flesh covered in a hard skin and are said to resemble a small mango.

Traditional use lwaynta fruit are like all-day gobstoppers! You can chew on the flesh around the stone for hours. It tastes like ‘sweet cotton wool’ (Low 1991 p. 134). The fruit is ready to eat when it is soft, and can be peeled like a mango (Howell 1983). Older fruit can be roasted, cracked and the nut inside can be eaten or mixed with other plants to form a meal. lwaynta fruit were an important food source (Purcell 2002). The flesh of some lwaynta fruits can be used to make a dye to colour baskets and woven implements. If a baby has sore eyes, the inner wood of the stem of the young lwaynta tree can be shaved, mixed with breast milk and used as an eyewash to heal conjunctivitis. Burns, scratches and rashes can be treated with unripe lwaynta fruit. In some areas, the lwaynta shrub has important spiritual meaning, it is considered to be ‘magic’ (Williams & Sides 2008). Many animals, including kangaroos, rats, emus, birds and feral pigs, are attracted to the lwaynta to eat its fruit (Low 1991). This used to provide good hunting opportunities for Aboriginal people. String and fishing lines were soaked in lwaynta nganda (bark) infusion, probably to help prevent fraying (Australian National Botanic Gardens 2010e).

Fruit Tree habit Flower

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Moocrum, Mukrum, Five corners

Language name Unknown

Scientific name Styphelia triflora

Plant location Moocrum is widespread throughout the eastern and central Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments. It grows in forest and woodland, particularly where She-oaks (Casuarina) and Native pines (Callitris) are found.

Plant description Moocrum is a small, bushy shrub which grows between 0.4 to 2 metres high on low fertility soils. The fruit are green, grow to 1cm in diameter and are held in place by five bracts. The pink, tubular flowers are about 2cm with petals that roll back into themselves. Small leaves grow along the stem and overlap each other.

Traditional use The edible berry growing on this species is quite favoured by Aboriginal people. The fruit goes a brownish colour when ripe and is quite sweet (Howell 1982). Moocrum is a plant food commonly known to the Toomelah and Boggabilla community (Purcell 2002).

Shrub habit Leaves Shrub in flower

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buubiyala Boobialla, Water bush

Language name buubiyala (yuwaalayaay) gii (yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Myroporum montanum

Plant location buubiyala (Boobialla, Water bush) grows in shrubby woodland and forest communities throughout the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments.

Plant description buubiyala is best known for its bright purple fruit which measure up to 8mm in diameter. It has fragrant flowers which are white with purple spots inside. This shrub grows as high as 8 metres, but usually only reaches 3-4 metres in height. It has long, narrow leaves that taper to a point at the tip. It prefers to grow on red earth and rocky hillsides.

Traditional use buubiyala, also known as a Blueberry, is sometimes called gii (bitter) after the bitter taste of the purple fruit. The fruit can be eaten when they are completely ripe but they are not known as the most delicious of bush foods! buubiyala was also traditionally used as medicine to treat general ailments. The patient’s head was scrubbed with liquid that has been boiled with the buubiyala plant in it. The girran.girra (leaves) can also be boiled for external use (Purcell 2002). dhani (gum) from the buubiyala is used as glue, which was used in the construction of tools (Low 1991). buubiyala is an important wildlife plant, providing food for birds with its fruit, honey, shelter and more. This shrub is drought resistant, and provides food and shelter when other plants wither and die.

Flower Fruit Shrub habit

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gayn.gayn Native lime, Desert lime, Desert lemon, Native cumquat

Language name gayn.gayn (yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Citrus glauca

Plant location gayn.gayn (Native lime) is widespread in the western area of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments.

Plant description This spiny shrub or small slender tree of the citrus family has a round, yellow, edible fruit which look like tiny lemons. It has greyish-green, finely hairy, slender leaves. White flowers are produced in Spring.

Traditional use The fruit of gayn.gayn look and taste like lemons or limes as they are sour and tangy. Aboriginal people sometimes eat them raw and are chewed whole. This fruit can be used in marmalade and drinks similar to lemonade. This drought resistant shrub is renowned for bearing a heavy crop of fruit in summer (Cribb & Cribb 1975).

Leaves Thicket of native lime Canopy

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wayaarra Warrior bush, Currant bush, Native grape, Broom bush

Language name wayaarra (yuwaalaraay), (yuwaalayaay)gubigala (yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Apophyllum anomalum

Plant location wayaarra (Warrior Bush) is widespread in semi-arid areas in the central and western parts of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments.

Plant description The interesting thing about wayaarra is that it usually has no leaves! This shrub grows to 3 m high. The young stems are white and the flowers are greenish-white to yellow. It has a small fruit, up to 8mm in diameter, which is purple.

Traditional use The small fruits of wayaarra may have traditionally been eaten by Aboriginal people. The English common name, Warrior Bush, probably came about as a misunderstanding of the Aboriginal name wayaarra. The word gubigala is rarely used, wayaarra is much more commonly used. This plant attracts large numbers of Caper butterflies which in turn attract small birds, such as blue wrens, all of which act as links in the food chain. Small birds often nest in this bush which may have traditionally provided Aboriginal people with eggs and meat to eat. wayaarra is closely related to capers which you can buy in the grocery store. The bungan (branches) and stems of wayaarra may have also been used like brooms in the past.

Shrub habit Stems

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mirriraa Lignum

Language name mirriraa (gamilaraay) mirriyaa (yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Muehlenbeckia florulenta and other Muehlenbeckia species

Plant location Various species of mirriraa (Lignum) are found in a diversity of habitats throughout the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments.

Plant description mirriraa is often found on floodplains and around wetlands. It is a large, smooth, perennial shrub which grows to 2.5 m high. The leaves do not persist on older branches. It has yellow flowers in a spike-like arrangement.

Traditional use The small fruit and tender young shoots of the mirriraa shrub can be eaten. The fresh bungun (branches) of the mirriraa shrub are flexible and can be used to make tools (Williams & Sides 2008). mirriraa is very good habitat for waterfowl such as ducks, ibis and other birds. This was once a good place to hunt these animals and collect their eggs.

Flower Leaves Stems

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mawurr Mimosa bush

Language name mawurr (yuwaalaraay), (yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Vachellia farnesiana

previously Acacia farnesiana

Plant location mawurr (Mimosa Bush) is widespread in the central and western parts of the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments. It grows in a variety of habitats, including woodland, shrubland, grassland and open plains, and is often found near watercourses. It is thought that this plant was introduced into Australia prior to European settlement.

Plant description This shrub grows to 4 metres high and has fine leaves which are divided many times. It has small, round, yellow fluffy flowers which have a strong perfume. The thick black seed pods grow to a length of 8cm. Sharp spines measuring 2.5cm grow from the stems and the small branches often have a zigzag shape. The bark is grey brown in colour.

Traditional use The seeds of mawurr can be eaten from the mawurrngiyan (Mimosa bean pod), similar to green beans. The pods were also sometimes roasted and eaten. The thorns can be used to pick out splinters (Purcell 2002, Cribb & Cribb 1975). In other parts of the world, mawurr is used to make perfume and as a medicine to treat skin diseases, diarrhoea, mucous, sore eyes, wounds and other diseases (Cribb & Cribb 1981). The spines of this shrub provide protection for birds such as finches to nest in its branches. Bird eggs were often a tasty treat for Aboriginal people.

Flower Leaves and seed pod Shrub habit

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baan Mistletoe, Snotty gobbles

Language name baan (gamilaraay, yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Lysiana, Amyema and Dendrophthoe species

Plant location baan (Mistletoe plants) are found throughout the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments.

Plant description baan shrubs are parasites which grow on larger trees. They vary greatly between species but can be easily recognised growing in the branches of larger trees by their contrasting foliage. They have thick, brittle leaves, brittle stems and the fruit have a sticky pulp with one seed. The flowers are usually red and/or yellow, but may be green or green and red.

Traditional use The fruit can be eaten raw and the nectar can be sucked from the flowers. The pulp of the baan fruit is sweet and sticky - some say it tastes like a sweet oyster or a grape - and has been used like chewing gum, to ward off thirst and to entertain children. The girran.girraa (leaves) of Amyema quandang are used to treat fever - these are crushed between grinding stones and soaked in water before drinking. The juice of the boiled fruit of Amyema maidenii can be used to treat inflamed genitals. baan can be used to treat sores; the girran.girraa are boiled in a little water and an infusion drank or applied externally to infected wounds. baan was also used as a cough medicine and as a medicine for colds and flu. Medicine was made from the fruit by boiling them in water and then straining the mixture through a flour bag (Holten et al. 1989).

Lysiana fruit Shrub habit (parasite on tree)

Dendrophthoe fruit

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burra Ruby saltbush

Language name burra (yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Enchylaena tomentosa

Plant location burra (Ruby saltbush) is widespread in a variety of habitats throughout the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments.

Plant description burra is a shrub that grows to 1 metre high. The leaves are succulent and sometimes hairy. The branches may also be hairy. The fruit are green, yellow, red or puce and drying black, with a short beak. These fruit fall off the bush when they are ripe and are spread by animals. The fruit are shaped a little like plum puddings.

Traditional use This very common shrub provides a snack for Aboriginal people; the fruit has a soft, sweet flesh around a small hard seed and can be eaten raw. You should not eat too many at one time as you could get sick (Holten et al. 1989). In some areas of Australia, the fruits are soaked in water and the liquid drunk like a sweet tea. The dried fruits can also be soaked and eaten (Low 1991). The young girran.girraa (leaves) are quite fleshy and were boiled and eaten like vegetables. The colourful fruits have been used by Aboriginal people as a dye. As burra also provides food for animals and can survive in drought, it provides important habitat for animals.

Fruit Flowers and leaves

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gumiBush tomato

Language name gumi (gamilaraay)bulumburr (yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay)

Scientific name Solanum species

Plant location There are many species of gumi (Bush tomato) the genus Solanum found in many types of habitat across the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments. gumi often grow in areas where water lies, such as claypans.

Plant description gumi are usually low growing shrubs or herbs. They have purple flowers and fruit that are about the size of a cherry. Some species are spiny, others have velvety, soft leaves.

Traditional use gumi were a very important part of the diet of outback Aborigines. The fruit can be eaten fresh, dried or baked. The fruit are eaten raw when the juice and seeds are squeezed out (Hudson, in press).

‘There are two sizes. The big one is guduugumi, the small one is gumi. They grow to around 20 cm high, with yellow fruit that is not sweet, so it’s better if you cook it, roast it in ashes, so that it gets soft and has a nice taste’ - Fred Reece.

Some gumi species have bitter, poisonous fruit and should not be eaten. Aboriginal people knew how to treat some of the toxic fruit so that it could be eaten. The sweeter, less bitter fruit are less likely to be poisonous. gumi were also used as medicine.

Flower Fruit Shrub habit