Local Edible Plants

Fruits – Trees and Shrubs
Name / Common name / Description / habitat / Use
Citriobatus pauciflorus / Orange Thorn / Shrub of the sub tropical rainforest. / The hard yellow fruits were eaten by Aborigines.
Diploglottis australis / Native Tamarind / 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. / Early settlers used them for jams and drinks.
Acmena smithii / Lilly Pilly / Shrub/small tree found in temperate rainforest. / The purple fruit was eaten by Aborigines. Early settlers made jam from the fruit.
Syzygium australe / Bush Cherry / Small tree found in sub tropical rainforests. Fruit is pink or red. / Eaten by Aborigines and used for jam by early settlers.
Syzgium paniculatum / Lilly Pilly / This medium tree of the temperate rainforest is listed as rare and endangered. The magenta red berry is edible and refreshing. / It was first sampled by Cook’s party and used by the early settlers.
Eupomatia laurina / Bolwarra / An erect shrub with arching arms in sub tropical rainforest. Whitish fruit are sweet and pleasant to eat. / Aboriginies used ‘tan’ of acacia or persoonia bark then twisted the strands together in sap from Corymbia gummifera (prev. Eucalyptus gummifera).
Exocarpus cupressiformis / Cherry Ballart / 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. / This sweet stalk was eaten by Aborigines and early settlers.
Ficus coronata / Sandpaper fig / Small tree found on creek banks in sub tropical rainforests. Reported to have the best flavour of all the figs. Fruit must be fully ripe (purple-black) and looking similar to a domestic fig. / The rough leaves were used by Aborigines for the final smoothing of weapons made of wood or bone.
Ficus rubiginosa / Jackson 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. / Fruits were eaten by Aborigines and it is a favourite food for bats.
Leptomeria acida / Native currant / Leafless shrub, broom like in appearance. The fruit a succulent drupe is quite acid, but improves when cooked with sugar. / Early settlers used it to make jam.
Leucopogon parviflorus / Coastal beard heath / A bushy shrub found on open sea coast and in hind-dune scrub. / 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.
Lissanthe strigosa / Peach heath / A small prickly shrub of the heath lands, the rigid leaves have needle-like points. Small white fruits 4mm across are sweet and edible.
Mistletoes / 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.
Myoporum insulare / Boobialla / A tall shrub found on the coastline. Small white flowers are purple spotted on the petals. The bluish-purple fleshy fruits are edible, but salty and bitter.
Persoonia (all species) / Geebung / 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.
Planchonella australis / Black apple / A tall rainforest tree. Fruits are large, black and plum-like. Unpleasant to eat raw, but can be made into a jelly.
Podocarpus spinulosis / Native plum / 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. / The stalk can be made into jam.
Rubus rosifolius / Roseleaf bramble / 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.
Rubus hillii / Broad-leaf bramble / A scrambling shrub with long stems resembling a climber. Flowers are pink, or occasionally white. Fruits are pleasant to eat. / Aborigines made a medicinal drink to relieve upset stomachs by soaking the leaves in water.
Rubus parvifolius / Small-leaf bramble / A scrambling shrub found on rain forested slopes. Flowers are pink to red. Fruit is relatively large and juicy.
Rubus moorei / Bush lawyer / 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 he got his hands on you.
Sambucus australasica / Yellow elderberry / 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.
Styphelia triflora / Five corners / 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.
Tasmannia insipida / Pepper tree / 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.
Acronychia oblongifolia / Lemon Aspen / Tree, rainforest / Fruit
Acrotriche divaricata / Shrub, forests / Fruit
Amyema cambagei / All Mistletoes / Epiphyte, forests / Fruit
Astroloma humifusum / Shrub, forests / Fruit
Avicennia marina / Grey Mangrove / Tree, sandy beaches and tidal / Fruit
Clerodendrum tomentosum / Shrub, rainforest / Fruit
Conospermum longifolium / Shrub, forests / Fruit
Cupaniopsis anacardioides / Tuckeroo / Tree, sandy beaches and tidal / Fruit
Dendrophthoe vitellina / Epiphyte, rainforest / Fruit
Diospyros pentamera / Tree, rainforest / Fruit
Diploglottis Australis / Soft wooded perennial, rainforest / Fruit
Ehretia acuminata / Tree, rainforest / Fruit
Elaeocarpus reticulatis / Tree, rainforest / Fruit
Enchylaena tomentosus / Soft wooded perennial, sandy beaches and tidal / Fruit
Endiandra discolour / Shrub, rainforest / Fruit
Endiandra sieberi / Corkwood / Tree, Rainforest / Fruit
Ficus fraseri / Shiny sandpaper fig / Tree / Fruit
Ficus oblique / Tree, rainforest / Fruit
Fruits – climbers and scramblers
Name / Common name / Description / habitat / Use
Billardiera scandens / Apple berry / A twining plant in the undergrowth. The flowers are yellow and bell shaped. The fruit is cylindrical, fleshy and yellow-green. / Aborigines ate the ripe fruit raw and the green fruit roasted.
Cassaytha glabella / Dodder, Devil’s twine / 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.
Cissus antartica / Water vine / A tall climber in the rainforest. The young shoots and leaf stalks have rusty coloured hairs. The fruit is a round black berry. / The fruit was eaten by Aborigines. The early settlers made jam from the fruit. The berries have been reported to cause throat irritation.
Cissus hypoglauca / Five leaf water vine / 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.
Passiflora herbertiana / Yellow passiobn flower / 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.
Cayratia clematidea / Vine/cimber, rainforests / Fruit
Fruits and Herbs
Name / Common name / Description / habitat / Use
Carpobrotes glaucescens / Pigs face / A prostrate herb found on coastal sand dunes. Flowers are pink-purple. The fruit is red to purple and fleshy. / 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.
Marsilea mutica / Nardoo / 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. / 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 / Common name / Description / habitat / Use
Acacia longifolia var. sophrae / Coastal wattle / Found on coastal dunes, its many branches and deep roots prevent the sand from drifting. Beware; many other acacia seeds are poisonous. / Aborigines are reported to have roasted the ripening pods, and then pick out the seeds to eat.
Avicennia marina var. australasica / Grey mangrove / A small tree of inter-tidal flats. Fruits are flattened, green velvety with one seed. / 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.
Brachychiton populneus / Kurrajong / 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. / The seeds are prepared by rubbing between two boards to remove the hairs, before being eaten raw or roasted.
Macrozamia communis / Burrawang / A palm-like slow growing ancient species. The seeds are poisonous. See also leaves and shoots. / Aborigines prepared flour from the seeds after a long preparation process.
Xylomelum pyriforme / Woody pear / A small tree in the open forest. The very hard wooden fruit opens to reveal two winged seeds which are edible.
Linum marginale / Native flax / 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.
Acacia terminalis / Sunshine Wattle / Tree, forest / Seeds
Alectryon tomentose / Red Jacket / Tree / Seeds
Amaranthus macrocarpa / Soft wooded perennial, cleared grassland / Seeds
Brachychiton acerfolia / Flame Tree / Tree / Seeds
Cryptocarya glaucescens / Tree, rainforest / Seeds
Cryptocarya microneura / Tree, rainforest / Seeds
Seeds - Herbs
Name / Common name / Description / habitat / Use
Alpinia caeulea / Native ginger / Found near rainforests in shady areas. The erect canes bear white flowers and blue fruits. / Aborigines ate the flesh surrounding the seeds, and the young tips of the underground stem.
Seeds – Grasses and Sedges
Name / Common name / Description / habitat / Use
Gahnia aspera / Saw edge / The long grass-like leaves are very sharp. Flowers are black. The seed is orange-red or red-brown when ripe. / Aborigines pounded them to make flour. The leaf buds were also eaten.
Leaves and Shoots
Name / Common name / Description / habitat / Use
Ficus species / Figs / Sandpaper figs have silicified hairs on the leaves and should be avoided. / The young shoots of most figs can be boiled as a vegetable.
Hibiscus hetrophyllus / Native rosella / A tall shrub that grows in moist eucalypt forests. Flowers are white with a pink blush on the underside of petals. / The young shoots and buds can be eaten raw or cooked.
Macrozamia species / Burrawang / 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.
Livistonia australis / Cabbage tree palm / A tall palm that grows in rainforests and sheltered eucalypt forests. / The heart or apical buds were eaten raw or baked in ashes by Aborigines. Early settlers also used it as a vegetable and made ‘cabbage tree’ hats from the fronds.
Xanthorrhoea species / Grasstree / Found on rocky outcrops in open forests. It has a distinctive black trunk, burnt by past bushfires. See also nectar plants. / The soft white base of the leaves can be eaten, but this destroys these slow-growing ancient plants.
Atriplex cinerea / Saltbush / Shrub, sandy beaches and tidal / Leaf greens
Avicennia marina / Grey Mangrove / Tree, sandy beaches and tidal / Fruit
Backhouse myrtifolia / Native Cinnamon / Tree / Leaf greens
Cardamine sp. / Soft wooded perennial, forests / Leaf greens
Centella asiatica / Pennywort / Soft wooded perennial, cleared grassland / Leaf greens
Chenopodium carinaturm / Soft wooded perennial, cleared grassland / Leaf greeens
Climbers and Scramblers
Name / Common name / Description / habitat / Use
Flagellaria indica / Whip vine / 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. / Young leafy shoots can be used as a vegetable.
Geitonoplesium cymosum / Scrambling lily / A branching climber that can reach 2m. Found in moist eucalypt forests and creek banks. The slender young shoots resemble asparagus.