Marsdenia australis, also known as the bush banana, native pear or Mayaka, is a climber producing edible fruit. Flowering in the Flinders Ranges in December.
Quandong (Santalum acuminatum) in flower in December in the Northern Flinders Ranges. Quandongs produce edible fruit between August and October.
Tetragonia, an edible groundcover also known as Warragul Greens and New Zealand Spinach seen commonly throughout the Flinders Ranges during the cooler months.
Psyllids are sap sucking insects which excrete a sugary starch to form lerps – white shelter casings. Lerps are a sweet bush food that can be occasionally found around Eucalypts in the Flinders Ranges.Continue reading “Lerps on Eucalyptus”
Enchylaena tomentosa, commonly known as Ruby Saltbush produces a colourful array of sweet edible fruits.Continue reading “Ruby Saltbush”
Santalum lanceolatum is known variously as Sandalwood, Native Plum, Bush Plum, Plumbush. As with the related Quandong, it is semi-parasitic in that it will connect its roots to other trees. Seen commonly in the Flinders Ranges in clay and sandy plains and watercourses.Continue reading “Native Plum”
Nitraria billardierei, commonly known as Nitrebush, is a spreading perennial seen here in the saline clays around Copley. The sour, salty fruit is a bush food, eaten raw or made into jams and sauces.
Acacia victoriae is prolific in the Flinders Ranges. Also known as the Elegant Acacia, the seeds are harvested to make flour and the gum is also eaten.
Lemon Scented Grass, Cymbopogon ambiguus, has a sweet, aromatic lemon aroma and is palatable as a tea. Found throughout the Flinders Ranges in shales, rocky creeks and gullies.