School Science Lessons
(Foodgardens5b)
2024-04-18

Australian native foods, Bushfoods

Australian native foods commercial suppliers
The term "Australian native foods" refers to Australian native plants known to be used by Australian aboriginal people for food.
Similarly, the term "bushfood", "bush foods", "bush tucker foods" refers to Australian native plants that Australians use or were known to use for food.
However, "bushfood" may refer to plants supplied by plant nurseries and labelled "bushfood", without evidence that they were Australian native foods.
Also, and they may be hybrids subject to plant breeders' rights (PBR).
The Queensland Herbarium does not use the term "bush foods" in any publications and there is no agreed list of "bush foods".
However, in the list below, the common name preferred by the Austrlian National Herbarium or the Queensland Government is usually used.
Botanists avoid using the term "bush foods", because it refers to all of the indigenous foods for Australian indigenous peoples, including the protein component.
Botanists may prefer to use the term "Australian native foods" to differentiate between the foods the Aboriginal people used and the foods we daily use,
because we use their foods in a different way, and we use less of those foods available to them.
The term "Australian native foods", excludes any food that need processing to remove toxin, because their methods have been lost
The term "bushfoods" includes foods that need processing, and can be toxic.
See: Australian native foods Common names of plants, A to Z.
See: Australian native plants
See: Australian native foods

Contents

Scientific names of some Australian native foods
The species below may not have been studied to determine the level of possible toxicity and the method of preparation or cooking needed to ensure no harm.

Aniseed myrtle, (Syzygium anisatum), Myrtaceae

Apple dumplings, (Billardiera scandens), Pittosporaceae

Apricot satinash, (Syzygium fibrosum), Myrtaceae

Atherton oak, (Athertonia diversifolia), Proteaceae

Atherton raspberry, (Rubus probus), Rosaceae

Australian cashew nut, (Semecarpus australiensis), Anacardiaceae

Australian nutmeg, (Myristica insipida), Myristacaceae

Australian raspberry, (Rubus parvifolius), Rosaceae

Australian sandalwood, (Santalum spicatum), Santalaceae

Baobab tree, (Adansonia gregorii), Malvaceae

Beach bird's-eye, (Alectryon coriaceus), Sapindaceae

Bernie's tamarind, (Diploglottis berniana), Sapindaceae

Billy buttons, (Pycnosorus globosus), Asteraceae

Bitter quandong, (Santalum murrayanum), Santalaceae

Black apple, (Pouteria australis), Sapotaceae

Black bean, (Castanospermum australe), Fabaceae

Black plum, (Diospyros australis), Ebenaceae

Bloodroot, (Haemodorum spicatum), Haemodoraceae

Blue flax-lily, (Dianella brevipedunculata), Aspodelaceae

Blue gum, (Eucalyptus globulus var. globulus), Myrtaceae

Blue lilly pilly, (Syzygium oleosum), Myrtaceae

Blue quandong, (Elaeocarpus grandis), Elaeocarpaceae

Blue tongue, (Melastoma affine), Melastomataceae

Blue-leaved mallee, (Eucalyptus polybractea), Myrtaceae

Bolwarra, (Eupomatia laurina), Eupomatiaceae

Boobialla, (Myoporum insulare), Scrophulariaceae

Boonjee tamarind, (Diploglottis bracteata), Sapindaceae

Brahmi, (Bacopa monnieri), Plantaginaceae

Bramble wattle, (Acacia victoriae), Fabaceae

Broad-leaved lilli pilly, (Syzygium hemilamprum), Myrtaceae

Broad-leaved paperbark, (Melaleuca viridiflora), Myrtaceae

Broad-leaved peppermint, (Eucalyptus dives), Myrtaceae

Brush pepperberry, (Tasmannia insipida), Winteraceae

Bulbine lily, (Bulbine bulbosa), Asphodelaceae

Bunya nut, (Araucaria bidwillii), Araucariaceae

Burdekin plum, (Pleiogynium timorense), Anacardiaceae

Bush banana, (Marsdenia australis), Apocynaceae

Bush mint, (Mentha satureioides), Lamiaceae.

Bush nutmeg, (Horsfieldia australiana), Myristaceae

Bush onion, (Cyperus bulbosus), Cyperaceae

Bushy bluebell, (Wahlenbergia multicaulis), Campanulaceae

Cape gooseberry, (Physalis peruviana), Solanaceae

Cape York tamarind, (Diploglottis macrantha), Sapindaceae

Cape York turmeric, (Curcuma australasica), Zingiberaceae

Carallia, (Carallia brachiata), Rhizophoraceae

Cedar Bay cherry, (Eugenia reinwardtiana), Myrtaceae

Chinese water chestnut, (Eleocharis dulcis), Cyperaceae

Chocolate lily, (Arthropodium strictum), Liliaceae

Cinnamon myrtle, (Backhousia myrtifolia), Myrtaceae

Coastal saltbush, (Atriplex cinerea), Amaranthaceae

Coastal wattle, (Acacia sophorae), Fabaceae

Curara, (Acacia tetragonophylla), Fabaceae

Currantbush, (Carissa ovata), Apocynaceae

Conkerberry, (Carissa lanceolata), Apocynaceae

Currantwood, (Antidesma bunius), Phyllanthaceae

Curry leaf myrtle, (Backhousia angustifolia), Myrtaceae

Corduroy tamarind tree, (Mischarytera lautereriana), Sapindaceae

Cherry satinash, (Syzygium luehmanii), Myrtaceae

Coolamon lilly pilly, (Syzygium mooreii), Myrtaceae

Cut-leaf mintbush, (Prostanthera incisa, Lamiaceae

Davidson’s plum, (Davidsonia pruriens var. pruriens), Cunoniaceae

Davidson's plum, (Davidsonia pruriens var.jerseyana), Cunoniaceae

Desert raisin, (Solanum centrale), Solanaceae

Dodder laurel, (Cassytha filiformis), Lauraceae

Dried herbs

Dryander tamarind, (Diploglottis obovate), Sapindaceae

Dusky coral pea, (Kennedia rubicunda)

Emu apple, (Owenia acidula), Meliaceae

Emu foot grass, (Cullen tenax), Fabaceae

False sandalwood, (Eremophila mitchelli), Scrophulariaceae

Flinders Island celery, (Apium insulare), Apiaceae

Fraser Island "apple", (Acronychia imperforata), Rutaceae

Finger lime, (Citrus australasica), Rutaceae

Giant speargrass, (Heteropogon triticeus), Poaceae

Golden wattle, (Acacia pycnantha), Fabaceae

Green plum, (Buchanania obovata), Anarcardiaceae

Grey mangrove, (Avicennia marina), white mangrove, Verbenaceae

Gumbi gumbi, (Pittosporum angustifolium), Pittosporaceae.

Hard quandong, (Elaeocarpus obovatus), Elaeocarpaceae

Heath banksia, (Banksia ericifolia), Proteaceae

Jam wattle, (Acacia acuminata), Fabaceae

Jelly bush, (Leptospermum polygalifolium), Myrtaceae

Johnstone River almond, (Elaeocarpus bancroftii), Elaeocarpaceae

Johnstone River satinash, (Syzygium erythrocalyx), Myrtaceae

Kakadu plum, (Terminalia ferdinandiana), Combretaceae

Kankong, (Ipomoea aquatica), Convolvulaceae

Kangaroo apple, (Solanum aviculare), (S. laciniatum), Solanaceae

Kapok bush, (Cochlospermum fraseri), Bixaceae

Karkalla, (Carpobrotus virescens), Aizoaceae

Large pigweed, (Portulaca intraterranea), Portulacaceae

Lawyer vine, (Smilax australis), Smilacaceae

Leek lily, (Bulbine semibarbata), Asphodelaceae

Lemon tea tree, (Leptospermum liversidgei), Myrtaceae

Lemon myrtle, (Backhousia citriodora), Myrtaceae

Lemon-scented ironbark, (Eucalyptus staigeriana),Myrtaceae

Lilly pilly, (Syzygium smithii), Myrtaceae

Little gooseberry tree, (Buchanania arborescens), Anacardiaceae

Macadamia nut, (Macadamia integrifolia), Proteaceae.

Magenta lilly pilly, (Syzygium paniculatum), Myrtaceae

Mangrove, (Avicennia officinalis), Verbenaceae

Midgen berry, (Austromyrtus dulcis), Myrtaceae

Mikania vine, (Mikania micrantha), Asteraceae

Milkmaids, (Burchardia umbellata), Colchicaceae

Millaa millaa vine, (Elaeagnus triflora), Elaeagnaceae

Molucca bramble,, (Rubus moluccanus), Rosaceae

Mountain pepper, (Tasmannia lanceolata), Winteraceae

Mulga wattle, (Acacia aneura), Fabaceae

Muntries, (Kunzea pomifera), Myrtaceae

Murnong, (Microseris lanceolata), Asteraceae

"Musk mallow", (Abelmoschus moschatus subsp. 'moschatus'), Malvaceae

Native apricot, (Pittosporum angustifolium), Pittosporaceae

Native bush mint, (Prostanthera rotundiflora), Lamiaceae

Native cranberry, (Astroloma humifusum), Epacridaceae

Native currant, (Acrotriche depressa), Ericaceae

Native finger lime, (Citrus australasica), Rutaceae.

Native gardenia, (Atractocarpus fitzalanii), Rubiaceae.

Native ginger, (Alpinia caerulea), Zingiberaceae.

Native gooseberry, (Physalis minima), Solanaceae

Native grape, (Ampelocissus acetosa), Vitaceae

Native hibiscus, (Hibiscus heterophyllus), Malvaceae

Native lily, (Alocasia brisbanensis), Araceae

Native lychee, (Dimocarpus australianus), Sapindaceae

Native millet, (Panicum decompositum), Poaceae

Native mint, (Mentha diemenica), Lamiaceae

Native mulberry, (Pipturus argenteus), Urticaceae.

Native pepper vine, (Piper hederaceum), Piperaceae

Native pigface, (Carpobrotus rossii), Aizoaceae

Native potato, (Ipomoea costata), Convolvulaceae

Native raspberry, (Rubus rosifolius), Rosaceae

Native rosella, (Abelmoschus moschatus), Malvaceae

Native sarsaparilla, (Hardenbergia violacea), Fabaceae

Native tamarind, (Diploglottis australis), Sapindaceae

Native thyme, (Ozothammus obcordatus)

Native tobacco, (Nicotiana sauveolens), Solanaceae

Native violet, (Viola banksia), Violaceae.

Native violet, (Viola hederacea), Violaceae.

Native wampee, (Murraya crenulata)

New Zealand tea tree, (Leptospermum scoparium), Myrtaceae

Nitre bush, (Nitraria billardierei), Nitrariaceae

Nodding saltbush, (Einadia nutans), Chenopodiaceae

Noni, (Morinda citrifolia), Rubiaceae

Northern kurrajong, (Brachychiton diversifolius), Sterculiaceae

Orange berry, (Glycosmis trifoliata), Rutaceae

Oval leaf mint bush, (Prostanthera ovalifolia), Lamiaceae

Peanut tree, (Sterculia quadrifida), Malvaceae

Pencil yam, (Vigna lanceolata), Fabaceae

Pigface, (Carpobrotus glaucescens), Aizoaceae

Pink satinash, (Syzygium malaccense), Myrtaceae

Plum pine, (Podocarpus elatus), Podocarpaceae.

Potato bush, (Solanum ellipticum), Solanaceae

Prickly currant bush, (Coprosma quadrifida)

Purple apple-berry, (Billardiera longiflora), Pittosporaceae

Purslane, (Portulaca oleracea), Portulacaceae

Queensland blue flax-lily, (Dianella atraxis), Aspodelaceae

Red bopple nut, (Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia), Proteaceae

Red maids, (Calandrinia balonensis), Portulacaceae

Red-flowered kurrajong, (Brachychiton megaphyllus), Sterculiaceae

River mint, (Mentha australis), Lamiaceae

Rock lily, (Bulbine glauca), Asphodelaceae

Rose myrtle, (Archirhodomyrtus beckleri), Myrtaceae

Rough-shell Queensland nut, (Macadamia tetraphylla), Proteaceae

Ruby saltbush, (Enchylaena tomentosa), Amaranthaceae

Running postman, (Kennedia prostrata), Fabaceae

Saltbush, (Atriplex nummularia), Amaranthaceae

Samphire, (Salicornia quinqueflora)

Sandpaper fig, (Ficus coronata), Moraceae

Sandplain wattle, (Acacia murrayana), Fabaceae

Sawsedge, (Gahnia aspera), Cyperaceae

Scrambling lily, (Geitonoplesium cymosum), Asphodelaceae

Screwpine, (Pandanus odifer), Pandanaceae

Scrub nettle, (Urtica incisa), Urticaceae

Scurvy weed, (Commelina cyanea), Commelinaceae

Sea celery, (Apium prostatum), Apiaceae

Sea purslane, (Sesuvium sportulacastrum), Azoiaceae

Seaberry salt-bush, (Rhagodia candolleana), Amaranthaceae

Seablite, (Suaeda australis), Amaranthaceae

Silky myrtle, (Decaspermum humile), Myrtaceae

Silky wattle, (Acacia holosericea), Fabaceae

Small-leaved tamarind, (Diploglottis campbellii), Sapindaceae.

Smith's tamarind, (Diploglottis smithii), Sapindaceae

Smooth Davidson's plum, (Davidsonia johnsonii), Cunoniaceae

Sneezeweed, (Centipeda cunninghamii), Asteraceae

Spear-leaved dioscorea (Dioscorea hastifolia), Dioscoreaceae

Spiny-head mat-rush, (Lomandra longifolia)

Strawberry gum, (Eucalyptus olida), Myrtaceae

Swamp wattle, (Acacia retinodes), Fabaceae

Sweet apple-berry, (Billardiera cymosa), Pittosporaceae

Sweet sarsaparilla, (Smilax glyciphylla), Smilacaceae

Sweet white kunzea, (Kunzea ambigua)

Tanjong tree, (Mimusops elengi), Sapotaceae

Tasman flax-lily, (Dianella tasmanica), Aspodelaceae

Tasmanian snow berry, (Gaultheria hispida), Ericaceae.

Tea tree, (Leptospermum petersonii)

Tropical banksia, (Banksia dentata), Proteaceae

Vanilla lily, (Arthropodium milleflorum), Liliaceae

Walking stick palm, (Linospadix monostachya), Arecaceae

Warrigal greens, (Tetragonia tetragonioides), Aizoaceae.

Warrilyn, (Eucalyptus pachyphylla), Myrtaceae

Water lily, (Nymphaea macrosperma), Nymphaeaceae

Wattleseed, (Acacia aneura, A. pycnantha, A. retinodes, A. longifolia, A. victoriae), Fabaceae

Weeping paperbark, (Melaleuca leucadendra), Myrtaceae

White aspen (Acronychia oblongifolia), Rutaceae

White correa, (Correa alba), Rutaceae

White elderberry, (Sambucus gaudichaudiana), Adoxaceae

Wild currant, (Antidesma erostre), Phyllanthaceae

Wild orange, (Capparis mitchellii), Capparaceae

Wild parsnip, (Trachymene incisa), Araliaceae

Wild passionfruit, (Capparis spinosa subsp nummularia), Capparaceae

Winter apple, (Eremophila deblis), Scrophulariaceae

Wirewood, (Acacia coriacea), desert oakFabaceae

Witchetty bush, (Acacia kempeana), Fabaceae

Wombat berry, (Eustrephus latifolius), Asparagaceae

Yellow plum, (Ximenia americana), Olacaceae

Yellow tulipwood, (Drypetes deplanchei), Euphorbiaceae

Youlk, (Platysace deflexa), Apiaceae

Zamia fern, (Bowenia spectabilis), Stangeriaceae

Zig zag vine, (Melodorum leichhardtii), Annonaceae


Dried herbs

Dried Wattleseed Powder

Dried Strawberry Gum Leaf Powder

Dried Old Man Saltbush leaf

Dried Lemon Myrtle Leaf

Dried Cinnamon Myrtle Leaf

Dried Anise Myrtle Leaf


Bunnings
Bunnings, garden plants
175mm
Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora)
140mm
Native Oregano, Native Bush Mint, (Prostanthera rotundifolia)
Sea Celery (Apium annuum)
Raspberry Jam Wattle (Acacia acuminata)
Pigface Round Baby (Disphyma crass. sp clavellatum)
Old Man Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia)


Pasture tropical grasses
Bambatsi panic (Panicum coloratum)
Batiki Blue grass (Smut grass) (Ischaemum indicum), long narrow seed heads, tufts hairs from flowers, grows well in shade.
Bermuda Couch grass, (Cynodon dactylon), restricted growth in dry seasons, widely used for lawn establishment.
Birdwood grass, (Cenchrus setigerus), used in short season environment, used as erosion control species.
Buffel grass, Cultivar Biloela, (Cenchrus ciliaris), drought resistant, cultivars adapted to wide range of conditions
Centrosema, Common, Belato (Centrosema pubescens)
Columbus grass, Crooble, (Sorghum almum), good pioneer species, drought and salt tolerant. short lived.
Green panic, Petrie, (Panicum maximum), var. (Trichoglume), palatable, shade tolerant, combines well with Guinea grass (Hamil grass), (Panicum maximum), well adapted to high rainfall tropical lowlands, robust, erect.
Kikuyu grass (Elephant grass), (Pennisetum clandestinum), palatable, good autumn growth, erosion control.
Koronivia grass, (Brachiaria humidicola), strong growing, forms thick mat on soil, grows well on coral soils.
Molasses grass, (Melinis minutiflora), Pioneer grass in high rainfall areas. Carries fire.
Para grass, (Brachiaria mutica), grows in waterlogged soil, high production on coastal lowlands, but not stand heavy feeding.
Paspalum grass (Paspalum)
Pangola grass (Digitaria eriantha) subsp. (decumbens)
Plicatulum, Rodd's Bay, (Paspalum plicatulum), good legume compatibility, for coastal areas, very palatable.
Rhodes grass, Cultivar Callide, (Chloris gayana), widely used in scrub lands, easy to establish, gives quick cover.
Sabi grass, Nixon. (Urochloa mosambicensis), combines well with Townsville Stylo
Setaria grass, Nandi, (Setaria anceps), for coastal areas, aggressive, early spring growth
Signal grass, Cultivar Basilisk (Brachiaria decumbens), good ground cover, prefer to Pangola and Guinea in high rainfall areas
Siratro, and Greenleaf desmodium