Plant identification guides:
Bush tucker food forest
Information about medicinal qualities of plants, or about their use as medicines, is for interest only, and is not intended to be used as a guide for the treatment of medical conditions.
As with all medicinal applications of Australian bush foods, please do your due diligence and consult with First Nations or other Australian herbal specialists before utilising as a remedy for any condition.
Some parts of the plant may not be edible or some may need preparation before they are safe to eat or use in any way. We do our best to describe their traditional & modern uses. It is the reader’s responsibility to ensure they are fit for their intended use.
We can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Basic info:
An evergreen tree of great beauty. It has stunning golden-orange flowers up to 12cm long. Equally attractive is the foliage of olive-green, fern-like leaves that grow up to 30cm in length.
It grows in riverine, subtropical, and dry rainforest environments and is drought resistant.
Flowering occurs from September to November.
There are 360 species of grevilleas that occur in Australia and Indonesia and are a diverse group. Their colourful, distinctive flowers lack petals and instead consist of a long tube known as a “calyx”, which splits into four “lobes”.
Uses and Interesting Information:
Silky Oaks are older than dinosaurs! They originated on the super-continent Gondwana, and are closely related to banksias, waratahs and proteas.
This particular species of Grevillea IS NOT EDIBLE – DO NOT EAT or place any part of it into your mouth. It is placed here as a wind and shade break and as an associate for the other trees in the orchard.
The word “robusta” refers to the fact that the timber is strong like real oak. The freshly split wood has a silky texture, and a pattern and light colour resembling English oak – hence the common name “silky oak”.
The timber is resistant to wood-rot, and has been widely used in the manufacture of furniture, cabinetry, fences and floors. It has also been used to make guitars due to its tonal and aesthetic qualities.
Recipes:
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