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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.

Walking Stick Palm

Scientific name:

Other Names:

Linospadix monostachyos

Single-spike walking stick palm

Family:

Arecaceae (Palm tree family)

Walking Stick Palm

Basic info:

Uses and Interesting Information:

A graceful rainforest understory palm traditionally used for walking sticks, tools and wrapping materials. Its mild fruit feed cassowaries and forest birds, while its straight stem symbolises journeys, safe travel and quiet strength. Today it is cherished in rainforest gardens and regeneration projects for its elegance, shade tolerance and ecological importance.



Indigenous Uses


1. Stems – traditional walking sticks & tools

Indigenous rainforest peoples used the straight, slender, lightweight stems for:

  • hunting spear shafts (for small game)

  • digging sticks

  • fire tongs

  • light craft frameworks

  • carrying poles for small foraging loads

The palm’s naturally straight, smooth trunks were perfectly suited for durable, lightweight implements.


2. Fruit – mild rainforest snack

The bright red-to-orange fruit were eaten:

  • occasionally as a light snack

  • by children on forest walks

  • sometimes used to add colour to food bundles

Flavour: mild, slightly sweet, fibrous, not a major food but pleasantly edible.


3. Leaves – craft and wrapping

The feather-shaped leaves were used for:

  • temporary wrapping materials

  • lining coolamons

  • improvised rain shelters

  • weaving and cordage support in mixed-material baskets


4. Light medicinal uses

Leaf or young stem infusions were sometimes used for:

  • mild cleansing washes

  • gentle digestive teas

  • supportive bush medicine in combination with other plants

Not a major medicinal species, but appreciated for its neutrality and abundance.



Stories, Culture & Interesting Lore


1. Symbol of humility and quiet presence

Walking Stick Palm is a slender understory species that grows quietly in deep shade.

It symbolised:

  • modesty

  • stillness

  • patience

  • endurance in difficult terrain

Elders used the plant to teach children about strength that doesn’t boast.


2. Marking pathways and gathering spots

Straight stems made it useful for:

  • marking trails

  • creating temporary waypoints

  • indicating direction or safe campsites

It helped form the “sign language of the rainforest.”


3. Cassowary lore

The fruit is eaten by cassowaries. Stories tell that where the Walking Stick Palm thrives, cassowaries travel safely, forming a shared corridor between people and birds.



Modern Uses


1. Craft & hand tools

The plant’s common name comes from the strong straight stem which remains consistently around 3cm and was harvested post- World War 1 to make walking sticks for returned wounded soldiers. A comfortable hand grip was carved from the compact root ball found at the base of the stem. In modern times, the plant is still used occasionally for:

  • walking sticks

  • decorative carved poles

  • lightweight craft projects

  • bushcraft and survival tools

The stems are beautifully straight and smooth.



2. Ornamental landscaping

One of the most elegant interior and garden palms:

  • slow-growing but hardy

  • thrives in shade or filtered light

  • perfect for rainforest walkways

  • ideal for eco-accommodation landscaping

  • creates a calm, lush understory mood

Its graceful single spike of flowers and tidy form make it popular in tropical garden design.


3. Pot culture

Very popular as a houseplant:

  • keeps a compact size

  • tolerates low light

  • produces attractive red fruit even indoors (in warm climates)


4. Restoration ecology

Important in:

  • rainforest understory restoration

  • riparian rehabilitation

  • cassowary habitat enhancement

  • creating multi-layered rainforest structure

Its slow, steady growth stabilises shady slopes and enriches leaf-litter ecosystems.



Ecological Importance


Wildlife food

Fruit eaten by:

  • cassowaries

  • fruit-doves

  • catbirds

  • musky rat-kangaroos

  • rainforest rodents

These animals disperse seeds through the understory.


Habitat creation

Dense palm clusters provide:

  • cover for small birds

  • moist microclimates for insects

  • hiding spaces for amphibians and reptiles


Soil health

The palm contributes to:

  • deep leaf litter build-up

  • moisture retention

  • protective ground-layer ecology


Fire ecology

  • extremely fire-sensitive

  • restricted to long-unburnt rainforest

  • strong indicator of ancient, intact forest.

Recipes:

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