A gentle forest vine producing sweet orange berries and crisp edible tubers. Traditionally enjoyed as a trail snack and light root food, Wombat Berry also provided strong fibres for binding and weaving. Its bright fruit delights children and wildlife alike, and today it remains a beloved plant in native gardens and forest regeneration projects.

Indigenous Uses

1. Fruit – edible orange berries

Indigenous peoples across eastern Australia enjoyed the ripe orange fruits:

• eaten fresh straight from the vine

• sometimes squeezed for juice

• occasionally added to foraged fruit mixes

The orange pulp is sweet, mild and refreshing, but the black seeds are NOT eaten.

2. Tuber – a traditional food

Wombat Berry forms small, crisp, white tubers along its roots.

These tubers were:

• eaten raw

• roasted in ash

• added to mixed root-bundles

• valued for hydration in warm weather

Flavour: crunchy • mildly sweet • starchy, similar to small bush yams.

3. Leaves – small medicinal uses

Although not a major medicinal plant, leaves and stems were used for:

• simple poultices on irritated skin

• warm infusions for mild stomach discomfort

• combining with other herbs in cleansing blends

4. Fibre – strong natural cordage

The vine’s long stems were used for:

• binding

• weaving

• tying bundles

• making frames for small carrying baskets

Its fibres are surprisingly strong and flexible.

Stories, Culture & Interesting Lore

1. A plant of curiosity and reward

Children adored Wombat Berry:

• the bright orange fruits stand out in the forest

• the crunchy tubers were fun to dig up

• the plant often hid “secret snacks” on walks

It is known as a plant that “rewards those who explore carefully.”

2. A sign of healthy forest edges

Where Wombat Berry grows, it usually indicates:

• good water nearby

• stable soils

• long-unburnt woodland

• rich wildlife corridors

Elders taught that if you see Wombat Berry,

3. Linked to wombats and digging animals

While wombats do not heavily rely on the plant, the tubers grow in loose soils often disturbed by wombats.This led to stories associating the vine with:

• digging animals

• burrow guardians

• plants that follow wombat tracks

4. A vine that “climbs but does not smother”

Its gentle climbing habit was used to teach balance:

• knowing how to reach for sunlight

• without harming the host tree

• taking support without taking over

A lesson in respectful coexistence.

Modern Uses

1. Bushfood (tubers & fruit)

Used today in:

• wild foraging salads

• raw crunchy additions to native-plant plates

• bush tucker tastings

• fruit toppings

• children’s education programs

The fruit is mainly enjoyed fresh, while the tubers are valued for their crisp texture.

2. Ornamental garden plant

Wombat Berry is popular in native gardens for:

• its delicate white-and-pink star flowers

• bright orange berries in late season

• twining, elegant vines

• ability to grow in shade or part sun

• low maintenance and drought tolerance

Perfect for:

• trellises

• fences

• rainforest edges

• sensory gardens

• wildlife plantings

3. Natural fibre craft

Stems can be used in:

• weaving workshops

• basketry

• natural cordage demonstrations

4. Bush regeneration

Valuable for:

• understory revegetation

• stabilising soils

• supporting insect and bird habitat

Ecological Importance

Food for wildlife

Fruit is eaten by:

• small birds

• skinks

• possums

• rodents

These animals disperse seeds through the understory.

Habitat creation

Vines provide:

• cover for small birds

• climbing pathways for insects

• shaded microhabitats for frogs and geckos

Pollinators

Flowers attract:

• small native bees

• hoverflies

• beetles

Soil health

The tubers:

• help stabilise loose soil

• store moisture

• contribute to resilience in dry spells.