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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.

Zig Zag Vine

Scientific name:

Other Names:

Melodorum leichhardtii

​

Family:

Annonaceae (same as Custard Apple and Soursop)

Zig Zag Vine

Uses and Interesting Information:

A beloved rainforest vine with bright orange, apricot-flavoured fruit traditionally eaten fresh and mixed into drinks. Its zig-zag stems symbolise winding pathways through Country, and its fruits support cassowaries and fruit-eating birds. Today it is prized for bush tucker desserts, cocktails and rainforest gardens.



Indigenous Uses


1. Fruit – a delicious, high-value rainforest bushfood

Indigenous rainforest peoples of northern and eastern Queensland enjoyed the orange, apricot-like fruits:

  • eaten fresh straight from the vine

  • squeezed into water for a fragrant bush drink

  • mashed and mixed with other soft fruits

  • made into simple pastes for travel

Flavour: tropical apricot • fruity • slightly tangy • aromatic. One of the most prized rainforest fruits, especially among children.


2. Fruit pulp in drinks

The soft pulp was mixed into water or crushed with other fruits to make:

  • refreshing travel drinks

  • lightly fermented beverages in some regions

  • sweetened bush “cordials” with native honey or nectar


3. Leaves & stems – minor medicinal uses

Leaves were used occasionally for:

  • mild antiseptic washes

  • soothing minor skin irritations

  • infusions combined with other rainforest herbs

Not a major medicine plant, but known for gentle cleansing properties.


4. Vines – binding and craft

Long, flexible stems were used for:

  • weaving frames

  • binding small bundles

  • temporary rope or ties

  • hanging food off the ground



Stories, Culture & Interesting Lore


1. “The Zig-Zag Vine of Good Country”

Its distinctive zig-zagging stems symbolised:

  • pathways

  • movement through the forest

  • the meandering flow of rivers

  • navigating life’s twists with resilience

Elders used the vine to teach children:

“Not every path is straight, but every path leads somewhere.”
2. A fruit associated with the wet season

The ripening of the orange fruits often coincides with:

  • the first rains

  • abundance of fruits for cassowaries and birds

  • the “soft season” when the forest is fragrant and alive

It marked a time of plenty, especially for rainforest dwellers.


3. A favourite of children

Children loved to:

  • seek the bright orange fruits along tracks

  • compare who found the softest, sweetest fruit

  • “zig-zag” through the forest imitating the vines

The plant is deeply tied to childhood joy and forest play.


4. A vine that signals rich soil

Melodorum leichhardtii thrives in:

  • deep rainforest loams

  • sheltered ravines

  • mossy limestone slopes

  • volcanic soils

Its presence often indicated fertile, healthy country with good water flow.



Modern Uses


1. Bushfood cuisine

The tangy apricot-like flavour makes the fruit perfect for:

  • jams and preserves

  • sauces and chutneys

  • ice creams and gelatos

  • fruit syrups

  • cheesecakes

  • tropical pavlovas

  • cocktail infusions

  • rainforest fruit salads

Chefs prize it for its unique flavour and vibrant colour.


2. Drinks

The pulp is ideal for:

  • rainforest cordials

  • tropical cocktails

  • gin and vodka infusions

  • kombucha blends

  • iced teas

  • native spritzes


3. Ornamental landscaping

Zig-Zag Vine is stunning in gardens:

  • glossy green leaves

  • unusual zig-zaggers on each node

  • bright orange fruit

  • easy to train over trellises or arbours

  • excellent for rainforest-themed gardens and eco-accommodation walkways


4. Bush regeneration

A valuable species for:

  • rainforest understory planting

  • wildlife corridors

  • erosion control on slopes

  • cassowary habitat enhancement


5. Natural scent & gentle botanical use

The fruit’s aroma inspires:

  • botanical perfumes

  • rainforest-scented candles

  • natural skincare extracts



Ecological Importance


Fruit for wildlife

The fruit is loved by:

  • cassowaries (major dispersers)

  • fruit-doves

  • bowerbirds

  • catbirds

  • musky rat-kangaroos

  • rainforest rodents

These animals spread seeds widely across the forest.


Pollinators

Flowers attract:

  • native bees

  • small beetles

  • hoverflies

  • rainforest insects


Habitat creation

The vine provides:

  • shelter and cover for small birds

  • shade for geckos and tree frogs

  • microhabitats along trunks and understory


Fire ecology

  • fire-sensitive, restricted to rainforest

  • thrives only in long-unburnt, humid environments

  • indicator of healthy, intact ecosystems.

Recipes:

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