58 AUSTRALIAN NATIVE PLANTS. 
* Kangaroo Apple,” ‘‘ Gunyang,” or “‘ Koonyang” of the Gippsland - 
and other aboriginals. ‘‘ Meakitch” or ‘‘ Mayakitch” or ‘“‘ Mookich” of the 
aboriginals of Western Victoria (Lake Condah). 
Its large fruit resembles that of the potato. The fruit when 
perfectly ripe, which is indicated by the outer skin bursting, may 
be eaten in its natural state, or boiled and baked. It hasa méaly, 
sub-acid taste, and may be eaten in any quantity with impunity ; 
but until the skin bursts, although the fruit may otherwise appear 
ripe, it has an acrid taste, and causes an unpleasant burning 
sensation in the throat. (Gunn). 
All the colonies except Western Australia and Queensland. 
184. Solanum esuriale, Zzzd/., (Syn. S. pulchellum, F.v.M.), 
N.O., Solanez, B.FI., iv., 454. 
“Comyn” of the aboriginals of the Lachlan River, New South Wales. 
‘* Qon-doroo”’ of those of the Cloncurry River, North Queensland. 
The berries of this plant were eaten by the native guides of 
Sir Thomas Mitchell. (Three Expeditions, ii., 43). 
All the colonies except Tasmania and Western Australia. 
185. Solanum hystrix, &.Br., N.O., Solanez, B.FI., iv., 458. 
Called ‘“‘ Walga’’ by aborigines in South Australia. 
The blacks use the fruit for food, but only with the pounded 
and baked bark of the mallee root, called “ Congoo” by them. 
Before using the fruit they take off the shell (the dry prickly calyx), 
and remove the seeds. ‘This leaves a pulpy skin about the thick- 
ness of that of a native peach (? Owenza) ; the fruit and bark are 
then made into a cake. When fruits are not obtainable, and they 
are otherwise hard pressed for food, the natives bleed themselves 
in the arm, and use the blood with the bark. The natives told 
me, when opening the fruit for the seeds, not to eat the fruit, as it 
would make my throat sore, nor yet to touch my eyes with my 
fingers. The fine prickles and juice got into my fingers, and 
produced a good deal of pain and inflammation for a short time. 
(Annie F. Richards, in Proc. RS. S.A., iv., 136). 
South Australia. 
