486 AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS HUMAN FOOD-PROVIDING PLANTS, 



This and several other edible species of mushroom are found 

 in Australia. Besides the present one, no mushroom perhaps is 

 generally used in these colonies as food. Of course the dryness of 

 the climate renders these edible fungi much less abundant than 

 they otherwise would be. 



All the colonies except Western Australia. 



10. Aleurites moluccana, Willd., (Syn. A. Amhinux, Pers. ; 



A. triloba, Forst. ; Jatropha moluccana, Linn.), N.O. 

 Euphorbiaceai, B.Fl. vi., 128. Noted in Muell. Cens. 

 p. 20 as A. triloba. 



" Candle-nut tree." 



The natives of the countries in which this tree grows are very 

 fond of this nut, which is similar in flavour to the common 

 Avalnut and very wholesome. It is, however, rather rich, from 

 the quantity of oil it contains. 



Queensland. 



11. Alsophila australis. It. Br., (Syn. A. excelsa, R.Br. ; 



A. Cooperi, Hook, et Bak.), N.O. Filices, B.FL. vii., 710 

 for ^. australis, and 711 for A. excelsa and A. Coope'/i. 

 Bentliam, however, expresses some doubts as to Avhether 

 these may not be distinct species after all, and Baron 

 Mueller (Cens. p. 137) records A. australis and A. excelsa 

 as distinct species. Dr. Woolls further discusses the 

 subject, Proc. Linn. Soc. JH^.S. W., vi., 746. 



" Tree fern." The aboriginals of Illawarra (New South Wales) 

 used to call it " Beeow-wang ; and the aboriginals of Queensland, 

 "Nanga-nanga." The aboriginals of the Coranderrk Station, 

 Victoria, call it " Pooeet," 



The pulp of the top of the trunk is full of starch, and is eaten 

 raw and roasted by the aboriginals. This whitish substance is 

 found in the middle of the tree from the base to the apex, and 

 when boiled tastes like a bad tui-nip. Pigs feed on it greedily. 

 (See also Tasmanian Journal for 1842, p. 35). 



