496 AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS HUMAN FOOD-PROVIDING PLANTS, 



This and other species of Cassytha are called "Dodder-laurel." 

 The emphatic name "Devil's guts" is largely used. It frequently 

 connects bushes and trees by cords, and becomes a nuisance to the 

 traveller. 



This plant is used by the Brahmins of Southern India for 

 seasoning their buttermilk (Treasury of Botany). 



Queensland and Northern Australia. 



41. Castanospermum australe, a. Cimn., N.O. Leguminosse, 



B.Fl., ii., 275. 



"Moreton Bay Chesnut," "Bean-tree." Called " Irtalie" by 

 the aboriginals of the Richmond and Clarence Rivers (New South 

 Wales), and " Bogum" by others of northern New South Wales. 



Used as food by the aborigines, who prepare them by first 

 steeping them in water from eight to ten days ; they are then 

 taken out, dried in the sun, roasted upon hot stones, pounded up 

 into a coarse meal, in which state they may be kept for an 

 indetinite period. When required for use, the meal is simply 

 mixed with water, made into a thin cake, and baked in the usual 

 nianuer. In taste, cakes prepared in this way resemble a coarse 

 ship-biscuit (C. Moore). 



A sample of starch from these seeds was exJiibited by Mr. 

 Moore at the Intercolonial Exhibition of Melbourne, 1866. 

 Northern New South Wales and Queensland. 



42. Casuarina stricta. Ait., (Syn. C. qnadrivalvis, Labill. ; 



C. macrocarpa, A. Cunn. ; C. cristata, Miq. ; C. Gunnii, 

 Hook, f.) ; N.O. Casuarineae, B.Fl., vi., 195. C. qnadri- 

 valvis in Muell. Cens., p. 22. 



" Shingle Oak," " Coast She-oak," " River Oak," " Salt-water 

 Swamp Oak." The " Worgnal " of the aboriginals of the Rich- 

 mond and Clarence (New South Wales). 



In cases of severe thirst, great relief may ba obtained from 

 chewing the foliage of this and other species, which, being of an 



