522 AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS HUMAN FOOD-PROVIDING PLANTS, 



118. Leptomeria acida, R.Br. ; L. aphylla, R.Br.., (Syn- I'- 

 punyenSf F.v.M.) j L. Billardieri, R.Br., (Sya. T/tesiurn 

 drupaceurn, LaVjill.), N.O. Santalaceae, B. FI., vi., 222. 



*• Native Currants," 



The berries are eJible, having a pleasant sub-acid flavour. 

 They are useful to quench the thirst when in the bush, and are 

 used for making jelly and preserve. 



The fruits of L^ptoraeria acida have Vjeen examined chemically 

 by Mr. (now Dr.) Kennie. Vide Proc. Roy. Soc. X.S.W., p. 119, 

 et^seq. 



Tasmania, New South Wales, and Queensland {L. acida) ; 

 South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales (L. aphylla) ; 

 Tasmania, New South Wales, and Victoria {L. Billardieri). 



119. Leptospermum scoparium, Forst. (Syn. L. fiorihundum, 

 SalisVj. ; L. recurvifolium, Salisb. ; L. j anijjeriaura. Smith ; 

 L. multijiorum, Cav. ; L. juniper i/olium, Cav. ; L. sqvuir- 

 rosum, Sieb. ; L. ridjricaule, Link; L. styp/uilioides, ^chan.; 

 L. aciculare, Schau. ; L. ocycedrus, Schau. ; L. hfxccatum, 

 8chau.; L. jyersiciflorum, Reichb.; Z. divaricatum, Schau.), 

 N.O. Myrtace*, B Fl., iii , 10.1 



" Tea tree. " 



It is said that this is the shrub the leaves of which were 

 utilised V>y the crews of Captain Cook's ships for the purpose of 

 making " tea," and that they were also used with spruce leaves 

 in equal quantity for the purpose of correcting the astrin- 

 gency in h»rewing a beer from the latter. It is exceedingly 

 common aVjout Syda^iy, and large quantities would therefore he 

 available to the sailors. 



Species of this genus are exceedingly aVjundant not far from 

 the coast, and the leaves would be very readily available, V;ut the 

 taste of the infusion made from them is too aromatic for the 

 European palate. 



All the colonies except Western Australia. 



