540 AUSTRALIAX INDIGENOUS HUMAN FOOD-PROVIDING PLANTS, 



171. Pteris aquilina, Linn., var. esculenta, Hook. (Syn. P. 

 esculenta, Forst.), N.O. Filices, B.Fl., vii,, 731. 



" Brake-fern " or •' Bracken." Formerly called " Tara " by the 

 aboriginal.s of Tasmania. 



The aboriginals u.se the starchy rhizomes of this plant for food. 

 They are eaten both raw and roasted. By crushing and washing 

 the little starch they contain can easily be obtained. 



In Tasmania this fern is often tall enough to conceal a man on 

 horseback. 



An interesting account of the economic value of this fern, by 

 Mr. J. R. Jackson, will be found in the Pharm. Journ. [2], \'iii., 

 354. 



In Japan the starch from this fern is called " Wai-abi," and is 

 obtained in tlie following manner : — In the season when the fern 

 is withered, and no young shoot is to be seen, its root i.s collected, 

 cut up into pieces, pounded, washed, decanted, and the settled 

 starch is collected and dried. It is mixed with wheat, flour, or 

 rice-meal and made into cakes, or when made into paste by boiling 

 with water mixed with the astringent juice of the Japanese date- 

 plum (Diospi/ros KakiJ, it is used for joining paper together; the 

 joint does not part though exposed to rain, hence it is widely used 

 for thi.s purpose (Catal. of Japanese exhibits at the Health Ex- 

 hibition, London, 1884^. 



All the colonies. 



172. Rhagodia parabolica, i?.5r., N.O. Chenopodiaceae, B.FL, 

 v., 153. 



A '' Salt-bush." 



This bush yields, according to Mr. Stephenson, who accompanied 

 Sir Thomas Mitchell in one of his expeditions, as much as 2 ozs. 

 of salt by boiling 2 lbs. of leaves. 



Travellers in the interior have found them exceedingly useful 

 as vegetables. Sir Thomas Mitchell relates that after twice 



