
ABORIGINES OF THE SauTH-East OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA 49] 
Tuberous roots of Oxalis cornicwlatus. This small native sorrel has swollen 
roots which ure edible, G@. FW. Angas (I, p. 85) im his general account of the 
natives of South Australia states that the women ‘‘dig various roots, particularly 
those of the sorrel (Oxelis), and smaller species of Xantharuea (Xanthorrhgeu), 
or grass tree; for which purpose they ose a stout pointed stick, about. five feet 
long, called a ‘katta"”, 
Leaves: The bases of the leaves of the Sword-rush (Lepidosperma giadia- 
tune) and of the Graas-tree (Xonthorrhuea australis) were chewed, perhaps after 
cooking, Ifa form of Sonchus vsper found in swampy country in the South-East 
is an indigenous species, as it may be, doubtless its leaves were eaten. 
Native Stinging Nettle (Urtica incisa). This is common in the swamps and 
G. French Angas (I, p. 54) records that it was eaten on the Lower Murray in 
times of gcareity, being baked between hot stones. It may also have been eaten in 
the South-East. 
Honey rrom Fiowers: G. French Angas [(p. 149) in 1844, near Lacepede 
Bay noted ‘heaps of the melliferous cones of the bankeia lying round the deserted 
wurlies of the natives and stated that the natives steeped the cones in water which 
extracted the honey and provided a sweet beverage. Honey could also be obtained 
from the flowers of the Grass-tree (Xanthorrhoea australis). 
Large grabs in trees (as mentioned under ‘‘ Insect Poods’'), The Red Gum 
(Eucalyptus restrata)—tart-pen-a, the red gum—and the native honey suckle 
(Barksia maryinata)—wroit, the honeysuckle—were both infested with large 
white grubs which the natives ate. The Sugar-lerp insect producing ‘‘manna"’ 
on Lucalyptus viminalis is mentioned under ‘‘ Insect Foods'’, 
Other native names for plants given by Mrs. Smith comprise: Boo-tho, grass. 
Bo, an eatable root. Mar-o-ngrie and Moor-na, edible roots, Boon-er-doir, 4 
mallge-waod spear (probably from Bucalyptus diversifolia). We-re-o-dir, a tea- 
tree spear (probably from the swamp tea-trec, Leptospermum pubescens). Boo- 
in-kool, a reed necklace. Karra, the fern-leaved wattle (Acacia decurrens). 
Mooth-a, the blackwood tree (A. melanoxylon). Koora, the tea-tree (Melaleuca or 
Leptospermum). Kirp, the boxwood (probably Burseria spinosa). Ngir, sheoak, 
easuarina (Casuarina stricta). M’raa, the stringy-bark tree (Hucalyplus obliqua 
and perhaps the rather similar H. baxteri), Negir-aa-da, the white gum-tree (pre- 
sumably B. leucoxylomw). Kel-la-or, lamoewoord (presumably a tree from which 
speare were made, but the species cannot be suggested unless it is H. diwersifolia, 
mentioned above), Mal-a, a swamp weed (identification not possible), Ngurp. 
native apples that grow on the coast (as munter has already been identified as 
Kunzea pomifera and we know of uo other apple-lke fruit on the coast, except 
possibly that of Billardiora cymosa), we are at a loss to lnow to what. this name 
applies unless it is an alternative name for mnnter, one or other of these names 
having been dropped for some time on aceount of the death of someone who bore 
such & name, 
Baron yon Mueller (Brough Smyth, [, p. 212) has supplied a list of vegetable 
substances commonly eaten by the natives of Victoria, As many of these occur 
also in South Australia, and the Sonth-Kast is adjacent to Victoria, the following 
mostly additional sourees of vegetable foods available in this State may he in- 
ferred : The tubers of numerous terrestrial orchids; the roots of various Liligceaous 
plants, eg., Tkysanotus patersonit R. By., 7. duberosus BR. Br., Burchardia wia- 
bellate KR. Br, Anguillarwa dioica R, Br., Caesin wittala BR, Br, and Bulbine hidbesa 
(R. Br.) Haw; the tuberous roots of Geranium pilosum Forst., of the sedge Seir- 
pus martinis L, and of the bulrash Typha angustifolia L,; the young shoota. 
hages of the leaves and young flower-stalk and spike of the grass-tree Yanthorrhaca 
australis (and probably X. semiplana KR, Br.) ; leaves of Nasturtium terrestre 
