On Plants used by the Natives of North Queensland, Flinders and Mitchell Rivers, for Food, Medicine, &c., &c.

By EDWARD PALMER, Parramatta, N.S.W.

[Read before the Royal Society of N. S. W., 1 August, 1883.]

THE aboriginals appear to be possessed of considerable knowledge of indigenous plants and their uses in their several districts, as well as the periods of their flowering and fruiting; they also use many for their supposed medicinal qualities; and, considering that nearly half of their daily food consists of roots and fruits, it is no matter for surprise that they should possess some knowledge of plants. But apart from their interest in them for food purposes, they have names for a great number of plants which they do not use, and are familiar with the habits of nearly all the vegetation of their particular district.

This knowledge is likely to die out with them, unless some means are taken to place on record such information as can be gathered in the present day. The following list has been collected personally, and the names and manner of using them have been obtained from the natives themselves, and from personal observation and experience of them in their daily lifeprincipally in the Bourke and Cook district of North Queensland, where the natives are still in their primitive or original state.

The list includes 106 plants for the first part; and about fifty more are known, but which are not determined yet, the season not being favourable for collecting them in seed or flower.

The naming of the different species has been given by Baron F. von Mueller and Dr. Woolls, and Mr. F. M. Bailey, from specimens forwarded.

Plants used by the natives of North Queensland, Flinders and Mitchell Rivers particularly, for food purposes.

1. Acacia bidwillii, Bentham F. Aus., vol. ii, p. 420. Native name on Cloncurry, "Yadthor." A soft-wooded tree, 20 feet high, with drooping branches; grows on the plains on the Flinders and Mitchell; leaflets small and numerous, fifteen to twenty pair, pendulous. Young trees thorny. The roots of young trees roasted for food after peeling. There are two varieties very much alike.

2. Acacia decora, Reichb., and A. homalophylla (gidya tree). gum from these is gathered and eaten.

The

3. Acacia farnesiana, Bentham. (LEGUMINOSEÆ.) Native name on Cloncurry, "Bunkerman.” A perennial shrub with many branching stems, growing up to 12 feet high on all the Flinders plains. Small pinnate leaves, and yellow blossoms with a strong sweet scent; branches very thorny; pods 2 inches long, round (filled with a pithy substance in which the seeds lie); roasted.

4. Acacia pallida, F. v. M. Native name in Cloncurry "Yadthor." A tall tree with drooping foliage. The roots of the young

trees are roasted and eaten.

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5. Adenanthera abrosperma, F. V. M. Native name on Mitchell, Oon-doo." Tree 20 to 25 feet high, rough hard bark, pinnate leaves. Pods 5 to 6 inches long; seeds red and black, shining, and very hard; roasted on the coals and the kernels eaten. Grows in sandy poor country from the Gilbert to

the coast.

6. Albizzia monilifera, F. v. M. Native name on Cloncurry, "Mullar." A spreading, bushy tree, found near watercourses or dry swamps near Normanton and Lower Mitchell, deciduous, bright green foliage. Pods, several inches long, are roasted when young and eaten by natives; also a beautiful tree.

7. Ammannia multiflora, Flora Aust., vol. iii, p. 298. (LYTHRARIÆ.) Native name on Cloncurry, "Jerry-jerry." Small annual plant, growing a few inches high, erect and branched. Grows among the grass in the billybongs of the Cloncurry River, with numerous, small, red seeds. The whole plant is gathered and ground with the feet on the ground, to separate the woody parts; it is then winnowed, and ground up with water on flat stones, and baked as a cake.

8. Aponogeton sp. Native name on Cloncurry "Tharndoo." Small aquatic plant in shallow lagoons, in Cloncurry and Mitchell Rivers. Leaves oblong, floating; flowers small and yellow. Bulbs spherical, 1 inch in diameter; eaten raw and roasted.

9. Avicennia tomentosa, R. Br. Mangrove, a small tree grows along saltwater creeks and swamps. Leaves pale green above, and white tomentose underneath. The tree grows plentifully in tidal waters in the Gulf. The fruit is baked or steamed in hollows made in the ground, in which they make fires; then taken out, and soaked and baked in the ashes.

10. Barringtonia careya. (CAREYA AUSTRALIS.) F. v. M. Native name on Cloncurry, "Go-onje" and "Gunthamarrah"; on the Mitchell, "Ootcho." Tree in open forest country between the