NATIVE PLANTS AS FOOD RESOURCES The plants below are indigenous to the area and provided a food resource for Aboriginal peoples and native animals |
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| The tar tree is related to the cashew and while eaten by Aboriginal people should be treated with extreme caution due to a caustic chemical causing severe irritation | Cycads grow naturally in this area and although poisonous provided food foe Aboriginal peole after a process of leaching in water, heating and grinding to produce a flour like substance |
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| The nutmeg is a common rainforest tree and favourate food of the Torres Strait pigeon. Although not as strong in flavour it can be substitued for exotic nutmeg | Piper Rothianum belongs to the same family as culinary pepper |
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| Blue Quandong is a common rainforest tree with edible fruits. The leaves turn red providing a striking contrast to the blue fruit | Diploglottis smithi or native tamarind provides abundant fleshy sour tasting fruits in Nov. Dec. |