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The Plants of Milarri Garden

Milarri means 'outdoors' in

Boon Wurrung and Woi
Wurrung

Milarri Garden is located within the Bunjilaka

Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Melbourne Museum.

The plants in Milarri are predominantly indigenous

Victorian plants, with native flora significant to the
Aboriginal people of south-eastern Australia.

Visit Milarri Garden at Bunjilaka

Aboriginal people used plants extensively for food, technology and medicine.
Many plants continue to be used for medicine, fibrecraft and making weapons
and tools.

Within Milarri is an outdoor performance space and a collaborative sculpture

titled Biamie, the Rainbow Serpent by Clive Atkinson, a Yorta Yorta artist, and
Domonic Benhura, a Shona artist from Zimbabwe.

This guide was prepared by Serene O'Halloran, Andrew Kuhlmann, Veronica

Barnett and Rowena Flynn.
 The Milarri Garden

WARNING: People without proper knowledge of these food plants should

never attempt to eat them. It could be harmful.

TREES SHRUBS AND TREE FERNS GRASSES AND GROUNDCOVERS AQUATIC

Trees
Woolly Tea-tree
Woolip (Woi wurrung), Wuliip (Taungurung)

Botanical name: Leptospermum lanigerum

Family: Myrtaceae

Uses
The wood is an important resource, providing single and double-barbed
spears.
Distribution
Woolly Tea-tree grows in riparian woodland, coastal tea tree heath, and valley
sclerophyll forest. Found in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and South
Australia.

Cultivation
This small dense tree makes a beautiful specimen for a small garden and
thrives with moist soil. It grows to 2–6 m tall by 1–3 m wide and can be pruned
to maintain compact shape.

Drooping She-oak
Gneering (Gunditjmara), Barn (Gunaikurnai)

Botanical name: Allocasuarina verticillata

Family: Casuarinaceae

Uses
The timber is mainly used to manufacture boomerangs
and other implements. The young shoots and cones can
be eaten.

Distribution
Drooping She-oak is widespread in primary dune scrub,
rocky open scrub, red gum and ironbark country. It
grows in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and
South Australia.
She-oak tree, Allocasuarina verticillata, growing in Milarri
Cultivation Garden.
This small erect tree likes well-drained soils and can
grow in full sun to partial shade. Once established it can tolerate dry periods
and it has dense yellow flowers from March to December. It grows around 4–11
m tall and 3–6 m wide.
The distinctive needle-like foliage of the drooping she-oak.

Messmate
Wangnarra (Woi wurrung), Katakatak (Gunaikurnai), Daagonj
(Taungurung)

Botanical name: Eucalyptus obliqua

Family: Myrtaceae

Uses
In common with other species of stringybark, this tree's outer brittle bark is
powdered to serve as tinder to catch sparks when making fire. The inner bark
can be used to make a type of coarse string for bags and fishing nets.

Distribution
Messmate is widespread in wet, damp, valley and dry sclerophyll forests, and
grassy open woodland. It is found in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales,
Tasmania and South Australia.
 Messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua) growing in Milarri Garden.

Cultivation
Messmates can grow to 35 m and are tall, upright trees with dense canopies.
Eucalyptus obliqua prefers moist, well-drained soils but will tolerate dry
periods once established.

Austral Mulberry
Djiel-warg (Woi wurrung)

Botanical name: Hedycarya angustifolia

Family: Monimiaceae

Austral Mulberry
Uses
A dry piece of stem about 60 cm long and 1 cm in diameter was rapidly twirled
in a hole made in a flat piece of wood, often the dry flower-stalk of the
Southern Grasstree, until friction caused the pith to smoulder. This was then
tipped onto some dry stringybark and gently blown to produce a flame. The
whole operation took about two minutes. So highly prized were the sticks,
called Djelwuck, that they were traded from the mountains right up to the
northern tribes on the Murray River. Different materials were used in other
parts of Australia to make fire.

Distribution
Austral Mulberry is found in cool temperate rainforest and damp sclerophyll
forest. It grows in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.

Cultivation
This shrub or small tree grows 3 –7 m tall and 4 m wide and requires cool, rich
soil. It grows best where there is plenty of water.

Lilly Pilly
Wanduin (Gunaikurnai name for the fruit)

Botanical name: Acmena smithii

Family: Myrtaceae

The Lilly Pilly tree

Uses
The pale mauve or white berry-like fruit is pleasantly tart and juicy and can be
eaten raw as a refreshing snack food. Lilly Pilly fruits were used by early settlers
to make jam.

Distribution
A. smithii is widespread across east coast rainforests. It grows in Queensland,
New South Wales, Victoria and on King Island.

Cultivation
This tree grows between 3–30 m. In cultivation it is a medium tree with a dense
canopy that can be pruned to make a hedge. It thrives in cool, moist soils but is
adaptable to a range of soil types and conditions. It is resistant to moderate
frosts and is one of the lilly pillys least susceptible to the psyllid pests that
create a pimpling effect on the leaves.

Blackwood
Moeang (Woi wurrung), Yanun or Yoman (Gunaikurnai), Moyan
(Taungurung)

Botanical name: Acacia melanoxylon

Family: Fabaceae

The flower of the Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) tree

Uses
The fibre of this tree can be used to make fishing lines while its timber provides
weapons such as woomera, shields and throwing-sticks. It also has medicinal
uses: an infusion of its bark can be used to treat rheumatic joints.
Distribution
Blackwoods grow in cool temperate rainforests, dry grassy forest, riparian
scrub, plains grassland and dry sclerophyll forests. They are found in Victoria,
New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia.

Cultivation
This is a very fast-growing, upright tree with a dense canopy. It can tolerate
dryness but thrives in deep, moist soil and can provide excellent screening and
shade. It can grow 5–30 m tall and 2–6 m wide.

Ironbark
Yerrip (Dja Dja Wurrung)

Botanical name: Eucalyptus sideroxylon, Eucalyptus

tricarpa
Family: Myrtaceae

Uses
The timber is used for the manufacture of weapons and
tools, while the flowers are soaked in water to make a
sweet drink.

Distribution
Ironbark is a general name for a number of species of
eucalypt that all have dark, deeply-furrowed bark. They
grow in the sclerophyll forest and box ironbark
woodland of Victoria, New South Wales and
Queensland.
The distinctive trunk of Ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon)
Cultivation
growing in the Milarri Garden
Ironbarks can grow 10–30 m tall and 10–20 m wide.
Once established, these large, upright, spreading trees can withstand dry
conditions. They prefer well-drained soils.

Coast Banksia
Birrna (Gunaikurnai)

Botanical name: Banksia integrifolia

Family: Proteaceae
 Coast Banksia, Banksia integrifolia

Uses
Banksia cones can be soaked in water to extract the nectar and make a sweet
drink.

Distribution
Coast Banksia is found in primary dune scrub and coastal woodlands. It grows
in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania.

Cultivation
This tree grows 10–20 m tall and 5–10 m wide. It requires well-drained soil and
summer watering to become established. The bark becomes gnarled and
fissured with age. It is a useful plant for controlling dune erosion.

Yellow Gum
Terrk, Ban-napp (Dja Dja Wurrung), Easip (Woi wurrung)

Botanical name: Eucalyptus leucoxylon

Family: Myrtaceae
Yellow Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon) flowering in Milarri Garden

Uses
The oil can be used for the treatment of colds, while the nectar is collected
from the flowers to make a sweet drink. The timber is used to make weapons
and tools.

Distribution
Yellow Gums grow in open rocky scrub, red gum, box and ironbark habitats
and dry sclerophyll forests. They are found in Victoria, South Australia and New
South Wales.

Cultivation
This upright tree has a spreading canopy and grows 10–20 m tall and 6–20 m
wide. It is easily cultivated across a range of soils and can withstand full sun to
part sun.

Shrubs and tree ferns

Mountain Pepper
No recorded Aboriginal name

Botanical name: Tasmannia lanceolata

Family: Winteraceae
Uses
The unripe berries were used to relieve rashes and sores.

Distribution
Mountain Pepper is found in cool wet habits from sea level to alpine areas in
Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. It grows in mountain gullies and
mountainous areas in tall open forests, woodland, sclerophyll forests and
coniferous shrubberies.

Cultivation
In cultivation this aromatic soft-timbered shrub or tree can grow up to 10 m tall
but can be pruned to shape. It has separate male and female plants; it flowers
from September to January and fruits ripen in March. It prefers fertile, moist,
well-drained, lime-free sites and does best in partial shade.

White Elderberry
Burne-burne (Djabwurrung), Garawed (Gunaikurnai)

Botanical name: Sambucus gaudichaudiana

Family: Caprifoliaceae

Uses
This soft-leafed shrub produces clusters of cream-
coloured berries which can be eaten raw.

Distribution
White Elderberry is found in sclerophyll forests and
riparian woodland and scrub in Victoria, Queensland,
New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia.

Cultivation
White Elderberry grows 0.6–2 m tall and 0.5–1.5 m wide.
In cultivation this perennial herbaceous herb does best
in well-drained soil but it can also tolerate moist shady
Sambucus gaudichaudiana, White Elderberry growing in
areas.
Milarri Garden

Prickly Currant Bush

Morr (Woi wurrung)

Botanical name: Coprosma quadrifida

Family: Rubiaceae

Uses
The small red berries appearing in the summer were
eaten.
Distribution
Prickly Currant Bush is found in cool temperate
rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests and woodlands of
Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.

Cultivation
This open, sometimes straggly shrub grows best in cool
positions with moist, well-drained soil. It reaches 2–4 m
tall and 1.5 m wide.

Kangaroo Apple
Mookitch (Gunditjmara)

Botanical name: Solanum aviculare

Family: Solanaceae

Bright red berries of the Coprosma quadrifida, Prickly

Currant Bush growing in Milarri Garden

Kangaroo Apple

Uses
The fleshy berries can be eaten but only when very ripe, often being placed in
sand heaps to ripen. Unripe berries are poisonous. This plant was also used for
contraception.

Distribution
Kangaroo Apples are found in red gum habitat, wet sclerophyll forests and
grassy open forest in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania.

Cultivation
This soft woody shrub is fast-growing and requires regular pruning to stop it
growing straggly. It grows to 1–3 m tall and 1–4 m wide. It requires well-
drained soil in full sun or part shade.

Austral Indigo
No Aboriginal name recorded

Botanical name: Indigofera australis

Family: Fabaceae
Uses
The crushed roots can be used to poison fish. The leaves
are also a medicine for skin complaints.

Distribution
Austral Indigo grows in all Australian states and
territories. It is widespread in damp sclerophyll forests,
riparian scrub and grassy open forest.

Cultivation
This small shrub grows to 1–2 m wide and tall. It is very
attractive in flower with purple, white or mauve sprays
from September to December. The flowers can be used
as a blue dye. Austral Indigo can adapt to any well-
drained soil and requires regular pruning to maintain
shape and strength. It is lime tolerant.

Indigofera australis, Austral Indigo flowering in Milarri

Hemp Bush Garden

No Aboriginal name recorded

Botanical name: Gynatrix pulchella

Family: Malvaceae

Uses
String can be made from the bark.

Hemp Bush

Distribution
Hemp Bush grows in red gum woodland, rocky sites, riparian scrub and damp
sclerophyll forests in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.
Cultivation
An open woody shrub that can grow to 2–4 m wide and 1.5–3 m tall, Hemp
Bush prefers moist well-drained soil and will suffer if not watered. Regular
pruning is the key to keeping this shrub compact in cultivation.

Victorian Christmas Bush

Corranderrk (Woi wurrung), Geringdah (Taungurung)

Botanical name: Prostanthera lasianthos

Family: Lamiaceae

Uses
Men could start fires quickly with carefully chosen
equipment. Victorian Christmas Bush can be used as the
drill piece in conjunction with the flower stem of
Xanthorrhoea australis as the butt piece. The Austral
Mulberry is preferred as the drill piece.

Distribution
This tall shrub is found in valley sclerophyll forests and
damp conditions in Victoria, Queensland, New South
Wales and Tasmania.

Cultivation
This small tree can be pruned into a hedge but needs Prostanthera lasianthos, Victorian Christmas Bush growing
in Milarri Garden
protection from strong wind and mulching is beneficial.
It grows 2–8 m tall and 2–5 m wide.

White Tea-tree
Burgan (Woi wurrung)

Botanical name: Kunzea ericoides

Family: Myrtaceae
 White Tea-tree

Uses
The wood can be used to make implements and weapons.

Distribution
White Tea-tree is found in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.

Cultivation
This fast-growing shrub that is suitable for screening. It can grow 2–5 m tall and
2–4 m wide. Once established, it can tolerate wet and dry conditions, and can
be pruned back hard.

Soft Tree Fern

Kombadi (Woi wurrung), Garak (Gunaikurnai)

Botanical name: Dicksonia antarctica

Family: Dicksoniaceae

Uses
In Victoria, people ate the starchy pith from the top part
of the stem. They split the stem and scooped out part of
the pith, an operation that does not kill the fern.

Both Rough and Soft Tree Fern can be eaten, although

Soft Tree Fern tastes better.

Distribution
Soft Tree Fern is endemic to Australia and grows in
Tasmania, Victoria, NSW and south-eastern Queensland.
It thrives in moist areas, predominantly in wet
sclerophyll forest and along creeks.
A Soft Tree Fern (Dicksonia antarctica) in Milarri Garden,
showing the tightly-curled new fronds emerging from the
crown of the plant.
Cultivation
In cultivation this tree fern grows best in filtered light on loose well-drained
soils with abundant water.

Dicksonia antarctica, Soft Tree Fern in Milarri Garden

Grasses and groundcovers

Trigger Plant
Pinnong (Gunditjmara)

Botanical name: Stylidium gramminifolium

Family: Stylidiaceae

Uses
When the pink flowers are gently prodded, the style
suddenly flips over. This was used as a source of
amusement.

Distribution
Trigger Plant is widespread in red gum woodland, plains
grassland, dry and valley sclerophyll forests and grassy
open forests. It is found in Victoria, Queensland, New
South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia.
Cultivation
In cultivation this tufted perennial can vary in size and
will tolerate wet and dry conditions once established. It
prefers moist well drained soils in sun or part shade. In
the wild, it grows to 20–60 cm tall and 20–30 cm wide.

Southern Grasstree
Baggup (Woi wurrung), Tarndang or Dan Dan
(Gunaikurnai)

Botanical name: Xanthorrhoea australis

Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae

Uses
The roots are eaten and the nectar on the white flowers,
when soaked in water, can produce a sweet drink. The
resin can be used as a sealant for manufacture of tools The pink flowers of the Trigger Plant, Stylidium
and other artefacts, and was used to fix spear or axe graminifolium

heads to shafts. It is also a useful leather tanning agent.

The flowering stem can be used as a fire stick and for the manufacture of
spears.

Southern Grasstree

In post-colonial times, Southern Grasstree resin found a variety of new uses.

These include the manufacture of gramophone records, as a mahogany stain,
floor sealant, church scent, and a component in making explosives.

Distribution
Grasstrees are found in grassy open habitats of Victoria, New South Wales,
Tasmania and South Australia.
Cultivation
This striking plant is slow-growing-each metre of trunk takes about a century
to form-but old Southern Grasstrees can reach several metres in height. They
like well-drained soil and tolerate dry conditions once established, recovering
well after fire. It has dense white spires of flowers from July to December. This
species can be susceptible to Phytophora cinnamomi (cinnamon fungus).

Kangaroo Grass
Ban (Gunaikurnai)

Botanical name: Themeda triandra

Family: Poaceae

Uses
The stems and leaves can turned into string to make fish nets.

Distribution
This perennial tussock grass is found in all Australian states and territories. It
grows in plains grassland, red gum habitat, box woodland, grassy woodland
and open forest and dry and valley sclerophyll forest.

Kangaroo Grass

Cultivation
Kangaroo Grass is an attractive, soft grass that grows 40–75 cm wide and 70–90
cm high. Adaptable to most soils, it can be cut back in late winter to replenish
growth each third year or so. It does not like wet soils.
Red-fruited Saw-sedge
No Aboriginal name recorded

Botanical name: Gahnia sieberiana

Family: Cyperaceae

Uses
The seeds were ground into a paste to make a simple
bread.

Distribution
Red-fruited Saw-sedge is found in wattle tea-tree scrub
and damp sclerophyll forest. It grows in Victoria,
Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.

Cultivation
Saw-sedges are important, sometimes exclusive, food
plants for caterpillars of several butterflies. They also
provide safe habitats for small birds. Gahnia sieberiana
Red-fruited Saw-sedge growing in Milarri Garden
grows 1.5–3 m tall and 2–3 m wide. It prefers moist soil
but will withstand some drought once established, and
is useful to help control soil erosion.

Spiny-headed Mat-rush
Karawun (Woi wurrung)

Botanical name: Lomandra longifolia

Family: Xanthorrheaceae

Uses
The leaves are used for making baskets. Once picked, the leaves are split down
the centre and left to dry for three or more days. Before being worked, they are
dampened with water for 24 hours to render them pliable.

Spiny-headed Mat-rush
Distribution
Spiny-headed Mat-rush grows in grassy woodland, Red Gum habitat, dry
sclerophyll forests, Coast Banksia woodland and tea-tree heath. It is found in
Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.

Cultivation
Lomandra is now widely planted in Melbourne streets and parks, where it
grows 0.5–1 m tall and 0.5–1.2 m wide. This large tussock plant can withstand
dry conditions once established and can live in dry shade under trees.

Bulbine Lily
Pike (Woi wurrung)

Botanical name: Bulbine bulbosa

Family: Asphodelaceae

Uses
Under the stalk and soft long leaves of the Bulbine Lily is
a plump, round, sweet-tasting corm with many thick
roots radiating from it. Traditionally, the corm can be
eaten all year round and was probably cooked first.

Distribution
This perennial herb is widespread in dry and valley
sclerophyll forests, Red Gum woodland, and plains
grassland in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales,
Tasmania and South Australia.

Cultivation
The flower of the Bulbine Lily (Bulbine bulbosa) in Milarri
Bulbine Lily prefers moist well drained soil and it will die
Garden
back to tuberous rootstock in dry weather. If it’s
provided with additional water it will continue to grow leaves throughout the
year. It grows about 20 60–cm tall and 30–cm wide.

Small-leaved Clematis
Botanical name: Clematis microphylla
Family: Ranunculaceae

Uses
The leaves can relieve skin irritation but may cause blisters unless used in
moderation. The roots can be eaten raw and taste peppery. The roots can be
also be cooked in baskets and kneaded on a small sheet of bark into dough.
 Small-leaved Clematis

Distribution
Small-leaved Clematis is found across Australia except the Northern Territory.
This climber grows in grassy low open forests and, Coast Banksia woodland,
plains grassland, primary dune scrub and dry sclerophyll forest.

Cultivation
This climbing plant requires well drained soil and will scramble up fences and
other plants to about 1.5 m. It can grow in sun to part shade.

New Zealand Spinach or Warrigal Cabbage

No Aboriginal name recorded

Botanical name: Tetragonia tetragonioides

Family: Aizoaceae

New Zealand Spinach

Uses
The Koories around Sydney were said to despise the leaves as food, although
the early settlers cooked them as spinach, and thought so highly of them that
the plant was taken to Europe and America and cultivated for food. Despite the
Sydney account, it is very likely that in other areas this is one of the many
plants used by the Koories as greens. It contains poisonous compounds called
oxalates and must be cooked properly before eating.

Distribution
New Zealand Spinach grows across Australia except the Northern Territory.

Cultivation
This easily-cultivated groundcover thrives in moist, well-drained soil in sun or
part shade. It is low-growing and spreads about 1–2 m wide.

Flax Lily
Murmbal (Wergaia)

Botanical name: Dianella tasmanica

Family: Liliaceae

Uses
The leaf can be split into two down the mid-rib and rolled into string for use in
tying and basket weaving.

Flax Lily
Distribution
Flax Lily grows in wet sclerophyll forests in damp conditions. It is found in
Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.

Cultivation
This perennial plant is very tough once established but prefers moist, cool soil.
It can be grown in part shade to full sun and will develop a strong clump of
foliage about 0.6–1.5 m tall and 0.5–2 m wide.

Native Geranium
Terrat (Woi Wurrung)

Botanical name: Geranium solanderi

Family: Geraniaceae

Uses
This plant is high in medicinal tannin used to treat
diarrhoea. Geraniums have tuberous roots like radishes
which contain nutritious starch. These roots can be
pounded to break down the fibrous texture before being
cooked and eaten.

Distribution
Native Geranium grows in grassy open forests, riparian
scrub, sclerophyll forests and Red Gum habitat. It is
found in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, South
Australia and Western Australia.
Native Geranium (Geranium solanderi) growing in Milarri
Cultivation
Garden
This prostrate perennial will thrive in damp areas and
well-drained soils. With the right conditions it can create a dense mound of
foliage about 0.5 m tall and 0.6–1.5 m wide.

Pigface
Keeng-a (Bunganditj), Katwort (Gunaikurnai)

Botanical name: Carpobrotus rossi

Family: Aizoaceae
Pigface (Carpobrotus rossi) growing in Milarri Garden

Uses
The fruits are red when ripe in summer, and were eaten raw; the tiny seeds and
sweet pulp can be sucked out from the base. The green leaves were eaten as a
salad or were cooked and eaten with meat. They are often salty, but when old
are unpalatable because of the tannin they contain.

Inland Pigface was once abundant on the northern plains of Victoria, but was
destroyed by cattle and sheep.

Distribution
Pigface is common in the primary dune scrub and Coast Banksia woodland of
Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.

Cultivation
This trailing, low-growing succulent loves sandy soil and is easily propagated
from cuttings. Full sun promotes vigorous growth and it can be pruned to
shape. It grows 2–3 m wide.

Common Tussock Grass

No recorded Aboriginal name

Botanical name: Poa labillardieri

Family: Poaceae
Uses
Leaves and stems of the larger tussock grasses can be used for string or basket-
making.

Distribution
Common Tussock Grass grows in open rocky scrub, Red Gum, box and
ironbark habitats and dry sclerophyll forests. It is found in Victoria, South
Australia and New South Wales.

Common Tussock Grass

Cultivation
This grass grows 0.3–0.8 m tall and flowering stems to 1.2 m tall. It may change
colour in different seasons and conditions. It can adapt to a range of soil
conditions, and in southern states it can be cut back to basal growth in late
winter to promote fresh leaves.

Aquatic
Water Ribbons
Polango (Wathaurong), Loombrak (Gunaikurnai)

Botanical name: Triglochin procera

Family: Juncaginaceae

Uses
This plant was an important food source. People ate the tubers raw or cooked.

Distribution
This plant is common in shallows of freshwater lakes and streams
across Australia. It is found within water bodies of swamp scrub, riparian
woodland, grassy low open forest and moist sclerophyll forests.

Water Ribbons

Cultivation
Water Ribbons leaves can grow 0.1–2 m long and float on the water surface.
This plant likes a lot of rich organic matter and to be submerged when planted.

Common Reed
Djarg (Wemba Wemba and other Kulin languages, Kowat (Gunaikurnai)

Botanical name: Phragmites australis

Family: Poaceae

Uses
A multipurpose plant. The shafts can be used in the manufacture of spears and
the leaves can be woven into baskets. Sections of the hollow stems can be
strung into reed necklaces or used as nose ornaments. In Gippsland, the
sharpened ends of the stems are made into knife-like instruments for skinning
animals. The roots can also be eaten.
Distribution
Common Reed grows across Australia in wet, brackish soils. It is common in
riparian and swamp scrub, and Coast Banksia woodland.

Common Reed

Cultivation
This reed can reach 1–3 m tall. It is an attractive waterside plant in cultivation
but can take over. This plant can be cut back to the ground at the end of
summer to promote new green growth and remove old canes.

Common Nardoo
Dullum Dullum (Wemba Wemba)

Botanical name: Marsilea drummondii

Family: Marsileaceae

Uses
A food source in drier country, spore-cases of this water fern appear as the
water recedes and detach from the plant as the soil dries out. The spore-cases
were roasted and the soft spores were separated out and mixed with water to
make a damper.
 Common Nardoo

Distribution
Common Nardoo grows in all mainland states in flood plains, bogs and
swamps in box and Red Gum woodland, riparian scrub and wetlands.

Cultivation
The stalks of this water plant reach 2–30 cm tall. It grows in boggy soil and can
cover the surface of shallow ponds. Common Nardoo is dormant during winter
in cooler areas, and it can be propagated by spores or by division.

Old Man Weed

Gukwonderuk (Wotjobaluk, Lake Hindmarsh)

Botanical name: Centipeda cunninghamii

Family: Asteraceae

Uses
To prepare a tonic used for colds and chest complaints including tuberculosis
and as a general restorative, big bunches of the plant were gathered. It can be
rubbed on directly for skin complaints or prepared by boiling or soaking in very
hot water in a wooden or bark vessel at the edge of the fire.
 Old Man Weed

Distribution
Old Man Weed grows in all states including Tasmania. It is rare in some areas
and can be found in low soaks adjacent to rivers and in areas prone to
flooding.

Cultivation
This plant grows about 10–50 cm tall and 30 cm wide. It tolerates full sun to
filtered light in a range of soil conditions and can withstand wet conditions. It is
fast-growing and sets seed readily.

River Mint
Poang-Gurk (Djab Wurrung, meaning 'bad smell')

Botanical name: Mentha australis

Family: Lamiaceae

Uses
The leaves can be used in earth ovens to add flavour to cooked food. People
also crush the mint and inhale the aroma to treat coughs and colds.

Distribution
River Mint grows across Australia in wet sclerophyll forests and riparian scrub.
 River Mint

Cultivation
This small spreading herb can grows well in cool, moist areas on the edges of
ponds and paths. It also grows in wet soils.

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Acknowledgement of First Peoples

Museums Victoria acknowledges the Woi Wurrung (Wurundjeri) and Boon Wurrung
peoples of the eastern Kulin Nations where we work, and First Peoples language
groups and communities across Victoria and Australia.

Our organisation, in partnership with the First Peoples of Victoria, is working to

place First Peoples living cultures and histories at the core of our practice. Visit the
Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre website for more information.

COVID-safe information

Any imagery that does not reflect COVID-safe best practice has been taken pre-
coronavirus restrictions. Please see our frequently asked questions to learn more
about how we are supporting your safety.

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