Drinking milk/ Aussie Quandong

[Guest guest]

Namaste Suraj-ji,

 

More links:

 

http://farrer.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/APOL7/sep97-1.html

 

The Quandong is the rich red fruit of the Quandong tree [santalum

Acuminatum] a fruit highly valued by the Aboriginal Australians as

good bush tucker. With it's unique flavour and high vitamin C content

this fruit has earned itself a place in the cuisine of all outback

Australians. The arid lands of Australia are home to this tree but

you no longer have to brave the sand and flies to experience the

Quandong. Innovative arid land horticulturists are now growing and

producing fruit from managed plantations. This fruit is good enough

to take it's place alongside the other exotics on the Australian and

international markets. Growers are supported by the Australian

Quandong Industry Association inc [AQIA] Fact sheets are available.

http://www.aqia.com.au/quandong/quandong.html

 

The fruit contains a hard pitted stone in which is a kernel or nut

which is edible and highly nutritious, it was a major source of food

for the aboriginals who were noted for their ability to obtain the

kernels from the droppings of Emus; the outer fleshy coating of the

Quandong is a favourite food of these animals. The kernel contains

such high amounts of oil that it can be ignited in a similar way to a

candle. Records also show that the leaves of the plant were used by

aboriginals who ground or macerated them for the medicinal qualities

in the treatment of infections such as boils and sores.

http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/4A2568B2008332A3/BCView/98C14C72D99747FCCA25

6BCF000BBD84?OpenDocument

 

(This is an interesting site)- Excerpts:

Traditionally the Quandong was an important food source for

Australian Aborigines. Amongst male members of central Australia's

Pitjantjara people, Quandongs were considered a suitable substitute

for meat - especially when hunting game was in short supply. Around

the Everard Ranges, Quandong gathering and food preparation was

considered Pitjantjara women's business. Ripe red Quandong fruits

would be eaten raw or dried for later use. Typically Everard Ranges

women would collect Quandongs in bark dishes, separate the edible

fruit from the pitted stone, and then roll the edible fruit into a

ball. The Quandong ball was then broken up for consumption by the

tribal group.

 

Medicinal Uses of the Quandong

===============================

Amongst Australian aborigines Quandongs were much valued for their

medicinal properties. Specialised uses of the Quandong included a

form of tea which was drunk as a purgative. Quandong tree roots were

also ground down and used as an infusion for the treatment of

rheumatism. Typically Quandong leaves were crushed and mixed with

saliva to produce a topical ointmnet for skin sores and boils.

Encased within each Quandong seed is an oil rich kernel which was

also processed in a similar fashion to treat skin disorders. Quandong

kernels could also be eaten and some tribal groups were known to

employ crushed kernels as a form of "hair conditioning oil".

Ingeniously Australia's aborigines appeared to be aware that

Quandongs were a preferred food source of emus, and that a ready

supply of Quandong seeds could be found in their droppings.

 

***** Scroll towards the bottom for "Queer Quandong Facts"***

http://www.nullarbornet.com.au/themes/quandongs.html

 

Om Namah Shivaya,

Sy

 

--- In

, "surajraghavan2002"

<suraj_raghavan@h...> wrote:

>

> ps: do you have any info on australian use of elaeocarpus genus

> either in religion or medicine? Take care

> Suraj