Marsdenia australis
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| Marsdenia australis |
Bush banana, is an Australian native plant. It is found in Central Australia and throughout Western Australia. Its scientific name is Marsdenia australis. It is a bush tucker food for Aborigines.
It has several names in the Arrernte language of Central Australia; merne alangkwe, merne ulkantyerrknge (the flowers) and merne altyeye (the prefix merne signifies plant food). It can be eaten small or fully grown. The small fruits are called amwerterrpe.
The flowers hang in clusters and can also be eaten, as can the main part of the plant (altyeye in Arrernte).
Bush bananas are cooked in hot earth beside the fire or eaten raw when young (the flavour has been likened to fresh peas). The root of the plant is called Merne atnetye and can also be eaten raw or cooked. The very white roots are cooked in the hot earth close to the fire.
All parts of the bush banana plant are still eaten in the desert today.
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