| Marsdenia australis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asclepiadaceae |
| Genus: | Marsdenia |
| Species: | M. australis |
| Binomial name | |
| Marsdenia australis (R.Br.) Druce[1] |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Leichardtia australis R.Br. |
|
Marsdenia australis, commonly known as the bush banana, silky pear or green vine is an Australian native plant. It is found in Central Australia and throughout Western Australia. It is a bush tucker food for Aborigines.[2]
M. australis has many different names in Aboriginal languages. In the Arrernte language of Central Australia; merne alangkwe (older transcription: elonka[3]), 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. Kalgoorlie, Western Australia takes its name from the a Wangai word, Karlkurla, meaning "place of the silky pears".
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.
One of the significant bush food for the Indigenous Aboriginal people of Australia, the food is often depicted in current Aboriginal art, especially paintings about 'bush tucker', as well as 'Bush Banana Dreaming' paintings.[4]