Mangarri (Walmajarri for food)
Good day my name is Phil Docherty.
Growing up in country Western Australia and encouraged by my mother to get outdoors and explore the bush I developed a keen interest in native plants with a particular emphasis on edible plants and other associated foods.
Over the years going bush has become a passion. I'm hoping to be able share some of this knowledge by presenting a regular column dedicated to the topic, whilst introducing you to people and country who still carry out traditional harvest that I've met along the way.
First off on the menu I want to take you two hundred kilometres up the Gibb River Road from Derby to the small community of Imitji. Imitji sits on the border of Bunuba country to the south and Ngarinygin country to the north. It was here in mid-December that I caught up with a young Kija man who I've worked with over the years. He explained that the timing was perfect to go and collect his favourite bush tucker Buchanania obovata or daalony as he called it in his traditional language.
We drove up a rocky jump on to a flattish area overlooking Bells Creek. Here I was directed to stop on the edge of the road beside a scraggly tree with rough, grey bark about four metres tall. Out of the vehicle we shook a heavily laden branch enabling the ripened fruit to fall to the ground. We quickly filled a hat full of the firm oblong green plums about the size of five cent coin and then proceeded to gorge ourselves on the fruit that has a taste reminiscent of a cultivated mango. The flesh surrounding the hard nut although quite thin, is sweet and tasty.
Across the regions where it grows (including the wetter parts of the Kimberley and Northern Territory including Arnhemland, the Victoria River District and the Katherine region), Buchanania obovata is commonly referred to as green plum or wild mango. The fruit is ready to eat when it ripens and falls from the tree.
A closely related species, Buchanania arborescens, grows in monsoon vine thickets and along the edges of rainforest patches in the NT and Queensland and is reputed to be just as delicious.
As well as having a delicious fruit, the green plum trees concoctions from leaves and bark are used to treat a raft of medical problems including toothache, excessive bleeding, boils and sores and as a painkiller
Buchanania obovata is easily propagated from fresh seed which should be sown within a month of collection. Using a standard potting mix, available at all hardware stores, bury the seed to a depth of 5 millimetres, keep moist not wet, germination should occur within 2-3 weeks. Prick out into a pot when it has sprouted its first true leaves. Propagation will only be successful in the hot humid months from November to March. Once your seedling has developed a healthy root system, plant out into free draining soil, water in, keep irrigated and within three to four years the cultivated tree will bear fruit.
Buchanania obovata is also known as gulay in Uungu, yulmurra in Alawa, dirriwan in Mangarrayi, laani in Bunuba, yankumwani in Tiwi, gorrol in Bardi and parrarraj in Gurindji.
