Black Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus)

Aboriginal peoples from many diverse groups favour the fibrous kurrajong bark for making string for fishing lines, nets and bags, as well as body adornments such as headbands. Flowers are followed by fruit in the form of leathery pods. The Kurrajong pods contain yellow seeds that are known to be highly nutritious, containing around 18% protein and 25% fat with high levels of magnesium and zinc. The seeds were eaten after the removal of yellow hairs which surround them, and were consumed raw and sometimes roasted, producing a pleasantly nutty flavour. The young roots of this tree also make an excellent food source and can provide water.

Soure: Indigenous plant use; A booklet on the medicinal, nutritional and technological use of indigenous plants; By Zena Cumpston; Clean Air and Urban Landscapes (CAUL) Hub in Melbourne 2020