A LIVING HISTORY BLOG.

18TH CENTURY LIVING HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA.

Tuesday 29 March 2011

Forest Walk. My Latest Video.

Forest Walk is the result of my searching for a large red dinner plate sized fungus that one of my sons found whilst bushwalking in our forest. I never did find it, but decided to use the footage that I had anyway. This is an example of paying attention to your surroundings, & noting anything that may be of use to you now or later on.



MANNA GUM/RIBBON GUM.



One of the manna gum trees, Eucalyptus viminalis, is listed by Fujita as being pollinated by the grey-headed flying fox. The manna gum tree is also a honey tree. Bees as well as bats seek out the sweet nectar of the tree's flowers.


The manna gum tree is so named because a sweet red gum oozes from the leaves and damaged bark. The gum was eaten in early times by aboriginal Australians. It is still collected and savoured by human beings.


Manna gum medicine: Manna gum has a mild laxative effect. Oil from the leaves fights influenza viruses. Aching limbs can be relieved by a soak in a decoction of manna gum leafy twigs.


Other uses: E. viminalis is a source of a multi-use essential oil. The sweet leaf and bark manna is incorporated into adhesives and the bark is a source of tannin.


http://www.batplants.co.uk/manna%20gum.htm

1 comment:

David R. Reid said...

G'day Keith I can see you will never want for firewood, kindling and tinder and what a great little flat in Butterfly Valley. Le Loup's flat perhaps? A lovely place you are very lucky. Cheers Dave p.s Great shots of punkwood. http://davesact.com