Some useful bush tips from Wangaar Wuri in Guugu Yimithirr country outside Cooktown, Tropical North Queensland.

1. Some bush
foods,
medicines
& crafts
Guurrbi Tours, Cooktown
www.guurrbitours.com

2. Guraarr – Cocky Apple
You can use this for
treating burns, wounds
and headaches.
Guraarr also acts as a
fishing aid. The sap has a
toxin which stops fish
breathing and brings
them to the surface.

3. Babatha
Bloodwood Tree
The sap has antiseptic
properties and is a great
healing agent. You can
either apply the ground
crystals directly, or make a
cream with water.

4. Bingin - Morton Bay Ash
The bark is a guaranteed
cure for toothache. But
be warned - it works so
well because it makes
your tooth fall out!

5. Bulgul
This termite mound was used for cooking
during the wet season.

6. Bulgul
The black termite mound is useful too, as it
acts like a mosquito coil when burned.

7. Bungga – Grass Tree
This is a really useful tree. Parts of it are
edible, and witchetty grubs may be found in
the trunk.

8. Bungga-ga
Here’s an edible grubs from the grass tree.

9. The resin from the grass tree is useful too.

10. Grass tree resin is used in spear-making, and
also acts as an insect repellent.

11. Cluster figs
These are tasty and act as an anti-diuretic which
helps wounds to heal. The sap can also be
applied directly on an infection.

12. Wunha from the Nonda tree taste like a soft,
fluffy apple.

13. Yangga – Green Ants
These have many
medicinal uses and are
still used widely today,
especially for coughs and
colds.

14. Nhirrbunh – Black Currant makes a very
refreshing drink.

15. Gaanha – Hopwood
This is the tree we get our yam sticks from, for
digging up yams.

16. Jiral Jiral – Randia is really sweet to eat and
tastes a bit like guava.

17. Bathuurr – Zamia Palm has nuts which are very
toxic, but when treated can be made into flour.

18. Buthaya – Red Lady Apple has a slightly bitter
flavour.

19. Red Ash or Soap Bush
The leaves of the soap bush make great bush
soap when crushed with water.

20. Gabagar – Red Beech
The pips from the fruit are edible and very tasty.

21. Gabagar – Red Beech
The leaf can be made into a drink ladle or a
food wrap.

22. Bayjin – Lomandra Grass
This is the strong leaf
used for making
dillybags, string and rope.

23. Lomandra roots used for dying dillybags a
brilliant red.

24. Bayji
A dillybag made from the
lomandra grass.

25. Wanhthaal-bi ngayu!
We look forward to seeing you!