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Famine Foods
Compiled by Robert Freedman

MYRTACEAE

Eucalyptus dumosa, A. Cunn. ex Schau. in Walp. Australia (New South Wales, Port Philip District, Wimmera): sweet exudation from leaves made into 'liquor.' (Victoria, South Australia; New South Wales): yields a 'manna' called lerp or larp, the nidus of an insect (i.e. Psylla Eucalypti), with the following chemical composition: Water = 14%. A thread-like substance = 33%. Sugar = 53%. The threads swell slightly when the sugar is disolved in water. Thus freed from sugar, the threads consist of Lerp-amylum C6H10O5-----44.4C and 6.24H. This, on digestion with dilute sulphuric acid, etc. [sic], forms a crystallizable carbohydrate which agrees in its properties with dextrin. (South Australia): bark and root powdered and eaten separately or mixed with other plants. (Unspecified locale): root bark stripped off and eaten. Vernacular names (area unspecified): Weir Mallee, White Mallee. Lake Hindmark Station Aborigines: Bunurduk. Ref. IRVINE, MAIDEN.

Eucalyptus terminalis, F. von Muell, Australia (North Queensland): leaf excressence (possibly produced by insects) obtained when it falls, or by pounding and roasting. Vernacular name: Bloodwood Tree. Ref. IRVINE.

Eucalyptus viminalis, Labill, (syn. Eucalyptus faborum, Schlecht.). Australia (South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales): a white, sweet, crumbly manna exudes from the bark, consisiting of an umfermentable sugar called eucalin, and a fermentable sugar reported to be dextro-glucose. This exudation has been reported variously as caused by the boring action of the Great Black, or Manna cicada (Cicada moerens ) or, by an unidentified gall- producing coccus. Ref. MAIDEN.

Eugenia jambolana, Lam.; Willd. ex Berg. (syn. Eugenia Cumini, Druce; Myrtus Cumini, L.). Australia (North Queensland): fruit eaten. India: fruit and kernels eaten. Vernacular names - Dangs, Surat district, Bombay Presidency: Jambuds. Unspecified area: Jambalam. Ref. DARLINGTON & AMMAL, GAMMIE, IRVINE, WATT.

Eugenia Kuranda, F. M. Bailey. Australia (North Queensland): fruit eaten. Ref. IRVINE.

Leptospermum corsiacum, Cheel. Australia (South Australia): blossoms sucked for nectar. Ref. IRVINE.

Syzygium cordatum, Hochst. Tanzania (Ngindoland): ripe fruit eaten. Vernacular name - Ngindo: Mhuluhyti. Ref. CROSS-UPCOTT.

Syzygium jambolanum, DC. South India (Madras Presidency): ripe fruit eaten. Vernacular names - Tamil: Navel. Telugu: Neradi . Ref. SHORTT.

Last update Thursday, March 5, 1998 by aw