Psychaesthetic Posted August 30, 2014 Now I'm out here, getting into the swing of life as a part-time feral, I'm starting to look around at all the trees and plants, wondering what's useful to me. Bloodwood trees are all around, oozing resinous gum, and so I'm wondering: Does anyone know or have first-hand usage/knowledge of the gum from this tree? Online, I found it's used by naturopaths as an astringent, and apparently has been used as a mouthwash, anything else? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IndianDreaming Posted August 30, 2014 Some gums/resins/saps have been used for glue... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Psychaesthetic Posted August 30, 2014 Yeah it doesn't look like an exciting discovery, but I figured I'd ask anyhow ..There are oodles of wattle around here too, but they all look pretty similar to me, and since all I have out here is a camping stove and pots, there's no extractions going to take place here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shortly Posted August 30, 2014 Once you find how strong the glue is you may be more excited 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Psychaesthetic Posted August 31, 2014 I assume it's boiled into a treacly paste then applied? Curdles your saliva and tastes more acidic than banana peel, I know that much. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shortly Posted August 31, 2014 You need fresh just dry sap, not the old dried out stuff. That can be used to make a varnish. It is just simmered, works best in a double boiler. Use a tin can because you wont be getting the inner pot clean again Once hot it is mixed with crushed burned mussel shell & used hot. It sets upon cooling. Can be mixed with palm or grass fiber as "reo" as long as your quick 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Psychaesthetic Posted September 1, 2014 So far, I've read about, found/ID'd and eaten Geebungs, Mat rush bases, and the "bush rice" from the seed heads - well they're a bit hard to eat and being unsure how to easily separate the pods from the seeds within, I haven't collected enough to cook. Any other commonly available plants in the Blue Mountains I should know about, for food or medicinal use? I've also eaten a few random Acacia flowers, since they're abundant here, but wouldn't know one from another: they all just look like wattle to me. Medium-grey bark seems most common. In other news, I got to actually pat an Antechinus last night She just .. Let me. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites