Brachystelma glabriflorum

(F.Muell.) Schltr.

Bush potato

Apocynaceae Edible: Tubers, Root 15 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A small plant which looks like grass but with a thicker stronger stem. The stems are 20-85 cm long. The leaves can be very small, like scales. They can also be long and narrow and 0.5-10 cm long by 2-10 mm across. The flowers are 10-12 mm long and 3-5 mm across. The plant has irregular shaped tubers. They can be 1-8 cm across. These tubers look and taste like potatoes.

Edible Uses

The tubers can be eaten raw or cooked and taste like potatoes.

Traditional Uses

The tubers can be eaten raw or cooked.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in open forest in sandy or seasonally waterlogged soils. It is often near the edges of swamps amongst short rushes.

Where It Grows

Australia*, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Malesia,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed. Presumably they can be grown from the tubers.

Other Information

Used by various aboriginal groups in Australia. It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.

Notes

Also put in the family Asclepiadaceae.

Synonyms

Microstemma glabriflorum F.Muell.Microstemma tuberosum R.Br.Brachystelma microstemma Schltr.

Also Known As

Badju, Bowich, Bungie, Chunga, Chungra, Djalwak, Jaliwak, Jaliwaki

References (10)

Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 160 (As Microstemma tuberosum)
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1993, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 6. Lothian. p 412 and
Flora of Australia, Volume 28, Gentiales, Melbourne:CSIRO Australia, 1996. p 280, Fig 86 p 153, Fig 124 p 281, Map 334 p 285
Forster, P. I., 1987, Ethnobotanical Use of Brachystelma (Asclepiadaceae) in Australia. Economic Botany 41(2): 323-324
Hiddins, L., 1999, Explore Wild Australia with the Bush Tucker Man. Penguin Books/ABC Books. p 132

Show all 10 references

Levitt, D., 1981, Plants and people. Aboriginal uses of plants on Groote Eylandt, Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, Canberra. p 83 (As Microstemma tuberosum)
Paczkowska, G. & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 152
Smith, N. M., 1991, Ethnobotanical Field Notes from the Northern Territory, Australia, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 14(1): 1-65
Tiwi Plants and Animals. 2001, Aboriginal flora and fauna knowledge from Bathurst and Melville Islands, northern Australia. Northern Territory Botanical Bulletin; No. 24 p 30
Williams, K.A.W., 1999, Native Plants of Queensland Volume 4. Keith A.W. Williams North Ipswich, Australia. p 78