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Aboriginal Plant Use in SE Australia
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Bulrush, Cumbungi

Typha species

Technique used for nets made from string of Bulrush fibres.
Typha species net
This aquatic plant grows all over Australia. The underground stems (rhizomes) are rich in starch and can be cooked by steaming in an earth oven. After steaming, the rhizomes can be chewed to remove the starch and the remaining fibre used to make string.
The young shoots were eaten raw as a salad.
Typha speciesBulrush
This plant was the most important food for people living along the Murray Darling River systems.

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