Cumbungi is a multi-purpose plant, the 'staff of life' along the Murray- Darling river system and in south-western Australia. The underground horizontal 'roots' (rhizomes) were steamed in an earth oven, the outer layer was stripped off, and the starchy...
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Cumbungi is a multi-purpose plant, the 'staff of life' along the Murray- Darling river system and in south-western Australia. The underground horizontal 'roots' (rhizomes) were steamed in an earth oven, the outer layer was stripped off, and the starchy fibrous inner part was tied in a simple knot. This was then chewed to remove the starch, which tastes like potato. The remaining fibre was dried, soaked, scraped with mussel shells, and then rolled on the thigh to give very strong string for making large nets which were used to catch ducks and fish. Finer string was made from the leaves. The young shoots which appear in early summer were eaten raw. 'CUMBUNGI' is a name from the middle Murray River area. The native species are common (often coexistent) on the edges of lakes, billabongs, swamps, river banks and lagoons across most of Victoria. Cumbungi has been successfully used as a biological means of cleaning water of excessive nutrients, heavy metals and other contaminants. It also pro
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