Bush Banana, Austral Doubah, Native Pear, Native banana, Wild pear, Wild cucumber, Desert banana, Cogola bush, Silky pear, Cogola bush, Doubah, Doudah, Carculoir, Altyey
Marsdenia australis

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A slender climber. It grows 103 m high. The stems are twining and have milky sap. The leaves are opposite and 5-10 cm long by 0.2-0.4 cm wide. They are narrow, thick and dull green. There are 6-15 flowers in a group. They occur in the axils of leaves. The flowers are bell-shaped and 0.8 cm long. They are yellow or green. The follicle or fruit is many seeded and dry. It is 6-10 cm long by 2-2.5 cm wide. It is pear shaped and softly hairy. It has a reddish colour. It splits open when ripe. The seeds are 0.6-0.8 cm long by 0.4 cm wide. They are black and have tufts of hair about 2 cm long.

There are about 25 Marsdenia species. They are mostly tropical. Chemical composition: fruit: sand (dry sample) = 0.27%, (fresh sample) = 0.06%. Calcium (dry sample) = 1.00%, (fresh sample) = 0.022%. Magnesium (dry sample) = 0.203%, (fresh sample) = 0.045%. Phosphorus (dry sample) = 0.166%; (fresh sample) = 0.037%. [Ca = 0.60%, Fe = 120 and Mn = 19 parts per million, on a dry basis]. Moisture = 77.7%. fibre (crude) (dry sample) = 50.2%, (fresh sample) = 11.2%. Ether extract (dry sample) = 9.14%, (fresh sample) = 2.04%. Protein (crude) (dry sample) = 15.2%, (fresh sample) = 3.38%. Ash (dry sample) = 3.79%, (fresh sample) = 0.84%. Carbohydrate (dry sample) = 21.6%, (fresh sample) = 4.8%. Albuminoid nitrogen (dry sample) = 1.98%, (fresh sample) = 0.42%. Amido nitrogen (dry sample) = 0.42%, (fresh sample) = 0.12%. Calories, (dry sample) = 42.4%, (fresh sample) = 190.

Where it is found

It grows in inland areas in temperate Australia. It grows on sandy soils. It needs very good drainage and full sun. It can tolerate frosts. Central and Western Australia. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Young follicles are eaten raw. Older follicles are eaten cooked. The immature seeds of young fruit are eaten. The fruit are eaten either green or roasted. The seeds are eaten raw or cooked. The flowers can be eaten. The leaves and roots can also be eaten. They are cooked.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, roots, flowers, pods, all parts, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Karkula, Kilibi, Kirlipi, Ngimirrikimi, Wira

Synonyms

Leichardtia australis R.Br.; Marsdenia leichhardtiana F.Muell.;