|
CSIRO Media Release |
|||
| Mr Nick Goldie | (02) 6276-6478 | |||
| Mobile | (0417) 299-586 | |||
| Fax | (02) 6276-6821 | |||
|
|
||||
9 September 1998 |
Ref 98/213 |
|
|
Forty seven sorts of wattle tree growing in southern Australia produce seeds which are suitable for human food, according to a new book, Edible Wattle Seeds of Southern Australia.
"This will appeal to anyone interested in bush tucker, particularly growers wishing to supply the newly developing industry" says Maurice McDonald, one of the authors. "At present the bush tucker industry mostly uses wattle seeds collected from wild populations of a small number of wattle species."
A botanist with CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products, Mr McDonald says that the authors used traditional aboriginal knowledge as a major basis for investigating wattle species.
"Much of this information originates from observations made by early explorers and ethno-botanists last century," he says. "Traditionally, Aborigines ground the wattle seed into a flour using grinding stones. A dough was made and then baked in hot coals to produce a damper."
The area targetted by this book for wattle-seed cultivation includes the Murray-Darling basin and the wheatbelt regions of Western Australia and South Australia.
The book contains botanical profiles, information on natural distribution, ecology, phenology, growth habits and seed attributes for 18 of the most promising species. The text is accompanied by colour images, line drawings and maps.
According to Mr Bruce Maslin, a co-author and botanist with the Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management, "Farmers in the semi arid wheat belt are planting trees to alleviate rising salinity levels - this book will guide them to species which might provide them with additional returns". However he stresses that much research is still needed before the full potential of wattle seeds is realised.
The authors also note that the seeds of some wattle species could have possible toxic effects.
Tropical Australian wattle species have been grown for many years in Niger, west Africa. Originally planted there for firewood and sand stabilisation they were found to produce prolific crops of seed even during drought.
While assessing forestry trials in the region Dr Lex Thomson, another of the authors, knowing that Australian aborigines used wattle seed as a food source, encouraged the local people to incorporate the seed into their diet.
Subsequent laboratory testing and human dietary trials on the species grown in Niger have shown that the seed is highly nutritious and safe to eat. Wattle seeds are now a valuable part of the diet of people in that area providing much needed insurance against the recurring threat of famine.
In Western diets, wattle seed can be used as flavouring in confectionary and icecream, as a coffee substitute, as a food for diabetics, and has been used in biscuits and bread. Wattle seeds are commonly included in a range of dishes in bush tucker restaurants.
Edible Wattle Seeds of Southern Australia is a joint project of the Department of Conservation and Land Management in Western Australia and CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products.
More information from:
- Mr Maurice McDonald (02) 6281 8221
Mr Bruce Maslin (08) 9334 0510
Dr Lex Thomson (02) 6281 8242
Mr Mick Crowe (02) 6281 8357
0419 696 184
E-mail: Mick.Crowe@ffp.csiro.au
Review copies available from Mick Crowe
Edible Wattle Seeds of Southern Australia
CSIRO Publishing. Available for $39.95 plus postage and handling from CSIRO Publishing, PO Box 1139, Collingwood, Vic. 3066. Phone (03) 9662 7666.
[CSIRO Search] [What's New] [Help] [Newsline] [CSIRO Home Page]
©Copyright 1998, CSIRO Australia
Use of this web site and information available from it is subject to our
Legal Notice and Disclaimer