Giant Wild Food Bombs

The  Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwillii) provided important ‘Bush Tucker’ (wild  food) for the Aboriginal of Australia, with large cones that produced  up to 150 edible seeds. The seeds were eaten raw, cooked, fermented or  in a powder, and taste like “a waxy boiled potato with the flavor of  chestnuts”.

The  seeds are low in protein and fat, but contain all the essential amino  acids, and a fatty acid content that contains half omega-3 and omega-6  oils. They also contain dietary fiber and minerals (copper, magnesium,  iron and manganese), and the seed husks high in phenolics (mainly  catechins).

The  Bunya Pine (not a true pine) also produce an underground ‘earth nut’  when the seed germinates that is said to have a coconut-like flavor.

When  the Bunya Pines were producing, they provided large feasts for the  Aboriginal people. Each Aboriginal family would own a group of these  trees that were passed down through generations, and this is reported to  be the only case of hereditary personal property by the Aboriginal  Australians.

Although  considered sacred by the Aboriginal people, and after fiercely fighting  to protect them, the trees were very sought after for their timber by  the settlers, and the Aboriginal people were driven out of the Bunya  forests. Sadly, the forests were cut for timber and cleared for the  prime agricultural soil they usually inhabited. Most of the small  populations of these trees are now protected in formal reserves and  parks, and part of their native habitat is a World Heritage listed site.

The  Bunya Pine has also had some pharmacological investigations into its  various parts: seeds, leaves, and resin. Both oleoresin and leaf  extracts exhibit significant increases in sleeping time from  pentobarbitones in preclinical studies, as well as analgesic &  anti-inflammatory effects, and a biflavone rich fraction exhibiting  antioxidant activity.

Originally  a tall tree (up to 169 feet!) from Queensland rainforest, the Bunya  Pine is now extensively planted in gardens, as they are very attractive  trees. If you ever encounter a Bunya Pine, however, watch out for the  cones, as each can weight up to 4.5 kilos, and could really do some  damage if one fell on you!

Certain trails in Australia are closed when the Bunya Pines are producing due to this hazard.

*This  post is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose,  cure or treat any disease. Always seek medical advice directly through  consultation with a health professional.

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