- Region
- Oceania
- Origin
- Tropical woodlands from north-western Australia to eastern Arnhem Land
Oceania · Food · № 53
Terminalia ferdinandiana
Food · Oceania
Kakadu plum (gubinge)
Terminalia ferdinandiana
A bush food with exceptionally high vitamin C, measured at 2,300–3,150 mg per 100 grams.
Safety notes
It is high in oxalic acid, which can be harmful in large amounts. Commercial harvesting should involve consent and benefit-sharing with Aboriginal communities.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Healing traditions of Oceania: Contains a lot of oxalic acid; use in moderation.
Preparation
The fruit is eaten fresh or made into powder, jam, and juice.
Use in traditions
For centuries a bush food and bush medicine of Aboriginal peoples in the Kimberley and Arnhem Land, who call the fruit gubinge, murunga or manmohpan. The fruit was eaten fresh during the harvest season; the inner bark was used externally for skin conditions, sores and infections. Today Aboriginal enterprises harvest the fruit for the food and cosmetics industries.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Healing traditions of Oceania
Attributed effects
The fruit as food and a tonic in the harvest season; the inner bark externally for skin conditions, sores and infections.
Preparation and amount
Fruit eaten fresh or as powder, jam or juice. Bark preparations belong to community knowledge; no preparation is given here.
Caution: Contains a lot of oxalic acid; use in moderation.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Powder and kitchen