This fruit is well known and very common in the neighbourhood of
Sydney, and was found in the scrubby region about the Richardson
Range, which, as before mentioned, is of similar character to that
description of country. It does not, so far as I am aware, exist in
any other part of Queensland.
THE NATIVE PLUM ('Owenia.')
This tree, of which there are several species, ('Owenia Cerasifera'
and 'Owenia Vanessa' being most common in Queensland), is found along
the whole of the east coast, as far south as the Burnett, and is one
of the handsomest of Australian forest trees. Its purple fruit has a
pleasant acid flavor, and is probably a good anti-scorbutic. It is
best eaten after having been buried in the ground for a few days, as
is the custom of the natives. The stone is peculiar, having much the
shape of a fluted pudding basin. The timber is handsomely grained
and is of durable quality.
On the subjects of the fruits, edible plants, and roots of
Queensland, Mr. Anthelme Thozet, of Rockhampton, whose name is well
and deservedly known to Botanists, has been at great pains to prepare
for the approaching Exhibition at Paris, a classified table of all
that are known as consumed by the natives raw and prepared, and to
his enthusiastic attention to the subject, we are indebted for the
possession of a large and important list, a knowledge of which would
enable travellers in the wilds of the colony to support themselves
from their natural productions alone, in cases where their provision
was exhausted.
