A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Araucaria bidwillii
The bunya tree (Araucaria bidwillii) is the last surviving species in the world of the section bunya of the genus araucaria. Bunya nuts were a traditional food of the Australian aboriginal people in a limited area of rainforest, predominantly in South-East Queensland and especially in part of the Great Dividing Range now known as the Bunya Mountains National Park. This reserve is considered to be a very sacred place by the aborigines. The nuts mature in summer and aborigines travelled long distances to feast on the nuts, suspending any hostilities and engaging in major trading, bartering and marriage arrangements and in some years, with an exceptional harvest, the festivities ran for several months.
Bunya trees are majestic reaching a height of 30-45m. The large green Bunya cones (football size) are hidden in the tree canopy. Mature trees at 12-15 years produce cones with crops being exceptionally good every 2-3 years. The mature cone weighs 5-10 kg and contains 30-100 nuts. The nuts were eaten raw or roasted and resemble chestnuts, and are equally tasty
Beware of falling nuts of the Bunya Pine..
3 Comments
Jolly good tucker!
:) A friend told me, that bunyas have to be given to you. This one was given to me by Mother Nature. She send a Goanna that I followed to take some photos and the nut dropped right in front of me. I would have missed it if it was not for the Goanna..
Aaah...a touch of nostalgia. I grew up on a farm about 30mins from the foot of the Bunya Mountains and many times over the years we would head up when the Bunya Nut Cones were falling and collect a few so we could feast on them! Thank you very much for sharing Christiane :)