Microseris Species, Murnong, Native Dandelion, Yam Daisy

The Yam Daisy is a native Australian plant very similar to many other members of the daisy family. It was extremely common through open f...Read Moreorest and grassland, but the introduction of grazing animals, resulted in it disappearing completely from large areas. This was particularly unfortunate, because it was a very important food plant for the native people. In this area, the local Ganai pepole collected the tubers for eating. Tubers were washed and then eaten raw or cooked. They were cooked in the ground until half melted down to a sweet dark-coloured juice, or baked with grass or in baskets. The tubers have a taste of coconut and when boiled were sweet and moist. Yam daisies were harvested year-round, but are least palatable in early winter. They disappeared completely from this region, but we have obtained seed and grown plants and established them in our local park.