Native Plant Wiki

[Thomas B]

I know this has been suggested before but I wonder if anyone would be able to set up a wiki.

The problem is no guide can be comprehensive due to the sheer number of edible native plants, especially in the tropics, and a lot of guides aren't arranged in a sensible manner. If a wiki was set up, with a page for each edible or useful species, each could be referenced systematically and checked. Plants could be flagged as possibly edible if they had edible close relatives and confirmed edible when a reputable published source or knowledge from indigenous people confirmed their edibility. And distribution maps could be linked to pages which gave a list of all edible plants in a particular regions. The wiki could be extended to bushfood animals, fungi, seaweeds and native medicines with each page giving uses of each species, important identification features, a few good photos perhaps uploaded from the photo gallery, nutritional value and the time of year it is available. Hopefully this could eventually replace the authoritative guides as the number one source of Australia wide bushfood information.

[rowan]

That is a great idea. There may be some problems with identity as you have to be so careful but if a wrong plant was put up I'm sure that it wouldn't be long before someone pointed it out. I think this is a good idea because all of the 'Authoritative guides' that I have read really leave something to be desired.

[rowan]

Hi,

Since no-one else has made a start I thought I would.

I have started the wiki - 'Aussiebushfoods' at http://aussiebushfoods.wikispaces.com

It is only a start but I will try to add a bit every day and with your help as well it will grow fast, I hope. If it takes off I will buy a more memorable URL for it in the near future.

Please stop by and add a little information when you have a few minutes. It will take a while but we can make a great resource if we stick with it. I will be grateful for some photos that you are happy to share as well. I am just learning this 'wiki' thing so be patient.

Cheers,
Rowan

[Thomas B]

That's great. I'm going to get right into it.

[roughbarked]

Quite a few foods missing off the list.

[rowan]

It is only just started - there are hundreds missing but that is what a wiki is all about - everyone jumping in and adding some. Please help out if you have even the smallest bit of information or a picture.