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Bush Tucker plant - Kardan / Marri

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Aboriginal NRM

Kardan | Marri | Corymbia calophylla

Kardan is a tree to 30m in height with rough grey bark. Flowering has been recorded in January to May and also in September. Flowers are brilliantly coloured mostly white but there are red or pinkish or orange forms.

Kardan grows in red-brown clay loam, orange-brown sandy clay, gravel, grey sand over limestone, granite, laterite. Flats, hills, slopes, breakaways, wetlands, fringing salt marches, beside drainage lines.

A reddish brown gum can often be seen coming out from the trunk (hence the common name bloodwood).

Large fruit, commonly referred to as ‘honkey nuts’ can readily be seen hanging from the tree. The seeds are prominently winged like those of the desert and northern bloodwoods.

The large nuts produced carry large seeds which are also an important food source for native bird species.


Marri flowers
Photo: Simon Neville

Noongar Uses

  • Noongar people used the blossoms from the trees as a source of honey, which can be sucked directly from the flower or can be dipped into water to make a sweet drink.
  • The mayat (red sap or gum) which oozes from the tree, contains tannins, which have antiseptic qualities. Mayat was powdered and sprinkled onto open wounds to prevent bleeding, added to water for a mouthwash or disinfectant, mixed with clay and water and used as a medicinal drink for dysentery or used to tan kangaroo skins for cloaks or bags.
  • Additionally, the blossoms also attract ngoowak (bees) and honey can be found in the hollows of eucalyptus branches. These trees also attract birds which nest in the branch hollows, in which eggs can be found to eat.


Red Marri sap

Cultivation

The tree propagates readily from seeds.