Medicinal Properties of Australian Wildflowers

Buying Australian native flowers online makes a beautiful and unique gift that provides a window into our country’s history. Many native Australian flowers have qualities other than being pleasing to the senses. Indigenous Australians and early settlers used many different native flowers and plants for medicinal purposes and here are some examples of their different medicinal uses.

Musk Seed

Abelmoschus Moschatus; Not just a beautiful flower, the emulsion made from the seeds of this plant is considered to be an antispasmodic, a breath sweetener and an insecticide. Mixed with milk, the emulsion relieves itching.

Wild Plum

Buchanania Obovata; A native of Northern Australia, it prefers a protected, sunny position and is drought and frost tender. The flowers are yellow and have five petals and the fruit are green, plum-like berries. The Australian Aborigines used the leaves to cure toothaches.

Breynia Stipitata

A native of north Queensland this plant is sensitive to drought and frost and prefers shaded positions. The flowers are small and the fruit are round red berries. The Australian Aborigines used the leaves as a treatment for sore eyes.

Lawyer Vine

Calamus Caryotoides; A native of north eastern Queensland this vine prefers shaded position and is sensitive to drought and frost. The flowers are whitish and occur in clusters. The plant was used by the Australian Aborigines as a headache treatment.

Beauty Leaf

Calophyllum Inophyllum; A native of Northern Territory, Queensland and parts of tropical Asia, this evergreen tree grows in protected or semi-shaded positions. Its flowers are white and yellow and are around 2 cm across. They are very fragrant and occur in clusters attached to the leaf. The Australian Aborigines used the ground up seeds as a pain killer.

Cassia

Cassia Odorata; A native of NSW and Queensland this shrub prefers a sunny position and is very hardy and resistant to drought and frost. The flowers are yellow and pea shaped occurring in bunches from winter to summer. The leaves of the Cassia were used by the early settlers as a laxative.

Myoporaceae

Eremophila Cuneifolia; A native of WA prefers open sunny position and is drought and frost resistant. Its flowers are violet-purple and tubular appearing in the spring. The Australian Aborigines used this plant to relieve cold symptoms. They also used Eremophila Fraseri (Turpentine Bush) and Erempphila Longifolia(Berrigan) to relieve cold symptoms.

Eucalyptus

The Australian Aborigines used parts of Eucalyptus Acmenoides (White Mahogany) to treat head colds. They also used the Eucalyptus Camaldulensis (River Red Gum) and Eucalyptus Crebra (Narrow-leaved Red Ironbark) Eucalyptus Papuana (Ghost Gum) for treating cold symptoms. They used the Eucalyptus Drepanophylla (Queensland Grey Ironbark) and Eucalyptus Haemostoma (Scribbly Gum) for treating sores and ulcers. Early settlers used Eucalyptus Gummifera (Bloodwood) to treat ring-worm. Eucalyptus Microtheca (Coolibah) was used by the Aborigines to treat snakebites. Eucalyptus Lucida (Leatherwood) was used by Aborigines to stop bleeding.

Leichhardtia Australia

A native of inland Australia this vine prefers the sun. The flowers are greenish yellow occurring in the late spring and summer. The Australian Aborigines used parts of this plant as a contraceptive.

Canary Cheesewood

Nauclea Orientalis; A native of north Queensland this tree prefers a sunny position. The flowers are tubular and slim. Australian Aborigines used parts of the tree to induce vomiting if they were poisoned.