Thursday 5 November 2009

Millaa Millaa vine


I am adding species to my mental herbarium. The process is very slow.

Millaa Millaa vine (Elaeagnus triflora) grows along the forest edge, where it can catch the sun while still having a scaffolding of trees on which to grow. The red berries are edible. Not mouth-wateringly delicious, but quite moreish. That's if you can get to them before the birds, bats, rats and possums. The leaves are eaten by caterpillars of the indigo flash butterfly (Rapala varuna). Tree kangaroos and green ringtail possums are also partial to them.

The vine is widespread in eastern Queensland and also occurs in Asia, where related species are cultivated for their fruit.

The southern Atherton Tablelands town of Millaa Millaa is named after the vine.