You can find yam daisy in our Australian Bush Food Garden at Green Olive at Red Hill.
Interesting Facts about Yam Daisy
Yam daisy is a herb known by Indigenous Australians as “murnong”. It is found in most Australian states although with slight differences in sizes. The grazing livestock of the European settlers nearly made murnong extinct which would have been a huge loss for the Indigenous Australians as murnong was an extremely important part of the Aboriginal diet. Murnong was particularly important for the Wurundjeri people who were forced to eat the sheep of the European settlers when murnong, their major food source, was nearly brought to extinction. This escalated the tension between the European settlers and the Aboriginal people.
Culinary Uses of Yam Daisy
Interestingly, the part of the plant that is eaten are the roots which have a starchy texture and a sweet, coconut flavour. The plant has flowers that look like a dandelion and when they bloom in August, that’s when you know they roots are ready to be harvested. The roots can be eaten cooked or raw and can be used in salads, desserts or by themselves. Our sheep got into the Bush Food Garden one day and they went straight for the yam daisy! They love it!
Interested in learning more about Australian bush foods? We are developing a range of products and experiences that will allow you to feel, smell and taste bush tucker. In the meantime, check out our other bush tucker plants to learn about some of the other native Australian flora that we’ve planted: Oldman Saltbush, Finger Lime and Mountain Pepper.
Yam daisies
Photo credit: Westgate Biodiversity
The edible roots of the yam daisy
Photo credit: Bushfoods & Survival plants
A yam daisy
Photo credit: Tucker Bush
Banner photo credit: The Courier
Cover photo credit: Westgate Biodiversity