The Rose family (Rosaceae) is a well-known and economically important family incorporating numerous delightful, long established garden favourites (Roses, Spiraeas, Japonicas, and Flowering Cherries etc) and productive fruit trees and shrubs (Pears, Apricots, Apples, Plums, and Loganberries etc). For the native plant enthusiast, the family are represented in our bushland communities, by a small group of intriguing but often-overlooked herbs (Native buzzies, Guems, Parsley Piert) as well as scrambling Native Raspberries.
Many of today's declared weeds have derived from the Rose family, which were introduced for their important amenity and horticultural values of the day, by the early colonists, into the pristine native landscape. Within a short period some had escaped the confines of their English style gardens and farms to flourish as aggressive weeds, initiating their invasion and subsequent degradation of our vulnerable vegetation communities. Weeds such as Briar Rose, Blackberry, Hawthorn, and Cotoneaster etc, have now become well known for their abilities to tolerate the toughest environmental conditions and outcompete indigenous flora.
Indigenous to Eastern Australia the Sheep's Burr, (Acaena echinata and Acaena ovina) and Buzzy or Bidgee Widgee (Acaena novae-zelandiae and Acaena montana) are glossy pinnate leafed ground covers, often proliferating within the inter-tussock spaces of sunny woodlands and coastal sites. The generic name Acaena is Greek for 'thorn' referring to their distinctive burr-like seeds, which make up their globose, bristly fruits. Along with the fur of our native marsupials, most bush walkers have inadvertently contributed to the seeds dispersal. The laborious process of removing the balled seed clusters entangled in your woolly socks instils in ones memory the need to spot this plant early. No better awareness campaign exists for a native plant!
Besides acting as quick growing hardy natural mulch to your native garden patch, the young succulent leaves, once dried, produce a refreshing tea. Remember, only the 'tiny tips' will make this a worthy teatime treat!
The drought tolerant, thorny, straggling Native Raspberry (Rubus parvifolius) and the more compact Mountain Raspberry (Rubus gunnianus) with its distinctive red blackberry-like fruit, are the only two Tasmanian examples of the twelve native raspberries in Eastern Australia. For optimum development of their tangy sweet fruit, they prefer the moister sections of your bush tucker patch. A quenching and therapeutic tea can also be derived from drying their young leaves or 'tiny tips.'
The Aboriginals were not the only devotees of these fruit. They are cherished by a selection of birds (including the ravenous Currawongs), blue tongue lizards (do you ever wonder where some of your luscious raspberries and strawberries mysteriously disappear to!), the New Holland mouse and even the tiny Dusky Antechinus. Their resulting deposits (or regurgitations, in the case of the currawong) disperse the seed.
Interestingly, the larva of the blue male and green pink female Ghost Moth (Aenetus sp.) are known to bore into and feed within the stems of these native raspberries and other Roseaceae fruit trees (Apples). They have fascinating life cycles, starting out as 'litter larva' living under logs and feeding both on the decaying wood and its associated fungi. They then moult into a 'transfer larva', which migrates and bores into their host Rosaceae plant stems. A silken wad of excavated fragments acts as the tunnel covering. Here, they moult again transforming into a 'shrub or tree larva', which continues to enlarge its tunnel until finally after an exhaustive 5 years, metamorphoses into a beautiful moth.
Mountain Geum (Geum talbotianum) has a white chalice-shaped flower with yellow centres and forms small tufts of kidney shaped leaves in sheltered alpine slopes. It is one of only two Tassie representatives (Geum urbanum) of this spectacular cosmopolitan genus cultivated for brightly coloured, long lasting floral displays. The clove-like fragrance in their roots has proved historically popular for flavouring wines and ales. Unless you are happy to experiment, don't expect to succeed in growing this in your patch,. Instead, it can be cared for as a pot plant, requiring regular potting on to keep it happy.
Native and introduced Parsley Pierts (Aphanes australiana and Aphanes arvensis) are small inconspicuous parsley-like annuals with minute flowers that crowd together forming greenish tufts. Its latin name Aphanes which means 'inconspicuous' is well choosen. However, the significance of Lady's Mantle (Aphanes vulgaris syn Alchemilla vulgaris) with alchemists cannot be overlooked.
By steeping 4 grams of the herb for 5 minutes in one cup of boiling water and straining, a brew was produced for women following childbirth, both for promotion of healing and staunching blood flow. Its coagulation properties made it a common mouth rinse after teeth extractions. Relief from diarrhoea, menstrual problems and inflamed throats are other proven uses.
By 1820 Hawthorn (Crataegus monogynus) proved a godsend for the early settlers as a fashionable hedging and 'wicker' style stock fence plant. The fences grew rapidly from hawthorn seedlings (called 'quicks') closely planted and woven into wands. Louisa Anne Meredith, a noted author and flower painter of the day, wrote of her admiration for "the anglicised countryside of sober green and white flowering hedgerows". She loved the "glorious hawthorn hedges in bloom" consisting of the white 'May' flowers which she and her fellow Estate owners had gathered as English children.
Although it is considered a weed today, its cultural significance should be respected. In an increasingly denuded landscape, its value as a refuge for many of our displaced feathered and furry friends is critical for their survival. Its attributes also extend to craft wood, medicines, food, tea (remember to use those 'tiny tips') and a Moorish hawthorn berry wine.
Blackberries Rubus fruticosus and Rosehips Rosa rubiginosa (famed for its Vitamin C content) were introduced for their versatile fruits, and hedging abilities. Their aggressive weed status attracts huge resources in an attempt to control their spread.
Ironically the botanist Baron Von Mueller regarded blackberries as a valuable plant for the colony (hedges with luscious berries, nectar supplies and leaves for herbal tea and medicine). Religiously after boiling the Billy, on his botanical sorties, he spread their seeds in the ashes. He mused that "Poor people in times to come will bless me for my thoughtfulness."
Although only touching the surface of the many uses family members are renowned for (not forgetting the vicar's rose petal champagne), it is hoped that you are inspired to grow and enjoy these lesser-known "Roses" and weed out the odd 'Rose' weed.
Phil Watson