‘BANDARRANG’ SUPPLEJACK VINE TREE WHIP VINE Ventilago viminalis Seeds

Ventilago viminalis, commonly known as supplejack, vine tree, whip vine or the medicine tree The Walmajarri people of Paruka Indigenous Protected Ares call this tree Walakarri A tree native to Northern and Central Australia from coastal regions of Queensland to the Northern Territory and Western Australia

The plant begins life as a scrambler, using other trees, shrubs and even grasses for support As it ages the stem becomes increasingly woody and the plant eventually develops a growth form more typical of a tree

Flowering cream yellow/green and fruiting July C October

• optimal growth pH 7 5

Bush food: Edible gum can be scraped off as it comes through, twisting it onto a stick It can be chewed like chewing gum Also burnt to form ash, which was then mixed with native tobacco and chewed

Bush medicine: The bark and root of this tree is considered to be one of the most important bush medicines The bark and root of the Medicine Tree can be made into a decoction, prepared by mashing and soaking in water, this mixture can be boiled to speed the process

Applied externally to open sores, cuts, swellings, skin rashes, fungal complaints, bruises, sprains, insect bites, rheumatism and toothache

The bark contains anthraquinone’ derivatives and some of these may be responsible for the bactericidal properties of this popular bush medicine

Other uses: Tough, flexible branch like willow can be used in basket work Wood sometimes used for boomerangs djiwa and spear making