Purple fruit id?

[Nitris]

Hi all,

I have looked through the data base and I can't find a post on it, but I usually have a hard time finding things that are not moving..... I have seen these over the years and they are a little purple fruit. I know someone here will know what it is. Second question is toxic or nontoxic? I know its not the clearest picture. Thanks in advance.

Travis

[Hairyman]

Looks like one of the flax lilies, Dianella spp. and to answer your second question on edibility , it depends on what
species it is. D. tasmanica is not edible.
Check out this thread, http://bushcraftoz.com/forums/showthread.php?1040-Dianella-caerulea-(Blue-Flax-Lily)

[Bezerker Viking]

Yep looks to be a Flax Lilly, nice find :D

[Nitris]

Cheers Hairyman and Bezerker for the reply, there is so much knowledge in this forum. I will go walking tomorrow and check them out again. Will have a taste and let everyone know what the outcome was... :risatonaD:

[Nitris]

after looking at the coverage maps of "D. tasmanica" they are not shown in Qld. That is not to say they are not in Qld. I'm at the Sunny Coast so I'm not that far north of NSW. In saying that from looking at the pictures of "D. tasmanica" they seam more light pruple and oval'ish in shape or cylindrical compared to the pictures of the blue ones that are almost round. Looking forward to checking it out tomorrow.

[Hairyman]

Was it very close to the sea? It may be D. congesta, edible but not recommended to have more than small amounts.
See pics and warning here, http://www.noosanativeplants.com.au/plants/166/dianella-congesta
Heres a pic I took last month of what I'm pretty sure is D. congesta on Bribe Is in the dunes behind the beach.
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[Aussie123]

Hi Nitris,

I guess we need to say, never taste unknown plants. Always identify them correctly first. Dianella can be difficult to identify, please exercise extreme caution.

Be careful when tasting these. Some are fine, but the "bad ones" will really "burn" your mouth. Personally I suspect that as well as differences between species, there may be variation between plants.
Just try a little on your lip before you put it in your mouth, and remember to wait a minute or two.

Let us know how you go

[Nitris]

Thanks again Hairyman and Aussie for the caution.

I'm a bit in from the coast about 18km. I would defiantly test it on my lip first. Some people even say to try it on tender skin first even before trying it on ur lip, I'm sure that it says that in the SAS handbook. But I tend to miss that step. Will try a few if the lip test goes ok. I'll get some better pictures as well.

Thanks for all the help guys :okkiale:

[Nitris]

Well what can I say....

Tasty, and the description of it being sweet till u chew the seeds which brings on a nutty flavour is totally correct. Found at least a dozen of them along my walking track with out trying too hard. I was still not able to work out the exact species but they are totally eatable. I could not find a flower in full bloom but i did find some either side of the flowering stage. I also finally harvested a horse hoof fungus that I have been eyeing off for some time. Put a $1 coin in the pictures to get scale. It did break a bit of the end but I was able to get it in place to take a photo of it.
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