| Haemodorum coccineum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Commelinales |
| Family: | Haemodoraceae |
| Genus: | Haemodorum |
| Species: | H. coccineum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Haemodorum coccineum | |
| |
| H. coccineum collection data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
Haemodorum coccineum (bunyagutjagutja, [1] bloodroot, [2] menang, [3] scarlet bloodroot, [4] red root [5]) is a flowering plant in the same family as kangaroo paw.
Description
A perennial herb [6] to one meter high. [5] [6] Although it is not grass, it has a grass-like appearance, with strap-like, [2] [5] narrow, leathery leaves arising from the base of the plant. [2] [6]
Flowering usually occurs between November and March, during the Top End wet season, however flowers have been observed as early as October and as late as May. [6] The flowers are deep-red or orange red and occur in dense clusters on long stiff stalks, [2] [6] which also arise from the base of the plant. [6]
Fruit develop between November and March, and can linger until May. [6] The fruit are red [5] [6] to black, [2] fleshy capsules with three lobes. [6] The mature fruit release a red-purple juice when crushed. [6]
Distribution and habitat
Found in the Top End of the Northern Territory, [2] [6] [7] Northern Queensland [2] [6] [7] and Papua New Guinea. [7] Occurs in open woodland habitats on gravelly or shallow lateritic soils and sandstone. [6]
Uses
Dyes
Indigenous Australians use this plant to make red, brown and purple dyes for coloring plant fibres. [1] [2] [6] [8]
The bulbous red root is chopped or crushed and boiled in water to release the red-brown dyes, while the purple shades are made from H. coccineum fruit.
[8]
Fibres such as the stripped leaves of
Pandanus spiralis or the new leaves of
Livistona humilis are added to the dye-bath, and later the colored fibre is used to make items such as baskets (Pandanus), string bags (Livistona) and
fibre sculptures.
[8]
Other uses
Suitable as a bedding or edging plant in native gardens.
[5]
The fruits can be used in floral arrangements.
[2]
Some sources report Indigenous Australians used the plant to treat snake-bite, and the dry stalks were used as fire-sticks.
[6]
Propagation and cultivation
Haemodorum coccineum can be propagated from seed. [2] Vegetative propagation can be achieved by dividing the bulbous root.
Plants prefer a well-drained sandy or gravelly soil and full sun. [2] In the dry season the plant will usually die back, [2] leaving the underground rootstock to regenerate later in the year.
References
- ^ a b Bula’bula Arts Aboriginal Corporation (2013) at http://www.bulabula-arts.com/Site/our-art/aboriginal-fibre-art.html. Accessed 2 September 2013
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Wrigley, J.W. and Fagg, M. 2007 Australian Native Plants, Reed New Holland, Sydney, Australia
- ^ "Bloodroot - Haemodorum spicatum". Tucker Bush. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
- ^ Atlas of Living Australia website at http://bie.ala.org.au/search?q=haemodorum+coccineum. Accessed 2 September 2013
- ^ a b c d e Smith, N., 2007, Native Plants for Top End Gardens, Greening Australia (NT) Ltd, Darwin, Australia
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Brock, J., 1988 Top End Native Plants, John Brock, Darwin, Australia
- ^ a b c The Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria (2013) Australia’s Virtual Herbarium. http://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Haemodorum+coccineum#tab_mapView [Accessed 2 September 2013]
- ^ a b c Artback Northern Territory Arts Touring (2007) Recoil Education Kit at http://www.artbacknt.com.au/images/arts/recoil/pdf/teachersnotes.pdf. Accessed 2 September 2013