'TURTUJARTI' DESERT WALNUT / BROAD-LEAVED EMU APPLE (Owenia reticulata) Seeds

Desert walnut is a tree growing from 4 - 14 metres tall. The native walnut varies wildly in size depending on its habitat. It prefers stony flatlands and seasonally moist spinifex grasslands, where it develops an erect, rounded growth habit covered in dull green leaves. Native walnut shares much of its range with desert oak.

The outer bark is often thick and cork like. 

The indigenous inhabitants of the land knew the nuts as a food source “Ngarlka” and the walnut trees themselves as “Turtujarti”.

Bush Food: The tree is harvested from the wild for its edible seed and sap, which are eaten locally. The seed is usually roasted.

A sap-like liquid is obtained from the tree, Called 'marnta', it is somewhat reminiscent of golden syrup. The syrup takes on a salty flavour upon crystallizing

Bush Medicine: The Leaves and young stems heated then crushed and soaked in water. The resulting liquid is then thickened and used as a poultice. Seeds were roasted and extracted, then used to rub on external sores.

Germination: pre-treatment - soak