Suitable Plant Species
North Coast Species:
Pandanus tectrius
Traditional fibre used in Arnhem Land -take out the central spine and split laterally (except with Pandanus Tectorius (because it is not split it is not so easily dyed as the epidermis is not exposed.) The tougher outer leaves are harder to work with
Cabbage Tree palm
Use the new growth which is unopened as it is softer, less brittle -take off outer and inner spines,
tear off spine from centre up then from the centre down
Gyamea lily
the whiter / lighter the leaves the better, cut the white spear off at the base to encourage future flowering,the whiter it dries, the better it dyes (this applies to all plants),peel off close to the spine in the centre – it tapers off rather than follows the spine – this is okay 1.5cm wide strips – start in the centreGreen leaves can take up to a year to dry to a rich dark tain. Remove hard midrib; coil remaining leaf and soak in hot water for 10 minutes; wrap and leave overnight. Use: Stripped into suitable widths for wrapped techniques and plaiting; fibre for rope.
Dianella tasmanica
Split centrally upwards from the centre. Then pull leaves apart with both hands – index finger and thumb
Bangalow palm
Boil before using. Split (1.5 – 2cm wide) and tie into bundles then dry, reacts more to alkaline dyes
Alexander palm
Boil before using
Cordyline Strica
-Black berries, blue flowering
Mat rush leaves, Lomandra longifolia
NATIVE AUSTRALIAN PLANTS (found in NSW)
Clematis (Clematis microphylla) – use soon after cutting, or dry in coils and dampen. Clematis can be irritating to the eyes and nose when freshly cut. Use: for weaving, either whole or split
Doudder-laurel (Cassytha pubescens) and Dodder Laurel, course (C. Melantha)- roll into loose coils; use within a few weeks without dampening, or dry out and dampen before use. When freshly picked, dodder-laurel is often brilliant yellow or orange, drying out to deeper shades of orange and brown. Use: for textured, stitched baskets (tendrils and branching make weaving difficult)
Eucalypts (Eucalyptus spp.) – Use: inner and outer bark for cordage, plaiting, twining (eg stringybark E. obliqua); fresh twigs for stitched baskets; gumnuts for knobs and decorations, etc
Flax-lily, black-anther (D. Revoluta) –
GRASSES
Kunai grass (Imperata cylindrica var. Major)
Roly-Poly, rolling spinifex (Spinifex sericeus)
Kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos flavidus and A. manglesii)
Lignum (M. Adpressa) – Use for stakes and framework material soon after cutting or coil and dry to the required shape
Lignum, climbing (M. Adressa and M. axillaris) – use for coiling or weaving soon after cutting or dry and dampen before use.
Mat-rush, spiny headed (Lomandra longifolia) – Use: should be good for stitching and wrapping
Mat-rush, many flowered and stiff (L. Multiflora) – Use immediately, or leave to dry for several months. once dry, the very tough leaves need long soaking in warm water before use; leave overnight wrapped in a towel.
Native flax (Linum marginale) – :Use: stitching and core material for coiled baskets. Fbire used for cardage, fish and game nets
PALMS
Fibrous inner matter of the palm fronds. Palm, date (Phoenix dactylifera) – collect all useful material, eg flower, stalks and sheaths as they fall from the tree, fibre from the trunk, etc. Use: imaginative basketry, sculpture.
Palm, various spp. – as above for date palm
Palm Cabbage (Livistona) Use: leaves and leaf cortex for weaving and plaitwork
Running Postman (Kennedya prostrata) – for weaving
RUSHES AND SEDGES
Bulrush (Typha orientalis and T. domingensis)
Carex sedge (Carex tereticaulis) – dry and dammpen before use. Use: coiled basketry
Club-rush, river (Schoenoplectus)
Cutting grass (Gahnia trifida) – wear gloves when cutting, and strip off the spiny leaf edge before attempting to use. Use: core material for wrapped baskets, tough rop, etc.
Flat sedge (Cyperus vaginatus) – Use: stems used for cordage, fish nets
Pale rush (Juncus pallidus)
Spike-rush, tall (Eleocharis sphacelata)
She-oak, drooping (Allocasuarina verticillata, Allocasuarina spp. And Casuarina spp) – Collect the long branchlets as they fall to the ground, the longer the better. Dry, and dampen before use. Use: core material for stitched baskets.
Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta)- use the dry leaf stalks
Spear Lily (Doryanthes palmeri) – as for Gymea lily
Supplejack (Flagellaria indica) – wear glves when cutting, and choose long vines. use soon after cutting, once dry, the tough outer skin makes it difficult to dampen. Use: for making furniture and strong baskets. It is used in much the same way as imported cane, but is a far more interesting colour.
Tape-weed, broad leaved (Posidinia australis)
River club-rush – Schoenoplestus Validus
Pale rush – Juncus Pallidus
Wattles (Acacia spp.) – Many spp. Provide fibre from their outer or inner bark, for cordage, etc. Most wattles are worth trying
Wattle, variable sallow (A. Mucreonata) – the inner bark is easily stripped (in sheets in spring and summer) Soak the dried bark for an hour in hot water, when it becomes strong and pliable as leather
Wonga vine (Pandorea pandoranna) – Use: framework material, stakes, weaving
Piccabeen palm, Archontophoenix cunninghamiana
Flax Lily leaves, Dianella Longifolia
Swamp paperbark, Melaleuca Ericifolia
Kangaroo paw, Anigozanthos
Bulrush or cumbungi, Typha species
Hairy milk vine, Marsdenia Flavescens
Lawyer cane, Calamus Australis
left to right Cabbage tree palm, Alexander palm,Pandanus dyed with numeric, Cordyline Stricta Narrow black leaf palm lily,Pandanus from Arnhem dyed with rosella Pandanus from Arnhem land, Gymea lilly,Pandanus dyed with numeric, Pandanus dyed with blood root, Bangalow dyed with rosella
Other Common Species
Raffia, Raphia fariniferaFibrous inner matter of the palm fronds. Palm, date (Phoenix dactylifera) – collect all useful material, eg flower, stalks and sheaths as they fall from the tree, fibre from the trunk, etc. Use: imaginative basketry, sculpture.
Banana leaf sheaths, Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana
Coconut husk and leaf, Cocos nucifera
Yukka leaf fibres, Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae Asparagaceae, – Pick green or dry; strip off rough edges and remove spine before hanging up to dry. Use: as for Cordyline australis; sheathing bases used for decoration white inner leaves can be used with the green in two-colour techniques.
Ponytail Palm leaves, Beaucarnea recurvata (Mexico)
Daylily leaves, Hemerocallis, (North America, South America, Caribbean)
New Zealand Flax leaf fibre, Phormium tenax and Phormium cookianum, (NZ)
Couch grass, Elymus repens ) – pick runners, and longest leaves only; dry and store. leaves need minimal dampening before use. Use: leaves for miniature wrapped baskets, working over one strand of cordyline core; unners for stitched baskets, weaving.
Philodendron leaf sheaths, Philodendron bipinnatifidum, (South America)
Red Hot Poker leaves, Kniphofia uvaria, (Cape Province, South Africa)
Norfolk pine needles, Araucaria heterophylla, (Norfolk Island, Pacific)
English Lavender stems, Lamiaceae, (Asia)
Sweet Corn sheaths, Family: Poaceae Subfamily: Panicoideae
Jacaranda leaf stems, Bignoniaceae, (South America, Central America, Mexico)
Dodder, Cuscuta
Vines from vegetable plants – climbing beans, chokos, cucumbers, melons, peas, pumpkins, etc
Weed vines:
“Archie”, Archer Axilaris
Morning Glory, Convolvulaceae
Dutchman’s pipe, Aristolochiaceae
Cat’s claw creeper, MacfadyenaSTRING
Use:
Kurrajong sapling – do fresh; run it through a fire and remove the bark whilst still steaming
Fig
Hibiscus (forest and coast)
Split a bit at the top where you want to start ripping the bark off; peel bark off. Take inner lighter bark away from outer darker bark; t is tedious to start; ease off bit by bit; Keep fibres as long as possible Fold fibres gently and sprinkle with water; Pound with rock on rock (mortar and pestle) so fibres separate; refold so folds are in a different place; Pound firmly but not so hard that the fibres break. Then soak and boil:OR pull all bark off as before, then pull off thin layers of fibres. Place in water – all fibres must be submerged; leave 1 – 2 months, changing water regularly. Layers form Hang out to dry. There is not need to pound again but can if you want.