Outback Survival

with BOB COOPER Bush Plants and the Universal Taste Test

When it comes to bush tucker from plants, we must be very precise about making sure that what we sample is the right plant and not a poisonous look-alike. To minimise the risk of accidental poisoning I have developed seven steps that I call my 'Universal Taste Test'. I have personally found the poison indicators very useful in avoiding potential hazards from contact with toxic plants. This test is designed as part of a long-term survival strategy, to prevent accidental poisoning from utilising plants in a variety of ways, not just as an edibility test. When followed correctly it should prevent any mishaps with toxic plant parts worldwide; however, there are no guarantees. You must carry out every step on the part of the plant you intend to use. Firstly, the 'Look' Test Actively look for poison indicators. There are exceptions, but if you don’t know the plant is an exception, then use the following physical indicators on any plant anywhere in the world as a very reliable guide as to whether the plant contains some form of toxin or not. These usually indicate poison in a plant: • Furry stems • Opposite leaves or leaflet shapes • Avoid all fungi • Milky coloured sap • Palmate leaves • Red seeds • Trumpet flowers • Pea flowers • Prickly fruits. Second, the 'Smell' Test Crush the portion of the plant that you are considering eating or using and sniff it to detect aromatic odours. • Almond or peach-like odours are an indicator of natural cyanide. • Unpleasant odours indicate that the plant is usually not edible. Third, the 'Skin' Test If it looks and smells edible then crush a small portion of the plant (the part you are thinking of eating/using) and rub it onto your wrist, above where your watch band would be.

Nine plant poison indicators.

Your wrist is a sensitive part of your body that you can afford to sacrifice to experimentation. Wait 15 minutes. If there is any kind of reaction such as itching, swelling, redness or pain on the skin, discard the plant. Do not eat it. Fourth, the 'Lip' Test Rub a little of the crushed plant that passed the test on your wrist onto the inside of the very corner of your bottom lip. Do not rub it in the middle of your lip as it may have a burning or irritating reaction making further eating and drinking difficult. Wait 15 minutes for any reaction whatsoever – if any adverse reactions, discard the plant. Do not eat it. Fifth, the 'Tongue' Test If there is no adverse reaction, roll a small portion into a little ball shape and rotate it on and under your tongue – then spit it out. This allows all the sensory sections of your tongue a chance to discover any adverse reaction or sensation. Wait another 15 minutes and confirm that there is no form of irritation or awful taste received from any part of your tongue or mouth. Again, if any unpleasant sensations occur do not continue. Sixth, the 'Swallow' Test At this stage, you can swallow a portion no bigger than the size of a small grape. This time you must wait four hours to check for bad reactions. These include headache, nausea, diarrhoea, fever, cramps, etc. in any part of your body. Do not consume any other food during these four hours. Again, if there are any unpleasant sensations or reactions do not continue. The Final Step — The 'Eat' Test If you found no ill-effects while performing any of these tests, then you can slowly increase the amounts you consume – double the size and again wait four hours, then increase portions in small amounts. IMPORTANT Different people have allergic reactions to different plant properties, so the Universal Taste Test must always be carried out by each and every person wishing to eat any part of an unfamiliar plant. The process must NEVER be short cut.

We can also poison ourselves in a number of other accidental ways: Handling toxic plants with your bare hands can expose your skin to the pure resin which can be absorbed into your body. Shish-kebab sticks made out of poisonous plant stems can poison your food from resin absorption. If you handle caustic plants you may transfer that resin to your eyes and cause mild to severe problems. Red seeds made into bush jewellery have transferred enough toxins to make the wearer ill. Smelling the flowers of highly toxic plants can cause terrible headaches. Rashes and allergic reactions from some stinging plants can occur on any part of your exposed body when brushed against them. This is a reason for wearing long trousers and long-sleeved shirts in the bush. Do not place plastic bags over toxic plant branches to get fresh drinking water using the transpiration method – you will poison the water. Do not burn or cook on dead wood from any poisonous plant. The toxins emitted in vapour form can be absorbed into your food while it is cooking. Fumes from burning poisonous plants, if inhaled, are so toxic that they can be lethal in a confined space. Oleander fumes nearly killed a family of four in their lounge room open fire in NSW. They were saved by an unexpected visiting family friend.