Billardiera and Marianthus Wildflowers

In the last fortnight lovely Painted Marianthus (Marianthus bicolor) plants have been covered in flowers in open wandoo/marri woodland, and will increase after recent heavy rain. These plants are climbers and would be wonderful plants in a native garden. Plant hotspots are southern edge of Williams road and around the Claypit. Marianthus and Billardiera belong to the Pittosporum family. These are shrubs, often vines that often have fleshy seed pods. The pods on some  species are used for bush tucker, but after my disastrous taste test of the native apricot  I am more careful.
Painted Marianthus fruit has a thin rind when green that tastes nasty. Red Marianthus/Marianthus erubescens ( Candy Block) has similar fruit
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Marianthus bicolor Painted Marianthus

Fruit at varying stages

Marianthus erubescens/Red Marianthus

Billardiera venusta (Gravel climber) that is a common November flowering vine in gravel soils that is often overlooked due to its creamy green flowers. I found some enticing looking fruit on one that looked like an elongated raisin, and offered it to my beloved wife, who reported tangy lime flavour and a fizzing sensation on her tongue. This is not recorded as a bush tucker plant but passed the test.

Billardiera venusta Gravel Climber

Gravel Climber fruit

Gravel Climber fruit at various stages

Billardiera heterophylla Bluebell Creeper

Bluebell Creeper

Bluebell Creeper fruit at varying stages

The beautiful summer flowering Bluebell Creeper (Billardiera heterophylla), is a recorded bush tucker plant. When green, the thin pod wall has an apple taste , but becomes nasty when purple, then dries to a woody pod. Overrated!

Marianthus drummondianus fruit

Marianthus drummondianus is a low  October flowering shrub with deep green leaves and a mass of lovely velvet blue flowers. It is largely restricted to stony gravel near the water tank on the Banksia Walk.

Marianthus drummondianus