Common name: False Sarsaparilla Family name: Fabaceae Botanical name: Hardenbergia violacea Flowering/fruiting season: September - October

Location:

• Common in dry sclerophyll habitats from 2000 to 3000 ft (Burbidge & Gray, 1976:220); 'Open forest, especially bare, stony ground.' (Fraser & McJannett, 1993:59)
• Aranda bushland (FOAB, 1997:38)

Use:

• Food
• 'The leaves were boiled by Aboriginal people to obtain a sweet drink.' (Fraser & McJannett, 1993:59) [Source not cited; possibly refers to Smilax glyciphylla, Native Sarsaparilla instead, as I have found no other reference to Aboriginal use of H. violacea.]
• 'We have tried boiling the leaves, and find that the drink produced is slightly sweet and reasonably pleasant' (Cribb & Cribb, 1987:207)

Notes:

• H. violacea 'Happy Wanderer' : 'vigorous and floriferous' climber; 'a registered cultivar.' (Wrigley & Fagg, 1998:607 )
• Named 'False Sarsaparilla' after superficial likeness to Native Sarsaparilla Smilax glyciphylla (Wrigley & Fagg, 1998:108)

Language names:

Horticulture :

• 'Vigorous scrambler on bare ground or twiner over other plants;' (Fraser & McJannett, 1993:59)
• 'Grows in well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade.' (Wrigley & Fagg, 1998:109)

Similar species:
Glycine clandestina Twining Glycine

Use code:
LEA

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