Fish Poison Tree - Barringtonia asiatica

It’s quite an interesting experience when I visit a new country and do not recognise most of the trees and plants I see. It creates a disturbing feeling of being lost and disconnected from my surroundings. So when I travel to new places I find it fascinating exploring and discovering the native flora and it’s bushcraft uses.

After a little filming and research I’ve produced a series of 60 second films showcasing some of the things I’ve learnt. I’ve chosen several plants and trees which seem to be a very common sight on the east coast of Australia including a few of particular interest to me.

The Fish Poison tree in my opinion is a real oddity, from it's flowering overnight for only one night to its poisonous content which has been used to catch fish. It's one of my favourite trees.

Tree and plant identification is an important bushcraft skill enabling you to locate valuable resources such as edible or medicinal items and many different materials for practical applications such as friction fire and cordage making.