Banksia flower - before and after,
as a flower they are rich in nectar which can be sucked directly from the flower, turned into numbit- (aborigional Jacks) or taken from the bees nest. Native bees are small gentle stingless creatures- easily and handily robbed. Feral (european) bees sting, unfortunately they also sting and displace the human friendly native version. They also go to sleep at night and a swarm can be easily placed into a hive for relocation.

The seed casing of the Banksia can be used to carry fire. The stick leading to it is snapped off at a good length then the openings are filled with coals and gently swung as you walk along. Saves making fire every time when you need it, especially in winter.

Fires are a precious tool and should not be squandered by the use of excess wood, Aborigional fires out the bush are recognisable at night by their frugality. Tourists heap wood on fires - missing the point, especially with the desert woods which are extremely heavy and hard and burn to a white ash.

With desert wood, three days later - even on a small fire - the ashes are nearly red hot and will ignite new twigs easily.

Try, one night, in the bush - sustaining a flame with two twigs . each as fat as your little finger (no - not a fat fucken finger), and about a foot and a half long. You have a little pile (one hand full) of tiny (matchstick) twigs as well. Done well this should be able to burn smokelessly for about six hours with judicial application of placement and continual adjustment. The flame takes on a life of its own and it is poor form to have to add tiny twigs - especially if it goes out!!