This work is an example of a genre where the artist was influenced by her late mother Mulkuṉ Wirrpanda who of her own motion had explored lesser known plant species which she feared were being forgotten by younger generations. This coincided with artist John Wolseley’s interest in returning to Yilpara (after he had met Mulkuṉ during the Djalkiri project of 2010) and the two spent an extended period exploring the botany of Blue Mud Bay.Mulkun wanted to renew the knowledge of these plants because when she was young this is the food that she grew up on. In those days old people lived for a long time without illness. Yalmakany went with Wolseley, her sister Gurrundul and their mother Mulkun on many art/botanical discovery tours from May 2012.
Yalmakany has maintained her mother’s crusade with equal passion in the years since her mother’s death in February 2021. In early 2023 she began painting on the premises at Buku-Larrŋgay. This work is in the botanic theme of that period.
This work was accompanied by handwritten list of the plants including hand drawn images depicted provided by the artist.
Muŋunydung – we do not currently know which fruit this refers to.
Gutjawutja – Polyalthia longifolia, ‘Indian Mast’, They grow on a large tree that occurs in monsoon vine forest (jungles). The fruit hang in bunches like grapes, and are eaten when ripe (black). Translation available in Rirratjiŋu ethnobotany.Below is the Yolŋu dictionary entry for Gutjawutja.Meaning: tree – edible berry turns from dark green to pink Indian Mast, Polyalthia sp. Other ways of saying, or spelling gutjawutja are: wutja-wutja.Language notes:DMoiety: Dhuwa
Dhämaŋ Aidia racemosa ‘Archer Cherry’ A large tree that grows in monsoon vine forests. the fruit are eaten when ripe (deep red to brown). When ripe the fruit fall to the ground and may be collected.
Ḻingarr Ampelocissus acetosa Native Grape The fruits are eaten when ripe (black); the seed is not eaten. the fruit are sweet but often leave a bitter sweet after-taste. This plant also has a large tuber which cannot be eaten by people but can be eaten by pigs.
Larrani Syzygium Suborbiculare Red Bush Apple A spreading dense tree that grows in a variety of coastal and inland habitats. The large round fruit are eaten when ripe (red with small splits in skin). The tree is also a good shade tree.
Ḏangapa Persoonia falcata
Dangapa is Yolŋu ŋatha (food).Below is the Yolŋu dictionary entry for Dangapa.Meaning: tree – edible fruit, juice mixed with water or breast milk is used as medicine for earache and pussy eyes. Geebung, Persoonia falcata. Other ways of saying, or spelling ḏangapa are: dhangapa’.Ḏangapa is a sign, or symbol of: maranydjalk (season).A synonym of ḏangapa is: dhagirritj.
Djiṉ’pu Ficus superba Fig Tree A large spreading tree that occurs in coastal areas, it is an excellent shade tree. The fruit are purple with yellow spots when ripe. When ripe they are sweet, large and tasty.
Wuŋapu  Pouteria sericea, Wild Prune.
This is a distinctive shrub as the leaves are very dark olive. Underneath the leaf is velvety and silvered. The fruit looks like a Kalamata olive and has a delicious rich coffee taste. The fruit is delicious and highly sought after by birds as well as people. It has a very cryptic way of growing its fruit under the leaf or in unexpected places. You have to handle the branches and push and pull them to reveal the hidden fruit. This normally means getting green ants on you. The difficulty and satisfaction of finding the Wuŋapu fruit combined with its special taste makes children very proud when they come back from the bush with the tell-tale purple tongue that marks a successful mission. It is rare to find a tree with lots of fruit and much more likely to get one or two off each tree as you move between them. Old soft drink bottles are the usual receptacle for collecting such fruit as Wuŋapu or Munydjutj.
Below is the Yolŋu dictionary entry for wuŋapu.Meaning: tree – edible purple fruit Wild Prune, Pouteria sericea.A synonym of wuŋapu is: buŋaḻati, ḏatitji, milmulu.
Munydjutj Buchanania obovata Green Plum.
Meaning: tree and especially its fruit – green pea-like berry ready at the end of the dry season bark used as medicine for toothache or eyes. Leaves used as medicine for ringworm. Green Plum, Wild Plum, Buchanania obovata. An abbreviation of munydjutj is: gatji. For more information search for these words: dharpa-ḏiltjipuy. A synonym of munydjutj is: birrgi’ (tree), birrmanda, dhurrpinda, guyuwuḻwuḻ.