The Craig Bowden Endemic Flora Trail – Paperbark / Saltwater paperbark
Common Name: Paperbark / Saltwater paperbark
Indigenous Name: The Noongar name for Paperbark is Bibool: In many parts of Noongar Country, Paperbark is called Modong. Noongar language has regional variations, so different clans or dialect groups may use slightly different terms. Both Modong and Bibool are valid, depending on the specific area or tree species being referenced. Here’s a refined version incorporating Modong as the primary term: (pronounced bee-bool), particularly for Melaleuca rhaphiophylla, a common paperbark species in Noongar Boodja (Country).
Scientific Name: Melaleuca cuticularis
Conservation Status: Not threatened
Key features: Tree or shrub, (0.35-)1-7 m high. Fl. white-cream, Aug to Nov. Alluvium, sand, clay. Winter-wet depressions, salt lakes, coastal areas, along watercourses.
Disclaimer: The following information has been collected from third party educational reference sources that were in themselves accumulated from a range of sources, including personal knowledge passed on by Indigenous elders. Although best endeavours have been made to produce an accurate account of the uses of this plant for both food and medicinal purposes, there is no claim as to the accuracy of this information. As such, we accept no responsibility for any inaccurate information and recommend that people wishing to collect or cultivate this plant for food or medicinal purposes for themselves, family or friends, should consult with elders and traditional healers who have knowledge of the plants in their area before doing so.
Traditional / Indigenous uses:
Paperbark trees (from the Melaleuca genus) hold significant cultural value for Noongar people. These trees, native to southwest Western Australia—especially wetlands, creeks, and swamps—are deeply connected to Noongar land and traditional knowledge. Here’s an overview of the relationship between Noongar culture and Paperbark:
- Shelter and Insulation
Paperbark was traditionally used as a natural insulator. Strips of bark were layered to waterproof mia mias (shelters), especially in wet or cold weather. Its spongy, insulating quality made it ideal for temporary homes near water sources.
- Cooking and Food Preparation
Bark was used to wrap food for cooking in ground ovens (kaarda-mia or earth ovens), similar to how banana leaves are used in some other cultures.It imparted a subtle flavor and retained moisture during slow cooking, especially for meat or roots.
- Medical and Hygienic Use
Some Paperbark species have antiseptic properties. The bark and leaves could be used to treat wounds or infections. The leaves were sometimes crushed and inhaled for respiratory issues—similar to how eucalyptus is used.
- Ceremony and Symbolism
Paperbark may also have been used symbolically or in ceremonies, particularly where water and healing are thematically important. Trees often grow in sacred wetland areas, which are linked to spiritual beings in Noongar cosmology.
Paperbarks are also important in the Noongar ecological worldview: They provide habitat for birds like the djitty djitty (Willie Wagtail) and frogs, both of which are culturally significant. Wetlands where Paperbark trees grow are breeding grounds for life and are often associated with Waakal, the Rainbow Serpent, a key ancestral being in Noongar dreaming.
References
WA government dbca
https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/5900
Traditional/ Indigenous uses information:
Noongar Bush Tucker: Bush Food Plants and Fungi of the South-West of W – UWA Publishing
Noongar Bush Medicine: Medicinal Plants of the South-west of Western A – UWA Publishing
This information was reviewed and certified by Christine Coyne & Associates (Aboriginal representative/advisor)