n.
The name is given tovarious shrubs and trees of the genus Coprosma,especially Coprosma billardieri, Hook., N.O. Rubiare(e; also to Leucopogon richei, Lab., N.O. Epacrideae, various species of Leptomeria, N.O. Santalaceae, and Myoporum serratum, R. Br., N.O. Myoporineae. The names used for M. serratum, chiefly in South Australia, are Blueberry Tree, Native Juniper, NativeMyrtle, Palberry, and Cockatoo Bush.
See also native plum.
1827. P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. i.p. 220:
«Our native currants are strongly acidulous, like thecranberry, and make an excellent preserve when mixed withthe raspberry.»
1834. Ross, `Van Diemen's Land Annual,' p. 133:
« Leucopogon lanceolatum. A large bush with numerousharsh leaves, growing along the sea shore, with some othersmaller inland shrubs of the same tribe, produces very smallwhite berries of a sweetish and rather herby flavour. Theseare promiscuously called white or native currants in thecolony.»
[«The insignificant and barely edible berries of this shrub aresaid to have saved the life of the French botanist Riche, whowas lost in the bush on the South Australian coast for threedays, at the close of the last century.» (Maiden.) The plantis now called L. Richei.]
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 19:
«Native Currant. . . . This plant bears a small round drupe,about the size of a small pea. Mr. Backhouse states that (overhalf a century ago) when British fruits were scarce, it wasmade into puddings by some of the settlers of Tasmania, but thesize and number of the seeds were objectionable.»