Australian Succulents

How exciting is this!

Researching early history books and the internet reveals numerous references to herbaceous or succulent plants being critical to early inland explorers and their survival in these arid areas.

Following or finding places rich in succulent plants allowed them to venture further into the drier interior of the continent than would have otherwise been possible. For a great deal more on this see 'Edible Succulent Plants' section on this website.

The earliest drovers and squatters would also do similar, and for their animals, as any plant with soft juicy leaves or stems were preferred.
Edward M. Curr in his memoir 'Recollections of Squatting in Victoria 1841-1851' says, 'The plain for the thirty miles we followed it, from the Campaspe to Mount Hope, was one bed of ripe fruit, some juicy and some dried like raisins. As often, however, as I crossed the same country afterwards, I never again saw the pigs' faces ripe, so that I fancy that they only came to maturity in exceptional years. The plant is now nearly, if not quite, extinct in that locality.' .......possibly over-grazed and trampled out.