Back of Beyond The NT: Dhaarratharramirri Season in Darwin

Late April, May, June, July, August South-east or dry season. Wind in east and south-east People nomadic; big wet-season camps breaking up. Systematic burning of all extensive grassed areas, communal drives for kangaroo, bandicoots, goanna. Fishing still important, with nets, grass barriers, in shallow waters on plains & salt pans.

The Yolngu have at least 11 plants that act as calendar plants. These are plants that act as conspicuous indicators of certain seasonal occurances that are important but difficult to observe. Generally calendar plants have distinctive flowers that indicate an animal food resource is at it's best and should be hunted or collected. Due to the variability of seasonal weather patterns, it is important to have recognised indicators of food resources available, so that the hunting period is optimal.*

Dharranggulk (Yolngu name) – Red Flowering Kurrajong – Brachychiton paradoxus: A small deciduous tree with large leaves and red flowers that grows in open forests and woodlands. The flowering of this species signals that baby sharks are ready to be hunted (they are considered a delicacy and are much sought after), that scrub fowls have laid their eggs and the eggs may be dug out of nests, and that mud crabs contain eggs, which are the same colour as the Dharrangnulk flower.

[*reference: 'Rirratjingu Ethnobotony: Aboriginal Plant Use From Yirrkala, Arnhem Land, Australia']

Right Now the Dharranggulk are in full bloom.

Aiteta iridias Adult Moth