Cunjevoi

Cunjevoi is a word in Australian English that refers to three species: two related plants of the family Araceae and genus Alocasia, and a marine animal, Pyura stolonifera.

Plants

Cunjevoi can refer to:

• Alocasia brisbanensis, a species native to rainforests of eastern Australia. It is also known as Native Lily or Spoon Lily. It is toxic to humans.^[1]
• Alocasia macrorrhizos, found in the same region as the above species, but also found in the Pacific islands, where it is referred to as "giant taro" or "elephant ear taro". It is edible if cooked for a long time but is used as a food plant in the Pacific only in times of food shortage.

Marine animal

The Cunjevoi, often known colloquially as "cunjie", is a Tunicate or sea squirt, Pyura stolonifera, found around the edge of the low-tide mark that often forms mats over the rocks. It is sometimes covered in green or brown algae and has a tough brown exterior or 'tunic'.^[2] It is related to the Sea tulip. It was a common food source for the local Aboriginal people, but is now used mainly as fishing bait.^[3] It is a protected species in some parts of Sydney Harbour.^[2]

Etymology

The word cunjevoi appears to be of Indigenous origin, but there seems to be no general consensus as to what it originally meant, or why it may have come to refer to both a marine animal and rainforest plants. See here for a discussion of the origin of the word.

References

1. ^ Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges
2. ^ ^{a b} Botany Bay Watch
3. ^ Australian Museum

Sources

• Queensland Government

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