Where "Marri" Comes From
Photo by Jesús Cabrera, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
"Marri" comes from Noongar, the Aboriginal language of south-western Australia, where marri was the traditional name for Corymbia calophylla.
Early European colonists called it "red gum" because of the blood-red kino that oozes from its trunk; the kino contains tannins with antiseptic properties and was used for tanning and medicinal purposes. Its large woody fruit are affectionately known by generations of WA schoolkids as "honkey nuts."
“The black cockatoos were busy cracking open the woody 'honkey nuts' of the old marri tree.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
Marri blossom produces plentiful nectar that attracts native bees and honey eaters, and the nectar was traditionally enjoyed as a sweet drink.
Its honey-coloured timber, with distinctive gum veins, is used in furniture, though structural faults limit its use in construction.
📚 Sources & Further Reading
- Borrowings from Aboriginal Languages — Australian National Dictionary Centre, ANU
- List of English words of Australian Aboriginal origin — Wikipedia
- Corymbia calophylla - Wikipedia
Part of our Aboriginal Loanwords collection →
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