Bush Tucker

Marie Ryder

Marie paints women collecting merne atwakeye, known as the wild orange (Capparis mitchellii). Merne means food in Marie’s language and Atwakeye is the orange. The small compact tree of the wild orange plant is about 3½ m high with dark green leathery leaves. Its creamy white flowers open during the night and wither before the end of the next day. The fruit hang down on long stalks, turning a yellow green tint when ripe. The oranges usually ripen from October through January depending on seasonal conditions.

Marie Ryder grew up at Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) community, 80kms southeast of Alice Springs with her eight younger brothers and sisters.