cunjevoi

A coastal sea squirt (Pyura stolonifera), found in some parts of Australia and South Africa.

All along our coast, cunjevoi are destroyed by fishermen, who use them for bait and, as a result, the other animals and plants that live in association with them are also killed.

The cunjevoi is an unusual animal, being born as a larvae with a notochord or primitive backbone, before becoming attached to the rocks and growing its brown leathery coat. Cunjevoi grow in colonies and form their own ecosystem around them, from the absolute bottom of the lowest tide to above the half mean tide on exposed rocks.

A large flowering plant, Alocasia macrorrhizos, native to tropical islands from Asia to Australia.

It is stated that the pain caused by the sting of this plant will be instantly relieved by the milky juice of the lower part of the stem of Colocasia macorrhiza (“Cunjevoi” of the natives), being rubbed on the affected part.

Then we found the name when Tina bought a book about scented plants for Australian gardens. Our green lily is a cunjevoi, botanical name Alocasia macrorrhiza.