About Nitraria billardierei DC.
Nitraria billardierei DC., commonly called nitre bush or dillon bush, is a perennial shrub native to Australia. It commonly grows in saline areas or other disturbed sites. This species flowers mainly in spring, and produces small ovoid or oblong drupe fruits that can be purple, red or golden. The fruits are edible, with a taste described as similar to salty grapes. Indigenous Australian groups such as the Wemba-Wemba ate these fruits, sometimes consuming them whole including the stone. The English common name 'dillon' comes from the Wemba Wemba word dilanj. The fruit can also be made into jam, or dried and stored for later use. Nitraria billardierei is a broad, low shrub, reaching up to 2 metres (7 ft) in height and 4 metres in width. It occurs across all mainland states of Australia. Consumption of its fruit by emus helps the plant spread and germinate in heavy clay soil.
