Merne Arrwerneng (Wild Passionfruit) SP8298-Therese Ryder

Therese paints merne arrwerneng, known as the wild passionfruit (Capparis spinosa var. nummularia). Merne means food in Therese's language and Arrwerneng is the wild passionfruit. The spiny shrub of the arrwerneng produces white, delicate flowers that only last for a day or two, and the fruit that ripen in the summer and last until the winter frosts. When the green fruit ripens, it splits open revealing bright yellow pulp and black seeds. Ants and bird are attracted to this fruit when it is ripe which is why it is commonly picked green by the aboriginal people and allowed to ripen off the plant.