Also known as Ivory Curl Flower and Spotted Silky Oak
Buckinghamia celsissima belongs to the plant family Proteaceae and is endemic to the wet tropical rainforests of North Queensland from near Cooktown to the Paluma Range. The species was described by Ferdinand von Mueller in honour of his friend Richard Granville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham from a collection made by John Dallachy in 1865.
It is a handsome tree, growing to about 30 metres and may be buttressed. Foliage is dense with glossy, dark green simple leaves, 8 to 16 cm long by 3 to 7 cm wide. The leaf underside is whitish. Juvenile leaves can have one or two lobes and foliage may be flushed with red during periods of new growth.
Flowering shows the Buckinghamia celsisima in its full glory as masses of fragrant white to cream drooping spikes cover the tree. (A magnificent specimen is located in the Trees of Memory grove at the foot of the Village Green). The flowers, up to 20 cm long, grow in terminal racemes and are visited from dawn to dusk by bees and birds. The flowering period is usually between January and May.
The green to brown fruit is a woody follicle or capsule, 15 -30 mm by 12 -18 mm, which splits open along one side to release three to six flat, narrowly winged seeds. Crimson Rosellas feast on the seeds.
The tree is popular with gardeners as propagation from cuttings is usually successful though slow but the seed is easy to germinate and produces plants which will flower in three years. The tree is also grown as an attractive street tree as it seldom reaches the same height as in its natural environment and is also amenable to pruning.
Footnote: The Village Green specimen, so glorious in mid-February, has suffered a battering from the heavy rain over the weekend of 22/23 Feb, its blooms now rather bedraggled but still beauriful..
Text and images by Colwyn Campbell
There are also a few in bloom out in the Republic giving the birds a much needed food source during the wet weather. Thank you Colwyn. ps these trees are very common street / footpath trees in Brisbane!