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Rainforest Biodiversity: 5 easy species at a time – Part 6: Trees

By Colwyn Campbell and Jamie Oliver

Trees are the principal structural element of rainforests, creating a variety of climates and microhabitats for numerous plants and animals. The Wet Tropics hosts a huge diversity of trees (about 920 species) with over 100 species typically found in just 1 hectare.

The main visible parts of trees in a mature rainforest are the trunks, which are not particularly different among most species. This makes tree identification difficult for the inexperienced visitor. Three of the 5 easy species listed here are among the few with highly distinctive trunks and bark. The remaining two are common along the main roads of the village where their distinctive leaves and fruit are easy to see.

1.    Paperbark Satinash (Syzygium papyraceum)

Paperbark Satinash Fruit (Syzygium papyraceum)

This is one of the most distinctive trees in the Paluma rainforest and is quite common, especially along the Andrée Griffin Track. It has bright orangey-brown flaky bark and roots. It grows to a height of 20 to 30 metres and often has buttresses.  While the flowers are not very distinctive the bright purple fruit, which litter the ground under the tree from December to February, are readily identifiable. Leaves are glossy dark green obovate (with the narrower end towards the leaf-base).

Cassowaries, Bush Rats, White-tailed Rats and Musky Rat Kangaroos eat the fruit.

For more information on this species see the Rainforest Tree of the Month (July 2018).

2.    Refrigerator Tree (Gossia bidwillii)

This tree gets its name because its trunk, when compared with other surrounding trees, is very cold to touch.  It is also known as the Python Tree perhaps because its mottled green and tan colouring and slightly twisting trunk resemble the marking and sinuous form of a large python. This combination of a smooth mottled bark and cold feel is what makes the tree easy to identify.

Growing to a height of about 25 metres it this tree can sometimes form buttress roots.  The simple leaves are about 80 to 105 mm long and elliptical or ovate in shape.  When crushed they have a slightly eucalyptus smell.

While not abundant in the forest track around Paluma, specimens can be seen on the Rainforest Track, H-Track and the main track towards Witt’s Lookout. See if you can spot them, growing among trees similar in appearance. 

For more information on this species see the Rainforest Tree of the Month (May 2018).

3.    Bleeding Heart (Homalanthus novo-guineensis)

The striking feature of this tree is the scattering of brilliant red and orange heart-shaped leaves. Rather than a mass seasonal colouration change, only a few a leaves at a time turn bright red before dropping. Its leaves are simple with a smooth, glossy upper surface and a glaucous (pale) underside. The stems exude a milky sap when broken.

The tiny flowers are white or cream, have no petals making them difficult to detect. Flowering can occur in any month. The fruits which follow are small green to purplish. The fruit is eaten by many bird species, notably Rifle-birds, Bower-birds and Pigeons. Possums eat the leaves.

These trees are most easily seen along the roads in the village. A good example of the tree can be seen along the McClelland’s Lookout path and they are also commonly found along the village roads.

The Bleeding Heart is also the host tree for the Hercules Moth, which is the largest moth in the World.

For more information on this species see the Rainforest Tree of the Month (September 2018).

4.    Northern Silky Oak (Cardwellia sublimis)

This tree is also known as the Bull Oak. Although it is quite common along the forest paths, the trunk is not particularly distinctive, so it is most commonly identified from the carpet of “butterfly seedlings” that occur near mature trees during the late wet and early dry seasons. A month or so after germination the first true leaves develop and the butterfly shape is lost.  Around the village roads there are several good specimens of the Northern Silky Oak that can be identified by the large prominent seed pods.

Photo by Andi Cairns

The fragrant white or cream flowers grow in terminal racemes or spikes, crowning the tree spectacularly from October to December. Then, in January, standing proud on long stems above the tree canopy, the large oval seedcases are silhouetted against the sky. The empty seed capsules are brown and woody and lie like miniature cobblestones on a bumpy pavement but they quickly decompose back into the soil.

Northern Silky Oak seed pod (Cardwellia sublimis)
Photos by Andi Cairns

The dark, oak-like timber of this tree is highly regarded and sought after for furniture and cabinet making. It once made up 15% of all timber production in the area.

For more information on this species see the Rainforest Tree of the Month (March 2020).

5.    Pimply Ash (Balanops australiana)

Pimply Ash fruit (Balanops australiana)
Photo by Keith Townsend, ©Creative Commons

This species is one of the larger common trees along the rainforest tracks, with a round symmetrical trunk whose diameter can exceed 1 metre in mature specimens. It can be identified by its distinctive trunk, which is covered in pale “pimples” or lenticels. Larger trees also have distinctive raised, round, sinuous roots extending out several metres from the trunk.

All species in this genus have separate sexes with individual trees being either male or female.  The orange fruit on female trees are small, solitary and oval.  They are eaten by pigeons.

What’s Blooming in Paluma – Pagoda Flower

One of the shrubs in our garden that managed to survive a decade of neglect while we were working overseas, but which has sprung back to become a regular bloomer from about February to April is the Pagoda Flower (Clerodendrum paniculatum). The beautiful conical red flower head stands 1-1.5m up on the erect stem of the plant. It is originally from India and SE Asia and is now considered naturalised in NE Australia. The Pagoda Flower is a great butterfly attractor and I frequently see Cairns Birdwings hovering next to the flower cones. One species of Hawk Moth larva also uses it as a food plant.

Clerodendrum paniculatum is a member of the mint family and has a number of traditional medical uses. Laboratory experiments with rats indicate that it has anti-inflamatory and anti-oxidant properties but traditional beliefs in Malaysia suggest it has mystical spirit summoning properties, while in other areas it is used as an elephant medicine.

While this plant makes a nice feature flower, its enthusiasm for spreading via suckers does mean it can slowly take over parts of some gardens. While it is not a declared weed, in Cairns it is listed as an emerging weed while the Wet Tropics Management Authority has listed it as an “Undesirable Plant”. So we have a responsibility here in Paluma to make sure it does not escape our gardens if we already have this species, and to think twice before adding it. The PDCA has decided that we will not plant any species on the Undesirable List in any of its garden beds around the Community Hall. You can download the full list here.

Text and Photos by Jamie Oliver

Rainforest Biodiversity: 5 easy species Part 5 – Reptiles & Amphibians

By Jamie Oliver

About 162 species of reptiles can be found in the Wet Tropics. The concentration of endemic species (that are found nowhere else) is greater (18 species) than anywhere else in Australia. Likewise, the Wet Tropics hosts an impressive variety of frogs (amphibians). Out of the 212 species known to Australia nearly 29% can be found in the region[1]. Unfortunately, reptiles and amphibians tend not be as visible to the casual Paluma visitor. Frogs are most active at night during the wet season, while many reptiles seek the shade of logs and rocks when the sun is high. Nevertheless, there are two species of reptiles that are often out and about in gardens and along the roads and open tracks of the village. Two of the frogs listed here are best found by going out with a torch at night and listening first for their distinctive calls. With luck you may be able to trace the call to its origin and be rewarded with a view of the frog itself. The third frog can be found along the H-Track using a torch to look for eye shine on warm, wet, summer nights

[1] https://www.wettropics.gov.au/plants-animals

1. Red-bellied Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus)
Red-bellied Black Snake showing red markings on its side

This is the most commonly seen snake around Paluma village, and can often be found sunning itself on a rock in gardens and along the road.  They hibernate during the winter but can be found most other times of the year. They are relatively thick bodied and a uniform dull black above and pale below with a series of red blotches long the side.

Although it belongs to the venomous elapid family, for its size the Red-Bellied Black Snake is probably the least dangerous elapid snake in Australia. Despite the number of bites received every year, very few human deaths have resulted. You should still be very cautious when encountering this snake. Keep your distance and stamp your feet to encourage it to move away.

During the morning they can often be seen sunning themselves on a rock

Red-bellied Black Snakes are the only species in the genus Pseudechis that have live young (the other species are all egg-layers). They feed on a variety of vertebrates including fish, tadpoles, frogs, lizards, snakes (including its own species), and mammals.

For a more detailed account of the Red-bellied Black Snake and it’s habits see the post by Colwyn Campbell. Addition notes and  observations by Linda Venn were also presented in a recent post here.

2. Eastern Water Skink (Eulampris quoyii)

Skinks are small, smooth-bodied lizards, with most species having no defined neck. They are the most common type of lizard seen around gardens throughout Australia and there are about 389 different species. The Eastern Water Skink is a large species (28cm long) that can often be seen and heard rustling in the leaf litter in search of small prey.

They shelter in holes and burrows, under logs and rocks, and near streams and ponds feeding on a diet of water beetles and other aquatic insects, snails, tadpoles, spiders, small fishes, smaller lizards, and native fruit.   They can become quite tame and will quickly learn to eat small bugs and meal worms out of your hand. Birds, big lizards, and black snakes all prey on these skinks. Eastern Water Skinks breed in spring and as many as nine live babies are born in summer.

Further notes and  observations on the Eastern Water Skink by Linda Venn can be found here

3. Orange-thighed Tree Frog (Litoria xanthomera)

This frog is arguably the most photogenic in tropical Australia, with a deep green upper surface, deep red-orange eyes, and lemony-orange sides to its legs and toes. It is quite common in Paluma and during rainy nights it can often be heard calling near garden ponds and gutters around the village.

A male calling

Its call is very distinctive, and you are more likely to hear this species than see it. However, if you are able to trace the calls, you should be able to find a male perched on a leaf or twig near a pool or puddle. Watching a male inflate its yellow throat as it calls is a great reward for diligent searching.

Litoria xanthomera calling near a small pond in front of a house in the village

During the day these frogs hide in the foliage and can have very different pale green and white skin and whitish eye colour.

4. Mottled Barred Frog (Mixophyes coggeri)

This large mottled frog can frequently be found beside the road on Lennox Cr. and along the H-Track at night during the wet season. They can be picked up from their eye-shine using a torch and tend not to move when approached, so it is easy to get close enough for a clear identification.

Mixophyes coggeri showing two different colourations

They are also found (and heard at night) around the Village Weir. The call is a loud croak that can be heard at some distance.

Mixophyes coggeri calling in the early evening from the weir near the Community Hall
M. schevilli showing continuous dorsal stripe. © wild_lachie

There is one other species of mottled frog (Northern Barred Frog – Mixophyes schevilli) that can be found around Paluma that looks very similar but has a distinct continuous stripe down its back, whereas M. coggeri has an irregular and discontinuous series of dark blotches.

5. Southern Ornate Nursery Frog (Cophixalus australis)
Photo by Reiner Richter (Creative Commons Attribution International CC BY 4.0)

This tiny frog has an amazingly loud call that is so common in the evenings at Paluma that it becomes part of the background soundscape. It hides out in the foliage and on the forest floor and is seldom seen. Even tracking down a calling male can be a frustrating and often futile exercise. However, the call itself is so distinctive that you can confidently claim you have identified one just by hearing it.

Cophixalus australis calling near a house in the village

There are 13 species of nursery frogs in the Wet Tropics and many of them have highly restricted distributions with some occupying only a single mountain top forest. Consequently, Nursery Frogs are considered to be one of the most threatened groups of vertebrates in the Wet Tropics bioregion. However, the Southern Ornate Nursery Frog has a much wider distribution and is not considered threatened.

Nursery Frogs have direct development (eggs are deposited under rocks or logs in moist soil and the froglets hatch directly from the eggs). The male has been known to guard the eggs during development – hence the common name.

Outcomes of the PDCA Annual General Meeting

The PDCA AGM was held last month (March 13) in conjunction with a well attended BBQ lunch. This year we decided to change the date away from Easter and to offer residents a free BBQ lunch prior to the meeting. We received some positive feedback on this initiative and were delighted to easily exceed the number of attendees required for a quorum (although this may also have been due to Wilfred’s door to door encouragement earlier in the morning).

The official minutes of the meeting will be completed soon, but if you are interested in reading the President’s Annual report, or the History Project report, they are both available in our Documents section on the website.

All current PDCA Executive Committee Members were elected for another year.

Many thanks to all those who attended and contributed to the meeting.

PDCA Executive Committee Members for 2020-21
NamePositionemailph
Jamie OliverPresidentJ.K.Oliver@outlook.com0408 710030
Anneshka Brown1st Vice Presidentanneshka@protonmail.com0472 768 227
Juanita PolettoSecretaryjpoletto@gmail.com0410 202 968
Wilfred KarnollTreasurerwilfred.suzanne@bigpond.com0447 822 626
Jill MeadsCommittee Memberjillmeads55@gmail.com
Charlie AllenCommittee Member (SES)c-t-a@activ8.net.au
Ross HyneCommittee Member (RFS)ross.hyne@ergon.com

Community Hall Garden beds begin to take shape

Following a meeting in March on the establishment of gardens beds we now have a working group of residents who have made themselves available to help out with this new community project. The Townsville City Council has agreed to donate up to $900 worth of native plants to assist in the project.

After our first meeting a general plan of where beds would be located was agreed on and Graham Malpas immediately cleared out the rear side beds. It turns out there are some quite nice plants along that side but they were masked by a lot of weedy growth.

Following the PDCA Annual General Meeting some “muscle” was requisitioned to help collect some surplus logs from Anne Bruyeres block to the Hall to serve as garden borders. Colin Meads and Jamie Oliver, with assistance from Don Battersby, took two trailer loads of logs over to the hall where placement was overseen by Jill Meads and Anne. It all looked like so much fun that we even attracted a member of the public who was up with his family for a lunch at the picnic tables, volunteer to lend us a hand.

Tony Bligh’s ingenious creation, the “log dolly’, was invaluable in collecting and moving the logs, but one big one that we wanted as a feature piece was just too big to handle. However with the addition of a little brain to Colins’s and Jamie’s brawn, Tony showed us how it could be done.

The next step is to get a couple of truck-loads of topsoil to build up the new garden beds. The Townsville City Council (via Councillor Margie Ryder) has agreed to provide this, but with the new restrictions caused by COVID 19 the delivery has been postponed indefinitely.

Once the restrictions on gatherings has been lifted we will organize our third working bee to start planting! In the mean time Jamie has plans to lay out some irrigation hosing so that the beds can be provided with water during the dry season.

Paluma History Stories: ‘Robbery Under Arms’ – Part Nineteen

by Linda Venn

Click here for a list of key characters in this story

A Local Mystery – We will never know who the bandit was

On January 8th 1932, Police Magistrate Geoffrey A. Cameron had committed Charles Henry Edmonds to stand trial in the first sittings of the Supreme Court for the year, scheduled to take place on 8th February. The case was handed to the Crown Prosecutor, Mr. T. P. Quinn, to prosecute in the Supreme Court. I have found only two small notices, one in the Townsville Daily Bulletin and the other in the Brisbane Courier, both published on Saturday 30th January 1932, that give us the ending to this tale.

Townsville Daily Bulletin, 30 Jan, 1932, p.15
Brisbane Courier, 30th January 1932, p. 15

So, what does this mean for Charlie Edmonds? A “No True Bill” is more properly known as nolle prosequi, the legal term for the Crown Prosecutor deciding not to proceed any further with the indictment. The decision not to proceed any further can be made by the prosecution at almost any stage of the trial, but particularly if the defence is successful on a voir dire (pre-trial application).

There are two possibilities here – either George Roberts was successful in convincing the Crown Prosecutor that the chances of securing a guilty verdict from a jury did not warrant proceeding further, or the Crown Prosecutor came to that conclusion himself upon review of the evidence.

For Charles Henry Edmonds, this meant the charges were dropped. Did he do it? Was there more than one bandit? We will probably never know.

Charges against Edmonds for the Mt. Spec hold-up apparently constituted his first ever brush with the law. Was it his last? Now, that’s another story………

Paluma History Stories: ‘Robbery Under Arms’ – Part Eighteen

by Linda Venn

Click here for a list of key characters in this story

Evidence concluded; Edmonds committed for trial in the Supreme Court, Friday 8th January 1932

William Ashman was the last witness to take the stand. He was also a Main Roads Commission employee at Mt. Spec. Ashman

stated he had known defendant (Edmonds) about six months. On December 9 he was instructed by his employers to help in the search for a. bandit. He asked O’Brien for a description of the man, and was told a tall thin man, with a shirt hanging over his trousers and was also wearing a dirty cloth over his face, and wore no hat.

At the scene of the hold-up. They searched the locality in which the bandit was said to have escaped. It was suggested that they might recover the bandit’s body, as it was thought the bandit may have been hit. When he and Murray set out on horses from Tealby’s they were instructed to search for tracks.

On the following morning they went with the police party to continue following the tracks that had been found the previous afternoon. During the search the trackers had an argument as to the Identity of the track.

O’Brien never told him that Edmonds was the man.

Sub-Inspector Blackmore made his final cross-examination. Ashman’s responses were:

He (Ashman) did not know that O’Brien returned to the scene of the hold-up before he returned again to organise a search party, and O’Brien did not show him a hat before the party left for the scene of the hold-up, although O’Brien showed It to them next day.

They only searched for about 200 yards before they left for Tealby’s. When they rode up to Edmonds’ carrying a .303 rifle the latter asked them if he defendant (Edmonds) could not shoot all the wallabies around the country, whereupon they told him they were looking for a bushranger.

As far as he knew, Murray took the old road to Tealby’s and Murray pointed out to him next day where he had ridden. He (Ashman) did not assist the police In following the tracks up to Tealby’s gate. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Saturday 9th January 1932, p. 7.)

This concluded the case.

Mr. Roberts:

“contended there was not a prima facie case made out. His Worship was entitled to make a conviction, but if he were convicted would a Jury find him guilty. He considered they would not.

The only evidence against the defendant was the evidence of Constable O’Brien, which was given in a very unsatisfactory manner, and which should be disregarded, because O’Brien said he immediately identified the man, but his actions did not warrant this. His was the only evidence that Edmonds was the bandit, and yet It took three days for the police to arrest defendant, and O’Brien never at any time suggested to Edmonds that he was the man. He considered that Edmonds was entitled to be discharged.

Police Magistrate Mr. Geoffrey A. Cameron disagreed.

His Worship stated that there was conflicting evidence between theparties, but he thought there was a very strong prima facie case made out.

They had to take the evidence of Gill, who stated that it took an of Gill, who stated that it took an hour for a horse to go two miles. If all his evidence was like that, then it was not worth the paper it was written on. No one would own a horse- that could not even walk two miles in an hour. (Author’s emphasis)

He thereupon committed defendant to stand his trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court at Townsville on February 8.

Ball of £100, and one surety of £100 was allowed. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Saturday 9th January 1932, p. 7.)

The point His Worship made about the slow-walking horse was valid if Gill had been talking about the distance between the scene of the hold-up and Edmonds’ hut, riding the quickest way past Tealby’s. However, it is more likely that Gill was referring to the time taken to ride from the scene of the hold-up back to Edmonds’ hut following the boundary. The difference between the two routes was considerable and would affect the times Gill gave to the Court of when he had seen Edmonds, thus also affecting Edmonds’ alibi. (Author’s emphasis)

The Cairns Post of the same date expands on the exchange between George Roberts and Geoffrey Cameron, P.M. Roberts lodged a plea of Not Guilty. He

“again submitted that a prima facie case had not been made out, expressing the opinion that no jury could or would find him guilty. The only evidence to convict defendant was that of Constable O’Brien and that was unsatisfactory. With Constable O’Brien recognising him, it took three days to arrest him, and it was not even suggested that it was the man until they had a partial dress rehearsal – partial, because they did not put, a handkerchief on.

The Magistrate said that he had the evidence of the constable and other facts and defendant’s arrival on a sweating horse. There was a conflict of evidence between the parties, but a strong prima facie case had been made out. Gill said it would take a horse an hour to canter four miles, and if all his evidence was like that it was not worth the paper it was written on. (Author’s emphasis)

Then the bullocky Murray, came along and in his evidence…….

‘Well, I need not discuss it,’ said the P.M. ‘A prima facie case has been made out, and defendant is committed to stand trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court, Townsville, on February 8.’” (Cairns Post, Saturday 9th January 1932, p. 5.)

So, had Gill been referring to the shorter route (two miles, as reported in the Bulletin), or the longer route (four miles, as reported in the Cairns Post). Was the Magistrate confused, and did it make any difference to the validity of the rest of Gill’s evidence?

Paluma History Stories: ‘Robbery Under Arms’ – Part Seventeen

by Linda Venn

Click here for a list of key characters in this story

Evidence concluded; Edmonds committed for trial in the Supreme Court, Friday 8th January 1932.

On Friday 8th January 1932, evidence concluded with that of Thomas Murray and Arthur Ashman. Many regional newspaper reports provide no mention of their evidence e.g. Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, Saturday 9th January 1932, p. 6; Telegraph, Brisbane, Friday 8th January 1932, p. 2 – article repeated in the Telegraph, Saturday 9th January 1932, p. 2; Cairns Post, Saturday 9th January 1932, p. 5.)

The Brisbane Truth provides a brief summary of their evidence for the defence. Murray was a labourer, resident in the district. Ashman was an employee of the Main Roads Board. Their evidence was given

“in detail, regarding Constable O’Brien’s request for assistance in tracking the bushranger.

The description of the bandit, which the constable supplied to them was that of a tall, thin man wearing a dirty white shirt over the outside of his trousers, with a dirty piece of cloth over his face, and no hat on.

Both stated that O’Brien never at any time mentioned that Edmonds was the man concerned in the hold-up.” (Truth, Brisbane, Sunday 10th January 1932, p. 9.)

Once again, the Bulletin satisfies local interest with a detailed coverage. Both Murray and Ashman had been in the party of MRC employees involved in the initial search on the afternoon of the hold-up. Thomas Murray was a labourer employed on the Mt. Spec Road. He had been a local resident “for a number of years.” The report of Murray’s evidence continues:

On December 9 he saw Constable O’Brien at the office at Mt Spec road, who told him that there had been a hold-up, and asked witness’ assistance. O’Brien gave a description of the man. Saying he was a tall thin man and was wearing a dirty white shirt pulled down over his trousers, and that he was not wearing a hat. Witness then left for the scene of the hold-up on his own. O’Brien asked him if he could get a horse, which he considered he could get at Tealby’s. They then left, witness riding across country to Tealby’s, arriving there about the same time as the lorry.

That afternoon at O’Brien’s request, he (Murray) and a man named Ashby went searching the locality, calling- at Edmonds’ place during the day. The latter offered his assistance, but he (Murray) did not communicate this to O’Brien. O’Brien never suggested to him that Edmonds was the man.

On Thursday morning he met a party of police at the scene of the hold-up, and they told htm to search for tracks. The trackers found the tracks of a horse, and they asked witness if he rode through this certain spot in the gully, and he replied in the affirmative. They requested him to ride his horse again through the gully, and he did so. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Saturday 9th January 1932, p. 7.)

Once again, we can only surmise the actual questions posed by Sub-Inspector Blackmore in his cross-examination of Murray. The Bulletin report continues:

O’Brien would be lying if he said he did not describe the bandit, nor did he ask witness to search round far any strangers in that locality. He (Murray) also went to Gill’s place, after calling at Edmonds and Tealby’s. Edmonds and Tear were the only persons at the former’s hut, where he told them they were looking for a bushranger. He remained at Edmonds about an hour, although he had only known defendant a few months. Gill was quite surprised when he heard of the hold-up.

He (Murray) rode a chestnut horse with medium size hoofs when he set out from Mt. Spec.

O’Brien did not tell witness not to go to Edmonds’ place, nor did he tell O’Brien on the following morning that he had not been to Edmonds’ hut. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Saturday 9th January 1932, p. 7.)

Rainforest Biodiversity: 5 easy species Part 4 – Fungi

By Jamie Oliver

Fungi are an amazingly diverse group that includes not only mushrooms, coral, bracket, stinkhorn, and jelly fungi (to mention but a few), but also yeasts, moulds, and an assortment of nasty parasitic organisms that prey on both plants and animals. There is also a range of fungi that specialise in symbiotic relationships with other organisms e.g., lichens (fungus + alga + other micro-organisms), and mycorrhizae that are an important symbiont with the roots of many Australian trees. There are about 13,000 species of fungi formally named and recorded in Australia, although estimates put the real number  closer to 250,000, including 5,000 species of mushrooms (of which only 5% have been named)1

Note: Many of us enjoy the edible mushroom which we usually purchase from the supermarket. There are other edible Australian wild fungi but we do not recommend that you try any of the fungi mentioned below or indeed any that you might find around Paluma – they are likely to be toxic and can cause serious harm!

Fungus identification often requires experience and technical skills, but there is a reasonable number that are so visually distinctive that almost no skills other than a good eye are needed to make an identification. The following 5 easy species are very distinctive, and at least during the wet season, they are fairly common along Paluma’s tracks.

1. Cyptotrama asprata (Golden Scruffy Collybia)

This distinctive and beautiful orange mushroom can be found along the H-track as well as other local tracks. The colour and prickly-looking surface of the cap are diagnostic. It grows in small groups on dead wood on the forest floor and is found worldwide in the tropics.

2.    Leucocoprinus fragilissimus (Fragile Dapperling)

This dainty (and fragile) mushroom starts off with a rounded bell-shaped cap that becomes flat then slightly convex with age. The cap is generally cream coloured with varying degrees of yellow in the centre. It is quite common on local forest tracks. Even a gentle touch is likely to damage the cap. It is found on all continents.

3.    Filoboletus manipularis – Soldier Pore Fungus

This common wet-season mushroom forms large clumps on both living tree trunks and old fallen logs. It has a pale brown central cap surrounded by pale cream to white, with a white speckled stem. It differs from other clumping fungi on trees in that it has distinctive reticulate pattern of pores under that cap instead of linear gills.  Some strains of this mushroom are bioluminescent; however, this does not seem to be true of the ones around Paluma.

4.    Stereum ostrea – Golden Curtain Crust

This fungus is commonly found on fallen logs. When still growing and the weather is damp, they form deep orange concave fans that grow out and up from a narrow base that remains attached to the log. The lower surface of the thin fan is smooth while the upper surface often displays concentric rings that vary in shade. In older specimens that are starting to dry the colours change to rings of grey, brown and green. Eventually they completely dry out and become papery crusts that crumble away. The fan can sometimes split radially as it grows. Individuals can occur singly or cover the length of large logs.

5.    Dacryopinax spathularia – Fan-shaped Jelly Fungus

This is a beautiful and common fungus that can be found as small yellow/orange blades poking out of cracks in dead wood or as larger convoluted fans. It has a rubbery texture and often grows in clusters following grooves in old lumber. It may even be found on the wooden exterior walls of local buildings.

Paluma History Stories: ‘Robbery Under Arms’ – Part Sixteen

by Linda Venn

Click here for a list of key characters in this story

Continuing evidence for the defence, Tuesday 5th January 1932

After lunch, Roberts called Edward/ Edwin Gill to the stand. Gill “gave evidence as to the defendant’s movements on the day of the hold-up, saying that he had seen him at breakfast, later at 10:15 a.m. when the defendant returned to the camp, and again at 10:30, when he gave him a message for Tear.” (Telegraph, Brisbane, Wednesday 6th January 1932, p. 9.)

Again, the local press gives us the most detailed report. Gill stated that

“on December 9 last he resided at Ollera Gorge, carrying on farming with William Searle. Since then they had dissolved partnership. His house was 100 yards from Edmonds’ hut. On December 9 he saw Edmonds early in the morning, about 7 o’clock. He was in company with tear, but he did not see him with Searle. Later on, he saw defendant riding back to his hut, and also saw him leave again in about a quarter of an hour’s time. Defendant left a message with witness to tell Tear not to leave till defendant arrived back. Witness (Gill) asked defendant the time and defendant told him 10:30 a.m. Witness returned to his camp 10 minutes later, where he noticed the time was 10:45 a.m.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 6th January 1932, p.7.)

(Author’s note: Remember that Gooch had informed Edmonds that the hold-up took place at 10:45 a.m.)

Gill was then cross-examined by Sub-Inspector Blackmore. As only Gill’s responses are reported, we can only guess what the questions were.

“He (Gill) had only known defendant (Edmonds) about two months. At 8 o’clock that morning witness (Gill) was out horse-hunting. Tear and defendant were the only men residing at the latter’s hut. That morning Searle visited a farmer’s place near Ollera Creek, where they make concrete pipes, and returned later on, about 11:30, although he was not certain of the hour. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 6th January 1932, p.7.)

(Author’s note: The concrete pipes made on Ollera Creek now form the culverts under Mt. Spec Road. Initially, there was some concern about the quality of the concrete achieved, samples of which were sent south each week by rail for slump testing. This might explain why some pipes have failed after 80 years.)

Gill continued, answering question apparently designed to establish the times of Edmonds movements on the day of the hold-up: Gill “was working on the front gate from about 9 a.m. till 10:45 a.m., when he went to his house to knead some bread which he had set the previous night, and in 12 hours the bread had not risen. As far as witness knew Tear was employed by the defendant. Tear returned on horseback, but he (Gill) did not know the time. It would be untrue if Tear said witness told him Edmonds had just left. Defendant did not tell witness to tell Tear it was 10:30 when defendant left. He did not know what defendant wanted Tear for.”

Blackmore must have asked Gill for his opinion on Edmonds’ sweating horse: “On December 9, Tear and defendant mustered cattle in the afternoon. The condition of defendant’s horse was nothing unusual when it came home, because it was a hot horse.”

Gill was also asked for the time it would have taken a rider to travel from the hold-up, the location of which Gill was not certain of, to Tealby’s the long way round, via the property boundary: “Defendant would not have been able to go right round the boundary in the morning….It would take approximately an hour to ride from the scene of the hold-up to defendant’s hut and from there to Tealby’s. It would be shorter to go direct from the scene of the ambush to Tealby’s”. Blackmore seems to have been trying to discount Edmonds’ alibi of coming to Tealby’s from the direction of his hut, not from the direction of the hold-up. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 6th January 1932, p.7.)

Roberts was granted an adjournment to Friday 8th January, to allow other witnesses to appear. Edmonds’ bail was further extended. (Telegraph, Brisbane, Wednesday 6th January 1932, p. 9.)