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Paluma hosts visit by Nick Dametto, Member for Hinchinbrook

This Monday (May 28th) the Member for Hinchinbrook, Nick Dametto, spent the morning visiting Paluma and talking to PDCA members, and other business owners and residents. Nick was shown the new Community Hall extensions (now more the 50% complete) and was briefed on a number of Paluma initiatives including the 100 km network of volunteer-established walking tracks and key events hosted in Paluma  such as the Bush Dance and Paluma Push. He also listened to our concerns about road safety and maintenance and the possible re-introduction of motorized boats on Paluma Dam as well as our interest in promoting increased visitor numbers in the village.

Member for Hinchinbrook, Nick Dametto (3rd from left) at the Rainforest Inn with various Paluma residents

During further wide-ranging discussions over coffee at the Rainforest Inn, Nick indicated a strong desire to support Paluma in its plans and aspirations for enhancing our village for both residents and visitors. We anticipate taking up Nick’s offer of support in the coming months.   Afterwards Nick visited Paluma Dam with Jamie Oliver, Lyn Hyland and Les Hyland.

What’s Flowering in Paluma? Coral Tree

The Coral Tree (Erythrina variegata) is native to Australia as well as Africa, Asia and the Indian and Pacific Ocean islands. It is normally found in coastal areas but has been cultivated for many years in Paluma, where it grows into a somewhat scraggly tree, 10-15m in height.

It is semi-deciduous, losing most of all of its leaves over the winter months, which is also when flowering occurs. Its flowers are a striking deep scarlet and form large clusters that stand out from the largely leafless branches.  They are a favourite of various honey-eaters who also play an important role in pollinating the flowers.

 

There are some lovely mature specimens at the front of, and behind the Paluma Environmental Education Centre.

 

Text and photos by Jamie Oliver

What’s Flowering in Paluma? Calliandra; Red Hot Poker

Calliandra
Calliandra haematocephala is a species of the Genus Calliandra, in the Fabaceae Family (pea family) and came originally from South America.  It is sometimes called the Fairy Duster or the Tassel Flower.  The tree grows to about 3 metres high and has rather a straggly appearance.  However when it blooms it is a beautiful sight, covered with soft red powder-puff flowers which attract insects and birds.  The Eastern Spinebill is a regular visitor to the flowers.

 

Red Hot Poker
Red Hot Poker, Kniphofia, is also known as Torch Lily.  It is a member of the Liliaceae Family and is native to South Africa. There are more than 70 known species. Kniphofia is a perennial flowering plant, the bright orange flowers appearing late in autumn as the days become colder.  They are especially favoured by the Eastern Spinebill.

Text and Photos by Colwyn Campbell

Rainforest Tree of the Month (May 2018): Python Tree

SCRUB IRONWOOD  Gossia bidwillii

 The Scrub Ironwood is a member of the Myrtaceae family; Genus – Gossia, Species – bidwillii.

 Schoolchildren often call this tree the Refrigerator Tree 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.

The Scrub Ironwood is an attractive, slender tree growing to a height of about 25 metres.  Its bark is smooth with blotchy patterning in green, tan, brown and orange colours but its most distinguishing feature is its coldness to the touch when compared with surrounding trees.  On a cold morning the dense wood remains cold and water will condense and run off the trunk while surrounding trees remain dry.  Sometimes a tree will form buttress roots.  Branchlets on this tree are smooth and brown. The opposite, simple leaves are about 80 to 105 mm in length and elliptical or ovate in shape.  When crushed they have a slightly eucalyptus smell.

Flowering occurs between August and March: small 2 to 5 mm sweetly scented white flowers with 4 but mostly 5 petals.  They are often high in the tree and difficult to see. The fruit usually appears between October and May.  It is a purple/black berry, about 4 to 10 mm in size, containing cream to brown coloured seeds.  Many birds, including the lovely Rose-crowned Fruit Doves, feast on the fruit of this tree.

There are several Scrub Ironwood trees to be seen along the Paluma Rainforest Track – some of them quite close to the entrance of the track.  See if you can spot them, growing among trees similar in appearance.  The smooth, cold bark is the distinctive feature.

Text and Photo by Colwyn Campbell

What’s Flowering in Paluma? Bat Plants

Bat Plants
Tacca chantrieri  (Black Bat Plant)

The black bat plant (Tacca chantrieri) is an unusual exotic plant that is native to tropical Asia. It grows well at Paluma, most often as a pot plant in a protected shaded position away from direct sunlight. The large flowers are striking and resemble a bat in flight. The flowers are black to deep purple with ruffled edges and long, hanging filaments. Large bright green leaves surround the bloom.  Several gardeners at Paluma have spectacular specimens of the black bat plant. It flowers all year round, but seems to produce most flowers during the summer months.

Text and photo: Michele Bird

Tacca integrifolia (White Bat Plant)

The White Bat Plant (Tacca integrifolia) is a member of the yam family Dioscoreaceae.  It is native to hilly regions of tropical and subtropical Asia where it thrives in the in the shady and humid understorey of the rainforest.   The long, flowing ‘whiskers’ of this flower can grow to 30 cm long.

Text and photo: Colwyn Campbell

What’s Flowering in Paluma? Gordonia

Gordonia axillaris 

If you take a stroll through the village of Paluma between April to May you are likely to see several beautiful specimens of the Gordonia plant in full bloom. Gordonia axillaris is an exotic shrub or small tree which is a close relative to the camellia. Although Gordonia’s are slow-growing they are well suited to the cool mountain climate at Paluma. You will recognise the Gordonia from its spectacular large white blooms with bright yellow stamens. The flowers tend to fall from the tree with their egg-yolk yellow stamens facing upwards. At first glance this has the appearance of fried eggs lying around the base of the plant. For this reason, the Gordonia is often referred to by its common name, the “fried egg plant”.  Gordonia’s are a great attractant for both native bees and exotic bees. Keep an eye out for the “fried egg plant” in several gardens as you walk along Mt Spec Road.

Text and photo: Michele Bird

 

What’s flowering in Paluma? Golden Penda

Golden Penda (Xanthostemon chrysanthus)

At present the spectacular Golden Penda (Xanthostemon crysanthus) is in bloom, its flowers swarming with bees while dozens of birds visit for the nectar. There are about 45 species of Xanthostemon worldwide with 13 species in Australia but this species, native to North Queensland, is the most impressive. The flowers are in densely-packed umbels, forming golden pompons the size of cricket balls which cover the tree for a few glorious weeks.

Ivory Curl (Buckinghamia celsissima)

Other native flowers you may see this month are the sweetly scented Ivory Curl Flower (Buckinghamia celsissima) and White Hazelwood (Simplocos cochinchinensis). These two trees usually bloom between February and May but flowering may be sporadic. There are still a few white flowering spikes remaining on the Ivory Curl Flower trees around the village.

White Hazelwood
(Simplocos cochinchinensis)

The White Hazelwood which can be seen along the Range Road and around the village, bears racemes of small pearly white flowers. When the tiny petals drop they form a white carpet beneath the tree.

In the village gardens colour is provided by exotics such as Tibouchina with its beautiful royal purple flowers. Many of these trees are planted in Paluma and when all are in full bloom, as they were a few weeks ago, the sight is magnificent. Camellias are blooming in a range of colour from deep pink to white and Hibiscus shrubs are also providing splashes of colour while Tropical Rhododendrons, with their rich yellow and apricot toning stand out like beacons against the surrounding greenery. Livening up many gardens is the perennial Balsam, or Impatiens as it is also known. Its bright red and pink flowers sprawl exuberantly across the ground beneath shrubbery and along garden borders.

Text & Photos: Colwyn Campbell