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What’s flowering in Paluma? Tea-trees; Snowflake Tree

Brightening these bleak, wintry days with splashes of cheerful colour are the dainty tea-trees (genus Leptospermum), seen in many gardens in Paluma.  Several beautiful specimens of this plant can be seen in the garden of the Rainforest Inn, where shrubs representing two or three varieties of tea-tree grow in a cluster.  One shrub bears deep pink flowers, while the others range through paler pink to almost white.

 
Pale pink tea-tree (photo by Michele Bird)

The common name, tea-tree was derived from early attempts by settlers to use the aromatic leaves of some species as a substitute for tea.  Capt. James Cook also, is said to have experimented with using the leaves to make tea.


Deep pink tea-tree (photo by Michele Bird)

Currently 86 species are recognized, 83 of which occur in Australia. The first formal description of Leptospermum was by German botanists, Johann Reinhold Forster and his son, also Johann. A clear definition of the species was not achieved until 1979 and since then many more species have been described. The wood of tea-tree is very hard and has been used for turning, carving and tool handles, as well as durable brushwood fences.

Another eye-catching shrub is the Snowflake Tree, a species of Euphorbia.  An example of this plant can be seen in Lennox Crescent where a lovely specimen is densely covered with small white flowers. From a distance the tree looks as if it is snow-covered.

Snowflake tree (Photo by Colwyn Campbell)

There are 2100 species of Euphorbia.  The red Poinsettia, of which a few grow in Paluma gardens, is one most people would be familiar with.  Another variety is the bright red, spiny ‘Crown of Thorns’ which adds to the brilliant colour in the garden at Number 40 Mount Spec Road.

Other flowering plants bringing colour to the village are notably, Camellias, Azaleas, Hibiscus and the ever reliable Balsam (Impatiens).

Text by Colwyn Campbell

Paluma Residents shown the inner workings of our new water treatment plant

 

Councillor Margie Ryder (center) with Paluma residents

On June 23, shortly after the grand opening of the High Ropes facility, residents were treated to an tour of inspection of our new water treatment plant. This tour was organized by Councillor Margie Ryder.  Townsville Water engineer Julian Tickle gave and detailed explanation of the whole treatment process, pointing out key components including the ultra-filtration modules and UV sterilization unit.  The result is that Paluma residents now enjoy safe and crystal clear drinking water that is higher quality than that provided to much of Townsville.

Townsville Water Engineer Julian Tickle explains the inner workings of the containerized water treatment plant.

PDCA President, Jamie Oliver took the opportunity to congratulate Margie Ryder and the Council on its decision to fund this major new facility and to Julian and his staff for their expertise in ensuring that we attained such a high standard of water quality.

 

Grand Opening of the High Ropes Facility

Councillor Margie Ryder, with Sam Stedman, cuts the ribbon to open the new high ropes facility.
Sam Stedman, with Councillor Margie Ryder address participants in the grand opening.

On Saturday (June 23) Paluma saw the first opening of a major new tourist facility in many years. Councillor Margie Ryder, the PDCA executive and a high proportion of Paluma residents turned out to celebrate this
milestone.

 

Sam Stedman with Councillor Ryder, Wilfred Karnoll and Outer Limits Adventure staff

Sam Stedman, the Director of Outer Limits Adventure Fitness, which runs the facility, provided some background to its development, from the early conceptual phase with partner Wilfred Karnoll, through local permitting to the final construction. He paid special tribute to  his dedicated staff and also thanked the community for its support.

Following the ceremony several groups of brave visitors successfully negotiated the course urged on by more cautious spectators below.

Rainforest Tree of the Month (June 2018): White Hazelwood

WHITE HAZELWOOD     Simplocos chinchinensis

 When in bloom, usually any time from April through June, the White Hazelwood tree (Simplocos chinchinensis,) is eye-catching crowned with a dense display of fluffy, white flower panicles.  The flowers have a delicate fragrance and attract insects and birds. One of these trees is at present (early June) in full bloom and may be seen at the southern gate of the High Ropes course.  There are several of these trees scattered around the village and along the sides of the Ridge Road near Paluma. Not all are yet in bloom.

Symplocos is one genus with approximately 250 species around the world and in Australia, there are 15 to 20. Wendy Cooper, in “Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest’ lists 17 species which occur in tropical Queensland.  The tree can grow to about 30 meters high.


The tree is not easily identifiable by its trunk and lower branches which have lightly textured bark.  Like so many rainforest trees, the bark is mottled with lichen, camouflaging the surface with splotches of white, tan and green.  The leaves however are distinctive. Mature leaves are elliptic in shape, are leathery and a dark, almost black, green and can be 70 -200 mm long and 7 -25 mm wide.  Veins are well defined, giving the leaf an almost quilted appearance and the underside has a prominent purple mid-rib.

The flowers are tiny, with 5 white petals and many long filamentous stamens which when clustered in panicles, give a soft fluffy appearance. Unfortunately their beauty can be appreciated for only a few weeks – usually rain and wind dash them from the tree to form a carpet of white on the ground below.

The fruits of White Hazelwood are small, fleshy, olive-shaped blue/black drupes, 6 -10 mm long containing one or two seeds within a woody endocarp.  The fruit ripens between November and March and is eaten by many bird species.

Keep an eye open over the next month or two for these lovely trees.

  Text and Photos by Colwyn Campbell

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