There is nothing ‘common’ about the beautiful ground orchid Calanthe triplicata currently flowering along some of the rainforest walking tracks around Paluma. Flowering specimens have recently been observed near the track to McClelland’s Lookout (off the Loop Road) and along the H-Track.
This evergreen terrestrial orchid generally grows in clumps from fleshy pseudobulbs. The plant has dark-green lance-shaped leaves with prominent parallel leaf veins. It can grown to 1 metre tall, but all of the specimens observed at Paluma are smaller, between 30 to 40 cm in height. The white flowers are borne on erect racemes at the top of the flowering stem. Flowering occurs from October to February.
The Christmas Orchid occurs in Cape York Peninsula and North East Queensland, usually in mountain rainforest at high altitude from about 700 metres to 1250 metres.
As mentioned by Michele a couple of days ago, there is currently a rather spectacular orchid flowering on the H-Track. It is the Giant Climbing Orchid (Pseudovanilla foliata) Apart from its beautiful flowers (in copious quantity), this orchid is also special in that it has no leaves. It is one of several species of saprophytic orchid that derives its food from rotting wood rather than from photosynthesis. This particular species is not often seen around Paluma since it spends most of its life as an inconspicuous tangle of stems climbing up dead trees – it flowers only briefly. Once the logs and dead trees that it feeds off have fully rotted away it dies off. Wilfred Karnoll informs me that after cyclone Yasi these orchids made a brief appearance in a few locations along the walking tracks near the village.
Flowers are produced in great numbers for a limited period. they have a faint but pleasant scent.
The roots penetrate rotting wood
While this orchid has green stems and may be able to make a small amount of food for itself, it is unlikely to able to grow and produce masses of flowers on this energy source alone. Most saprophytic orchid lack any green colour, and thus do not need (and cannot use) sunlight to obtain food. One group of these orchids has completely forsaken sunlight and spends its entire life, growing, flowering and fruiting underground – never seeing the light of day!
Technically saprophytic orchids do not directly feed off decaying wood and vegetation, but derive their food from a close symbiotic relationship with fungi that do all the hard work of breaking down the fairly indigestible wood and then provide it directly to the roots of the orchid. Whether this is a mutualistic relationship (with both obtaining benefit from the exchange) or a parasitic one (with the fungi being robbed of fuel it would prefer to use for its own growth) is not fully understood. So far, research on this matter appears to have failed to show any clear benefit to the fungi.
After reading a bit more about orchids on the web I discovered that the relationship between fungi and orchids is widespread and devilishly complex. Virtually all orchids rely on fungi for seed germination. Orchids produce seeds that are microscopic in size (they make up for this by producing prodigious numbers in each seed capsule). These seeds are so small that they do not have the energy reserves that all other seeds use to fuel the cell division needed for germination and subsequent growth of the first green leaves that will manufacture new fuel from photosynthesis. These tiny seeds rely entirely on fungi for that germination energy. Some orchids have been shown to have an ongoing obligate relationship with fungi, while others shrug off this reliance once fully developed. A further twist in the orchid-fungi story occurs in some species, where the fungi that the orchid derives its food from, is itself deriving its fuel from the roots of certain tree species. Thus we have sunlight being turned into food high up in the forest canopy and then being transferred down to the forest floor, into fungi and then into the saprophytic orchid!
This weird flower is blooming in my garden, in a semi-shaded spot near the letter box. The bat flower is a member of the yam family. Species of Tacca are found in tropical regions of South America, Africa, Australia and South East Asia. Difficult to see in my photo is the cluster of tiny, dark flowers at the centre. The ‘whiskers’ are between 40 cm and 60 cm long.
This young Lily is almost 1 metre tall and boasting a 24 cm heavenly scented bloom. When she matures, she will produce 4-6 flowers on a single stem. Loved by the bees and butterflies, this beauty has won the prestigious ‘Award of Garden Merit ‘of the Royal Horticulture Society in 1993 for best White Oriental Lily ever. Reliable and easy to grow in any moist soil with good drainage. I’m hoping my thumbs stay green enough to bring her to full maturity and be rewarded with multiple blooms every Christmas.
Have you seen the beautiful Calliandra sp. currently flowering in Linda and Bill Venn’s garden along the eastern end of Mount Spec Road? It’s hard to miss as the shrub is fully laden with pink and white blossoms. The flowers seemed to appear overnight and they opened all at once, making a superb display. The shrub is literally a hive of activity with many bees, both native and exotic species, as well as butterflies busily feeding on the nectar from the blooms. Bill and Linda tell me that the shrub is a miniature variety of Calliandra.
Calliandra, also known by the common name of ‘Powder Puff’ is a genus of tropical plants native to South America. They grow and flower best if they are in full sun. Their oblong shaped leaves fold up ‘to sleep’ at night. They thrive in moist, well-drained soil.
The Venn’s Calliandra has flowered just in time for Christmas, with its brilliant candy-coloured flowers . Who needs an ordinary Christmas tree when you can have a Christmas Calliandra!
In an addendum to his recent post on the flowering Elaeocarpus reticulatus (‘Fairy Petticoats’) at Hussey Road, Michael Drew provides an update on some other flowering tree species on the acreage blocks to the west of Paluma Village.
The photograph below shows a fine specimen of Alphitonia petrieiin full bloom. Michael Drew writes:-
“Alphitonia petriei, also known by the common names of Pink Almond, Red Ash or Sarsparilla tree is a pioneer species, often growing where rainforest has been previously felled. It is found in high altitude areas bordering regenerating rainforest. This tree is not to be confused with Alphitonia whitei found on the banks of creeks in coastal areas.
Other trees such as Commersonia bartramia (Brown Kurrajong) or Commersonia fraseri should not be confused with Alphitonia petriei. The Commersonia spp. usually flower after the Alphitonia in this neck of the woods. There is a very big congregation of Commersonia bartramia out in the ‘Republic of Hussey Road’.
PS: The ‘Fairy Petticoats’ (of the previous post on 6 December) have been shed in the last week causing a thick layer of cast-off petals on the ground and in the birds water bowls…….too hot for fairies to wear petticoats at Christmas!”.
Alphitonia petriei in bloom, resembling ‘Paluma snow’!
Two contributions have been received from some keen Paluma gardeners wanting to share photographs of some impressive plants currently in flower at the end of the dry season.
A fine specimen of Elaeocarpus reticulatus is in flower at Michael and Donna Drew’s cottage at Hussey Road. Michael notes that this small tree/bush is known by several common names such as Blueberry Ash and ‘Fairy Petticoats’.
Michael Drew writes:
“I think ‘Fairy Petticoats’ is a better description leaving aside the question of whether fairies actually wear petticoats!? (Maybe when they attend Fairy Debutante Balls….?).
I suspect this bush was planted next to a fine example of a Symplocus stawellii (Native Hazelnut Tree) by the original owner of Bud Cottage. Bud Jones, who lived here for over 60 years was a great scrounger of all things botanical and mechanical.
The ‘Fairy Petticoats’ bush seems to be outside its normal habitat, described as open Eucalypt/Casuarina forests, sometimes on rocky slopes (Reference: Native Plants of Queensland, Volume 1). I have not seen this bush flower in the past, over 10 years. I suspect the very dry weather has caused the bush to flower (as with many other species presently blooming up here).
The ‘Fairy Petticoats’ produces purple berries….. probably eaten by cassowaries”.
‘Fairy Petticoats’.
Peter and Dorothy Klumpp have discovered a Red Passion Flower or Red Passion Vine (Passiflora sp.) growing along the edge of the rainforest in their back garden. It is a vigorous climber, growing at ground level and also reaching high into the canopy, with hanging clusters of brilliant red flowers.
Red Passion Flower is native to Brazil, but grows well in tropical and subtropical climates. It can be potentially invasive in a garden and adjacent bushland if not controlled and regularly pruned. The bright red flowers are a great attractant for butterflies and bees.
Red Passion Flower.
Flowers and climbing tendrils of the Red Passion Flower.
If you have an extraordinary or special plant currently in flower at Paluma and you would like to share it (or even brag about it!), please get in touch.
Text by Michele Bird and Michael Drew. Photos by Michael Drew and Dorothy and Peter Klumpp.
The annual Paluma Garden Competition is just around the corner with the judging to take place between Monday 25th November and Wednesday 27th November. The judging will be done by Bunnings staff, with Bunnings also kindly donating some vouchers for the winners.
The judges will be accompanied by a member of the PDCA or a local Paluma resident during the judging. If you do not want your garden included in the competition and/or you do not wish the judging team to enter your property, please send an email to Lynn Hyland at:- lhyland@optusnet.com.au
The winners of the Garden Competition will be announced at the last social for 2019 at the Tropical BBQ on Saturday 7th December at the Community Hall.
The Garden Competition is hotly contested every year, so now is the time to get out in the fresh air and spruce up your patch of paradise ready for the judging. Despite the recent hot and dry weather, a short stroll around the village on Sunday morning (10/11/19) revealed many beautiful blooms amongst the village gardens (and some stiff competition from the neighbours!).
Gardeners, start your mowers and get your secateurs ready………! Here’s a few photographs of current blooms to give you some inspiration.
A stunning mass planting of Asiatic liliums on Lennox Crescent.
Clivia hybrid in a shady spot in the garden.
Agapanthus varieties are just starting to bloom. Purple & white varieties are common in the village.
One of many mass plantings of hippeastrum lillies around the village.
The Chameleon variety of Tibouchina is bursting into flower and should be at its blooming best in a week or so.
A stunning Gladioli in the prize winning Gumburu garden.
A plant you may see fruiting in and around Paluma at present is the Red Gourd, scientific name Trichosanthes pentaphylla. This is a vine with very conspicuous rounded, bright red fruit. The fruit grow to nearly cricket-ball size (40-70 mm x 50-60 mm). The usual fruiting season is from February to June, but sometimes there are a few late-comers (or late bloomers….!).
The fruit of the red gourd vine, almost the size of a cricket ball.
The distribution of this vine is from Cape York to Home Hill, south of Townsville. It is a tendril climber with both male and female plants. Leaves are compound with 3 to 5 leaflets, 40-170 mm x 22-110 mm in size and are slightly rough (resembling sandpaper) on both sides. Flowers, not particularly conspicuous, are white with 5 petals, 12-14 mm long.
The fruit, which is eaten by cassowaries, is distinguished by its dark-brown to black, 9-17 mm long seeds which are suspended in a slimy, dark green pulp.
Wilfred and Suzanne at Mount Spec Road have a beautiful spider orchid in full bloom at present (Dendrobium tetragonum var. giganteum). The orchid is growing on the bark of a large tree and it is a rather small and inconspicuous plant – that is, until it is in flower. It currently has multiple delicate blooms which are spider-like in shape.
Spider orchids have distinctive four-angled stems. They generally grow in mountain rainforests, on tree trunks and often near watercourses. The flowers can be up to 10 cm long with attractive markings. The flowers are greenish to yellow in colour with prominent red to purple blotches. Spider orchids flower intermittently from April to November.
Further Reading: Lavarack, B. and Gray, B. (1992) Australian Tropical Orchids. Frith & Frith Books, Malanda.
