I met this small tree in the rainforests of Davies Creek and my first thoughts were that it was some kind of Lily Pilly on the basis of the opposite leaves. On closer examination it was clear that this plant … Continue reading →
A slender epiphytic orchid with dark reddish furrowed pseudobulbs which are thicker in the centre. As with most of the orchids I’ve seen in Far North Queensland, I found this one on a fallen branch. In this case it was … Continue reading →
Any self-respecting writer of botany textbooks would include in their text this humble Whisk Fern, for it is a model species for understanding what ferns are and the nature of their spores. Also, because of their very basal position in … Continue reading →
This species is can be easily mistaken for a member of the coffee family because of the opposite leaves and the interpetiolar scars. It must have taken a rather advanced level of observation on the part of the person who … Continue reading →
Isachne globosa or the swamp millet is an easily recognized grass simply on the basis of their somewhat globular heads of nuts, and the wetland habitat.
Among one of the taller non-bamboo grasses in Far North Queensland, the Giant Spear Grass is a common grass and can be seen around urban areas and other open areas. The stems (or more specifically culms) can get up to … Continue reading →
The modern landscape of Cairns and the entire Wet Tropics World Heritage Area is inextricably associated with the graceful fields of sugarcane (Saccharum species, eg. S. officinalis and varieties). If Cairns were to have a poll for a non-native plant … Continue reading →
Among the genera of the great Coffee family, few are as recognizable as this group of vines that would be familiar to some older folk as the source of gambir (Uncaria gambir), a plant substance used in Asian countries such … Continue reading →
Been in Australia for over a decade gazing at plants, both large and small, grasses and trees, in rain forest and savanna, in the tropics and in temperate zones. I love connecting with people with similar interests. You can read more about me on my About page and at my personal BLOG.
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Leaf Whispering in the Tropics 