This tree must rank among one of the most deserving giants of the Wet Tropics. Without a doubt, it is one of the more (if not most) awe inspiring free standing fig trees in the region. I wonder if this … Continue reading →
Erect savanna shrub that I spotted Paluma a decade ago during my PhD fieldwork. What good (and simpler) times! The days were long and life renewing harvest (of new exciting species to learn) did not seem to have an end. … Continue reading →
This is a rather common rainforest tree but I found it be one of the harder species to learn because it does not seem to have any spot characters. But lets enjoy the flowers and fruits first, which are like … Continue reading →
This marvelous tree is an endemic of the Daintree region, although a good sized tree can easily be seen at the Cairns Botanical Gardens. For a member of the Polygalaceae, this tree has pretty large flowers. And they are beautifully … Continue reading →
It’s an attractive shrub with blazing red flowers, and endemic a small area in north Queensland. For obvious reasons, this species is now cultivated widely in Queensland. I was fortunate to see it at last in the coastal heaths of … Continue reading →
The main thing that keep botanists exploring is the prospect of meeting plants they haven’t yet met. A short walk around Millaa Millaa Falls resulting in one such meeting – with the rather little-known Symplocos hayesii. The individual I encountered … Continue reading →
Some time back, I wrote a post on Sizing up the Syzygiums as a general guide to “leaf whispering” this large group of very similar looking species commonly called lillipies or satinashes. After being able to look for certain spot … Continue reading →
Orange and green makes for a stark an arresting contrast in a rainforest, and that is what would likely compel an inquisitive nature lover to walk up and inspect closer. On closer inspection, one finds the gorgeous shiny black “eyes” … Continue reading →
Flindersia pimenteliana is commonly known as Maple Silkwood and is a relatively common tree in the lowland and upland rainforests of the region. The leaves compound and opposite. The compound leaves are pinnate, typically with 5 leaflets – 2 pairs … Continue reading →
I was having a jog through the woods and noticed a bunch of twigs of an unfamiliar plant that had been brought down either by wind or breakage by birds. I will admit it. This species took me quite a … 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 