During our August outing to a private property north of Rollingstone we encountered a most bizarre organism, Balanophora fungosa (photo below). At a glance it might be mistaken for some kind of mushroom emerging from the leaf litter. However, this is actually a Queensland native plant and our group had the rare opportunity to see …
Continue reading “Plant of the month 08/2026: Balanophora fungosa“
This month we were delighted to see the start of flowering for Grevillea parallela, the Silver Grevillea, on Castle Hill. The flowers emerging now are just as beautiful as those in the photo above, but not quite as abundant, perhaps due to prolonged dry weather. In some areas, Grevillea parallela can flower very abundantly later …
Continue reading “Plant of the month 07/2026: Grevillea parallela“
A fine specimen of Geijera salifciolia (photo above) was a highlight of our recent outing to parts of Bowling Green National Park south of Townsville. Geijera salifciolia (Rutaceae), also known as Scrub Wilga or Green Satinheart, is native to north-eastern Australia, typically seen in monsoon forest and drier rain forest. It also occurs in New …
Continue reading “Plant of the month 06/2026: Geijera salicifolia“
Pomaderris canescens (Rhamnaceae) is a Queensland endemic, typically growing as a medium-sized shrub in the understory (photo above) of seasonally dry tropical woodlands and open forests. During our recent outing to the area west of Paluma and north of Mt Zero, we found many Pomaderris canescens making a beautiful show with their terminal clusters of …
Continue reading “Plant of the month 05/2026: Pomaderris canescens“
Murdannia graminea (Commelinaceae) is a small tufting native plant that grows naturally in many parts of Queensland and northern Australia, typically in moist locations within in woodland habitat. Also known as native Grass Lily, Murdannia graminea was found in flower on Mount Stuart during our April outing this year. When it’s not in flower, Murdannia …
Continue reading “Plant of the month 04/2026: Murdannia graminea“
This beautiful Native Peanut Tree, Sterculia quadrifida (photo above), was in full flower when it caught our attention during a recent outing with the local Wildlife Queensland group. The species Sterculia quadrifida was historically classified in the botanical family Sterculiaceae. Now, on the basis of molecular analysis, it is part of the Malvaceae, in the …
Continue reading “Plant of the month 03/2026: Sterculia quadrifida“