After our wonderful outing to White Mountains National Park, it was impossible to pick “the best” among many fascinating plants we saw. Instead, our Plant of the Month is “the biggest” of our weekend discoveries.

Eucalyptus chartaboma is not widely known, although it is a Queensland endemic. Its scattered distribution in north Queensland includes the western section of White Mountains National Park which we visited on the second day of our trip. Many thanks to Peter for introducing us to this area and pointing out a number of species new to most of us.

The scientific name is derived from Greek (charte, of paper and bomos, base) and refers to thick papery bark covering the lower part of the trunk. The distinctive bark is also reflected in the tree’s common name, Queensland woollybutt.

Our visit was outside the flowering period of Eucalyptus chartaboma (Jan to April) but we were impressed by its heavy woody seed capsules. The “giant gumnuts” we found were just slightly smaller than the maximum size recorded, 75 x 65 mm.

Hopefully on a future visit we might see the brilliant orange flowers of Eucalyptus chartaboma. In anticipation, we can enjoy John’s photo below, taken in March some years ago.

Eucalyptus chartaboma looks very similar to some closely-related species in the Kimberley and Top End of NT. For botanical details see EUCLID Eucalypts of Australia online

Our P o M for May is Drosera adelae, a “true North Queenslander” highlighted in Hugh’s presentation at our recent meeting.

Like other Drosera (about 150 species worldwide, commonly known as Sundews) D. adelae has mobile glandular hairs on its leaves, used to trap tiny insects from which the plant absorbs nutrients.

D. adelae is the southern-most of three Drosera species endemic to Queensland rainforests. Read more in Hugh’s article here.

Thanks to Cameron for nominating Jacquemontia paniculata (Convolvulaceae) for P o M and providing his fine photos.

Cam found an abundant display of Jacquemontia paniculata flowers on Castle Hill early this month, April 2021.

Jacquemontia paniculata is a slender vine, potentially quite widespread locally, but it’s easily overlooked for much of the year. It twines inconspicuously around the stems of other small plants until its dainty lilac flowers attract attention.

Russell’s photo (below) was taken in April 2010, suggesting this is a good month to keep an eye out for similar displays. However, it’s unclear whether Jacquemontia paniculata flowers so abundantly at the same time each year.

Botanical details are available at www.canbr.gov.au

Heritiera littoralis (Malvaceae, previously classified as Sterculiaceae) was selected as Plant of the Month during our March outing, against some strong competition from the fascinating mix of species at the Palmetum.

Although this species typically grows in low to moderate salinity conditions at the landward edge of mangrove forests, two specimens are thriving beside the Palmetum’s freshwater lagoon.

The small flowers, covered in fine hairs, develop into large keeled fruits that are tough and buoyant when ripe, well adapted for long-distance dispersal by water – see photo at the bottom.

Heritiera littoralis is distinctive from a distance on breezy days because upturned leaves flash intermittently like small mirrors within the dark green canopy, in keeping with the species’ common name, Looking-glass mangrove. On calm days, the leaves create a silvery-white glow under the canopy.

There is another large specimen in cultivation at Anderson Park, as Greg reminded us. If you have a seasonally wet and boggy corner of the garden, where it’s difficult to find a suitable plant, Heritiera littoralis might be worth a try. Just keep an eye out for those distinctive floating fruits when they wash up on the beach.

Botanical details are available in the Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants database.

Fagraea fagraeacea (Gentianaceae), with beautiful perfumed flowers, was a highlight of the recent NPQ outing to Paluma.

This was an unexpected new species for many of us but fortunately John had spotted it a few years ago, and then spent several days working out its ID. Very convenient now, to have a quick answer about an unfamiliar species!

Fagraea fagraeacea is endemic to North East Queensland, growing in well developed upland and mountain rain forest at altitudes of 300 to 1250 metres.

Botanical details for Fagraea fagraeacea are available in the Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants database.

Although not known in cultivation, this would be an interesting plant to try in a cool, moist spot if you manage to find seeds.

As yet fruits have not been observed on the Paluma specimen but they are expected to look similar to those of Fagraea fagrans (photo below), an Asian species that John photographed in Singapore.