Pandorea linearis (Bignoniaceae) is an uncommon Queensland endemic, known to occur naturally only between Paluma Range and Stannary Hills near Herberton.

Finding Pandorea linearis flowering and fruiting in the Mt Zero area was a highlight of our recent outing.

Vigorous twining stems of Pandorea linearis had spiraled their way up burnt tree trunks (photo above) and held clusters of creamy flowers high up above our heads (photo below).

Concurrently with flowers on some Pandorea linearis vines, other vines had already developed sturdy pods (photo above) and one had ripe seeds (photo below).

Pandorea linearis can of course be grown from fresh seed and it has also been successfully propagated from cuttings by some of our members.

For our May outing to the lower slopes of Bluewater Range, the first objective was to find Xylomelum scottianum. The species is commonly called Woody Pear although it is quite unlike edible pears that originate from Europe and Asia (Pyrus species).

Xylomelum scottianum (Proteaceae) is endemic to northern Queensland, occurring from Townsville to the tip of Cape York. However, it is not abundant anywhere and it tends to blend in amongst other open forest trees (photo above).

Sharp-eyed experts in our group quickly found several Xylomelum scottianum, noting the diagnostic needle-pointed leaf tips of mature trees (photo above) while seedlings have spiky holly-like leaves (photo below).

Xylomelum scottianum bears short spikes of small cream flowers (photo below) in a distinctive arrangement technically described as a ‘conflorescence’.

The flowers are followed by hard woody fruits (photo below) that split to release winged seeds. Xylomelum scottianum seeds usually germinate readily but the species is rarely seen in cultivation, probably because the seedlings tend to be very slow growing.

Micromelum minutum got our attention by putting on luxuriant clusters of fragrant flowers (photo above) during the first half of April. This attractive species, commonly called Lime Berry, will often flower and fruit several times a year under good conditions.

Micromelum minutum (Rutaceae) occurs naturally across much of northern Australia, growing as an understorey shrub or small tree (photo above) in drier rainforest, monsoon forest and coastal vine thickets.

After a particularly good Wet Season Micromelum minutum may bear flowers and fruits concurrently, making a stunning display (photo above). The flowers attract many bees and butterflies while the leaves host larvae of several butterfly species. The fruits, initially bright green, gradually turn orange and then deep red (photo below). When ripe, they are favoured by native fruit pigeons and other birds.

On our March outing we drove from Mingela to Fanning River, en route finding numerous Bursaria incana in full flower. Close up, their dense clusters of small flowers (photo above) are sweetly scented. In the middle and far distance their snowy canopies stand out while flowering (photo below) although at other times Bursaria incana is fairly inconspicious.

Bursaria incana (Pittosporaceae) is one of only 8 species in the genus Bursaria, all of them endemic to Australia. Bursaria incana grows naturally across a wide range in Queensland and the Northern Territory, usually in open forest and sometimes in monsoon forest and vine thickets.

The foliage is helpful for identifying Bursaria incana when not in flower. The leaves (photo above) appear to be arranged in alternate clumps along the twigs and the leaf blades have pale-coloured undersides covered in fine matted hairs. Seedlings and young Bursaria incana plants have tiny sharp spines in the leaf axils (approach with care!) but the spines are lost as the plant matures.

In young specimens the bark is pale grey and fairly smooth but older Bursaria incana develop rough, dark grey bark (photo above).

The flowers (seen close-up above) produce distinctive flattened, purse-shaped capsules (photo below) that gradually change from pale green to brown as they mature. Inside these capsules are flat brown seeds that usually germinate fairly easily.

Now, after good rains in our region, is the best time of year to spot Euphorbia bifida with its clusters of tiny white flowers* sparkling amongst tangled grasses and other back-beach vegetation (photo below).

Euphorbia bifida (Euphorbiaceae) is widely distributed near the coast in Queensland and beyond, but being small and low-growing, it is very inconspicuous when it is not flowering.

Euphorbia bifida can be propagated fairly easily from cuttings and makes an attractive addition to a well-watered planter box (photo above) or sunny garden. Despite growing naturally in sandy coastal dunes, where it survives extreme heat and dryness, most Euphorbia bifida plants in cultivation seem intolerant of prolonged dry periods. Possibly this is because our cutting-grown plants never develop the deep, tough roots of natural seed-grown Euphorbia bifida.

*Viewed very closely, the floral parts of our PoM (photo above) hint at something that serious botanists understand – these are not ordinary flowers! What most of us happily call “flowers” on Euphorbia bifida and other Euphorbiaceae, are actually more complex structures. They are correctly called ‘cyathia’ (singular: cyathium). You can do an online search for cyathium details if you’d like to explore this botanical rabbit-hole!

Carallia brachiata is not a rare species in our area but it can be easily overlooked amongst dense creek-bank vegetation. Fortunately it’s often ‘flagged’ by a bright yellow caterpillar poised conspicuously on a dark green leaf (photo above). These distinctive caterpillars of the Four o’clock Moth Dysphania numana rarely feed on other trees, so they are a convenient aid for identifying Carallia brachiata.

During NPQ outings to Cleveland Creek we’ve seen Carallia brachiata (Rhizophoraceae) as a small tree, both along the upstream section of the creek and downstream. However, as its common name Freshwater Mangrove suggests, this species doesn’t extend into the inter-tidal zone. And in less crowded situations, Carallia brachiata grows taller and develops a fine shady canopy like this specimen in Cairns (photo below).

Carallia brachiata has oval leaves that are glossy dark green on the upper side and dull light green underneath (photo below).

Carallia brachiata produces clusters of small greenish-cream flowers (photo below) that develop into globular red fruits (photo second below) relished by many birds.