Millettia pinnata also known as Pongamia pinnata (Fabaceae) is a dry rainforest tree widespread in Queensland and beyond. It has beautiful pea-like flowers (photo above) that appear towards the end of the Dry Season. However, at this time of year, during our Wet Season, it is the tree’s dense green foliage that draws attention (photo below), especially when the leaves are sparkling with raindrops.
The leaves often have numerous small brown patches (photo below) caused by an unnamed leaf miner that Millettia pinnata trees seem to tolerate well. In densely vegetated places, these brown patches can be a useful aid in spotting Millettia pinnata trees from a distance.
In lower rainfall areas like the Townsville region, Millettia pinnata typically grows in riparian forest (along creeks), and in higher rainfall areas it thrives in littoral forest (behind beaches).
Millettia pinnata grows relatively fast, tolerates heat, flooding and extended dry periods, and rarely suffers major insect attack. The species has attracted research attention to investigate its potential for commercial production of biofuel, and several trial plots of Millettia pinnata have been grown in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia over the past decade. We have not heard of any large-scale planting in Australia as yet.
