by Robert Whyte
I’m sure there are a lot more plants beginning with A than with X or Z. Those poor cousin letters down at the bottom of the alphabet hardly get a mention.
Lets look at the Zeds in Enoggera species. We have Zanthoxylum Brachyacanthum (Thorny yellow-wood) Zehneria Cunninghamii (Slender cucumber) Zieria Smithii (Sandfly zieria) and Zornia Muriculata (Zornia).
I know them all intimately – NOT. I’ve seen Slender Cucumber in a book once and even thought we had a specimen, but it turned out to be an Einadia. Harumph.
As for Ys – the only Y recorded by Peter Young in Brisbane Forest Park is Youngia (coincidence?) Japonica. Not a forest giant, by any means. In fact it’s a daisy. A herb to 60cm. Double harumph. In my photo collection the only Y I have is “Yellow Slime Mould”.
Thank goodness for the Xanthorrheas (Grass Trees)! At least everybody knows these icons of the Australian bush.
But lets face it – if you were to pick a letter, you really can’t go past A. In the Enoggera catchment there are 109 plants starting with A in Peter Young’s list, and even though some of the Austromyrtus species have been renamed in honour of Wayne Goss (Gossia), there are still over 100.
And the A’s have some of the biggest and most beautiful. The cream rises to the top, as they say.
Araucaria Cunninghamii (Hoop Pine) for example. At 60m probably our tallest tree. Majestic. And Alectryons – marvellous plants. Edible, and native insects that feed on it might be able to be trained to eat Balloon Vine.
And who can remain unmoved at the beautiful mimic mistletoe Amylotheca Dictyophleba. Just saying the name is pure pleasure.
Amylotheca dictyophleba (Scrub Mistletoe) on a Hard Quandong in Walton Bridge Reserve.
Aphananthe Philippinensis has been a long time favourite. Tough as old boots, bush tucker, slow growing – a good sign of a quality remnant.
Aphananthe philippinensis (Rough Leaved Elm, Axe Handle Wood)
OK, if you’re still with me and I haven’t given you a case of the Zeds (snore) with all this plant talk, let me confess.
The real reason my favourite plant begins with A is the website. I’ve just about finished doing up good descriptions of all the Enoggera species beginning with A in our database. Not complete – only the ones with photographs. Still a good number.
Here are links to some of them. Have a squiz. You may be surprised!
Cassytha filiformis (LAURACEAE) Dodder Laurel
Parasitic laurel Dodder Laurel Cassytha filiformis is a parasitic plant found in Enoggera Creek catchment which may be easily confused with the introduced species Golden Dodder Cuscuta campestris. Dodder Laurel is a thin twining vine with yellow or orange to pale...
Rubus parvifolius (ROSACEAE) Pink-flowered Raspberry
Small scrambling raspberry with shocking pink buds A small raspberry which is often prostrate but can form a shrub to 90 cm high. Found north from the Central Highlands of Victoria to Queensland on the margins of rainforests. Rubus parvifolius occurs in Japan,...
Streblus brunonianus (MORACEAE) Whalebone Tree
Aboriginal people used wood for boomerangs Whalebone Tree is a shrub or small tree to 15 metres with downwardly arching branches. It grows in all types of rainforest, particularly along scrubby watercourses, in Queensland and New South Wales. The Atlas of Living...
Imperata cylindrica (POACEAE) Blady Grass
Planted to prevent erosion Imperata cylindrica is a species of perennial rhizomatous grass found throughout Australia mostly in coastal and subcoastal areas. It particularly common along the east coast of New South Wales but also found inSouth-East Queensland. Blady...
Cyperus gracilis (CYPERACEAE ) Slender flatsedge
Tiny sedge will form tufted lawn Cyperus gracilis grows 10–30 centimetres in height with a delicate arching form. The species name gracilis refers to the graceful form of the leaves. This tiny sedge pops up in local gardens in Enoggera catchment. It may be mistaken...
Dysoxylum rufum (MELIACEAE) Rusty Bean
Fasting growing when young Medium tree growing to 20 metres. Branchlets, petioles and terminal buds hairy. Found in subtropical and dry rainforest, endemic to Australia, ranging from Port Macquarie, NSW to Atherton Tableland,...
Elattostachys nervosa (SAPINDACEAE) Green Tamarind
Attractive foliage Tree to 30 metres. Generally found in drier types of rainforest but often along scrubby watercourses. From Paterson NSW to Gympie. Flowers in yellow-brown racemes, from March to May. This species has attractive...
Mallotus discolor (EUPHORBIACEAE) Yellow Kamala
Bright yellow dye Small tree to 15 metres found in subtropical, dry and littoral rainforests from the Clarence River, NSW to Townsville, north Queensland. Simple leaves, alternate, blade green above, whitish to yellow and downy...
Neolitsea dealbata (LAURACEAE) White Bolly Gum
Food for birds and bats Small tree to 10 metres, smaller in cultivation, a common understorey species in all types of rainforest, as well as tall open forest. From Illawarra, NSW to Cairns. Cream to pale brown flowers in February to June. An attractive plant for a...
Stenocarpus sinuatus (PROTEACEAE) Wheel of Fire Tree
Spectacular in flower Tree to 40 metres but more commonly to 15 metres in cultivation. Found in subtropical, littoral, riverine and warm temperate rainforests from northern NSW to Atherton Tableland. Leaves alternate, shape quite...
