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Articles
Pindan Post 86
Pindan Post No 86
608 words
Rising temperature and humidity prior to the “wet” begins a number of changes to vegetation throughout the Kimberley region. Over the past month, many Kimberley wattles, grevilleas, and various peas have seeds ripening and falling or being ejected by the many different mechanisms that plants use to ensure the survival of their species. The biggest surprise is the number of species of shrubs and trees that are now breaking into flower despite having no rainfall since April. The Raintree, Albizia lebbeck, one of three species of Albizia found in the Kimberley, has been flowering profusely all over town, but especially in Old Broome, leaving a thick mulch of flowers beneath the tree. This species can reach 30 metres in an ideal environment along Kimberley watercourses and monsoon vine forests and is found north of Derby and extends across Australia and S.E.Asia. Honeyeaters are strongly drawn to this tree when in flower and a lovely perfume surrounds the air near the tree. More spectacular yet is the rare sight of the Cocky Apple, Planchonia careya in full flower. Flowering late in the afternoon and at night, the flowers drop off soon after sunrise. The white flowers with bundles of long stamens are also very fragrant, attracting moths and other insects that feed at night. Two other rarer species with similar large white flowers are the Bush orange, Capparis umbonata and the Bush Apple, Syzygium eucalyptoides, both start flowering and fruiting over the next 2 months with fruit ripening at the onset of the “wet”. The Cocky Apple and the Bush Apple are now finding their way into Broome parks and gardens, both of which are seen on traffic islands in Roebuck Estate and on verges of the Old Broome Estate. The Cocky Apple fruit is edible but is probably more suited to the Red-winged Parrots that seek out this species, however the Bush Apple is sweet and tasty and keenly sought by those who know, particularly local kids! Traveling in the Kimberley at this hot time of year is also the best time for seeing flowers of various other Kimberley trees such as Melaleuca minutifolia, a showy paperbark with tiny leaves, also found in Broome gardens and Verticordia cunninghamii, the Kimberley Feather-flower, with magnificent clusters of white flowers and not to be outdone, the Wild Mango, Buchanania obovata with racemes of small cream to white smelling sweet flowers often covered in ants. This is a common species north of Derby and care needs to be taken when collecting the ripe fruits, as this species often has many nests of large green ants willing to attack any intruder. Their nests are formed by gluing several large leaves together and are well guarded. One feature of all the above species is their ability to thrive between wet seasons without any additional water during winter and the best example of this is the verge landscape of Old Broome Estate that was planted last October. None of the roadside plants have received any water since the reticulation was removed at the beginning of April, yet they are mostly in very healthy condition and a number of species are continuing to flower and surprise. They are the truly “water-wise” species that we should endeavour to use as part of water conservation practices throughout this region. Most Kimberley and Pilbara species are well suited to water-wise landscaping. Helping seedlings to survive through 2 wet seasons will then enable the removal of the reticulation and a thriving landscape that requires little or no maintenance. Many photos and a small description of these species can be found on a developing website at www.plantbroome.com.au 13/10
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