Media Release Friends of Sherwood Arboretum   (The Local Bulletin March 2022)

A feast for the eyes!

Few trees can really match the Coolamon tree for its ability to captivate visitors in Sherwood Arboretum.

This sub-tropical rainforest tree, the Syzygium moorei frequently provides a dazzling display of vibrant pink, fluffy flowers which appear directly from its trunk and branches during the summer months.

This is in contrast to many native trees where flowers form as part of new growth and shoots and certainly not straight from the trunk and branches.

In the highly competitive world of rainforests, this botanical feature, called cauliflory, allows trees to be pollinated or have their seeds dispersed by wildlife climbing on the trunks and limbs to feed on nectar or on the fruit which follows.

With the ability to grow up to 40 m high, this impressive canopy tree sadly is as rare as it is beautiful during summer.

Once common in the fertile volcanic soils in the lowland sub-tropical environments on the south-eastern border of Queensland and New South Wales, today the tree is listed as vulnerable by both State and Federal Governments.

The clearing and fragmentation of rainforest for agriculture and residential development, weed infestations, cattle grazing and the growing risk of extinction due to small population sizes are a common story for several rare and endangered native trees.

Today, only a few Coolamon trees can still be seen in the much-diminished lowland rainforest environments in the border region.

Among the Arboretum’s impressive collection of more than 1100 Australian native trees, are such trees as the critically endangered Ormeau bottle tree and the endangered Small-leaved Tamarind, the Smooth Davidsonia and the Mullumbimby Plum.

These trees are among some 1300 plant species and sub-species today listed as threatened at a national level.

You can discover some of the Arboretum’s spectacular trees by calling Brisbane Botanic Gardens on 3403 2535 between 8.00 am and 4.00 pm Monday to Friday and booking your place for the next free monthly guided walk at 9.30 am on Saturday 26 March.

 

image captions

A Syzygium moorei in full bloom

Cauliflory at its best

After the flowers comes the fruit.