Like all living creatures, trees have to reproduce so that their species survives. In the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens recently, this reproductive effort was easily seen with flowers of several interesting trees being pollinated and turning into fruit. Near the wetland at the Woodworkers area is a small tree called Lepiderema punctulata (Dotted Tuckeroo). This week it was loaded with small orange fruit, splitting open to reveal the seeds. There is a specimen of this tree growing in Millenium Park, Childers, near the Post Office. The common name refers to the small translucent dots which can be seen when holding up the leaflets to a strong light. It is found in the wild near Eurimbula, north of Bundaberg, but mainly north of Mackay. Nearby is a tree with spectacular pink to purple coloured flowers. It's called Lagerstroemia archeriana, commonly named Queensland Crepe Myrtle. It is a native tree found in the northern parts of Australia, but is now in cultivation. It is related to the introduced Crepe Myrtle Lagerstroemia indica which has different coloured and denser flowers. Right next to the road and south of the rainforest is a large, white barked tree called Archidendropsis thozetiana, commonly called Southern Siris. This species grows in the dry rainforests of Queensland. At the moment it is producing circular orange-yellow coloured flowers, and these will develop into a pod. It is very unusual to see this tree in cultivation, but it deserves to be grown more widely. In a dry rainforest near Biggenden, several of these trees dominate the canopy. Near the Young St entrance to the Gardens is a native fig tree called Ficus drupacea. It is a strangling fig and is native to North Queensland and overseas. The fruits are a dark red colour, with tiny white dots. These four trees will be ideal for Council's program to install identification labels.
A tree which is already labelled is next to the Historical Museum. The large yellow fruit are falling on the ground right now. This large shady tree from Asia is called Gmelina arborea, commonly named Beechwood. It is fast growing, tolerates drought and produces fine timber. According to a reference on the internet, the 180 year old Lion Throne, the most important and last surviving of the eight royal thrones of Myanmar, is carved from Gmelina arborea wood. Bundaberg is really quite lucky to have a 35 year old botanic gardens with such a great selection of plants from Australian and overseas. It is credit to the Council staff and previous curators who have sourced and cared for these trees, and wonderful to see some reproduction on display.
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Some highlights of the Gardens Archives
February 2021
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Friends of Bundaberg Botanic Gardens