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Mangrove Boobialla

6/11/2016

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Author: Chris Joyce

Scientific name:
Myoporum acuminatum subsp australe
 
This delightful plant is far tougher than it looks. An inhabitant of coastal wetlands north from Southern NSW to Far North Queensland; its ability to tolerate salt and long periods of dryness experienced in these environments make this one tough little customer.
 
The leaves are egg shaped, thick and glossy and arranged alternately on the stem. White flowers with 5 petals form the shape of a rosette and appear through Spring/Summer often with purple spotting within the throat of the flower. These are followed by a smallish purple drupe or berry.
 
It is an understory plant often found below Mangrove, Eucalypt and Casuarina vegetation communities and has a sprawling habit reaching a nominal height of half a metre and will grow in full sun to part shade. The shrub is quite common within the Hays Inlet catchment. The flowers although small are numerous and later in the season are often accompanied by the fruit making. This is a very attractive small shrub.
 
The environment in which it grows is harsh one and only a limited number of species can thrive successfully making this plant an excellent specimen for re-vegetation projects and indeed deserving of a place in coastal gardens. Like many plants found in harsh environments it has the ability to close its stomata on the underside of the leaves to prevent water loss during hot and dry conditions.
 
Birds, marsupials and mammals are known to eat the fruits and Indigenous people used the berries to flavour their cooking as the berry was considered too bitter to eat on its own.
 
 
References:-
 
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myoporum_boninense
 
http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Myoporum~boninense
 
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/MYOPORUM+BONINENSE+SUBSP.+AUSTRALE
 
http://coolumnatives.com/wordpress/vines-and-groundcovers/
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Koala Tree: Narrow-leaved Red Gum

8/11/2015

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Scientific name: Eucalyptus seeana

This Eucalypt occurs as scattered individuals in woodlands and open forests often on low, swampy, sandy soils. It is relatively common within the remaining stands of gums associated with the wetlands of Hays Inlet. It can grow to a height of 40 meters, is often crooked and is characterised by having white or grey, smooth bark which can shed in large plates.

Overall these trees are not that common with patchy distribution. Within Australia they are restricted to North Eastern New South Wales and South Eastern Queensland (from Taree in NSW to Caloundra in Queensland). Some populations of these trees in New South Wales are considered endangered.

The leaves are a dull green colour up to 10 – to 18 cm in length and 1 – 2 cm in width and often characterised by having a weeping structure. These leaves are an important source of fodder for local koala populations.  Their flowers are white and appear between September and December when they attract honeyeaters and lorikeets, sugar, yellow-bellied and squirrel gliders along with flying foxes. This tree is very similar in appearance to another local smooth barked gum tree Eucalyptus tereticornis (Queensland Blue Gum).  

This important Eucalypt is generally uncommon and so we should treasure their presence in Redcliffe and the Hays Inlet. They are a koala tree and adapted to dealing with moist soils hence they are often associated with Melaleuca. In terms of our Koala Habitat project these trees would be an ideal plant for Clontarf.
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Red Kennedy Pea

7/27/2015

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Scientific name: Kennedia rubicunda

This vine is found in the open patches of forest habitat around Hays Inlet and can be observed at the entrance of the “ecotrail” at Silcock Street, Clontarf. A strong vine it grows to 4 meters and can be found in coastal through to mountain areas up to 1200 meters and is distributed from Victoria to Northern Queensland.

The vines grow vigorously and often form dense mats around vegetation. The flowers are dark red in colour and the fruit or seed pods are green and covered in fine hairs. The flowers attract local nectar feeding birds including the brown honeyeater.

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Wombat Berry

7/7/2015

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Scientific Name: Eustrephus latifolis

This is a small wiry vine and is common in a number of habitats around Hays Inlet, although usually associated with Eucalypt forest. It is found along the Eastern coast of Australia from Victoria to the tip of Cape York. It is also distributed across Melanesia. It can either climb on other vegetation or can take the form of ground cover. It prefers semi-shaded areas and is often associated with the edge of patches of forest.

Wombat Berry prefers moist sandy soils and can tolerate extended periods of dryness once established. The vine can grow to around a meter in length with long leaves which are characterised by longitudinal veins. It is relatively slow growing and usually has little impact on other vegetation by avoiding smothering.

It produces white flowers in spring and summer which then form green round seedpods. These seedpods or fruit turn orange when ripe and when they open you can see the black seeds as well as a white pulp. The white pulp is edible (tastes a bit like coconut) and the roots are also able to be eaten.
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Native Sarsaparilla

6/25/2015

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Scientific name: Hardenbergia violacea

This is a vine or a scrambling plant with tough wiry stems and is also known as the Purple Coral Pea. Up to 2 metres in length it grows on shrubs and even the base of trees. It can be seen around Hays Inlet in the open woodland areas including Eucalypt forest. It is a widespread species found along the coast from central Queensland all the way around to South Australia and Tasmania.

It has bright violet flowers with a yellow spot on each petal. The leaves are green and leathery and the vine produces seed pods around 5 cm in length (you can see these pods on the photo above). These pods contain 6 to 8 seeds and go brown when mature. Native Sarsaparilla is a legume and is good at fixing nitrogen in soils. The plant copes with fire by regrowing from the root system under the soil. The roots and leaves used to be made up into a tea by early European settlers.

The flowers attract nectar eating insects which are then targeted by insect eating birds including the local Grey Fantail, Noisy Minor and the Willie Wagtail. It is also a host species for a number of butterflies. The Native Sarsaparilla has also been propagated by a number of commercial nurseries for use in local gardens.
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Swamp Mahogany

6/15/2015

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Scientific name: Eucalyptus robusta

This Eucalypt is big and robust (hence it’s scientific name) tree with thick red bark that often peels away from the trunk in long strips. It is a Eucalypt and favours coastal areas including the fringes of the Hays Inlet wetlands. It is an important tree for coastal koalas as it can tolerate some levels of inundation and so is often found around the border between Melaleuca swamp and Eucalypt forest.

The tree can grow to a height of 30 meters with a straight trunk which can up to a meter in diameter. The wood from this tree is highly resistant to marine borers making it a valuable commodity for boat builders. The tree has been exported and is now grown in Argentina, China, Mozambique and the USA.

It has large leathery green leaves which form a major part of koala’s diet. The tree flowers in autumn through to spring providing a valuable source of nectar for grey-headed flying foxes and a number of species of bird including honeyeaters and lorikeets. The tree provides a significant habitat for a numerous insects which also attract the attention of insectivores including birds.

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Sea Purslane

6/8/2015

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Scientific name: Sesuvium portulacastrum

Sea Purslane it is distributed throughout the world and is native to Africa, Asia, Australia, North America and South America and is well established in Europe. It is distributed along the entire Queensland coastline including the Gulf of Carpentaria. Locally, this spreading creeper forms mats, especially along the drains and waterways adjacent to the saltmarsh areas of Hays Inlet. Sea Purslane is also found on the coastal dune areas of the sand islands of Moreton Bay.

The leaves are succulent and the stems can range from green to a distinctive red colour. It has small pink flowers with 5 petals which can be seen all year round. It can be eaten. The stems and leaves are edible. They are characterised by a salty taste, which can be reduced by lightly boiling. It is mainly used as an extra in salads although in the Philippines the plant is pickled and eaten as a condiment and is called “Atchara - Atsarang dampalit” (pickled sea purslane).

The plant is an important stabiliser of sediments, especially in coastal dune areas where its roots and rhizomes act as nets trapping wind borne sand and helping to build the base of the dune.
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Grey Mangrove

5/31/2015

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Grey Mangroves stabilise our coastline and protect us from wave and storm surges
Scientific name: Avicennia marina

This tree is an important species in Moreton Bay. A pioneer species it the first plant to colonise any disturbed coastal sites including man made drains in our coastal wetland areas. This mangrove can take many forms from a small bush like plant to a 25 meter tall tree. They are a widespread species found across the Indo-Pacific region. In Moreton Bay they form extensive stands along sheltered coastlines and dominate local areas including Hays Inlet, the Pine River and Eastern Deception Bay.

Theses mangroves have developed a number of strategies to deal with the harsh environment of our sheltered coastal areas. They have peg-like roots known as pneumatophores which project above the sediment and they contain small holes which allow oxygen to be transported to the root system below ground. The root structure also provides stability for the tree in the surrounding soft mud. Grey mangroves can cope with high levels of salt in their sap and can remove excess salt through specialised glands found in their leaves. If you run your fingers over a grey mangrove leaf you will often feel a crusty layer of salt.

These mangroves are important as they act as buffers providing protection for the adjacent wetlands from wave and storm surges. They also improve water quality in our coastal waters as they trap sediments and can even absorb pollutants from stormwater run-off from the land. Their structure provides habitat for many birds, lizards, mammals and insects whilst their peg like roots stabilise the sediment and provide habitat for fish, molluscs and crustaceans. Grey mangrove stands act as nurseries for many commercial species of fish and crustaceans.

Clearly this mangrove is an important component of the coastal area of Moreton Bay providing shelter from storm activity, helping with water quality of our Bay and providing habitat for many species of wildlife including many of our commercial and recreational fish stocks.
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Mangroves can provide shelter for many species including this Koala.
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Ruby Saltbush

5/21/2015

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Scientific name: Enchylaena tomentose

A semi-woody shrub, this plant can grow to a meter high. This plant is distributed along the coastal areas of the Moreton Bay region, but it also found throughout Australia. It is more common in the sub-tropical and temperate areas of the continent but can also be found in the tropics.  It is a hardy plant and is often associated with saltmarsh habitat including the boundaries of saltmarsh associated with Melaleuca, Casuarina and even marine couch pastures. Locally, it can be found around the Hays Inlet wetlands including the Clontarf project site.

The leaves are semi-succulent which is an important adaptation for surviving in the harsh environment associated with saltmarsh. Ruby saltbush produces a small inconspicuous flower from September through to May although it produces a distinct flattened red berry. It is a bush tucker plant; the leaves can be eaten as a green vegetable and the berries are sweet to the taste. Birds are attracted to the berries and the bush provides habitat for insects and lizards. Saltbush is often found around the base of trees due to seed dispersal by birds.
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Casuarina

5/10/2015

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Scientific name: Casuarina glauca

Casuarina trees are able to cope with high levels of salinity and occasional tidal inundation. Consequently stands of Casuarina are often found at the margins of saltmarsh, clay pans and especially patches of marine couch (Sporobolus virginicus). These trees act as a buffer between terrestrial habitats such as Eucalypt and the tidal saltmarsh areas associated with Hays Inlet. Casuarina produces high levels of litter which is transported into the adjacent wetlands during king tides thus providing food and energy to the inhabitants of the saltmarsh and mangrove habitats. Due to widespread coastal development the conservation status of this habitat is listed “as of concern”.

These predominantly coastal trees are distributed along the Eastern coast of Australia from Southern New South Wales to Gladstone in Queensland. They can grow to 20 meters tall and are fast growing and good at fixing nitrogen as well as remediating saline soils and preventing erosion. Their leaves are reduced, fine and feather-like and the name Casuarina is derived from their similarity to cassowary feathers. These leaves are an excellent adaptation to the harsh conditions in and around saltmarsh areas as they restrict water loss.

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The canopy provides habitat for birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects. When these trees flower and produce seeds they provide forage for birds including lorikeets and cockatoos, flying foxes. They also provide habitat for abundant insect life which attracts smaller perching birds including finches and the Golden Whistler. The parasitic plant Mistletoe is also a common passenger on Casuarina. The understorey is often dominated by marine couch which provides food for the Eastern Grey Kangaroo, the Swamp Wallaby and many species of invertebrates. Casuarina provides a rich habitat for wildlife in the difficult conditions associated with the adjacent saltmarsh and wetland habitats associated with Hays Inlet.

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    Bob Crudgington and Chris Joyce

    Redcliffe Environmental Forum Inc

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