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Plants\Trees
Leichhardt Tree
Photo: Courtesy of Damon Ramsey
BSc.(Zool) Biologist Guide
'Leichhardt Tree' or 'Cheesewood':
Nauclea orientalis
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This tree is of course not related
to the conifers but is a flowering plant.
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It's quite often a large tree
found in
the eastern and northern woodlands of Australia.
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It
stands out as much darker than its surrounding plants.
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It is also found in the
adjacent tropical rainforests in north-eastern Australia, and in the drier
tropical woodlands it is usually found along the watercourses. It distribution
also takes it to and through tropical Asia (Cooper and Cooper 1994).
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The leaves are large and dark
glossy green with prominent yellow venation. These are often dropped in the
drier season (Cooper and Cooper 1994).
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The flowers are small with orange-yellow
petals and protruding white stamens, and stick out collectively from a central
point, giving the inflorescence the look of small spiky balls.
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It slowly
produces a round squishy yellow blob that is actually a collection of small
fruits that have followed the many small flowers. The globular fruit is about
the size of a golf ball and is edible.
Script: Courtesy of Damon Ramsey BSc.(Zool) Biologist Guide
Leichhardt Tree:
Nauclea orientalis
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The tree produces the lightly
perfumed, unusual flowers
throughout spring and summer.
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Though edible, the fruit is said
to be very bitter, although it is popular with birds and flying
foxes.
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This tree prefers wet areas and
is particularly common in lowland rainforests, close to streams, where it can
grow 20m in height.
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Traditionally, the trunks make
good canoes and the leaves and bark produce a poison which can be put into water
to stun fish.
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The bark is also the source of a bright yellow dye.
Script: Courtesy of of Environmental Protection Agency
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