Bangalow Palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana)
This rainforest is primarily comprised of the Bangalow Palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana).
The location is the mid north coast of New South Wales, south west of Port Macquarie.
Palm forest in New South Wales forms where drainage is impeded, and there's often surface water in the wet season. Unlike the Cabbage Tree Palm, the Bangalow Palm avoids the more saline sites. Soil types are not critical for this form of forest, they range from basaltic alluvium to sand. The equable climate and moist situation provides an excellent habitat for rainforest creatures, such as frogs and terrestrial molluscs.
Fallen fronds of the palm often collect rainwater, where the frond was attached to the tree. This casual water can be several centimetres deep and last for days after rain. The fallen fronds make an excellent hiding place for native slugs and snails on the forest floor. Some arboreal species of native molluscs live in the palms themselves.
Other trees occurring in this forest include the Yellow Carabeen (Sloanea woollsii), Soft Corkwood (Ackama paniculosa), Water gum (Tristaniopsis laurina), Bollygum (Litsea reticulata), White Beech (Gmelina leichhardtii), Maidens Blush (Sloanea australis) and plenty of other sub tropical trees.
Noteworthy here is a small grove of white barked eucalyptus trees, one measured in excess of 70 metres tall. Known as "the big fella", Eucalyptus grandis.
It was my pleasure to take "Black Diamond" to this site. This place is not easily found. The previous State Forest signage has been removed, to reduce the number of tourists visiting here.
On that occasion, the driver's father was in the car. This nonagenarian spoke of his childhood in the mid north coast. He spoke with great clarity and interest. There was talk of the long distances from home to school, and then to town. With plenty of walking or with horses.
The three of us looked at eucalyptus trees out the window, and debated whether they were Eucalyptus saligna or grandis. Both occur here in great numbers, but they can be tricky to identify when driving.
When parking the car, there was a pool of water, beside the road. Plenty of bees landed near the pool. I asked the nonagenarian what the bees were doing. He said "having a drink of water". I do tend to ask a lot of stupid questions!
Tree identification in this forest was straight forward. There weren't too many species here that challenged Black Diamond and me. Although, one laurel looked like something out of place. At the time it resembled Cryptocarya bidwillii, though the habitat and latitude were wrong. The human mind is fallible, unreliable and easily fooled.
There was a gap of over twenty years before returning here with my fiance a short while before this. Finding this hidden grove was going to be challenging.
Time was running out, we were delayed after spending excessive time visiting vineyards in the morning. An hour later than expected we drove on the dirt roads on the west of the Pacific Highway. I was concerned it was too late in the day. But determination to find "the big fella" over ruled other considerations.
Arriving near sunset, in a tall darkening forest. Fortunately we stopped at the right spot, and rushed up the palm forest to find the big trees. Returning to Western Boundary road and the car in near darkness. Then a pleasant night together in a motel at Port Macquarie.
link to the Big Fella: flic.kr/p/EgYoFJ
link to a nearby eucalyptus: flic.kr/p/x4Xe9R
link to the sunset view of the road near "Big Fella" with my fiance: photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOub4LqsYIqx_z9ibX1CxbfGld4u...
Bangalow Palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana)
This rainforest is primarily comprised of the Bangalow Palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana).
The location is the mid north coast of New South Wales, south west of Port Macquarie.
Palm forest in New South Wales forms where drainage is impeded, and there's often surface water in the wet season. Unlike the Cabbage Tree Palm, the Bangalow Palm avoids the more saline sites. Soil types are not critical for this form of forest, they range from basaltic alluvium to sand. The equable climate and moist situation provides an excellent habitat for rainforest creatures, such as frogs and terrestrial molluscs.
Fallen fronds of the palm often collect rainwater, where the frond was attached to the tree. This casual water can be several centimetres deep and last for days after rain. The fallen fronds make an excellent hiding place for native slugs and snails on the forest floor. Some arboreal species of native molluscs live in the palms themselves.
Other trees occurring in this forest include the Yellow Carabeen (Sloanea woollsii), Soft Corkwood (Ackama paniculosa), Water gum (Tristaniopsis laurina), Bollygum (Litsea reticulata), White Beech (Gmelina leichhardtii), Maidens Blush (Sloanea australis) and plenty of other sub tropical trees.
Noteworthy here is a small grove of white barked eucalyptus trees, one measured in excess of 70 metres tall. Known as "the big fella", Eucalyptus grandis.
It was my pleasure to take "Black Diamond" to this site. This place is not easily found. The previous State Forest signage has been removed, to reduce the number of tourists visiting here.
On that occasion, the driver's father was in the car. This nonagenarian spoke of his childhood in the mid north coast. He spoke with great clarity and interest. There was talk of the long distances from home to school, and then to town. With plenty of walking or with horses.
The three of us looked at eucalyptus trees out the window, and debated whether they were Eucalyptus saligna or grandis. Both occur here in great numbers, but they can be tricky to identify when driving.
When parking the car, there was a pool of water, beside the road. Plenty of bees landed near the pool. I asked the nonagenarian what the bees were doing. He said "having a drink of water". I do tend to ask a lot of stupid questions!
Tree identification in this forest was straight forward. There weren't too many species here that challenged Black Diamond and me. Although, one laurel looked like something out of place. At the time it resembled Cryptocarya bidwillii, though the habitat and latitude were wrong. The human mind is fallible, unreliable and easily fooled.
There was a gap of over twenty years before returning here with my fiance a short while before this. Finding this hidden grove was going to be challenging.
Time was running out, we were delayed after spending excessive time visiting vineyards in the morning. An hour later than expected we drove on the dirt roads on the west of the Pacific Highway. I was concerned it was too late in the day. But determination to find "the big fella" over ruled other considerations.
Arriving near sunset, in a tall darkening forest. Fortunately we stopped at the right spot, and rushed up the palm forest to find the big trees. Returning to Western Boundary road and the car in near darkness. Then a pleasant night together in a motel at Port Macquarie.
link to the Big Fella: flic.kr/p/EgYoFJ
link to a nearby eucalyptus: flic.kr/p/x4Xe9R
link to the sunset view of the road near "Big Fella" with my fiance: photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOub4LqsYIqx_z9ibX1CxbfGld4u...