FLOWERING OCTOBER-NOVEMBER  in COOKTOWN BOTANIC GARDENS

Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, the Cheeky Yam, Elephant foot yam or Stink lily.

Developing flower of Amorphophallus paenifolius

This is an Aroid or Arum Lily, a tropical tuber crop that offers excellent scope for adoption in the tropical countries as a cash crop due to its production potential and popularity as a vegetable in various delicious cuisines.

This plant produces a single inflorescence followed by a solitary leaf. The plant is deciduous, dying back to a large underground corm, weighing up to 8kg, after the growing season.

Some people regard the inflorescence as bizarre. It comprises a large spadix crowned with a bulbous purple knob, encircled by a fleshy purple and green-blotched spathe up to 50cm wide. On successful pollination of the female flowers the spadix can extend to 2m tall. The fresh inflorescence emits an odour reminiscent of rotting flesh to attract pollinating carrion flies and beetles.

The solitary leaf resembles a small tree. The leaf blade is much divided into hundreds of leaflets and can reach over 1m wide. This blade sits atop a thick fleshy stem up to 13cm diameter and 2m tall. The pustular surface of the stem is attractively blotched with paler shades of green.

Quite hardy in tropical areas when planted in rich, well-drained soil in a sheltered, humid position. In temperate areas the plant can be grown successfully as a container specimen.

The corm needs to be planted well below the soil surface to give the plant stability. Ample water is required during the growing season but the amount can be reduced dramatically during dormancy. Corms of potted specimens can be removed from the pot and stored dry to prevent frost damage. The occasional application of a high phosphorus fertilizer (NPK 15,30,15) will ensure maximum growth and health of the plant.

We have another common local species, the Sweet Snakeskin Lily (Amorphophallus galbra)  with minute yellow flowers on the spike surrounded by  large green, brown or pink mottled spathe. This is followed by a cluster of bright red berries on the herbaceous fleshy stem more than 300mm high.

And we have a few other species in our Aroid Garden (under development). 

The Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanum) is the largest of the Arum Lilies, with a huge inflorescence on a stem up to 3m or 9 foot tall, The Tallest inflorescence (flowering stalk) in the plant world. There is one of these in Cairns Botanic Gardens and in Kew Gardens in England. We have a new bulb developing in Cooktown Botanic Gardens.

ARUM LILLIES,  Amorphophallus species

A group of very strange plants that grow from a tuber underground and are only appear in late Spring in Cooktown Botanic Gardens.  There are 180 different species of Amorphophallus (amorphous = shapeless, phallus= penis), the Arum Lilies, If you are familiar with the Anthurium Lily, it is an Aroid as well. Typical of the Arum Lily family, these develop an inflorescence consisting of a spathe (a sheathing bract) which usually envelops the spadix (a flower spike with a fleshy axis) of different colors.  On the inside, they contain ridges or warts, functioning as insect traps and they can emits a scent of decaying flesh, in order to attract insects to ingenious insect traps. Pollinating insects are kept inside the spathe to deposit pollen on the female flowers, these stay receptive for only one day, while the male flowers are still closed. These open the next day, but by then female flowers are no longer receptive and so self pollination is avoided. The male flowers shower the trapped insects with pollen. Once the insects escape, they can then pollinate another flower.  The pollinated flowers then develop a globose berry as a fruit. These can be red, orange-red, white, white-and-yellow, or blue.

Amorphophallus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some butterflies and moths.

Noni or Morinda citrifolia, Rotten Cheesefruit, Great Morinda, or Indian Mulberry.   

Noni grows in shady forests as well as on open rocky or sandy shores and is tolerant of saline soils and drought conditions.  This small tree grows naturally in Cooktown and surrounds and can be seen along Webber Esplanade just past the fishing lease, in the Botanic Gardens, and many other places. The small white flowers and fruits appear all year round with yields between 4-8 kg of fruit every month throughout the year. Is a commercial crop in other places.

The fruit is an oval 4-7cm, green to yellowish, ripening to whitish brown, soft and squishy with many seeds which are edible when roasted. The fruit is eaten raw or with a curry.

The juice – sold as Noni Juice - is reported to be a “cure-all” for everything from cancer to HIV. However the fruit also smells like rotten cheese. I have been unable to test the qualities of the juice as I cannot get past the incredibly pungent aroma of the ripe fruit. Some locals remove the seeds, add juice and swear by it as a pick-me-up.  One older local told me that it nearly killed him as he had so much energy that he was building rock walls in the heat of the day and had a heart attack!   So if you can get past the smell…..

The smell of the fruit also attracts fruit bats, which aid in dispersing the seeds.

Fruits are believed to be as an appetite and brain stimulant. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that noni juice increased physical endurance in mice.  A pilot study in distance runners showed increased endurance capacity following daily intake of noni juice over three weeks, an effect attributed to increased antioxidant status.

From the US National Cancer Institute:

An extract prepared from the fruit of Morinda citrifolia, a plant that yields various herbal preparations. Morinda citrifolia fruit juice has antioxidant properties and may prevent tumorigenesis via inhibition of DNA-carcinogen adduct formation.

The bark contains a red pigment and the roots contain a yellow pigment, still used in making dyes by the local people. The wood can be used in light construction, canoe parts and paddles, axe and adze handles, and digging sticks.

Traditional uses: Treatment for malaria, general febrifuge, and analgesic (leaf tea); laxative (all parts of the plant); jaundice (decoctions of stem bark); hypertension  (extract of leaves, fruit, or bark); boils and carbuncles (fruit poultice); stomach ulcers (oils from the fruit); scalp insecticide (seed oil); tuberculosis, sprains, deep bruising,  rheumatism (leaf or fruit poultices); sore throat (gargling a mash of the ripe fruit); body or intestinal worms (whole fresh fruits); laxative (seeds); fever (leaf poultice); cuts and wounds, abscesses, mouth and gum infections, tooth aches (fruit); sties (flowers or vapor from broken leaves);  stomach ache, fractures, diabetes, loss of appetite, urinary tract ailments, abdominal swelling, hernias, stings from stonefish, and human vitamin A deficiency (leaves). The  leaves are also used as a medicinal poultice or body wrap. The green fruit, leaves and the root/rhizome to treat menstrual cramps and irregularities, the root has been used to treat urinary difficulties.

Contemporary uses (worldwide): treatment of attention deficit disorder, addictions, allergies, arthritis, asthma, brain problems, burns, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue, diabetes, digestive problems, endometriosis, fibromialgia, gout, hypertension, immune deficiency, infection,  inflammation, multiple sclerosis, muscle and joint pain, polio, rheumatism, sinus, and veterinary medicine have yet to be validated. 

Yellow Saraca. 

Yellow Saraca flowers in September

The exotic, Saraca thaipingensis, is in full bloom with astonishing golden yellow blooms above the foliage.  It is believed that Buddha was born under this sacred evergreen flowering tree, a tree with yellow flowers, borne on old wood,  grown as an ornamental for floral effect.
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds, the flowers are fragrant especially during the night. Long pendulous new growth emerges as soft pink leaves slowly stiffen to green. Flower heads are large, up to 45cm, and bright yellow, developing straight from the trunk. Long burgundy coloured pods follow these flowers.

This gorgeous tree should be fertilized at the drip line with an organic based product and heavily mulched twice a year, once before flowering in the spring and once again at the end of the wet season.

September in the Gardens

Bats Wing Coral Tree, Erythrina vespertilio, or Grey Corkwood or Wo-in-ya.
This small tree with corky bark and thorns on the branches is a specimen in your Cooktown Botanic Gardens and some other places around town including Lions Park and a street tree along Charlotte Street. The common name comes from the shape of the leaves.

Erythrina....from Greek, erythros, red, referring to the flower colour, vespertilio....from Latin vespertilia, a bat, referring to the shape of the leaves.
The tree is in the Fabaceae family which features pea-shaped flowers and this one has spectacular scarlet to orange-red flowers in August-September. Flowers are bird-pollinated. These flowers appear on the bare branches after the leaves fall as the plant is deciduous in the dry season.  The flowers are followed by brown woody pods, the seeds are toxic.
This plant was painted by Vera Scarth-Johnson and collected by Banks and Solander in 1770. The Banks Florilegium print of it will be exhibited in June and you can wonder, like me, how Sydney Parkinson could have painted this plant with flowers on it in June 1770 when the plant would be unlikely to have flowers at that time of the year.  The original dried herbarium specimen from 1770 in London at the Natural History Museum does not have flowers on it according to the Collection Manager at the Museum.

Aboriginal people would eat the roots raw and the leaves are supposed to be a sedative, similar to the use of some South American species of Erythrina that are used for better and deeper sleep and to reduce anxiety. All Erythrina species contain 'Erythrina alkaloids', which include erythrane, erythroidine, coralline and others. These alkaloids are found in the whole plant, but especially in the seeds which are toxic. The roots and bark of many species exude a deep orange dye, which can be used for fabrics and artefacts. The wood is also used to make artefacts, especially of a spiritual nature. It is very soft and easy to carve.

 Propagation is from seed or cuttings. Generally no seed treatment is required but light scarification may assist germination. Cover the seeds with very hot water and let soak overnight or until they swell. Pick out those that didn't swell and repeat process with them. Sow swollen seeds immediately in seeding mix, covering with two to three times their thickness. Do not overwater or allow to dry out, and provide good drainage and bright light. Should germinate within a few weeks with this pre-treatment, or many months without.

The Cascading Bean,   
Maniltoa  lenticellata. 

 This unusual small tree or large shrub is found in lowland rainforests and vine forests from Torres Strait to north of us and in New Guinea. The globular clusters of cream flowers happen in September-October and are happening now. The fruity-scented flowers may be pollinated by marsupials or bats.  The astonishing new growth is pale pink and pendulous (cascading) and is sometimes called handkerchief tree because of this. Watching the large seed pod germinate is astonishing! The new root pushes the seed up and out from the soil and then the first leaves emerge - small pink and pendulous.

Cultivation of this amazing plant is by fresh seed in well drained soil with lots of water in a protected position. Germinates easily and is astonishing to see, almost like an alien. Slow growing but with water, mulch and fertilizer can be encouraged to show its spectacular new growth. 

Cooktown Botanic Gardens has a specimen of the Cascading Bean planted as a memorial to Dr Mick, Hospital Registrar, who had a passion for gardening and would be found working in the gardens often.  There are a couple planted in Mareeba’s Anzac Park.

The Golden Orchid

In Cooktown Botanic Gardens, flowering August - Septembr, is the Golden Orchid, Dendrobium discolor. (now called Durabaculum discolor).   This is the largest dendrobium in Australia with the longest canes.

Dendrobiums are a large genus of tropical orchids that consists of about 1200 species. The name is from the Greek dendron (meaning tree) and bios (meaning life). The species are either epiphytic, growing on a tree, or occasionally lithophytic, growing over a rock.

Dendrobium discolor, Golden Orchid

The Golden Orchid is found growing on coast mangrove trees and rocky cliffs near the sea in North Eastern Australia and New Guinea. It can bloom at any time of the year with many fragrant flowers. There are at least 2 varieties up this way – one has the golden yellow flowers D. discolor var broomfieldii – after Captain Broomfield the original collector) and the other is brownish with golden edges.

They often develop pseudobulbs, which unite into a long reedlike stem with a typical length of more than 30 cm.  The short, ovate leaves grow alternately over the whole length of the stems. The axillary flower buds develop into short flower stalks with one or two terminal flowers. The orchids grow quickly throughout summer, but take a long rest during winter. In the spring, new shoots are formed from the base of the main plant and the dormant buds come back into action. The blooming flowers are found on pseudobulbs formed in the previous year.

Requires warm temperatures and diffused bright light. Keep plant moist and fertilize during growth season. During winter keep plant more dry and reduce water until new shoots appear. Mist the plant and keep the mix slightly moist. Do not allow the plant to dry out completely. Grow in a well drain mix of sphagnum moss or medium fir bark.

Can be seen throughout Cooktown Botanic Gardens and in the orchid house, and June-July-August the Banks Florilegium exhibition at Natures Powerhouse has the engraving, and a living specimen on display.

Sandy Lloyd

The Temple Tree

This stunning flowering tree called the sacred garlic pear or temple plant, Crateva religiosa, is also sometimes called the spider tree because the showy cream to yellow flowers bear long, spidery purple stamens.

Crateva religiosa flowers

The large pear-shaped fruits can be up to 15 cm long.  It is native to Australia, Japan, much of Southeast Asia and several south Pacific islands. It is grown elsewhere for its fruit, especially in parts of the African continent.  The fruit of the tree is edible and a member of the Caper Family.

The nectar-filled flowers are attractive to a multitude of insects and birds. The Pierid butterfly (Hebomoia glaucippe) is a frequent visitor to this plant.

This tree can be found in Cooktown Botanic Gardens on the main lawn and is in full flower now, in August, and hopefully these lovely flowers will still be out by the time you read this.  It is also found on Cape York along gravely streams and watercourses, and suitable for Cooktown gardens.

Prefers a semi shade position along a watercourse, and can be propagated from hardwood cuttings or seed or by transplanting any root suckers.

It is an anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and is useful in disorders of urinary organs and renowned for maintaining a healthy urinary tract and bladder function. A postal stamp was issued by the Indian Postal Department to commemorate this tree.

Crateva - named for Kratevas, 1st century Greek herbalist, renowned for his skill in poisoning. religiosa - Sacred.

Sandy lloyd

What's Flowering in the Botanic Gardens in August

The Silk Cotton Tree, or Red Kapok Tree.

Red Kapok or Silk Cotton Tree - Bombax ceiba

Bombax ceiba.

This beautiful tree flowers from  August,  September, and can reach to 60m high. We have specimens in the gardens and a large tree as you come into Cooktown near the corner of Racecourse Road and Hope Street, also down at Quarantine Bay and many other places.  Its trunk bears conical spikes when young to deter attacks by animals.

The tree has palmate-shaped leaves and is deciduous (loses its leaves) in winter, then the stunning large waxy red flowers are produced in the dry season when the tree is completely leafless and when most other forms of vegetation in the community are looking rather drab and forlorn. Although each flower only lasts for one day they are visited by numerous birds seeking the nectar. Birds have been observed to get drunk on the fermenting nectar! Often planted in large gardens and parks for these large red flowers.

The capsules that will follow these magnificent red flowers, ripen and split to reveal kapok and could be used to be used to stuff mattresses and pillows. This species yield an inferior grade of kapok that is sometimes used in India.  The smaller Yellow-flowering Kapok, Cochlospermum gillivrae, that is also flowering in some parts of town, also has kapok. The capsules of the red-flowering Kapok are about 10 cm long, densely packed with large quantities of cream fibrous material which resembles cotton wool and surrounds the seed, but is not really attached to the seed.

Widespread in WA, NT, Cape York and Nth Qld. Altitudinal range from sea level to about 300 m. Usually grows in monsoon forest and drier rain forest. Also occurs in Malesia, Asia and the Indian sub-continent.

It is a food plant for the larval stages of the Common Aeroplane Butterfly.

The inner bark may be used to make twine, the young leaves and fresh flowers as curry vegetables, the tap-root of young plants roasted and eaten. The flowers were used in Chinese herb teas.

A native of our town, Bombax grows well in Cooktown’s depleted soils and is hardy, a great feature tree for a large garden.

The Button Plant 
Often called the Button Orchid, but is not an orchid, Dischidia nummularia.  This wonderful plant is a trailing-scandent epiphyte which means it does not require its roots to be in soil, it obtains its sustenance from the air. A root climber that grows on the flakey bark of branches of Melaleucas and other trees of the swamp and along streams, the long trailing stems can be seen all through Cooktown Botanic Gardens festooned from the weeping paperbark trees.

Button plant because the leaves are rounded buttons, (nummullaria = like a coin) and thick and succulent.

Strangely, as this plant is often found growing with our Myrmecodia beccari, the Ant House Plant, which houses a particular species of ant, there was a reference to the Button plant as “myrmecophilous or ant-loving plants, several Dischidias are particularly intriguing. Ants inhabit the inflated, often hollow leaves, using them as nurseries for their young and as garbage dumps. The plants benefit from the ants' carbon dioxide and waste products”.  Further research is needed!

The tiny white flowers appear in spring or summer.

Propagate from stem cuttings, division or seed. Needs shade or it loses its colour. It can be grown as a hanging basket or pot, or on moss or bark. It likes bright light but not direct sun over the plant. The mix needs to be kept moderately dry between waterings, misting the plant once or twice a week should do the job. Liquid feeding once a month with half strength is adequate.

This plant was painted by Vera Scarth-Johnson and collected by Banks and Solander in 1770 when they came on the Endeavour, painted by Sydney Parkinson and is one of the 15 that now belong to Cooktown, courtesy of the Cooktown Discovery Festival and Cook Shire Council and RADF. and part of the Banks Florilegium exhibition at Natures Powerhouse from June until the end of August.

The Rusty Guinea Flower or Guinea Bush, Hibbertia banksii is one of the Banks Florilegium species and the living plant can be seen in the gardens.

 (Hibbertia after Dr George Hibbert, English botanist (1757 - 1837) and banksii after Sir Joseph Banks (as are many of our native plants, including the Banksia).

This is a beautiful ornamental small shrub to 2 m high having one-sided terminal leafy branches of rusty brown buds and golden yellow flowers, five-petalled, and rusty-brown tomentose (soft downy hairy) covering the entire plant.

This north Queensland plant can be found back of all our beaches and other heathy, sandy areas as well as open forests and along streams. It is flowering now and often at other times and I have seen it in Endeavour National Park at Stonewall, Marton. Long lasting as a cut flower, it can be grown from seed or from cuttings of firm young growth.  Prefers sandy soil or at least good drainage, a semi-shady spot and the god of gardening in our dry tropics, mulch.

This lovely little shrub can be seen in Cooktown Botanic Gardens. It was painted by Vera Scarth-Johnson and collected by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander in 1770 with Captain Cook on the Endeavour.  The Banks Florilegium exhibition at Natures Powerhouse has both Vera’s painting and the Banks Florilegium engraving of Sydney Parkinson’s drawing of the plant on display now, not to be missed!