Brachychiton sp. Ormeau

For about 15 years there have been local environmentalists and botanists in the Ormeau and Gold Coast region of SE Queensland trying to tell people about the unique little bottle tree growing down there which was not (as many had thought) a hybrid but in fact a seperate species. I write little because the only ones I have seen were small despite having semi mature characteristics....apparently the tree will reach 30m in its preferred habitat of remanat rainforest  Ormeau Bottle Tree - very little of which is left in the Ormeau region. 

Ormeau location shown by the letter 'A'

A few days ago we happened to be travelling along Upper Ormeau Road and took time to photograph one of the Ormeau Bottle Trees which is growing right next to the road reserve.

It is a lovely little tree with very interesting features, easily confused with and mistaken for a Mango when driving along, it has mottled bark almost a pruniose surface to the stems.

The leaves are very variable in shape size and colour as the tree gets older, but on close examination you would quickly realise that this tree was a Brachychiton sp.

The location of the tree we looked at near the road edge was less than ideal given it is under transmission lines and has been cut repeatedly over the decades since the lines went in. We will make inquiries of the utility company to see if any bundling of cables is practical. It should be said though that despite the cutting the tree appears to be very healthy and vigorous.

There is a research program running  Research into rare Bottle tree to help direct conservation efforts, this is being funded by a large land developer in the region, we certainly hope that the research aids in protecting and increasing the population of this lovely local tree.

Remnant Veteran Eucalyptus tereticornis Coomera

This tree approximately 35m north of the Coomera River contains some of the largest diameter deadwood and hollow habitat I have ever seen in person. I have read about such habitat but never actually been in a tree that has such rare treasures.


Head and shoulders above its neighbours the remnant tree is clearly visible from the motorway



It can be clearly seen from the M1 motorway when travelling to or from Brisbane, in a landscape that has been completely transformed in the last 160yrs it is the last of the forest remnants in the region.



Coomera River ferry operating in 1920's (before the road bridge was built) looking south



Despite the amount of land clearing carried out in the first wave (1840-1890) the picture above indicates how much forest remained along the banks of the Coomera River in the 1920's, within 30yrs almost all of this vegetation had been removed to permit dairy farming and other agricultural practices.

Bridge construction (looking north) 1928

It is possible to identify the remnant tree in a photo of the bridge construction over the Coomera River from 1928.

Coomera River in the 1980's

By 1980 only a few paddock trees and lucky remnants remain across the region, still predating the M1 the picture does show the two smaller road bridges (both still present and in use today).

The tree today carries the scars from long past storm damage that tore out the top half of the tree, the upper canopy visible today is all regrowth from that traumatic event.

The hollow habitat held aloft comprises every imaginable combination of diameter sizes, entrance hole orientation and scale.

The noise from the resident (and visiting) birds is loud enough heard from the ground, but nothing to the volume generated when they are objecting to your presence up in the canopy.

We have put together a longer than usual video of this tree on our Youtube channel. We hope that the you find the additional time needed to download this 6min video worth the wait.

The tragedy of the roadside tree

 This video comes from Jill and Ted's tree-mendous Adventure

It would seem that in Britain just like here in Australia there persists a mistaken attitude towards trees that demonstrate veteran  characteristics of age. It would seem that until there is a greater understanding of the critical difference between plant and animal pathology this kind of disasterous action will be sadly repeated elsewhere.

Preservation of Veteran Fig Tree Townsville Railway Station

During one of my all too brief visits back to North Queensland I was fortunate enough to help plan preservation works for one of three Veteran Weeping Fig Trees in the Heritage precinct of the old Townsville Railway Station. (This older station c1890 is no longer connected to the QR line but remains a popular visiting spot for tourists).



Railway precinct 1910 the figs already providing welcome amenity



The first (c1930) in a very long cycle of cutting to toparise the canopies of the figs (Picture curtesy of JCU Library collection)



Queensland Rail have been historically a huge influence on the development of urban centres throughout regional Queensland, and the architectural form of the Townsville Station facade extended to the formal landscape in front of the building.

The choice of Ficus benjamina ~ weeping figs was not all that surprising except that the stock may have come from Brisbane, it is amusing to conjecture that they may have come from the plants collected by Walter Hill (perhaps one of the most influencial horticulturalists in Queensland through the 1880's).

We know from conversations with older railway employees that the trees were looked after by QR staff for many decades...in fact some pride is expressed about the cutting work carried out with cane knives from step ladders, and within the trees themselves.

Over time cvhanges in asset management has resulted in less regular maintenance for the trees and growth in the canopies has resulted in pronounced elongation of many limbs. This is not in itself a huge problem for such a robust species...except that some ill advised major flush cutting had left stem tissues exposed to expanding dysfunction and decay.

Where large columns of decay in the stem and very elongated limb growth come together this has proved to be a recipe for failure.



Side view of the asymmetrical canopy 2010, failure occuring

 

The origin of the failure in the stem tissues - very large flush cut in the past

When determining what the best course for remediation, due consideration was given to the health and safety the general public together with the huge historical and cultural value that these tree represent for Townsville.

Given the observations of good health and vigour (other than the dysfunction and decay related to the past poor cutting practices) it was felt that if the movement of the failing section of the canopy could be arrested and the growing conditions improved, retention of the entire tree was practical and desirable.

In addition to the works relating to the recent failure these trees were to be hedged as part of the regular (now more regular than in the past) pruning program. Active planning to reduce asymmetry in other trees in the group is being incorporated into that program.

Legal requirement to provide clearance for road traffic will drive reduction on this side as much as any desire to reduce loading of the union with the scaffold limb

Stephen Murphy and Tim Willey from Northern Tree Specialists carried out all the tree works on these trees, it is testiment to the ethos of their company and Queensland Rail that so much effort and resource is being provided to preserve these living reminders of the origins of the city of Townsville.



Installation of the first screw prop



Second and third screw props going in, each engineered to support 8 tonnes



Close up of the saddle of the props



Locking off the screw thread

Following the installation fo the props (which were designed to specifications from a structrural engineer to be capable of supporting 8 tonnes each) the reduction pruning was carried out together with the hedging of the canopies.



Reduction pruning on the road side of the canopy



View of the reduction pruning of the asymmetrical elongation of the canopy



Kerbside view every effort was made to locate the cuts adjacent to nodes within the branches



Footpath view, again knowing the future cycle of pruning cuts were made adjacent to visible nodes

There is no doubt I my opinion that this kind of pruing is amongst the most difficult to perform correctly. The pictures are not perhaps the best to illustrate the careful individual branch by branch selection of cutting points with the intention of locating nodes (growing points) within the branch outside of which the cut is made.

Often people lay claim to having carried out such pruning when really all they have done is 'lop' the tree paying no head to the structure of the branch and the presence of nodes. I think that Northern Tree Specialists have done a really good job in achieving the outcome visible in the canopy of the pruned tree.

It is hoped that future hedging cycles will encourage the growth and maintenance of foliage over the areas currently showing bare branches.

A video of the tree its problems and the installation of the props can be viewed on our video channel Preservation works on Veteran Fig Tree Townsville Railway Station

 

The complete topiary pruning of the three trees.

Condong White Fig, revisited.

Its been almost ayear since I posted about the very accomodating Angie near the sugar mill at Condong Veteran fig tree at Condong (right click and select open in new window). Well after a lovely morning spent walking through the Brunswick Heads Nature Reserve hunting orchids I was driving past this beautiful Ficus yet again. I put a short video together during this visit; Condong White Fig (right click and select open in new window).

I cannot convey just how much in awe I am of figs of this age, they truely are magnificent...amazingly Angie is really only a medium sized specimen.

This year her new leaves were without the heavy sooty mould and insect pests that have been so evident on other visits.

The very bad, and wild  weather we have been having recently had resulted in the failure of a small live limb (100mm diameter) from the upper canopy which was lying on the ground and another which although twisted around 270 degrees was still attached in the canopy.

Doubtless largely due to the very free draining aluvial soils beneath her, there are no surface growing buttresses visible on Angie...so common with larger older figs of this species when grown on less favourable soil conditions.

The impact of the aluvial soils on healthy root growth is something that is in her favour, sadly the proximity of the road is not, and I fear that the consequences of more recent road widening will significantly impact on the Angie's longevity.

It is heartening to note as I did nearly a year ago that Tweed Shire have recognised the importance of this inspiring veteran tree.

She would (IMO) still benefit hugely from a mulch layer being applied over the grass area (out as far as possible)