Proteaceae in Paradise

Turkey Tangentialby Spencer Shaw, Brush Turkey Enterprises“Proteaceae in Paradise”Proteus was an ancient Greek sea god who was inclined to get himself into trouble on a regular basis. His special skill however was in his ability to change his shape into many and varied forms to escape from these troubles – probably self inflicted as many of these gods where prone to mischief and mayhem! The family of plants known as Proteaceae are a particularly large and varied bunch but one thing that is common to many of them is the variable nature of their foliage, which can take many varied forms (hence the Greek god connection). Why the connection between Greece and a family of plants that are predominantly found in the southern hemisphere I here you ask? Was it the classical cultural background of the early botanists or were they aware that in the late 20th century that my wife Karen would put a new twist on the Greek delicacy baklava with Macadamias (a member of the Proteaceae family!) and rechristen it “Maclava”. This latter connection is a long bow to stretch I realize but surely no worse than naming something after some god who was prone to trouble and that people ceased worshipping 2 millennia ago!The Proteaceae family’s lineage stretches well back into the history of flowering plants long before gods even started thinking about themselves, let alone which plant families should be named after them. They are a particularly ancient lineage of plants evolving in the Gondwana super continent and are found in South America and South Africa and Oceania (Australia, New Guinea and the Pacific Islands).Some famous representatives of the family Proteaceae around the world are the South African Proteas and Leucadendron’s and of course Australia’s Grevilleas and Banksias.One of the interesting adaptations of the Proteaceae family is the development of proteoid roots. These dense clusters of fine rootlets increase the surface area of their root systems dramatically and in association with mycorrhizal  fungi enable the plants to make available to themselves more minerals and nutrients in impoverished soils than would otherwise be available, particularly phosphorous. This is why we have special “native” (low phosphorous) fertilisers; because your average Banksia or Grevillea will poison itself with too much phosphorous if we flood the soil with this mineral. Many Rainforest Proteaceae are less sensitive when it comes to artificial or natural fertilisers as are rainforest plants in general because they are adapted to higher nutrient environments.One of the more common rainforest Proteaceae you may be familiar with is the Silky Oak Grevillea robusta. Although not naturally occurring in the moister forests on top of the Blackall Range, Silky Oak occur in drier forests on poorer soils such as in the Conondale Valley. You’ll see some particularly nice specimens in the forest park where Little Yabba Creek joins the Mary River. Another local member of the Proteaceae family you may be familiar with is the Macadamia – one of the world’s tastiest nuts. Surprisingly Macadamia are rare naturally and the local Macadamia, M. integrifolia and M. ternifolia are both protected plants. M. ternifolia is reasonably wide spread throughout the Blackall range, but don’t go trying to eat this one as it is a toxic cousin to the ones we eat. Proteaceae are often famous for their flowers and most spectacular locally is the Wheel of Fire Stenocarpus sinuatus. These spectacular red flowers remind us of the even more spectacular Tree Waratahs, many species of which are found to our south and north. Most commonly planted on the range is Alloxylon flammeum ( Syn. Oreocallis sp.) a NQ native. Another member of the Proteaceae family on the Blackall Range can also claim to have the largest seed in the area. The Ball Nut Floydia praealta is similar in many ways to the Macadamia and was classified as one until quite recently. They, like Macadamia sp., are spectacular in flower and provide dense shade.  The seed however is enclosed in a creamy – brown and hard leathery case that can be 50mm across – unlike the woody shells of Macadamias. Floydia praealta are also listed as rare and threatened but can be found infrequently throughout the northern end of the Blackall Range with a rather big specimen found on Petrie Creek at the Petrie Park, Nambour.One interesting new addition to the family Proteaceae is the recently discovered Night Cap Oak Eidothea hardeniana of North East NSW. This species has only been officially recognised very recently and has one relative in NQ and ancestors found in fossil material from Victoria. You wouldn’t have expected this plant to remain undiscovered by science for so long – particularly as E. hardeniana is a tree up to 40m! So there we have it – the native Proteaceae of Australia are a diverse mob specialising in all habitats from rainforest to desert, but our local rainforest Proteaceae are as interesting and as unusual as any. So do yourself a favour and find a place in your heart for one of these “Proteus like” plants and they at least are guaranteed not to get up to mischief, unlike their namesake.
Some of our Local Rainforest Proteaceae:
 Floydia praealta             Ball NutGrevillea hilliana            White Yiel-YielGrevillea robusta            Silky OakHelicia glabriflora            HeliciaMacadamia integrifolia     MacadamiaMacadamia ternifolia      Maroochy NutStenocarpus salignus      White BeefwoodStenocarpus sinuatus     Wheel of Fire Triunia robusta              Spice Bush