Temperate botanists might raise an eyebrow at a tropical ash tree. The tropical botanist might not know what an ash tree is. Ash trees, the genus Fraxinus, are mostly temperate, but have both temperate and tropical members (see also my recent post). In the Wet Tropics, the Tropical Evergreen Ash (Fraxinus griffithii) is a commonly cultivated tree.

Inspired by photographs on social media, an expedition trekked into the remote Borneo and confirmed a new and amazing species of pitcher plant.

The Grey Satinash (Syzygium gustavioides) is a large endemic tree found in the Wet Tropics, recognizable by its brown-orangey bark and buttresses. Its unique rough-skinned fruits differ from typical satinash berries, while its mature leaves are leathery and elliptic. It thrives in both lowland and upland forests.

Temperate raspberries and blackberries are great treats, but I love also the tropical counterparts, if I can get to them before the birds. It is nice to know that the tropics produce "berry" like fruits that are more associated with temperate regions. In the Wet Tropics of north Queensland there are four native species of the genus Rubus, R. moluccanus…

When I first arrived in Far North Queensland, one of the first native Syzygiums I encountered was the Fibrous Satinash. I had seen it at Cattana Wetlands, where I frequented in my free time. "Fibrous Satinash" really is a poor choice of a name for this beautiful native satinash (Syzygium fibrosum). The flowers are showy, and are borne in the leaf axils.

Probably few people would notice, but this little non-native annual herb must be one of the most common members of the carrot family in the Wet Tropics. Now that I am sensitized to its threadlike green leaves and and small umbels of spherical flowers, I see it often in open field or near urban dwellings. Depending on whether it is growing in drier or wetter conditions, the plant can also vary in height and appearance (shorter in dry places, lengthier in moister places).

Delving into the Syzygiums is one of my favourite learning activities as a botanist. There is a strange satisfaction learning about them one by one, and unravelling their individual quirks. The small tree, Syzygium apodophyllum is another one of the many species of Syzygium in the Wet Tropics region, and an endemic of Queensland. At the moment, I have only gotten to know one specific individual at the Cairns Botanical gardens near the Gondwanan collection.

Let me put it straight to you. Few families do vines like the great Fabaceae. If you think that vines are dainty or feeble little things, it's time to change your perspective. Come to the tropics to experience the power and majesty of true vines. And vines from the great Fabaceae family are truly some of the most magnificent I have seen.

One of the most striking botanical phenomenon in the tropical rainforest is cauliflory, in other words the bearing of flowers or fruits on the main trunks of a tree. Cauliflory does not happen with every species of tree, but it is very conspicuous, and occurs in members from diverse families, including the soursop family (Annonaceae), the Hibiscus family (Malvaceae), the Mahogany family (Meliaceae) and the Lychee family (Sapindaceae), among various others.

How are the tropical and temperate floras linked? I spent a good part of my time as a botanist thinking about this. I was born in the tropics, and weaned on a tropical flora. There in the tropics, there is so much variety - enough for lifetimes of study. I thought I would stay there forever, exploring the great southeast Asian tropical flora.

During the new year, let's treat ourselves to some eye candy. Join me in appreciating the picture perfect Dendrobium farmeri

🌼 The Native Gardenia: A Star of the Australian Savanna 🌞 Meet Larsenaikia ochreata, the maverick of the Rubiaceae family that thrives under the sweltering sun! Discover its beauty, fragrance, and charm in my latest blog post, complete with a haiku tribute. 📖✨ 👉 Read the full post here #NativeGardenia #AustralianFlora #TropicalSavanna #Botany #NatureBlog

In 2019 while doing fieldwork with a group of directed research students in an old Acacia-dominated secondary forest within the Centre for Rainforest Studies property, we found a dainty little pendulous and epiphytic orchid in the understorey of the forest. I love the way the adventitious roots clasp the trunk of the host tree, and how the stem seems to stretch away from the host trunk as if to reach for more light.

As the warm sun bathes the lush tropical landscapes, many might overlook a humble herb that has been revered for centuries—Centella asiatica, commonly known as gotu kola. This resilient plant, with its small, rounded to kidney-shaped leaves and delicate white flowers. I like it's Portuguese name, Pé-de-Cavalo (literally - foot of horse), which seems like an accurate description of the shape of it's leaves.

Among the native Syzygiums, there are a number of them that have very strongly flanged (or winged) twigs, making them rather distinctive at first glance, and the Tinkling Satinash (Syzygium alatoramulum) is one of those. Indeed, the specific epithet "alatoramulum" refers specifically to this (from Latin: alatus meaning "winged" and ramulus meaning "small branch"). The "wings" on the twigs are so conspicuous that they can easily be spotted even when looking up from underneath.

Why are there so many newly formed aerosol particles in the upper troposphere over tropical regions such as the Amazon? Tropical forests play an important role in global climate regulation. However, t...

A new study suggests that the insects rely on the sounds made by distressed vegetation to guide important reproductive choices.