Plants – Eucalypt Forest

These forests are dominated by taller Eucalypt and related species, where the crowns of the trees almost meet allowing light to penetrate to the understory species. An example is the beginning of the Great Walk behind the North Shore Tourist Park, before you reach the wallum heathlands.

Acacia disparrima Hickory Wattle

• This in one of several wattles commonly found around the village.
• Its foliage is noticeably green-grey, and the leaves are narrower than Acacia leiocalyyx, Lamb’s Tail wattle.
• The leaf veins never cross.
• The flowers are bright yellow spikes, and the fruit are broad pods, transversely veined, often twisted.

Alphitonia excelsa Red Ash, Soap Tree

• Red Ash is a medium to large tree with leaves that are dark green above but almost white underneath.
• The pods ripen from green to black.
• Leaves are chewed to relieve an upset stomach, and leaves and bark as a soap and to stun fish.

Cymbidium  madidum Giant Boat-lip Orchid

• This orchid grows in tree hollows and old stumps in Eucalypt forests.
• This specimen came from the Great Walk behind the North Shore Hotel.

Dianella caerulea   Blueberry Flax Lily

• There are four Dianella species in the area. Thus one is tall and carries its flowers erect and conspicuously above the foliage, unlike Dianella congesta of the seafront.
• The edges of the leaves are finely serrated and have a prominent midrib.
• Leaf bases are clasping.
• It produces blue berries in clusters.

Dodonaea triquetra Hop Bush

• Hop Bush is a bush or small tree that catches the eye because the female flowers (fruit) resemble hops used for brewing.
• The ‘hops’ may be green/yellow or purple.
• There are some on the Great Walk near where it meets the western fire trail at Teewah.

Duboisia myoporoides Corkwood

• Corkwood (Duboisia) is a shrub or small tree that stands out because of its distinctive thick corky bark.
• It bears white starry flowers in winter and spring.
• Duboisia is a source of the drug hyoscine which has a several uses in medicine, including eye dilation and was grown commercially in the central Burnett region.

Elaeocarpus reticulatus Blueberry Ash

• Blueberry Ash is a shrub or small tree with very distinctive features. In spring and early summer, it produces creamy white flowers with elegant fringes, then bright blue berries.
• As the leaves senesce, they turn a characteristic rusty brown colour that catches the eye and aids identification.

Eucalyptus racemosa Scribbly Gum

• This large tree is one of the features of the Eucalypt forests and wallum wetlands around Teewah.
• The scribbles are caused by larvae of the Scribbly Gum Moth (Genus Ogmographtis) that tunnels  under last year’s bark. It also attacks other smooth_barked Eucalypts.
• The rusty red bark staining is also characteristic.

Eustrephus latifolius Wombat Berry

• Wombat Berry is noticed because of the orange berries that are borne along the vines that climb over other plants.
• The leaves are narrow and pointed, reminiscent of bamboo leaves.

Hibiscus sp.  Native Hibiscus

• This Hibiscus is one of several native Hibiscus in the area, and provides a splash of colour in forest areas.

Persoonia virgata Geebung

• It is recognised from its yellow tubular flowers that flex open at the tips and its berries that turn purple/black when ripe.

Imperata cylindrica Blady Grass

• As the name suggests, Blady Grass has sharp leaves that can cut hands.
• Although it can be a weed in gardens, it is a native grass that does particularly well in poor sandy soils.
• The feathery flowers are like large white feathers.

Psychotria loniceroides Hairy Psychotria

• This little shrub is noticeable because it has white flesh berries and rusty hairy leaves and stems.

Pomax umbellata Pomax

• Pomax is a small herb or shrub that is seen along the firetrails at Teewah and is conspicuous because of the umbrella-shaped structure of the flowers.

Pittosporum revolutum Forest Pittosporum

• It’s the orange-red sticky seed masses that emerge from yellow-green fruits that make this Forest Pittosporum stand out.
• This specimen came from the Great Walk about half a km from the start near the North Shore Hotel.