Damon Mcknight
Australian rainforests are home to a diverse range of plant species, with the tropical rainforests of North-Eastern Queensland being the richest area for plant diversity in the country. These rainforests feature a mix of evergreen and semi-deciduous trees, with a variety of plant types found at different altitudes and soil types. Lowland rainforests, for example, typically contain a greater variety of plants, including woody vines, fan palms, epiphytic ferns, and strangler figs. Queensland's rainforests also showcase the unique characteristics of different plant species, such as the glossy dark green foliage and fragrant flowers of Hymenosporum flavum and the adaptable nature of Atherton Oak, which can be grown as an indoor plant. The Midyim or midgenberry shrub, with its attractive pinkish new growth and tasty fruits, is another example of the diverse flora found in Australian rainforests.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of species | At least 1160 species of higher plants in north-eastern Queensland rainforests |
| Leaf type | Low microphyll (one vascular bundle and no complex network of veins) |
| Leaf size | Varies, but generally decreases with higher altitude |
| Leaf colour | Varied |
| Leaf arrangement | Varied |
| Diversity | Most diverse land-based ecosystem on earth |
| Location | Scattered along Australia's east coast, in western Tasmania, and small pockets across northern Australia |
| Tree layers | 2 layers in dry rainforest, fewer layers in upland forests on less fertile soils |
| Plant types | Woody vines, fan palms, epiphytic ferns, strangler figs, buttressing, tree ferns, climbing vines, mosses, orchids, ground ferns, lichen-covered tree trunks, shrubs, thorny or spiny shrubs, ground covers, vines, bottle trees, hoop pine, lace-bark tree, Crow's ash, Atherton Oak, lemon myrtle, Helmholtzia, Midyim or midgenberry, Hymenosporum flavum |
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What You'll Learn
Evergreen trees
The Corymbia ficifolia, formerly known as Eucalyptus ficifolia, is a widely cultivated evergreen tree in Australia. It is a red-flowering gum tree that can grow to a height of 15 metres or more and a width of two to five metres. It is suited for temperate climates with low summer humidity and rainfall but can also be grown in subtropical areas in sunny, well-drained positions.
The Blueberry Ash, also known as the native quandong, is a rainforest tree with evergreen foliage and beautiful bronze-coloured new growth. It grows to a height of four to five metres and a width of three metres, making it ideal for smaller gardens. In spring, it produces a magnificent display of pale pink, bell-shaped flowers, followed by sweet-scented blueberries. It is low maintenance, highly disease-resistant, and pest-resistant.
Another small evergreen tree is the Elaeocarpus reticulatus 'Green Dream', a native Australian tree with dense foliage and pale pink and white flowers and blue berries. It grows to a height of three metres and a width of two metres, making it perfect for shorter growing spaces.
Some other examples of evergreen trees in Australia include the Cape Chestnut, which produces a showy display of pink and white flowers in late spring, and various native gum trees with weeping lemon-scented foliage and creamy white flowers. These trees are smaller, more compact versions of the Corymbia citriodora, making them perfect for residential use.
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Epiphytic plants
There are over 30,000 epiphytes worldwide, with many more uncatalogued species. Orchids, for example, are epiphytes that have adapted well to life in the canopy. They have roots with a large surface area, allowing for the rapid absorption of nutrients and water. Their secondary stems can store water, enabling the plant to withstand periods of drought. Orchids also produce tiny seeds that can be easily dispersed by the wind.
Tank bromeliads are another example of epiphytic plants. Their stiff, upturned leaves can hold over two gallons (8 liters) of water, providing a drinking supply for canopy animals and creating a habitat for breeding and shelter. The water catchments of tank bromeliads also serve as nurseries for poison-arrow frog tadpoles, which feed on the developing insect larvae in the catchment.
Some epiphytic plants, such as the elkhorn and staghorn ferns, do not require soil to survive. They can grow on various surfaces, including wooden boards, tree trunks, and even plastic. These ferns have wide, flat, dry, and papery "nest" leaves that lie flat against the bark of the host tree. Over time, they multiply and spread outwards, reaching impressive sizes.
Hoya, a native Australian epiphyte, is a small, vigorous climbing vine with large, leathery, succulent foliage. It produces bunches of sweetly scented flowers that attract pollinators with heavy nectar. Hoya is commonly grown outdoors in tropical to subtropical climates and is also popular as an indoor plant.
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Ferns
The King Fern (Angiopteris evecta) is one of the largest and most ancient ferns in the world. It has been a part of the Australian landscape for 300 million years but is now only found in the rainforests of Queensland, with a small population in north-eastern Arnhem Land, NT, and a single plant discovered in Northern NSW. The fronds of the King Fern can reach as much as 5m (16.5 feet) in length, and it can be seen along the road to Cape Tribulation and in the Palmerston section of Wooroonooran National Park.
The Scaly Tree Fern (Cyathea cooperi) is another attractive and characteristic tree fern species found in the Wet Tropics. It has a narrow trunk covered with node scars (scales) and a horizontal crown of feathery fronds that can reach up to 12m (40 feet) wide and tall. This species can also be found in forests further down the east coast of Australia.
The Tassel Fern is a primitive-looking fern with two very different forms. One is a ground-creeping version, sometimes called the Pine Tree Fern (Lycopodiella cernua), which resembles miniature pine trees only 25cm (10 inches) tall. It spreads along the ground and sends up vertical stems, and can be seen on display at the Flecker Botanic Gardens in Cairns. The other form is an epiphytic version that grows on top of another plant but is not parasitic, often grown as a hanging plant.
Other fern species found in Australian rainforests include the Australian Jungle Fern, with the Pteris umbrosa species being common in cultivation, and the Ginger Fern (Hardy Rabbit's Foot Fern), which is an example of a plant that has adapted to survive in a changing climate.
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Mosses
The study of mosses in Australia, or bryology, has a long history dating back to the late 1700s. Some of the earliest collections of Australian mosses were made by J.-J.H. de Labillardière during the D’Entrecasteaux expedition of 1791-1794. Robert Brown, a renowned botanist, also contributed significantly to the knowledge of Australian moss species in the early 1800s.
Over time, local botanists and naturalists, including amateur enthusiasts and professionals from various fields, played a crucial role in documenting and studying Australian mosses. Their efforts resulted in the publication of field guides and books, such as "Mosses and Liverworts of Rainforest in Tasmania and South-eastern Australia" by Jarman and Fuhrer in 1995, which helped increase the understanding and appreciation of moss diversity and distribution in Australia.
Today, Australia's rainforests are known for their high endemism, meaning many of the moss species found there are unique to the region. The Wet Tropics region of north-eastern Queensland, in particular, boasts a rich diversity of plant species, with at least 1160 species recorded and new species being discovered regularly.
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Shrubs
Australian rainforests are known for their rich biodiversity, with at least 1160 species of higher plants recorded in the north-eastern Queensland rainforests alone. The region is also recognised for its high endemism, meaning many species are found nowhere else.
One example of a shrub that is native to the Australian rainforest is the lemon myrtle, which is prized for its richly aromatic leaves that have a variety of culinary uses. Lemon myrtle prefers well-drained soil and an absence of heavy frost. Another example is the midgenberry (Austromyrtus dulcis, Austromyrtus tenuifolia), which is a small shrub growing to no more than a metre in height and width. It produces attractive pinkish new growth that matures into fern-like foliage, as well as dainty white flowers in spring and summer. The fruits that follow are a creamy purple and white colour and are known to be tasty.
Some shrubs can also act as ground cover, providing a dense layer of vegetation that helps to retain moisture and prevent soil erosion. These ground-cover shrubs can grow to a maximum height of 1 metre and are often used in landscaping to create a natural, low-maintenance garden.
In addition to their ecological and aesthetic value, shrubs also have cultural significance for the indigenous people of Australia, who have used them for various purposes such as medicine, tools, and ceremonial practices.
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Frequently asked questions
Some plants that grow in Australian rainforests include woody vines, fan palms, epiphytic ferns, strangler figs, bottle trees, hoop pines, and crow's ash.
The majority of plant species in Australian rainforests are evergreen, meaning they have leaves all year round. There is also a great variation in leaf size, shape, type, and colour.
Lowland rainforests typically contain a greater variety of plants, including woody vines, fan palms, epiphytic ferns, and strangler figs. Upland forests on more fertile soils are more complex, with more tree layers and species, buttressing, tree ferns, climbing vines, and mosses.
Rainforests are scattered along Australia's east coast, in western Tasmania, and small pockets across northern Australia from Cape York to the Kimberley. Most of Australia's rainforest—over 1 million hectares—is in Queensland.
The tropical rainforests of north-eastern Queensland are the richest area of Australia for plant diversity, with at least 1160 species of higher plants recorded and new species being named every year. The region is also known for its high endemism, meaning many of the species are found nowhere else.
