(and sometimes the beast!)

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4.4.15

LIFE'S A BEACH AND THEN YOU SIGH....


One of my favourite trees is the coastal pandanus also known as Australian screw pine which is prolific throughout the Sunshine Coast. They certainly add a bit of interest to photos that might otherwise be a little bland.
Their interesting shapes and the bizarre look of the root system are often cause for comment. 
The "nuts" or fruit start out green and end up bright yellow to dark orange and fall apart littering the ground with chunks of fruit.  I am sure that some time in the distant past I prised one piece open, eventually, and found a small kernel of white inside which tasted a bit like coconut but it was too hard to find which may explain why I never bothered again.  
I have to confess, though, that today was the first time I had seen one in flower!  In fact, I had never given a thought to whether they flowered. There was only the one flower to be seen on the many trees I saw growing at Point Cartwright today so I'm thinking they are not too common or I am uncommonly unobservant.
This is a close up of the flower, not unlike that of an ordinary palm I guess, but in miniature.  Just thought it was interesting enough to share.



6 comments:

  1. Well done with the photos Sandy, they look great! I don't recall seeing a flower on them before either. It's so pretty! ♥

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    1. Thanks Pam. I couldn't get too close but would love to go see if it changes.

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  2. Love the angle at which the pandanus are growing in the first pic. They have prolific roots too.
    Does that lovely flower have a perfume? Its structure kind of reminds me of a delicate coral :D)

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    1. Yes some fierce winds probably influenced the way those grew when they were young. Very rocky up there too so not a lot of soil. I didn't smell anything but wasn't really close enough to sniff it, being so high up. It's very fragile looking. Thanks for visiting Susan.

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  3. Your photos make me realize how wonderful and diverse nature is in Australia.

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  4. It certainly is that, Badger. Always something interesting to see. Thanks for visiting.

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