Tulip Oaks 
Photo: Courtesy of Damon Ramsey
Tulip Oaks, Argydendron spp. One of the more common rainforest trees are the 'Tulip Oaks', which are of course not at all related to the northern hemisphere Oaks. They have a distinctive ‘rocket ship’ shape to the trunk, with flanged buttress roots and a straight, tall trunk. The roots and trunk have a reddish shade. Every few ‘mast’ years there is an explosion of their distinctive seeds; small round seeds with a single large wing (pictured) that produces a whirled flight when released from the top of the tree. Many do not whirl that far, and the trees are often surrounded by a small carpet of seedlings.
Script: Courtesy of Damon Ramsey BSc.(Zool) Biologist Guide |
