Rare and Threatened Plants identified by Bob Jago, Environmental Officer, Cairns Regional Council, on Lot 14 Daly Road, RP 740684 (property # 10); evidence of the property’s use by the endangered Southern Cassowary and examples of other interesting plants on the property.

Beilschmiedia castrisinensis, A ‘walnut’ first described from Chinacamp (Daintree National Park) now known from between Bloomfield to Daintree Rivers only. Tree to 30 m usually buttressed, fruit a drupe to 60mm wide, eaten by cassowaries. Scattered specimens found on the property and numbers of large ripe fruit (see left). Most fruit on Lot 14 found to have flesh gnawed, presumably by rodent.

Cleistanthus myrianthus Occurs Cooktown to Daintree. Bob reports the species is locally common on Lot 14. Tree or shrub to 12 m may be buttressed. Fruit a capsule to 14 mm wide.

Endiandra microneura, Noah’s Walnut. Tree to 30 m buttressed. Fruit a drupe, orange to 78 mm long and eaten by cassowaries. Occurs McDowall range south to Mossman. Photo from fruit found on Daly Rd Lot 14 from where Bob reports numerous specimens.

Freycinetia percostata, Veiny Climbing-Pandan Vine climber with adventitious roots, leaves to 800 mm, a multiple fruit, red segments on heads to 300 mm length. Rainforests and swampy forests from Heathlands NP to Daintree. Bob found it to be locally common in Lot 14, Daly Rd.

Haplostichanthus ramiflorus, (prev. Haplostichanthus sp. (Cooper Creek) Occurs Rainforests from Cedar bay NP south to Mossman. Bob found scattered specimens on Lot 14. A shrub to 3 m having an orange berry to 14 mm wide.

Randia audasii, Daintree gardenia. Occurs Cooktown to near Atherton, 0-600 m. Flowers, white, fragrant, to 65 mm diameter. Bob found scattered specimens on Lot 14. Shrub or small tree to 8 m. Fruit a fleshy drupe, orange, shiny to 30×35 long with numerous small seeds to 4 mm long.

Rhodomyrtus effuse. Occurs from Bloomfield River to Julatten. Bob found scattered specimens on Lot 14. A shrub to 6 m. Fruits white, hairy to 14 mm long.

Rourea brachyandra, Water Vine A vine, stem diameter to 8 cm. fruit a follicle to 8 mm wide by 20 mm long. Bunches of white fragrant flowers, diam. of each to 10 mm. New leaves purplish copper colour. Photo of plant on Daly Rd showing colourful new leaves. Bob found scattered specimens on Lot 14.

Three Other Cassowary Food Plants Found

Acmena graveolens, Cassowary Satinash. Rainforests Cape tribulation to Tully. Tree to 35 m, buttressed, flying buttress may be present. Fruit pink to 60 x 60 mm, eaten by Cassowaries.

Several large specimens, freshly fallen fruit on ground and also several seedlings showing pink new leaves were found on Lot 14 (see right).

Most fruit on Lot 14 was found to have flesh gnawed, presumably by rodents.

Cryptocarya oblata, Tarzali Silkwood. Occurs from Cooktown to Tully, 0 to 1300 m. Tree to 35 m buttressed. Fruit to 44 x 53, orange red but colour quickly fades as rot soon commences, eaten by Cassowaries, Musky Rat Kangeroos and rodents. Fruit found on Lot 14 and also in a Cassowary dropping found on the property.

Doryphora aromatica, Scented or Northern Grey Sassafras. Tree to 40 m may be buttressed, at least one large specimen on the property.

Elaeocarpus bancroftii, Kuranda Quandong. Tree to 30 m buttressed, at least one large specimen on the property. E. grandis Silver Quandong plentiful on the property and E. grahamii also present. All eaten by Cassowries with the latter two being plentiful in the cassowary droppings found on the property. E. bancroftii fruits earlier in the year and is widely eaten by Cassowaries when there are relatively few other species fruiting and often make up the majority of remains found in their droppings during February – March.

More Information

• Daintree Buyback & Protect Forever Project
• Cow Bay Map of Properties Saved
• Cape Tribulation Map of Properties Saved
• Forest Creek Map of Properties Saved
• Daintree Critical Cassowary Habitat
• Daintree Buyback & Protect Forever FAQ’s