By Hans Van Veluwen

You can't think of Tropical Rainforest and think of any one type of forest...that's what makes Tropical Rainforests so complex...it is actually made up of a series of micro environments.

Every pocket of tropical Rainforest you drive through or past is at a point of regeneration since the last Cyclone that came through the area. 

Cyclones stimulate regrowth, Cyclones cull out the older trees, create gaps in the Rainforest for new growth and most importantly dumps a whole load of shredded vegetable matter onto the forest floor which breaks down to form an important source of nutrients for the forest and down stream mangrove and marine habitats.  In intact Tropical rainforest you basically have five different layers of vegetation. 

You have  the main canopy, anything that grows above this layer is an emergent species...Kauri Pines would be a good example of this, below the main canopy emerging rainforest and sun tender species like the Fan Palms form yet another layer.  Closer to the ground you will find the understorey plants, ferns and others like miniature Palm Species. 

Walking Stick Palms (Linnospadix spp) is such an understorey species.  Generally speaking anything that flowers and fruits in the understorey is not an emerging rainforest tree but probably a fully grown plant. The Walking Stick Palm derives it's common name from another much larger species that occurs mainly in upland rainforests which was at one time used to make walking sticks...the root ball turned into a handle or knob.  The smaller species we have in our lowland rainforests haven't been seriously introduced into mainstream garden culture yet but is a plant with great potential as an indoor plant...attractive Parlour Palm shaped fronds, small and compact..self cleaning...tolerates low levels of light...colourful attractive strands of edible fruits...and it thrives on neglect...making it an ideal indoor plant.

It is also the only edible palm genus/species native to this country, the colourful fruit surrounding the seed is sweet and nutritious.  The other Palm that yields a delicious nut is the Coconut, of course, but we are still not sure if the Coconut is a native species.

       Important. A lot has been said about the foods the Aboriginal people used to eat prior to European occupation of this country over the last decade or two and they call it Bush Tucker, you have may have seen a film or two about it by now.  Just because Aboriginal people ate certain vegetable matter from the bush and the rainforests doesn't necessarily mean it's fit for European or Asian metabolisms at all.  You have to remember that the Aboriginals of Australia evolved with their foods. 

They could metabolise slight toxins or poisons present in much of this plant material that would make us awfully ill.  Most of what you see growing around you in the tropical rainforests is poisonous or toxic to some degree so don't  eat anything you are not actually sure of.  When I say poisonous it doesn't mean eating it will kill you outright but it will make you visit the wash room more frequently then you normally do.

About Hans Van Veluwen


Hans Van Veluwen is a Wilderness Guide who has been conducting trekking expeditions and Guided Tours/ Safaris in Far North Queensland for 31 years. A horticulturist who found out 30 years ago that it was a lot easier talking about plants for a living than physically growing them. He is Queensland's leading Stereophotographer, who has published 3D books about this wonderful part of the world.

 

Nowadays freelancing for various reputable tour companies as well as offering private guiding services to those people that want to know all about the ecology and history of the area, presented in a way people can understand and appreciate. He specialises in Rainforest Ecology Interpretation tours and also conducts photography tours for those people that want more than a normal scheduled trip.

For more details visit www.C3D.net.au