Flowers forming - February.
March.
Fruit formed and ripening - September.
The electric blue shades of fallen ripe fruit with knobbly seed inside - October.
The Blue Quandong, Elaeocarpus grandis, was one of the first trees I began recognising in the canopies of the Australian Plant Communities at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt.Coot-tha. Through out the year whole branches of leaves will turn scarlet red and fall to the ground. Finding these red leaves on paths was a good indication of a Blue Quandong being nearby. In February/March small sprigs of cream flowers develop and slowly drop their petals carpeting areas below in confetti like showers. Later in September the fruit/seed has developed and by October creates vibrant drifts of fallen seed on the ground. These large trees have wonderful wide shady canopies and running truss roots. If you have a garden large enough it makes a very striking feature tree all year round.
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I didn't know Blue Quandong produce red leaves! I have a weakness for red colored leaves. The third picture can be a painting, lovely pictures Nicola.
ReplyDeleteI tagged you on my blog, I'm not sure if you know of this little game. Come drop by and see!