Imagine Naming Your Child Turpentine 28.05.2024        Plant Profiling with Daniel Souza


The identification of a botanical specimen depends on a multitude of differing factors; its roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits. The language chosen to represent the identification of specimens within the natural world is based on Latin, so to better our ability to correctly identify them, we must develop a basic understanding of the Latin language. So here goes. 

Morphology is the study of the internal construction of words, words can be analysed and broken down into word elements, otherwise known as morphemes. Morphemes are an incredibly important aspect of why Latin was chosen as the language for species identification. The morphemes (parts of words), allow us to correctly identify specimens based on their characteristics (size, shape and structure). 

Specific morphemes are used to group together plants that demonstrate particular characteristics. Two basic and excellent examples of this, are the classification of the Proteaceae family and the Myrtaceae family. Proteaceae: The use of the “Prot” at the beginning of the word has been selected in reference to the specially developed proteoid roots, that over time have become incredibly adapt at extracting Phosphorus from the barren soils of Australia and South Africa. 

Myrtaceae: Myrrh is a type of oil/resin extracted from a small, thorny tree. The use of “Myr” in Myrtaceae refers to the commonly high concentration of oil or resin found in the plants within this family. 

Botanist Carl Linnaeus defined the taxonomic system which we use to identify plants in 1736, and due to its brilliance, it became the primary reference for species identification. The understanding was that if there was one consistent reference language for identification, there would be no misunderstanding of what is. Something that was especially important for fanatical botanists who were scouring the globe in search of prized flora. 

Much of the nature of the trade routes in human history, both past and present, have been based on the procurement of botanical species. Medicinal and culinary physiognomies have dictated the efforts and financial expenditure of many-a-nation. The irresistible urge for the unknown, that comes with the voyage to procure spices, herbs and irresistible flowers is embedded in the human spirit. It is difficult to understand the exceptional efforts required to acquire a spice, that only one hundred and fifty years ago, may have been endemic to a select few rogue mountain sides in the dense jungles of the East Indies, when we are able to stroll down to the shops in our slippers and purchase a plastic casing of such spice for less than the cost of a cuppa joe. 

Those who have taken the time to understand the dynamic nature and existence of plants will tell you that every single specimen is unique– and much like us– all require different care, food, attention and growing environment. The vastness of this natural world in which we are fortunate to inhabit, means that– for those of us who adore flora– there is an endless number of flowers, leaves, tastes, barks, nuts, fruits and oils for which we are able to touch, taste and savour. We keep with us, as deeply ingrained memories, the experience of our first encounter with a wild Jamaican orchid or the taste of sweet nectar dripping from the inflorescences of an endemic Australian Hoya. 

These one of a kind moments, where nothing else is as important as the fresh scents of the flora surrounding us, the chirping of the avian in the tree tops high above, and the knicking and knacking of insects scrambling below our feet; bring with them the uttermost attainable feelings of peace and harmony. I would urge any human, to take themselves as far away from concrete foundations as possible, and place themselves in the natural world in search of any miniscule flower, or lichen growing symbiotically with the silicon of a mature tree. I would hope that in this you would find a moment of peace. 

Let this be an ode to the incredibly special nature of Australian flora and the purpose they have given my life. Here, I present to you the qualities and features of endemic Australian specimens. I do this in the hope of sparking an interest in our native environment and facilitating the deepening of our collective efforts to help preserve what has taken hundreds of millions of years to develop around us. 

Ode Number One-- Red Turpentine 

  “Imagine naming your child Turpentine.”  If you were to name your child Turpentine, you could expect three things.

The first being that they would grow and grow and grow, tall, thick and tremendously talented. My reference of talent here is in regard to the incredible ability in which Turpentine specimens are able to support themselves, growing abundantly on the edges of waterways and creeks in moist eucalypt forests. I am yet to have children, but the idea of them supporting themselves from an early age, gets the knees-currently-supporting-this-frame jumping. 

The second thing you could expect, is the spectacular blossoming of your child into a one-of-a-kind. This individual would stand alone as one of the more identifiable specimens in its local area. Take it as you will, but individuality coupled with self-assurance and excellent posture makes for a stand-out human being. Red Turpentine specimens create hard woody brown capsules fused into arrangement as a globular mass fifteen to twenty millimetres in size. These masses contain the seed stock of the tree and as such carry the genetic characteristics of their predecessors and future offspring. 

Lastly, you could expect your child to be highly robust and able to withstand almost anything life could throw at it. Turpentine trees contain an incredibly high oil content and as such, abundant resin. The resin within this tree allows it to withstand conditions not usually associated with longevity. The oily Turpentine timber is the highest-grade marine timber and displays excellent rot resistant tendencies, it is therefore used in wharfs across Australia. Its dense and robust characteristics give it an increased ability to withstand pests and disease, much like their analogy. Bullies and high school jerks don’t stand a chance against Turpentines strong will-power. 


Plant Profile
Syncarpia glomulifera / Red Turpentine

Family: Myrtaceae 

Width: 8–15 m 

Height: 10-60 m 

Trunk: 1.5 m diameter 

Full-sun / Part Shade

Characteristics
Tall straight tree with a dense crown, and fibrous persistent bark. Ovate, to narrow-ovate, dull green leaves, with closely matted whitish-grey hairs beneath. Creamy-white flowers in spring, followed by spectacular woody brown capsules. 

Habitat
Common in tall Eucalypt forests and rainforests, from the coastal lowlands to the tablelands of Queensland and New South Wales.