A Riverbed Tributary and The Biggest Estate on Earth
06.01.2025 Plant profiling with Daniel Souza
I would say I am a human who bases his knowledge and understanding on equal parts feeling, energy, and science. A slight tangent to begin with, but I feel it is well placed to commence our journey to the land of the Weeping Callistemon.
For lack of other rational explanation, we can assume our universe started with a big bang–or maybe that episode of Rick and Morty makes more sense to you, where Morty discovers Rick’s micro-verse–but any who. Since the point of creation there has been an ultimate and chaotic, ongoing struggle for balance. This is an experience shared most dramatically by all the living things on our planet, Earth.
To summarise the dynamic concept of balance, I note that all living things create patterns amongst the chaos, with a desired outcome of finding a mate for reproduction. Organisms reproduce and proliferate when environmental conditions are favourable, the favourable conditions required for reproduction are incredibly specific, variable, and fragile. Reproduction promotes the evolution of characteristics that enable organisms to adapt to their ever-changing environments. These inherited genetic traits enable organisms to both thrive and survive.
The variability in environmental conditions throughout our planet means that its daily experience encourages interactions between many different organisms. Some with elaborate tails that can mimic the sound of chainsaws, some with ornately camouflaged skin that look like seaweed, or some that are covered in spines and have a four-headed penis. All existing in balance with one another.
This balance endures on the ability of these organisms to co-exist without any one dominating any environment. This shared experience and co-existence is known as symbiosis. The four main symbiotic relationships experienced on Earth are: mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, and competition.
To quickly define each; mutualism is organisms of different species benefiting from shared interactions. Commensalism is one organism benefiting from association whilst not harming the other. Parasitism is when an organism benefits at the expense of another, and competition signifies the contest between organisms for resources and vitality.
Unfortunately for us, the patterns created by our human existence coincide with the most incredibly harmful effect on the health of our planet. Existing, as such, as the most prominent example of an unnatural disruption to the balance.
Here lies the musings for this ode.
The Weeping Callistemon
A favoured experience of mine is to arrive at a destination in the comfort of night fall. The tantalising revelations of daybreak deliver the eagerly awaited moods of the special places we choose to visit.
A recent quest for antique furnishings led the Cat and I on a journey to the land of The Weeping Callistemon. Here on the Mann river, a tributary of the Clarence river, exists an entire and seemingly endless grove of gnarled, twisted and leaning Callistemon viminalis. This incredible landscape provides excellent examples of symbiosis and balance.
The masses of Callistemon viminalis that dominate the riparian zones of the Mann, provide a home for a rich collection of other living organisms. The interactions between these organisms are essential for the continued function of the ecosystem. Where one takes, another gives. Where one eats, another escapes. Where one dies, another is born. In this ecosystem, balance is continuously achieved. The dominance of the Callistemon species is an indication of the perfect environmental conditions for this organism to reproduce in abundance.
Whilst the Callistemon continue to proliferate and dominate the canopy, life beneath the cover is evidence of the natural balance (homeostasis) of the Earth. As mentioned earlier, there are a significant number of organisms that share the space with these incredible trees. The most visually significant of these, are the epiphytic mosses that dominate the understorey.
There is a certain mood that is created by these epiphytic creatures, that makes this place wonderfully unique. A breathing sea of deep green controls the climate beneath the wise weeping viminalis. The vibrant non-vascular vessels that call the fibrous bark home, facilitate notions of clarity and slowness. Moss are non-flowering plants which produce spores and don’t have true roots. The moss grows on the branches of the trees where humidity and moisture levels are highest.
The abundant existence of epiphytic moss amongst the Callistemon exemplifies symbiosis. It brings to me notions of the holistic nature and care for Country, once upon a time employed by the indigenous peoples of Australia. The book The Biggest Estate on Earth, by Bill Gammage came to mind as I camped in this grove. This book is, at its most basic, a collation of evidence on the condition and treatment of Country, pre and post the year 1788 (when Englishmen landed on its shores).
Here a most fitting excerpt from the book:
“The child is taught from a holistic point of view, and the example used is a tree. He/She is taught everything there is to know about the existence of that tree. When it blooms, the insects that live in its branches and bark, the birds and animals that use that type of tree only for food and shelter, what certain parts of the tree can be used (food or healing). Then he or she is taught about the surrounding vegetation, landscape, geology, and climate. This method teaches the child about symbiosis, and how significant the relationship of one thing is to another, so as to gain a complete understanding of each of the organisms within the whole picture.”
I believe the Earth naturally gives and takes, in equal parts. The land of the Callistemon, gives and takes, in equal parts. The indigenous peoples of this country, the oldest living civilisation on Earth, give and take, in equal parts.
I write this at a time, where the balance of both my personal and natural surroundings are being questioned and shaken. How can we live as humans, together on this earth, without understanding, compassion and equality? How can we demand ownership of time, and enforce conceptions of possession upon other living beings and organisms, when we are all equal?
As organisms, we are just here, existing in unison, sharing where necessary and acting with patience as precedence. The last few millennia have seen humanity taking far more from our mother than we have been giving. She answers our questions with vigour, yet we do not respond with compassion and understanding. The balance is being disrupted and yet, we continue to act without empathy.
Seemingly, we are at an infraction point in our fragile existence. Unfortunately, unlike my personal balance that will repair over time, the future generations of creatures on this Earth will not be so lucky. Time, as it seems, will only bring more devastation if we do not act as the organisms do in the Land of the Callistemon or like the Indigenous peoples of Australia. Whilst we can continue to dominate the ecosystems around us, we must learn to share, and act with empathy, regenerating at every possible moment.
What are you doing to help?
This isn’t a call to action, more so a personal reflection on the current ecosystem that I call my life. Can we be more compassionate. Can we show more empathy. Can we buy local. Can we use reusable eating equipment. Can we support our organic farmers. Can we use less. Can we buy less.
Can we maybe just stop for a second, and think about how we are personally impacting our mother, our giver of all life. If we did so, I’d like to think that the outcome would be spectacular.
So, thank you to the considerate Callistemon of the Mann river, you’ve been a wonderful teacher and example of slow and balanced living. I hope we can turn things around.
Plant Profile
Callistemon viminalis
Weeping Bottlebrush
Family: Myrtaceae
Width: Up to 5 m
Height: Up to 10 m
Habit: Small tree with gnarled and twisted trunk
Characteristics
A small tree with lanceolate to elliptical shaped leaves. Some larger specimens have been recorded close to water courses at 18m. Flowers emerge as spikes with prominent red stamens. Flowering profusely from spring to autumn but known to bear a small collection of flowers throughout the year. Fruit is a small woody capsule which sustains connection to stems for several years after flowering. Its slender and gnarled trunk is known for its tolerance of varying conditions, providing protection through both drought and water logging.
Habitat
Naturally occurring on the east coast of Australia from Cape York to the Mid North Coast. Prominently featuring along watercourses on coastal plains, most specifically in sandstone or granite areas.
Horticultural Importance
Incredibly adapt to cultivation, with several differing forms available for a myriad of horticultural applications. Useful for rehabilitation of riparian zones, protecting stream banks against erosion, slowing the flow of water, provides improved soil binding capacity and as habitat for endemic fauna.
The sweet and profuse flower spikes produce nectar that can be used to create a sweet beverage or sucked upon for enjoyment.
Callistemon viminalis
Weeping Bottlebrush
Family: Myrtaceae
Width: Up to 5 m
Height: Up to 10 m
Habit: Small tree with gnarled and twisted trunk
Characteristics
A small tree with lanceolate to elliptical shaped leaves. Some larger specimens have been recorded close to water courses at 18m. Flowers emerge as spikes with prominent red stamens. Flowering profusely from spring to autumn but known to bear a small collection of flowers throughout the year. Fruit is a small woody capsule which sustains connection to stems for several years after flowering. Its slender and gnarled trunk is known for its tolerance of varying conditions, providing protection through both drought and water logging.
Habitat
Naturally occurring on the east coast of Australia from Cape York to the Mid North Coast. Prominently featuring along watercourses on coastal plains, most specifically in sandstone or granite areas.
Horticultural Importance
Incredibly adapt to cultivation, with several differing forms available for a myriad of horticultural applications. Useful for rehabilitation of riparian zones, protecting stream banks against erosion, slowing the flow of water, provides improved soil binding capacity and as habitat for endemic fauna.
The sweet and profuse flower spikes produce nectar that can be used to create a sweet beverage or sucked upon for enjoyment.
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