The humble friends that brought me back to Earth
14.07.2024        Plant Profiling with Daniel Souza


In a world ruled by technology, I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be able to sustain my habits of consumption, in what is colloquially known as ‘The Great Outdoors’.

I have spent many-a-day plotting away in the elements, both in the arduous rays of the sun and the harrowing droplets of a rainstorm. My days are filled with fresh air, tranquillity, presence and hard yakka. They tend to go a little like this:

Hands in some dirt,
nostrils in a flower. 
Itchy don’t scratchy, 
crawly don’t slappy.

No matter the language I choose to convey the scintillating sensations of my occupation, its true essence can only be interpreted by personally experiencing a day’s work in nature. This experience is boundless. Boundless, as there is beauty in every direction. The type of beauty that you can only begin to understand when you really pay attention to the minute details. 

If you are reading this, please understand that I am not saying this field of work is all divinity and sunshine, it comes with its own specific set of trials and tribulations. But hey, it’s pretty darn excellent. You could try it, and who knows, you might fall in love.

Ode Number Two-- Broad-Leaved Paperbark

Imagine one of those non-stop days where you are in and out of the car from six am. Driving to one place, then another, followed by another, and before you really have a chance to stop and take a breath, it’s one o’clock in the afternoon. 

At this point, forgetting the cuppa joe on the kitchen bench whilst rushing out the door to make it to work on time, is really coming back to haunt you. Although, you should be proud. Your concerted efforts to get to work early have not gone unnoticed by your clients, whom on this day vocalised their appreciation for your punctuality.

Hunger has now gone to the wayside as you arrive into town for your lunch break. The choice between walking the village thoroughfare to pick up another coffee, or sun basking in a wondrous pocket of the local park is a no-brainer.

Last night’s Bolognese in tow, the thoughts of potentially running into some associates, their dogs, and your old flame are behind you. Your weary feet lead you to what seems to be a rudimentary corner, which ticks all the boxes:

No one around
bench to sit on
full sun exposure 
surrounded by trees

As you take off your shoes you realise how internally noisy the morning’s tasks have made you. Hold on a minute, this isn’t just any corner. This might just be the most perfect corner in the world. 

   

You place your things down and lay to rest on the grass. Several welcoming paperbark trees generously sway overhead whilst you nestle into the turf beneath. They swiftly become the main point of your fascination, as the inflorescences begin to reveal themselves in the cool breeze. Some deep breaths follow, peace. They say...

In this moment, an unidentifiable liquid drips wickedly from a branch above, landing directly next to your left eyeball. Its downward force reverberates through the muscles retaining your orbital and nasal cavities. The tickle makes you laugh and you realise the incredible magic of the moment. Imagine it had gone into your eye haha!

In this encounter with the decently sized non-descript pollen, nectar, bird poop or whatever the hell dropped next to my eyeball, I came to the realisation that the true beauty of life is in the subtleties. The beauty of the feeling. The beauty of those non-descript moments where expectations are null and void and the sensations of just being are profound.

So here, as an ode to the transmutation-inducing Melaleuca specimens of Bangalow Heritage Park, I would suggest: take your feelings and go sit them under a corner of your local. 
Plant Profile
Melaleuca quinquenervia/ Broad-Leaved Paperbark
Family: Myrtaceae
Width: 3-8 m
Height: 4-25 m
Trunk: Slender trunk to 1m

Characteristics
Medium sized tree with a compact crown. Distinctively thick, spongy and rough bark, peeling readily in large sheets. Leathery leaves are lanceolate in shape, arranged alternately with five conspicuous longitudinal veins. Flowers are white / cream in colour with 5 small lobes and numerous long protruding stamens. Fruits are cup-shaped woody capsules and can persist on branchlets for up to a year.

Habitat
A coastal species, common along stream banks and swamp margins in woodlands and heaths from Botany Bay to Cape York.

Horticultural Importance
Wide variety of medicinal and cooking uses for First Nations people. Used for revegetation in waterlogged soils. Attracts a wide range of fauna due to abundant nectar in the flowers.