Jungle Bark Art

Just a few yards on and suddenly there was a different kind of jungle, with these gigantic paperbark trees stretching up and up to shove themselves above the canopy. I think this is the dominant one called Weeping Paperbark. Melaleuca leucadendra. Like an even wilder abstract of Picasso’s 'Weeping Woman' it’s chaotic layering seems to be on the verge of falling apart .

One enormous one that had fallen down close by was completely hollow inside as well but that hadn’t seemed to stop it growing for 100 years or more. It appears that in adapting to the still boggy conditions, if the roots get too wet, it can grow fibrous air breathing roots, which shrivel up when it dries out again.

 Lots of other plants try to hitch a ride on them and many are covered in strangler figs, native hibiscus and umbrella plant, also fighting for light, although the understory is fairly sparse and quite easy to walk through.  Aboriginals have many traditional uses for paperbarks - If only there was a similar sort of tree at Whinlatter – think of all the Art projects you could do with the kids!