Bunya

Two bunya pines at Palmdale Cemetery, Central Coast. Bunyas are native to small parts of Queensland and the 10 or so specimens at Palmdale are imports. They are actually not pines, but belong to the ancient Araucariaceae family, many members of which are now extinct.
Bunyas produce massive cones, weighing up to 10 kg. The seeds are said to be delicious. Bunyas have great significance for Aboriginal people. Traditionally when there were bumper harvests of the cones, every three years or so, gatherings were held in the Bunya Mountains, in Queensland. Hostilities were suspended and people came from hundreds of kms away for festivities and important cultural business.

What were we doing in a cemetery? Well, in these Covid times we try to avoid the crowded service stations on the motorway. I think we can confidently say that this is the first time that we have stopped for a toilet and coffee break in a cemetery!