Wonnich , Pauly’s totem tree
Day 22 Lowlands Coastal Reserve, a plant a day, Callistachys lanceolata, 15 November 2020
I chose Wonnich for the plant of the day, as it is flowering at the moment, and is a good tree to use for our citizen science monitoring for wild pollinators week. Its a soothing thing to sit and watch a small group of flowers for 10 minutes and record the pollinators. At the moment, we have loads of hoverflies, who barely seem to touch the flowers. To get the pollen, the insects have to part the keel petals of the flower and mosey on in to the stamens. Hoverflies can do this very quickly.
Both Pauly and I can see Wonnich trees from our separate computer work stations, mine at the eastern side of the house, and Pauly’s at the western side of his office. Pauly has the Wonnich as his totem at the moment, as it is the tree he most relates to, and cares for and enjoys just now.
We use the Noongar name for this tree, Wonnich. Callistachys lanceolata formerly Oxylobium lanceolata being too much of a mouthful.Callistachys lanceolata is the only species in the genus and is endemic to SW of WA. The seed pods are unlike other Fabaceae species and open from the end.
The local Noongar elders tell us this tree is an indicator for where to find water. And sure enough, it does grow on the wetter areas of our block, in the ditch and culvert areas of Tennessee South Road, and in the Lowlands Reserve near the edge of Lake Sadie.
Lowlands Coastal Reserve is on Menang Boodja- country. I acknowledge the Aboriginal People as the First People, whose lands, winds and waters we now share. I pay tribute to their ancient and enduring wisdom and culture, and their contemporary journey that deepens and enriches us as individuals and as a community. I recognise that Aboriginal people, as the traditional custodians of the lands in Western Australia, have a spiritual, social, cultural and economic relationship to nature and life.
My fundraising for Bush Heritage #groundworkchallenge is going well . To join my team or donate go to https://www.groundworkchallenge.org.au/fundraisers/sheilamurray/2020?fbclid=IwAR2HbNn0YsCCc3tiSK-_lbF5xLsssaD8wjGHaUwVYrRqYxM-kdJkijoj2N0
Lowlands Coastal Reserve is managed by the community and City of Albany. Bush Heritage manage many other wonderful reserves.
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