Trees in trees a report from remote Australia

ABSTRACT

Anemochory or Ornithochory does not adequately explain the amount, size or distribution of woody epiphytes here in outback NSW Australia. In a semi-arid ecosystem, epiphytes should be short-lived and randomly dispersed not clustered around old Aboriginal campsites or along their ancient paths aka songlines. These enduring trees in trees we call TinTs, have been here much longer than European Australians. We are hoping to attract archaeobotanical or ethnobotanical research to help us recover the knowledge of the ancestors or at least assist us in protecting these arboreal oddities from future resource extraction activities.

KEYWORDS:

• Artefacts
• Billabong
• Eucalyptus populnea
• murramanaarr paleo-channel
• Ngiyampaa nation
• songlines
• warrambool
• woody epiphytes

Acknowledgments

It is customary in Australia to acknowledge the first nations people who were the traditional owners of this country before European settlement. I would also acknowledge the current land owners who allow me access to their properties to search for TinTs. As well I need to thank Prof. Frantisek Baluska for taking the time to show me how to present a Short Communication for submission.

Disclosure statement: The author declares there is no conflict of interest and no funding from any source for this short communication.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2023.2286392

GLOSSARY

Guest species growing to maturity as epiphytes:

Boobialla – Myoporum montanum – buubiyala

Budda – Eremophila mitchellii – badha

Butterbush – Pittosporum angustifolium – guwirra/gumbie gumbie

Currant/Warrior bush – Apophyllum anomalum – wayaarra

Cypress pine – Callitris glaucophylla – gurraari

Emu bush – Eremophila longifolia – ngawil (rare)

Leafless cherry/ballart – Exocarpus aphyllus – mirrii

Leopardwood – Flindersia maculate – bagala (rare)

Peach bush – Ehretia saligna – unknown Aboriginal name

Quinine – Alstonia constricta – gadibundhu

Rosewood – Alectryon oleifolius – boonery

Shrubby rice flower – Pimelea microcephala – unknown

Supplejack – Ventilago viminalis – ganayanay

Whitewood – Atalaya hemiglauca – birraa

Wild orange/Bumble – Capparis mitchellii – bambul

Wild lemon – Psydrax oleifolia – unknown Aboriginal name (rare)

Wilga – Geijera parviflora – dhiil

Guest species rare or not seen growing to maturity:

Belah – Casuarina cristata – bilaarr (only 1)

Milgee – Acacia oswaldii – boree (rare)

Climbers:

Desert/Native jasmine – Jasminum lineare – unknown Aboriginal name

Gargaloo – Parsonia eucalyptophylla – gugumadharraa

Nepine/Wait-awhile – Capparis lasiantha – ngaybaan

Shrubs: (Aboriginal names are unknown)

Climbing saltbush – Einadia nutans – unknown (common)

Spiny peppercress – Lepidium aschersonii – unknown (only 1)

Spiny fan flower – Scaevola spinescens – unknown (only 1)

Spiny potato bush – Solanum ferocissimum – unknown (only 1)

Thorny saltbush – Rhagodia spinescens – unknown (common)

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.