Tree Weaver

Ficus macrophylla, commonly known as the Moreton Bay fig or Australian banyan, is a large evergreen banyan tree of the mulberry and fig family Moraceae. It is native to eastern Australia, from the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland in the north to the Illawarra region of New South Wales. The infraspecies Ficus macrophylla f. columnaris is endemic to Lord Howe Island. Its common name refers to Moreton Bay in Queensland. It is best known for its imposing buttress roots.

DESCRIPTION – Ficus macrophylla is a medium to large, spreading tree 15 to 35 metres high with a similar spread. It often has a butressed trunk. In nature it is a strangler fig – the seed germinates in the canopy of a host tree where the plant grows as an epiphyte while sending down roots to ground level, eventually enlarging and enveloping the host tree and becoming free standing. The large leaves are oval-shaped to elliptical 100-250 mm long, dark glossy green above and rusty beneath. The fruits are 20-25 mm in diameter, yellowish and turning purple when ripe. They occur on stalks from 10-20 mm long.

The oldest known Moreton Bay fig tree (Ficus macrophylla) is estimated to be around 270 years old and located in North Booval, Ipswich, Australia according to Ipswich First. It predates European settlement and is considered a significant heritage tree.

Planning, Development and Heritage Committee Chairperson Cr David Morrison said the tree has a wide and extensive canopy and buttress root system and is approximately 18m in height with an approximate canopy diameter of 30m.

CULTIVATION – The Moreton Bay fig has been widely used in public parks in frost-free areas, and was popular with early settlers of Australia. Around the beginning of the 20th century, the director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Joseph Maiden, advocated the planting of street trees, generally uniform rows of the one species. He recommended Moreton Bay figs be spaced at 30 m (100 ft) intervals—far enough to avoid crowding as the trees matured, but close enough so that their branches would eventually interlock. Specimens can reach massive proportions, and have thrived in drier climates; impressive specimen trees have been grown in the Waring Gardens in Deniliquin, and Hay.

They can withstand light frosts and can cope with salt-laden spray in coastal situations, and their fruit is beneficial for urban wildlife. However, their huge size precludes use in all but the largest gardens, and their roots are highly invasive and can damage piping and disrupt footpaths and roadways; the vast quantities of crushed fruit can be messy on the ground.

USES – The soft light timber has a wavy texture and is used for cases. Aboriginal people traditionally use the fibres for fishing nets. The fruits are edible and taste like other fig varieties.

References

Australian Native Plant Society {anpsa.org.au}

en.wikipedia.org

http://www.ipswichfirst.com.au

Roger Walker, For the Love of Trees fb

The summer solstice is a celebration of light,
not just around us, but within us.

It marks a peak of growth,
a moment of clarity,
and a sacred turning point.

As the sun stands still,
nature invites us to pause,
to reflect,
and to realign with our inner fire.

In this season of abundance,
we are reminded to shine brightly,
to live fully,
and to honour the ever-turning wheel of change.

Let the light guide you gently forward,
toward the truest and wisest expression of yourself.

~ ‘A Celebration of Light’ by The Garden Of Pensiveness

~ Image Unknown via Pinterest

The image shows a tall pine tree reaching up towards a cloudy blue sky. Pine trees are known for their distinctive needles, which are arranged in clusters, and their scaly bark. There are many different types of pine trees, and they can grow to be very tall, with the sugar pine being the largest and tallest species. Some pine trees, like the Scots pine, have orange-brown bark, while others, like the Bhutan pine, have blue-green needles. The tallest living pine tree is a ponderosa pine in Oregon, which is over 268 feet 4 inches (81.79 meters) tall.

This Ponderosa Pine was found in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, specifically on the Wild Rivers Ranger District. The tree was measured using laser technology and direct climbing methods, confirming its height.

Structural Lumber

Ponderosa pine is extensively used as dimensional lumber in light construction. Its timber is easily milled and was one of the first western woods shipped in quantity to eastern markets in the early 20th century. Common construction uses have included framing (studs and joists), roof decking, and sheathing in houses where only moderate strength is required. By the mid-20th century, annual production of ponderosa pine lumber was very high; for example, harvests exceeded 3 billion board feet per year by the late 1930s and peaked at over 4 billion board feet in 1941.

In addition to sawtimber, ponderosa pine is used in round log form for various purposes. The straight trunks were historically sought for utility poles and fence posts; when properly dried or treated, the wood has fair durability in these uses. Early 20th-century mining operations also used ponderosa pine for mine timbers and tunnel supports. The wood from younger, fast-grown ponderosa pines tends to warp, limiting its use in structural applications. Historically, the highest quality heavy timbers came from large, old-growth trees.

In Nuclear Testing
During Operation Upshot–Knothole in 1953, a nuclear test was performed in which 145 ponderosa pines were cut down by the United States Forest Service and transported to Area 5 of the Nevada Test Site, where they were planted into the ground and exposed to a nuclear blast to see what the blast wave would do to a forest. The trees were partially burned and blown over.

Hafren Forest, located near Llanidloes in Mid Wales, is a popular destination for walking and enjoying the scenery, particularly around the source of the River Severn. The forest is named after Afon Hafren, the Welsh name for the River Severn, and offers various trails that lead to the river’s source and waterfalls, including the famous Severn-Break-its-Neck.

The forest itself was planted in the 1930s by the Forestry Commission. It’s lined with thousands of Pine and Spruce Trees. Offering around 15 square miles of breathtaking scenery and abundant wildlife. Home to a variety of rare bird species, including buzzards, goshawks, red kites, and merlins. In addition, nearly all of the UK’s native freshwater fish species can be found in its waters, making it a biodiversity hotspot.

Location:
Situated in the Cambrian Mountains, about 6 miles (9.65km) west of Llanidloes

River Severn:
The forest is known for the River Severn, with its source located just outside the forest boundary on the slopes of Pumlumon.

Walking Trails:
There are several waymarked trails, ranging from shorter walks to the waterfalls within the forest to longer routes leading to the river’s source. Walks through the forest will take you between 30 minutes and 4.5 hours, with terrain ranging from a man-made boardwalk to loose stone and steep slopes depending on what you pick.

Accessible Trail:
A boardwalk trail provides access to a viewing platform over the cascades.

Other Activities:
The forest also offers opportunities for picnicking, wildlife spotting, and enjoying the natural landscape

Historic Interest:
The forest includes some heritage features, such as a standing stone and the remains of a mine.

Commercial Forestry:
While managed for recreation and wildlife, Hafren Forest is also a commercial forest, producing timber for various uses.

Get in touch
Location:
Hafren Forest, near Llanidloes, Powys

Telephone:0300 065 3000

Email:enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Website:https://naturalresources.wales/hafren

The Bottle Tree, scientifically known as Pachypodium lealii, is a unique native plant to Namibia and Angola.

It’s characterised by its swollen bottle neck trunk which stores water for survival in dry environments. The plant also has slender spiny branches and leaves clustered towards the tips.

But it should not be underestimated, as the milky sap is toxic with a lactic juice that was used as an arrow poison by Namibian hunters causing blindness if it gets into the eyes.

Pachypodium lealii is one of the giants of the genus; it is the largest of the continental African species, occasionally obtaining a height of over 8 metres (26 ft) in height. Of the continental species, P. lealii has the most arborescent form. It grows with a single, or sometimes double trunk, though damaged plants may have multiple trunks. The bark is pale and varies in colour from grey to creamy to tan to pinkish. The trunk is generally conical, tapering gradually from base to top. In very old plants the trunk can be more parallel-sided.

However tall P. lealii grows, it’ll be almost entirely branchless until the very top. The leaves grow on slender branches and are jealously defended from herbivores by sharp spines.

Around May to November the leaves will all drop off as the Bottle Tree diverts all its effort into growing surprisingly extravagant flowers. The flowers are pink to white and dark red towards the centre. It has shiny, leathery leaves which can measure up to 20cm in length.

The plant is protected and listed on CITES 2, according to Namibian.org

The Big Belly Oak is a sessile oak tree (Quercus petraea). It is enormously fat, with a girth of over 11 meters.The oak has a large cavity in its centre, likely an effect of pollarding.

The Big Belly Oak is the oldest oak in the Savernake Forest; Wiltshire, England, estimated around 1,000 years old. It would have been a young tree at around the time that William the Conqueror defeated King Harold in 1066. As part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002, the Big Belly Oak was named as one of 50 Great British Trees, a collection of significant trees in the United Kingdom. 

The Big Belly Oak grows by the side of the A346 road between Marlborough and Burbage, but a walk into the lovely Savernake Forest is the best way of viewing this ancient tree. It is one of many ancient oak trees in the Savernake Forest, including the New Queen Oak, the Queen Oak, the Saddle Oak 1, the Spider Oak; the Cathedral Oak, and the King of Limbs

Reference – Photo by Tom Hill

Ira Apriyani from ‘Trees’ fb page.

Wikipedia

Old growth forest, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Vancouver Island is renowned for its extensive old-growth forests, particularly on the west coast. Popular areas for exploring these ancient forests include Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, and the forests near Port Renfrew.

Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park: This park is celebrated for its massive old-growth trees, particularly in the Carmanah and Walbran valleys.

Here you will see Sitka spruce and Giant Western Red Cedars. Some of the trees, including the Carmanah Giant (a Sitka spruce), are among the tallest in Canada, with some reaching heights of over 95 meters (314 ft). These trees, along with other species like western hemlock and coast Douglas-fir, contribute to the park’s rich and diverse ecosystem.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve: The western side of the island, including Pacific Rim, is home to lush rainforests and accessible trails that allow visitors to experience the old-growth forests. Meares Island, accessible through tours, is a noteworthy destination.

You will see Giant Western Red Cedar and Sitka spruce, as well as understory plants like moss, lichen, and ferns.

Port Renfrew: Known as the “Tall Trees Capital of Canada,” Port Renfrew boasts a concentration of large trees and old-growth groves, many of which are accessible through the Port Renfrew Big Trees Map.

You will see the Red Creek Fir (the world’s largest Douglas-fir tree), San Juan Spruce, Harris Creek Spruce, Big Lonely Doug (Canada’s second-largest Douglas-fir), and more!

Hiking:
Many of these areas have well-established hiking trails that allow for close-up exploration of the old-growth forests.

Protecting the Forests:
There are ongoing efforts to protect and preserve Vancouver Island’s old-growth forests, with organizations like the Ancient Forest Alliance advocating for their conservation.

Other Notable Areas:
Cathedral Grove in McMillan Provincial Park offers a magical walk among giant trees. Francis/King Regional Park in the Victoria area also features large Douglas-fir trees.

Photos from the Walbran Overview Ancient Alliance

STUDY SHOWS TREES SYNCHRONISE ELECTRICAL SIGNALS DURING A SOLAR ECLIPSE

In a remarkable discovery, scientists have found that trees may act as a “living collective”, synchronising their internal electrical signals in anticipation of a solar eclipse.

During the 2022 eclipse over Italy’s Dolomites, researchers recorded spruce trees aligning their bioelectrical activity hours before the event began.

This suggests trees don’t just passively experience environmental changes – they anticipate and respond to them as interconnected organisms. The older the tree, the stronger its anticipatory signals, pointing to a potential transmission of ecological awareness across the forest.

Using custom sensors on living trees and even old stumps, the scientists observed coordinated changes in voltage within cells, known as bioelectrical potentials. These signals, driven by ion flows across membranes, indicate trees might communicate and adapt collectively.

The findings lend strong support to the idea that forests are not merely clusters of individual plants, but interdependent systems where ancient trees play a key role in resilience and ecosystem intelligence. The study also adds weight to growing calls to preserve old-growth forests for their unseen but vital ecological wisdom.

(The study is published in the journal of the Royal Society Open Science.)

The Legend of the Sacred Stag

Long ago, in the heart of the enchanted forest, a majestic stag roamed, its antlers reaching toward the stars, a symbol of the bond between the earth, the skies, and all living things. The stag was no ordinary creature; it carried the wisdom of the ancient world within its spirit, and the forest itself was its home.

The Great Spirit of the Earth called upon the stag one day, for the balance of nature had begun to falter. The harmony between the land and the heavens was at risk, and only the Sacred Stag could restore the flow of life. With a heart full of purpose, the stag set off on a journey to the edge of the world, where the sun touched the mountains and the moon embraced the sea.

As it moved through forests and over rivers, the stag encountered many challenges. The winds of change blew fiercely, and the rivers swelled with the weight of the forgotten spirits. But the stag’s spirit was strong, its heart bound to the rhythm of nature itself. Every step it took, the earth beneath it seemed to sing with life, a reminder that the power to heal the world lay within the most sacred of creatures.

Finally, at the summit of the highest mountain, the stag stood before the Celestial Circle, a mystical altar where the realms of the earth and the sky met. With a deep breath, the stag raised its antlers toward the heavens, calling upon the stars, the moon, and the sun to restore balance. A brilliant light flooded the land as the stag’s cry echoed across the universe, and the forces of nature aligned once again.

The stag returned to the forest, its spirit forever linked with the pulse of the earth, the wind, and the waters. It became a symbol of wisdom, renewal, and the interconnectedness of all living things.

Moral: Just as the Sacred Stag carries the spirit of the earth within its being, so too must we carry the wisdom and strength to restore balance when the world feels out of harmony. The power to heal and renew is within all of us, connected by the spirit of nature.

Native American Identity fb Page