Millmerran Revisited
Author: Glenn Leiper
Published: Journal March 2022
Image above: A large granite outcrop looks imposing
In the September 2021 edition of 'Native Plants Queensland', I wrote about a recent visit to two peaks near Millmerran, and in particular the granite peak within Millmerran State Forest being the only known site for the Mingimarny Spur-Flower Coleus insularis. During that last visit, we failed to see any specimens of this little rare herbaceous plant so we intended to keep returning until we found it.
I’m happy to report that during a return trip in September, this exceedingly rare plant has been found again, but we only saw a handful of specimens. Hopefully these plants will be able to re-establish a viable population there once again when suitable environmental conditions, whatever they may be, return.
Mingimarny Spur-Flower Coleus insularis leaves are deeply toothed, without any strong aroma when crushed
We’re guessing that the long period of dry and hot conditions in recent years has been the main reason for the crash of the previously large population on site, and the recent rains over a number of months will help to provide more conducive growing conditions for the near future. The previous conditions must have been quite horrendous as most of the Grey Tea-tree Leptospermum brevipes shrubs which dominate the peak succumbed also. Wherever you look, it’s a bleak landscape dotted with thousands of stark leafless grey trunks. However, the rains have triggered mass flowering of the live Tea-trees that remain, as well as heavy flowering of most other species that have survived or germinated since the rains. Nodding Blue Lilies Stypandra glauca and masses of Snowy Mint Bushes Prostanthera nivea were also a wonderful sight, with bees and butterflies in profusion on the latter.
Still, we saw only one or a small number of some species, so the recovery will probably be slow. Let’s hope that drought conditions in the area don’t return in the near future.
Grey Tea-tree Leptospermum brevipes in
heavy bee-attracting flower
Nodding Blue Lily Stypandra glauca
Snowy Mint Bush Prostanthera nivea
A form of Senna artemisioides with showy
insect-attracting flowers
Native Leek Bulbine bulbosa growing
amongst grasses between boulders
The little lily Early Nancy Wurmbea
biglandulosa was common in moist areas
on the slopes
Pungently pointed leaves of Aotus subglauca var. filiformis