Download Lumholtz`s Tree Kangaroos - Malanda Falls Visitor Centre

MALANDA FALLS VISITOR CENTRE
Things to look out for in December
Of course, look out for our amazing Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroos.
They are not always easy to see on hot summer days, but they are
here. Called Mabi or Muppee by the local Ngadjan people; the name
has now been given to the endangered rainforest type (Mabi forest)
found on the fertile red soils of the Atherton Tablelands, including
some of Malanda Falls Conservation Park.
The forest is getting ready for the wet and there is plenty to see –
flowers and fruit. Look for the large orange yellow pea flowers of the
Black Bean. These will later be followed by large wooden pods. The large
seeds were an important food for the rainforest aborigines, after careful
preparation to remove toxins. Once prepared, the food could be stored
buried in the ground for some months. The local Ngadjan name is
Ganyjuu (there were other names for different stages of the prepared
product). Castanospermum australe.
Watch out for our elusive Spotted Tree Monitor! (like a goanna but
smaller and prettier). The forest contains many reptile species. After rain,
when the sun comes out, is a great time to find them, and also the sawshelled turtles at the viewing platform. Varanus scalaris.
Another timber tree, the Bull Oak Jungan, has lots of fruit and will
soon start dropping seeds, as the large pods open up and finally
drop. In time, the seeds sprout into delightful butterfly shaped seed
leaves. Cardwellia sublimis.
.
The car park will soon be littered with pods of an unnamed Derris
vine, sometimes called Pink Cascade due to its lovely pink
flowers. Also present are large amounts of Monkey Vine Jibaa
seeds, with their brown plume of hairs which helps them float in
the wind. Derris sp. Claudie River, Parsonsia straminea.
A very common tree in the park is the Queensland Maple Marrgan.
Again this was a late comer as a timber tree, but became highly
sought after. It has lots of fruit starting to split and release their air
borne seeds. Flindersia brayleana.