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Named after the early explorer Pieter Nuyts who almost found Australia, the WA Christmas Tree lights up the WA coastline around November and December each year. It has large golden spears of flowers. Interestingly, the plants are semi-parasitic and take a small portion of their nutrients from surrounding host plants (this does not damage the host plants). Reports suggest hosts such as couch grass can be used to success.
Description
Description
The Australian Christmas Tree is a most spectacular evergreen tree with a dark green mass of soft needle-like leaves and masses of brilliant yellow flowers from late October to January. Slow growing, partly-parasitic tree (a member of the Mistletoe family) but will not harm host plants.
Habitat
Habitat
The Australian Christmas Tree can be found in Western Australia from Murchison River to the western end of the Great Australian Bight. This tree is often found in sandy or granitic soil in open forest or woodland.
Significance to Noongar Culture
Significance to Noongar Culture
This tree is very significant to the Noongar people. Around Perth it was considered sacred, a being in which the spirits of the newly dead resided. In other areas, such as the south-west, it was valued for edible roots and for edible gum oozing from the trunk.
Moodjar: The Australian Christmas Tree
Moodjar: The Australian Christmas Tree
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