Page 14 - Tropic Magazine Issue 16

TROPIC • UP FRONT

In Season

Our guide to the wonders of
TNQ nature this February
and March.
Words Nicky Horstmann

Astronomy / Super moon
Our second supermoon for the year rises Cephonodes hylas
at 7.29pm on February 20. As its orbit
moves closer to Earth, the moon will Insects / Little beauties
appear about 16% bigger than normal, and
when combined with the optical illusion There’s no doubt that most people
that exists at moonrise, sensational photo have at least seen video footage of
hummingbirds feeding, if not the
opportunities await our creative pleasure.
However, please remember that real thing in other countries. But how
many of you have seen hummingbirds
supermoons mean super King Tides
as the moon’s gravitational pull on the at work in FNQ? If you are one of these Buckinghamia celsissima
ocean is a little stronger. Our highest very ‘fortunate’ few, then I hasten to
inform you that your assumptions
forecast tide at 3.52m falls on Tuesday 19th
February around 9.15am. were incorrect. One of the many Trees / Flower curl
different lifeforms that we share with Over the next couple of months, if you
Asia is the Coffee Bee Hawk Moth see a tree covered in long creamy-white
(Cephonodes hylas) and when this grevillea-style brushes, you are most
magnificent insect is feeding on the likely appreciating the beauty of the Ivory
nectar in its favoured flowers, it can Curl Flower (Buckinghamia celsissima).
easily be incorrectly identified. These trees are endemic to North East
This moth is essentially green with some Queensland, but now appear in many
red, black and yellow banding on the other parts of Australia where they have
lower abdomen, and a white underbody. become popular as street and garden
Black circular ‘fans’ open out on either plantings. This is due to their toughness
side of its tail, looking like giant eyes, as much as their prolific and fragrant
and/or perhaps helping with flight and flowering which attracts countless nectar-
hovering. The Coffee Bee Hawk Moth has feeding birds.
crystal-clear wings that span between 40 This variety of tree continues to please
and 50 mm and research suggests that with its beautifully lobed juvenile leaves
the reflective nature of these wings may that take on a reddish tinge, and the
help to reduce its visibility. almost black leathery seedpods that form
Keep an eye out for these little beauties, contrast delightfully with the pale flowers.
Supermoon over Cairns
it’s certainly worthwhile. A real stunner!

Rusty’s Markets: Handy delight In fact, it is said that this variety of citrus was
developed and grown by Buddhist monks to be
While the FNQ wet season can be a little used as robe-storage deodorisers. As a food, it’s
challenging for locally-grown produce at this not something that you can put in a fruit salad.
time of year, there are still wonders to behold. The Buddha’s Hand Citron has no flesh – it’s all
Take a good look as you stroll around Rusty’s, rind and pith and is frequently candied and used
there’s always something weird, wonderful and to flavour all sorts of baked goodies. And on that
worth a taste. One of the exotic fruits that has note, I have one request. Please don’t buy them
really impressed me is known as a Buddha’s all! Leave one for me!
Hand Citron. Yes, they do sort of look like a hand
of many fingers, and they have a divine aroma. MORE: rustysmarkets.com.au

14 • Tropic • Issue 16