Taking time to observe subtle changes in our landscape, can tell you more than you might think.
Throughout the tropics you might see a tree with yellow flowers. This tree is a signifier of seasonal changes, food availability and is also a food source.
During the wet season this tree is covered in large, soft green leaves. When the rain stops, the tree drops the leaves, protecting itself during the long dry season. The Kapok is not bare for long though. Bright yellow flowers burst from the tips of the branches in the middle of the year. This signifies that the dry season is here. The bright yellow petals have a slightly spicy taste and are good to eat when they are newly open. The tap root of young plants has a taste and texture like a radish. The flowers are a great garnish on a salad.
Towards the end of the year the seed pods ripen and split open, and the white fluff bursts out. Sometimes referred to as ‘Bush Cotton’. This soft fibres was used to pad baby carriers, stuff mattresses, and pillows. Until the 1980’s it was even used in life jackets. Kapok floats for a short while. We no longer use Kapok for lifejackets because it naturally loses buoyancy over time and, if it gets wet, it will absorb water.
The yellow flowers also indicate another food source has become available. Dry season is when Freshwater crocodiles and many turtles lay their eggs in river banks in the North of Australia. This gives their young time to grow before the water levels rise with the wet. These eggs provide a significant source of protein during the dry time.
The flowering of the Kapok indicates that the egg laying has begun and the ripening and opening of the seed pods show that the eggs are starting to hatch.
So next time you pass through, take the time to look around and appreciate the stories our landscapes tell.