While bush fires can be devastating and very frightening, Australian plants have adapted to fire, they regenerate and often use fire to germinate their seed. I have taken shots soon after fire to watch this miracle of growth go on.
This banksia has used a fire to open its little mouths and spit seeds into the nutrient rich ash below.
Absolutely fantastic! I've seen a few documentaries about this but your find truly amazes me.
ReplyDeleteIt was taken a couple of weeks after a big fire went thru Mount Hay a wilderness area. I have lots of wonderful shots taken that day and some taken months after to show how the regeneration was progressing. That was some years ago ... I must go out there again some time to see how it looks now. The vegetation recovers provided there is not more fire too soon after.
DeleteNow this is something I don't see every day, living in the suburbs. I love how many Australian plants have such fascinating shapes.
ReplyDeleteAfter fire everything is down to its skeletal shapes ... I think that is one reason why it is so fascinating for photographers.
DeleteThe colours and shapes are gorgeous, Joan. That alone the regeneration process ...
ReplyDeleteIt's the "red lips" which surprise me in this photo. The regrowth around the burnt stumps was also red which set off brightly against the grey ash.
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