Aussie stunned as backyard tree starts 'dropping jellyfish'
Though our quirky wilderness is often reported on, still there are things that leave people puzzled.
Australia is renowned for its truly weird and whacky wildlife, with our country home to more than one million different species of plants and animals. About 93 per cent of our flora and fauna can't be found anywhere else, making Australia one of the most unique countries on the planet. And this is certainly unique.
Though our quirky wilderness is often reported on, sometimes there are still things that leave people confused. Such was the case in Sydney this week, with one puzzled local taking to social media to question why "my tree is dropping jellyfish".
Strange find confuses Sydneysider
Photos posted beside the query show a flame tree pictured in the yard of an apartment complex, exuding an odd kind of gooey sap, looking strangely jelly-like in appearance. While people responding to the images joked that it was "tree snot" or "melted bananas", as it turns out, there's a very simple answer for the liquid discharge.
Scientist reveals truth behind 'jellyfish' tree
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Professor Brett Summerell, Chief Scientist of Education and Conservation at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney said the substance occurs after rainy and humid weather — something that Aussies would be quite familiar with at the moment.
"This happens in Illawarra Flame Trees and Kurrajongs (both Brachychiton species) in years when the weather is warmish and humid and there has been lots of rain," he explained.
"Have seen it a fair bit over the past few wet summers. The trees produce the gel from the seed pods and from wounds on the branches and trunk. It is a protective mechanism and a way of ensuring that the tree is not damaged or attacked by pests," Professor Summerell added.
"In drier years, they will only produce a small amount to minimise water loss."
Interestingly, the seeds from such trees also historically have been of use to people, offering nutritional value. They can be eaten after roasting, or can be ground to make a coffee substitute or flour extender.
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