Caught in the Act

A leaf from a builder’s book

Leafcutter Bee (Megachile mystacea) on Briar Silky Oak, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland. © Bronwen Scott.

The Briar Silky Oak (Musgravea heterophylla, Proteaceae) is growing well. It was only about a foot tall when I got it, but the summer heat and rain have given it a fillip. It is now three times taller, and each new leaf is 18 inches long. With its combination of colours — bright green, rust, and warm grey — and its sculptural shape, Musgravea is a spectacular plant.