Gems of the Rainforest

Living colour in the tropics

Nine ripe Athertonia fruit in my hand. © Bronwen Scott

Look at this handful of amethysts and lapiz lazuli! These jewels are fruit of the Atherton Oak (Athertonia diversifolia, Proteaceae), a tree that grows only in a few rainforest areas of Far North Queensland — the Atherton Tablelands, Mt Lewis, and Mt Sorrow. A friend picked these from trees on her property. Most of the seeds will go to a botanic garden for their living…