Xylomelum occidentale
Nyungar: djanjin
With sprays of creamy, vanilla-scented flowers in summer followed by fur covered pear-shaped fruits in Winter, the small grove of Woody Pears in the western section of Karak delights walkers. While not a threatened species, Woody Pears are considered slightly unusual in metropolitan Perth. Research published in 2020 has revealed a possible reason. Unlike other members of the Proteaceae family (such as Bankisa and Hakea) Woody Pears do not obtain phosphorus (P) from nutrient-poor soils by releasing carboxylates from cluster roots. The same study showed that soil P in the area where they grow is slightly higher than usual for Spearwood dune soils, suggesting their range may be dependent on specific soil conditions.
Photo: M. Adams