Tucked between the Destiny Motel and the Pacific Highway is a swamp mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta) which appears to be strangling itself.

The tree caught the eagle eye of Nambucca community gardener Jim Coles, who found a record in the Oxford Journal of Heredity (Volume 24, Issue 10) of a similar peculiar growth pattern in a Eucalyptus robusta in southern Florida.

In the article author Mary Francis Baker likened the growth to that of Ficus aurea or strangler fig, which envelopes and ultimately kills the host tree.

She noted however the growth in this case was entirely of the tree’s own making.

“So far as known, such growth in the eucalypti has never been recorded,” Ms Baker wrote.

Turning to local expertise, the Guardian spoke to Valla botanist Gwen Harden.

Taking a close look at the tree, Gwen declared the growth was an adventitious root.

“This growth is clearly part of the host as it had the same bark,” Gwen said.

“The word ‘adventitious’ simply means the growth is not in the normal place.

“This root has started to grow downwards from a fork in the tree.

“It is certainly very unusual although it is hard to say why this has occurred.”

The Guardian also sent photos of the tree to the NSW Department of Environment and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney.

Both confirmed the presence of ‘adventitious’ root growth.