This found by Kevin while reviewing the code:

The following code culls geometry outside the front / back clipping plane:

+ if (isPerspective && (bounds.getMinZ() > camera.getFarClip()
+ || bounds.getMaxZ() < camera.getNearClip())) {
+ return 0;
+ }


The idea is right, but it compares the bounds in the local coordinates of the particular node in question with a clip distance that is in eye coordinates. They need to be in the same coordinate system before they can be compared.