Esperance Wildflowers

Calectasia grandiflora - Blue Tinsel Lily

2012-01-27T20:53:00.000+08:00

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Calectasia grandiflora - Blue Tinsel Lily

Calectasia is a very unusual plant genus in an even more unusual Dasypogonaceae family (sometimes included in Xanthorrhoeaceae). These include such ornamental oddities as Kingia australis and Dasypogon hookeri that produce sheathing leaf bases that form tree-like trunks to several metres/yards in height, then topped off with drumstick like flowering stems. These plants are also known by the common names of Pineapple Bush, Black Gin and more recently Bullanock (aboriginal name for Kingia). However none of these occur in the Esperance region apart from a couple of Tinsel Lily species, but these also have the sheathing leaf bases that provide branches with strength and structure.

There are ten WA species of Calectasia, plus an undescribed one, but most of these are from the SW of WA, or along the west coast, with only two in the Esperance region and one of those (C. gracilis) known from a single collection. Calectasia grandiflora is seldom encountered but can occur in large localised colonies; they range mostly from the Perth region to around 100 km (60 miles) east of Esperance. The colony shown above is likely to be a range extension, as it is in a mallee region 125 km (80 miles) NE of Esperance, whilst other records are near coastal.

The Tinsel Lilies above were quite common and well-established, growing on an extensive rise of deep sandy soil that was surrounded by the more typical mallee of fine sand/clay loam over limestone, and although similar sandy rises were nearby, no Calectasia plants were seen on them.

Calectasia grandiflora has 3 variants that are to be divided into 3 subspecies, but have not as yet been published. Only one of these occurs in the Esperance region and this is currently referred to as Calectasia grandiflora subsp. Wheatbelt, which as the name suggests is largely confined to the wheatbelt region (east of Perth to Southern Cross and Albany, then to the east of Esperance). This wheatbelt variant has a compact upright growth with large (over 3 cm or 11/4” diameter) purple/blue flowers, which later fade to cream. It has been suggested that Calectasia grandiflora be called the Large-flowered Tinsel Lily, to avoid confusion with another species (C. cyanea) that is also known as the Blue Tinsel Lily.

The foliage of the above is a pale green over the winter/spring flowering period, but develops a distinctive yellow/green coloration when conditions began to dry. Flowering is recorded from June to October, but exact timing would depend on local weather conditions. Plants above were photographed during the months of August and December.

Halgania anagalloides – Blue Bush

2012-01-24T16:38:00.000+08:00

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Halgania anagalloides – Blue Bush

This Halgania species is either a low spreading shrub, or a procumbent one and is widespread on a variety of non-calcareous soils in the drier regions from Israelite Bay to Kalbarri, with most collections away from the coast, but still within the wheatbelt zone. Currently there is confusion regarding the classification of this species, as not so long ago it was split into two varieties (var. anagalloides and var. preissiana), but these were discarded to lump them all into Halgania anagalloides. However, a new variety (var. Southern) has now been generated, but is not currently recognised, so currently all these plants are still officially grouped into Halgania anagalloides, but there is very likely to be another split somewhere down the line.

Plants contained within Halgania anagalloides, have toothed leaves of which they and the stems are covered in appressed stout white hairs, but no glandular ones (if plants have silky or glandular hairs, they belong to a different species). After a bushfire these plants usually respond very well and their number can increase considerably, but after a few years most are overgrown by larger bushy shrubs. Therefore in the long term, survivors tend to be restricted to natural openings, or in the dappled sunlight under mallee eucalypts that dominate the moisture, so making it too dry for large shrubs. Flowers can usually be found anytime during the warmer part of the year, particularly after good rainfall, although they seldom flower during the colder winter months.

Halgania is part of the Boraginaceae family.

Halgania sp. Peak Eleanora – Boraginaceae

2012-01-21T19:27:00.000+08:00

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Halgania sp. Peak Eleanora – Boraginaceae

The above is a small rare Blue Bush species that is only known from a handful of collections in the Peak Eleanora region, which is 8.5 km (5 miles) south of Peak Charles and 120 km (75 miles) NW of Esperance. The above were photographed 15 km (9 miles) south of Peak Eleanora, growing in a slight hollow after a fire, and a sandy/clay loam over limestone.

Halgania sp. Peak Eleanora has a Priority Two conservation code, which basically means it is only known from a few collections and is currently not under any immediate threat. The single colony I happened upon had around a dozen plants and was very localised. The plants were of various sizes to 60 cm (2’) in height and the foliage was a very dark green and quite viscid (sticky), leaves were strongly recurved, some to 180 degrees. The partly hidden flowers were small, deep blue and semi-pendant.

Flowering time is not recorded, but from my observations over two seasons, they were in flower from early September to mid October, so reasonally safe to predict that in a normal year, they would at least span from August to November.

Halgania lavandulacea – Blue Bush

2012-01-18T19:53:00.000+08:00

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Halgania lavandulacea – Blue Bush

These attractive blue flowered shrubs belong to the Boraginaceae family and are widely distributed in Western Australia. Halgania lavandulacea mainly occurs from the NW of Esperance to Ravensthorpe, then both converging NW to Morawa, with a few outlying records from the Israelite Bay region and between Norseman and Kalgoorlie. It is not common around Esperance, with scattered small colonies in mallee regions from south of Mt Ridley to the southwest of Peak Charles (100 NW of Esperance), after which it becomes increasingly more common.

Most of my sightings have been on the edge of burnt areas in sandy loams and/or gravel over limestone. Shrubs have been to a metre (3’) in height and quite bushy. The blue flowers can usually be found at most times of the year, especially after summer storms, but the main period is late winter and through spring. The foliage is soft and not sticky, unlike the viscid H. andromedifolia (listed in the right-hand column), although these species have in the past been linked together. Besides not having sticky foliage, the calyx lobes of Halgania lavandulacea are of equal size (H. andromedifolia are unequal), plus most H. lavandulacea flowers are arranged singularly in the upper leaf axils, whilst most H. andromedifolia flower stalks (pedicels) are branched.

Stackhousia monogyna - Creamy Candles

2012-01-16T17:49:00.000+08:00

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Stackhousia monogyna - Creamy Candles

Plants belonging to the Stackhousia genus are herbs or sub-shrubs and part of the Celastraceae family, although they may still be listed under Stackhousiaceae by some authorities. Stackhousia monogyna is a highly variable and widely distributed species, being found in WA, SA, Victoria, Tasmania, NSW and Qld. With such a wide distribution variations are to be expected, but with this plant, this trait is exhibited even within the Esperance region.

Growing to 60 cm (2’) in height, it can be spreading or rigidly upright; the flower spikes can be pure white to creamy yellow and the individual flowers tightly packed or openly spaced around the stem, or on one side. Foliage can be deep green to pale blue, be hairy or glabrous and arranged either near the base or along the stems, plus sparsely spaced or densely packed together. So it is not surprising that thoughts of finding another Stackhousia species are not uncommon, but currently Stackhousia monogyna is the only species in the Esperance region with creamy white flowers, although at some stage this complex is likely to be reviewed.

Stackhousia monogyna is not very particular about soil type, providing it remains moist, but not waterlogged around its flowering time. However inland, it is more commonly found around granite outcrops where water run-off provides additional moisture. In dry zones (often sandy soils) during summer this species behaves as an annual, but if less severe, as a perennial, although the stem and leaves may die back to re-shoot from the roots, or stem base the following year.

Plants in this genus can usually be found in scattered small colonies, but after bushfires or soil disturbance, can regenerate to temporally dominate the habitat, but within a few seasons will be pushed out by longer living species. They produce flowers over several weeks and are recorded in bloom from June to December, but this would depend on habitat type and local rainfall, although locally between August to October is usually when they are at their best.

Olearia muelleri - Goldfields Daisy

2012-01-14T16:22:00.000+08:00

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Olearia muelleri - Goldfields Daisy

Olearia muelleri is one of the many daisy bushes in the Asteraceae family and is known by a variety of common names, including Mueller's Daisy Bush and the Dusky Daisy-bush. This reflects the shrubs wide distribution across Australia, especially in the dry mallee country of WA. SA. NT. Victoria and NSW. In WA it is very common in the Goldfields region and across the Nullarbor. Around Esperance it is restricted to the inland mallee, where it is commonly found growing in various loams over limestone.

The Goldfields Daisy is a very hardy species, being able to tolerate very hot and dry conditions. As an instance, when the mallee has not been burnt for a considerable period, most of the underlying plants die-off as the taller eucalypts dominate the light and moisture availability. In this very dry environment, only a few very tough plants manage to survive and one of these is Olearia muelleri, although the foliage and flowers tend to be more sparse than if growing in an open situation. This ability for some plants to survive regardless of environmental conditions is important as the seed of most Asteraceae is short-lived and needs to be constantly refreshed

After bushfires these plants revitalise and their numbers increase, although they rarely dominate. In these conditions they commonly grow into compact round shrubs to 60 cm (2’) in height, although older plants under tall vegetation can reach 1.5 metres (5’), but this is unusual and the vast majority are much shorter. The foliage is flat, stiff and slightly viscid (sticky), which as an aid for survival in low rainfall zones, reduces leaf moisture loss.

The flowers are over 2 cm (to 1”) diameter, a vivid white with a yellow centre, although blue\purple colours are also recorded, but I have not encountered them. Flowers are produced anytime from August to January, but in the fickle and low rainfall areas these plants grow, local weather conditions will play a large part in the timing. Locally August to October would be the most reliable, with scattered flowers after storms at other times.

Podolepis rugata - Pleated Podolepis

2012-01-09T18:30:00.000+08:00

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Podolepis rugata - Pleated Podolepis

In Western Australia, Asteraceae is the family of all plants with daisy-type flowers, but elsewhere they may be listed in the family Compositae, the reason dependent on the classification system being used by the local botanical authority. Podolepis is quite a distinctive genus of around 20 species that is endemic to Australia and widely distributed throughout the country, especially in fire prone districts. In WA it is mainly a coastal or near coastal species from Walpole (west of Albany) to across the Nullarbor, but is also scattered inland around the Kalgoorlie region.

Podolepis rugata is reasonably common and occurs across the southern portion of the country in WA, SA and Victoria. It has two varieties, var. rugata that is found in all three States, but is apparently rare in WA, plus var. littoralis that is only known from SA. However in WA most populations are known only as Podolepis rugata, which probably differs from the two varieties, suggesting they are either not fully accepted by the WA botanical authority (WA Herbarium), or the relationship of the WA species has not as yet been determined.

The Podolepis genus is easily separated from others in this large family by the broad involucral bracts that are shiny, thin, dry and often wrinkled. With Podolepis rugata, these bracts around the yellow flowers are deeply wrinkled and obtuse at their tips. Similar looking species have pointed involucral bracts, or are not wrinkled, and/or have different coloured flowers.

This species with the common name of Pleated Podolepis due to the prominently wrinkled bracts, favours alkaline soils and can be quite common after fires or soil disturbance in stabilised tertiary dunes. In the mallee it is found on light soils overlying limestone, but can also be encountered around low-lying granite outcrops, although these often have a thin limestone stratum over the granite. These drier inland habitats indicate an enhanced moisture requirement that can be gained from additional run-off or light seepage from the limestone or granite environment.

The flowers are quite impressive, being around 2.5 cm (1”) diameter and initially a bright yellow, but later maturing to golden hues. Flowering is recorded from July to January although this would depend on local weather conditions, with August to November in the Esperance region being a reliable period particularly a year or two after a bushfire.

Spinifex hirsutus - Hairy Spinifex

2012-01-05T18:14:00.001+08:00

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Spinifex hirsutus - Hairy Spinifex

The Spinifex genus is a small but important group of grasses belonging to the Poaceae grass family. However when the name spinifex is mentioned, most think of the clumping spiky grasses from arid regions, but these generally inland grasses belong to the Triodia genus and spinifex is only their ‘common (unofficial) name.’ Whereas with these coastal grasses, Spinifex it is both their ‘common name’ and ‘genus’ (official botanical name).

Spinifex hirsutus is distributed from the Perth region, then along the south coast into SA, where scattered to Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula, although odd populations are known further east, these have probably been introduced. Just across the Spencer Gulf to the Yorke Peninsula is a very similar looking grass, Spinifex sericeus that performs the same function of stabilising coastal dunes. This species begins its distribution from here and spreads further east around the coast to North Queensland and over Bass Strait to Tasmania. It is also found in New Caledonia and New Zealand. This species was until recently also known as Spinifex hirsutus, so differences between them are not obvious to casual observation, but relate to leaf and stem divergences. Spinifex sericeus is known from the odd collection in the Perth and SW region, but these are regarded as introduced, as this species does not naturally occur in WA.

Although male flowers can sometimes be found at the base of predominantly female flower heads, most heads are either male or female as shown above. In order to produce seed, pollen from the male flowers is blown by the wind to hopefully make contact with the often more numerous female flower heads (although there are fewer individual flowers). After the seed has matured, the flower heads die and dry to a straw colour, they then become detached from the stem at a joint below the head that has evolved for this purpose.

Each centrally placed female flower is subtended by a bract with a long stout bristle to 10 cm (4”) long, so each head resembles a ball of around 20 cm (8”) or more diameter. These are strong, but light and when propelled by coastal winds can travel at great speed and distance along the beach. If they end up in the water, they eventually get washed up somewhere else and possibly colonise there, but otherwise they are blown, trapped and buried by the sand around the high water mark, or on primary dunes. The seed can now germinate to permit a new spinifex generation to take hold. When you look at the very harsh sandblasted and salt-laden environments that these plants call home, you wonder how they survive, but these are just the conditions they like in preference to more sheltered and stable locations.

The very soft, silver-haired leaves (to 40 cm or 16” in length) and stems rely on being buried by the wind-blown sand, as they can then develop roots at their nodes that will not only help anchor them, but provide a new position for advancement. Flowering is recorded anytime from October to January and well worth a look.

Drosera glanduligera – Scarlet Sundew

2012-01-02T18:21:00.000+08:00

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Drosera glanduligera – Scarlet Sundew

The Scarlet Sundew is also known as the Pimpernel Sundew and is widespread in the southern region of Western Australia, plus also distributed in SA, NSW, Vic and Tasmania, so is right across southern Australia preferring low-lying moist, but drained soils. However although common, to find them you usually need a bushfire or soil disturbance to remove larger vegetation, that will give these small fibrous-rooted, annual or (dependent on environment) perennial herbs, room to grow. In this regard they are ephemeral and similar to many orchids that will be around for a few years, then disappear until suitable conditions return.

With such a widespread distribution there are local variations, with some plants being more robust than others, plus flower colours differing from orange to red and even pink, although in WA they are mostly orange. There are also a number of other sundew species that could be confused with Drosera glanduligera, but like the species name suggests, this species is completely covered in glandular hairs with only the flowers being hairless, presumably not to interfere with the small flying insects that pollinate them. However these hairs are not insect trapping, but would reduce the mobility of any trespassing insect and make capture by the larger trapping leaf hairs easier.

The circular and deeply concaved leaves are attached to short flat stalks (petiole), which are arranged in compact rosettes of around 4 cm (1.5”) diameter. The flowers are located on 1-4 scapes (flowering stems) of approximately 5 cm (2”) in height, which can support a number of flowers that become pendant after they bloom. The flowers have only 3 (fine) styles, which are branched in their upper part to also make this Drosera species quite distinctive. In WA flowering can occur during August to November, providing daytime temperatures are not too hot and soils remain moist.

Drosera macrantha subsp. macrantha – Bridal Rainbow Sundew

2011-12-27T16:44:00.000+08:00

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Drosera macrantha subsp. macrantha – Bridal Rainbow Sundew

This species would be one of the largest sundews, growing to 1.5 metres (5’) in height where it will rest against or climb on other plants for support. The flowers are also quite large being around 2.5 cm (1”) diameter and mostly white in color, but occasionally pink. It is a common species scattered in a variety of soils from Israelite Bay (near the Nullarbor) to Kalbarri 550 km (340 miles) north of Perth, plus extending inland to north of Kalgoorlie.

This sundew is another species with a tuber to which it dies back when conditions dry, but will resprout the following wet season. It is reasonably easy to identify by its robust nature, but the insect catching leaves (lamina) are in threes and individually quite circular. The stem is also glandular hairy, but only in the upper part of the plant, which largely separates it from the other subspecies (subsp. eremaea) that has glandular hairs over the entire stem, however is only known from the Mt. Magnet district.

The flowers are recorded from July to November, but being such a widespread species, flowering times will vary depending on local weather conditions. This species often grows in winter wet zones, especially inland rocky areas, where it will spring to life once temperatures begin to warm and pools start to dry. Closer to the coast with more regular rainfall, it is commonly found in deep sand, although mostly in or near low-lying areas, alternatively Drosera macrantha subsp. macrantha is also found growing in shallow sand over laterite (clay/gravel) soil, where moisture is also retained for longer periods.

Drosera neesii subsp. neesii – Droseraceae

2011-12-24T17:00:00.000+08:00

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Drosera neesii subsp. neesii – Droseraceae

Plants in the large worldwide Drosera genus have long sticky glandular hairs on their leaves that will attach themselves on cantact to any small invertebrate and unless they are strong enough to pull free, will be held fast and consumed as its body reduces to an absorbable fluid. Such plants are termed carnivorous, with Drosera being the most numerous to have evolved to extract nutrients directly from animals, rather than soil like most other plants.

Drosera neesii has two subspecies, with this subspecies the most widely distributed (mostly near coastal) from Cape Arid to north of Perth, whilst the other subsp. borealis extends with little or no overlap, further north from there to Kalbarri. The flowers of Drosera neesii subsp. neesii can be quite variable in color, being recorded in white and various shades of pink. Around Esperance, flowers are mostly pink.

The subsp. neesii is very common in non-calcareous sand/peat loams of low lying areas, especially flood plains, but is also found around swamps and granite outcrops. The plants are erect to 60 cm (2’) although mostly half that. They are self-supporting and can form extensive colonies, although are not congested, but spaced 30-60 cm (1’-2’) apart to make an extensive low wispy vertical arrangement that is quite ornamental, but unfortunately difficult to capture in a photograph.

Initially the leaves (lamina) are a pale green/yellow color, but age orange/red before dying back to their tuber to reappear the following August. Flowers are very delicate and individually short-lived and must be pressed immediately to preserve good specimens. They can be encountered from September to December on mild calm humid days, when usually they are out in some number.

Drosera moorei – Sundew

2011-12-22T19:46:00.000+08:00

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Drosera moorei – Sundew

Droseraceae is the family of the worldwide Drosera genus, commonly known as Sundews. There are hundreds of species with new ones being added regularly, although Australia has the greatest number of species, with most of those situated in Western Australia. Sundews have various shaped leaves (lamina) that have long sticky glandular hairs that trap insects, which when they die are absorbed into the plant as their main source of nourishment.

Their roots are poorly developed for nutriment uptake from the soil as most plants do, although they are used to absorb water and anchor themselves, or if tubers, store food for next season’s growth. This is done because they generally grow in seasonally wet environments with highly acid soils that make mineral absorption poor, so must rely on other means, which with these plants is mostly from decomposing insects. This adaptation also means other plants are unable to establish themselves, thereby providing an open habitat with little plant competition.

Drosera moorei is scattered around Esperance, but with its main distribution inland between Southern Cross and Kalgoorlie, where like its more southerly colonies are found in shallow sandy loams over granite in low-lying areas or drainage zones. Here it can form dense colonies by dropping vertical roots from leaf axils, which develop into tubers for next years growth, thereby producing large tangled masses of plants ready to trap any inspecting insect.

The production of tubers permit these perennial Drosera spp. to thrive in habitats that are wet during winter, but dry out during summer. This means that the vegetative parts above ground (stem and leaves) die, but can quickly regrow to take full advantage of a short growing season in the low rainfall area where these plants grow.

Drosera flowers come in many colours although white would be the most common. Yellow coloured flowers are less frequently encountered and the yellow tuberous spp. were until recently lumped into the Drosera subhirtella complex, but without going into too much detail, their distribution is a good indication of species, although some do overlap. See Nuytsia Vol 13, No 1, 1999.

D. sulphurea is largely confined to the Albany district. D. intricata is widespread, but generally has a broadly obovate shaped leaf. D. subhirtella is mostly inland from the Perth region to Hill River, to Lake Grace and the Stirling Range, plus is the only one with glandular hairs on the stems, petioles and pedicels, all others are glabrous in these places (without hairs). D. zigzagia has limited distribution to the north and south of the Hyden region, it is also the only yellow flowered species that is erect, rather than lax as are the others.

Drosera moorei is known to flower during September and October, although local rainfall may cause slight variation to these times.

Alyxia buxifolia – Sea Box

2011-12-18T18:47:00.000+08:00

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Alyxia buxifolia – Sea Box

In Western Australia this plant is also known as the Dysentery Bush, presumably due to eating the fruits. However near an aboriginal site at Mt Andrew (85 km or 50 odd miles WSW of Balladonia) it is especially common and produces a very sweet and tasty fruit (orange and soft when ripe) that I ate without any ill affect. So maybe the chemical composition varies, as the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) also states “Although the fruit of Sea Box is eaten by coastal birds, it is toxic to humans.”

Alyxia buxifolia is widespread across southern Australia, but is mainly a coastal or near coastal species in SA, Victoria, Tasmania and NSW. In WA it is also coastal from Busselton to north of Perth, of which all locations (including those interstate) have an average annual rainfall of over 800 mm (31.5”). Whereas it is mostly an inland and northern coastal species in WA, of which annual rainfall varies from less than 250 to 500 mm (10”-20”). Around Esperance it is widespread in the mallee region, growing on a variety of soils, but usually in a sandy loam over rocky ground, granite or limestone.

The Sea Box is a member of the Apocynaceae family, with most species restricted to tropical and sub-tropical regions, although not well represented in Australia. Some overseas family members have edible fruits, although a number of others are regarded as poisonous, so care is obviously required if consuming. A number of species are regarded as being ornamental and in some countries are grown commercially.

Alyxia buxifolia is commonly around 3 metres (10’) in height, but in sheltered positions (under eucalypts) can grow taller. The branches are held upright, but with opposite oval leaves they can become quite bushy, although in very dry exposed locations plants can also be short, open and sparse. The small (around 1 cm or 3/8”) tubular orange and white flowers are probably pollinated by moths or something similar with a slender proboscis. Inland, some flowers can usually be found on the shrub at most times, but they tend to be more common during the latter half of the year. Fruits are more common though summer.

Carpobrotus virescens - Coastal Pigface

2011-12-15T16:33:00.000+08:00

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Carpobrotus virescens - Coastal Pigface

Carpobrotus belongs to Aizoaceae, a family that contains many succulent plants that grow in harsh, dry and exposed environments. Carpobrotus virescens is found on dunes and coastal limestone, often in the front line to take the full force of strong sandblasting winds and salt-spray. The strong winds blow the sand around to either expose or bury this plant, but it has evolved to exploit these conditions and seems to suffer no ill-effect.

Carpobrotus virescens is only found in Western Australia from the Nullarbor to Exmouth, but is relatively poorly collected with very scattered herbarium collections. This situation probably reflect its chunky succulent nature and the problems of pressing these specimens, or storing them in alcohol, but it is a very common and widespread coastal species and probably exists even further afield. In SA, Victoria and Tasmania, Carpobrotus rossii is a similar coastal species, which is also recorded from WA, but strangely only from the Peron Peninsula region, south of Carnarvon. In Victoria, NSW and Qld, there is Carpobrotus glaucescens another coastal species.

The WA coastal Carpobrotus (C. virescens) is a very robust plant spreading to 4 metres with stouter foliage and larger flowers than the inland Carpobrotus spp. The flowers commonly exceed 6 cm (2.5“) diameter and the petal-like staminodes (sterile stamens in transition to actual petals) are a very bright light purple with white bases. These can bloom from June to January, although locally after September would be more usual. The fruits are ripe when soft and coloured to provide a moist, sweet and slightly salty refreshment in the new year.

Eremophila glabra subsp. Scaddan - Scrophulariaceae

2011-12-13T16:35:00.000+08:00

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Eremophila glabra subsp. Scaddan - Scrophulariaceae

The above is yet another variation of the Eremophila glabra species, except this subspecies is known only from a small area 40 odd km (25 miles) NNE of Esperance. I know it only from a single shrub 1.5 metres (5’) in height, which is growing in sandy loam (probably over clay) at the base of a drainage system a few hundred metres/yards from a swamp. Owing to the extensive non-calcareous sandy soils of the area, it is unlikely to flood, but water probably seeps from it into surrounding heathland, although going on nearby vegetation, the drainage area would be slightly saline.

Although Eremophila glabra would be one of the most widely distributed Australian Eremophila species, it is surprisingly absent from the Esperance district, with very few records of any subspecies. So having this green/yellow flowered variety on our doorstep is most unusual. The species is easily separated from a similar looking species E. decipiens by the pedicel (flower stalk), which is short and straight, whereas with E. decipiens it is much longer and curved into an S.

Eremophila glabra subsp. Scaddan has a Priority One Conservation Code, which means it is only known from a few (less than 5) small populations, which are under threat and in urgent need of further survey. The greenish flowers are probably pollinated by honeyeating birds as are the other E. glabra subspecies. It would appear to flower from July to early November as observed, although extreme local weather conditions may extend or reduce these times slightly.

Grevillea teretifolia - Round Leaf Grevillea

2011-12-08T14:55:00.000+08:00

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Grevillea teretifolia - Round Leaf Grevillea

Grevillea teretifolia is an inland species occurring to the NW of Esperance and spreading north to Kalgoorlie, then west to the Geraldton region and down to the Fitzgerald River National Park (SW of Ravensthorpe). It favours sandy loams over gravel, where it often forms compact colonies in suitable habitat. The closest colony to Esperance that I know is around 110 km (70 miles) northwest of town.

It is a handsome shrub to 2 metres (over 6’) in height, although more commonly half of that size. The foliage is divided, rounded with pronounced ribs and the tips ending in sharp points, whilst the clusters of pink or white flowers dominate the spreading branches.

The flowering period is recorded from June to November, but would probably be influenced by local weather conditions as to when they begin and end. Insects are strongly attracted to the flowers and a variety of colourful beetles, wasps, flies, butterflies, etc, can usually be found feeding from them, making these plants excellent places to check out local invertebrates.

Eremophila dichroantha - Bale-hook Eremophila

2011-11-29T17:01:00.001+08:00

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Eremophila dichroantha - Bale-hook Eremophila

Eremophila dichroantha is largely endemic to the Esperance mallee region, extending from the Cape Arid area in an arc to Norseman and around to the Ravensthorpe district, with Esperance being centrally placed. It is a bushy broom-like shrub to 3 metres (10’) in height, although mostly only a little over half of that size. After bushfire, compact colonies can develop in drainage zones, where powdery clay soils over limestone (favoured growing medium) are often found,

The hairless leaves and stems have prominent warty swellings (tuberculate) and the leaves have recurved tips (uncinate) to provide its common name. The branches are mostly upright but not stiffly, so can sway gracefully in moderate winds. The violet flowers (occasionally mauve or bluish) although small (to 1 cm or 3/8” in length) are produced in considerable numbers and are quite ornamental although not striking.

Flowering is recorded from August to November, but seasonal rainfall and mild weather conditions play an important role in their exact timing, with late July to September being common, but flowering after this period requiring good (late spring) rainfall.

Hakea strumosa – Proteaceae

2011-11-27T17:36:00.001+08:00

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Hakea strumosa – Proteaceae

This species has leaves to 10 cm (4”) in length that are rounded and very sharply pointed, requiring careful handling to avoid being pricked. When not in flower it could be confused with other Hakea spp. or a Daviesia that have similar leaves, thereby permitting it to blend imperceptibly into the environment, unless the seed capsules (fruits) are spotted. These fruits are very large and quite unlike any other, being smooth, oval shaped and about the size of a golf-ball, plus produced on a thick stalk, which is surprising considering the small size of the flowers.

Hakea strumosa is not common in the Esperance region, with its most easterly distribution to the north of the town. It is more common to the south of Lake Tay around 140 km (85 miles) NW of Esperance and becoming more so further west in the Stirling Range and then north, to the east of Perth, preferring sandy loams over gravel. The flowers are red and held in clusters on mature woody branches, the perianth (petal-like in this instance) open wide and quickly fall leaving only the style with the ovary at its base. A few flowers above still have the perianth, but I was a few days late and most had dropped by the time I arrived.

The stiffly upright shrub grows to 1.5 metres (5’) in height and is moderately bushy, it usually flowers in the September/October period, but as they tend to bloom together, you need to be lucky to catch them in full flower as they can finish abruptly. On plants seen relatively few fruits are produced, which may reflect the reserves of the plant required to produce such large woody capsules, rather than any lack of pollinating birds.

Senna cardiosperma – Fabaceae

2011-11-22T18:18:00.000+08:00

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Senna cardiosperma – Fabaceae

Because of the considerable variation of Senna spp., plus their tendency to readily hybridise, these plants are often very tricky to identify as many past classification attempts can testify. However, Senna cardiosperma is one of the more obvious due to their compressed foliage arrangement. The leaflets can number between 2 and 14 pairs, although around Esperance they are usually 3 or 4 pairs. The important feature is the leaflets are less than 5 mm apart and less than 15 mm (5/8”) in length. Consequently they are tightly spaced along the rachis (stalk), but if the spacings or leaflet size is greater (locally not uncommon), they are either a different species or a hybrid.

Senna cardiosperma is an inland species and common in the Kalgoorlie region. Around Esperance it occurs in the mallee, arcing 100 km (over 60 miles) NW to the NE of the town and becoming more common the further north you go. Like other Senna spp. it germinates readily in a variety of well-drained soils after bushfire or soil disturbance and can grow to around 2 metres (6’) in height, although plants are usually shorter and quite bushy.

The flowers tend to be distinctly yellow when growing in a sandy loam over limestone, but develop an orange tinge when over gravel. Senna cardiosperma is a prolific producer of flowers that are shown to advantage by easily exceeding the squat compressed foliage near the stem. Flowering times locally are usually between July and November, but can also bloom later if local rainfall is drenching and temperatures mild.

Grevillea didymobotrya subsp. didymobotrya

2011-11-18T16:41:00.000+08:00

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Grevillea didymobotrya subsp. didymobotrya

Although this Grevillea is very widespread in the lower arid region of Western Australia, being found to the north of Kalbarri, around Wiluna and east of Kalgoorlie, it only occurs to the NW of Esperance, with the closest colony around 100 km (over 60 miles) away. Here and further NW it favours low lying sandy loams over gravel, where it forms moderately compact colonies that cease once soils deepen and conditions become drier.

The foliage is rounded or slightly flattened and strongly ribbed in cross-section, which gives the initial impression they are tightly recurved. The cream to yellow flowers are mostly terminal and form single or more commonly twinned racemes to over 3 cm (11/4”) in length, a feature the plant is named after. Greek: didymos double, twin + botrys bunch of grapes, the latter referring to the flowers.

This Grevillea has two subspecies, the other being subsp. involuta that is localised to the inland Geraldton region and has obovate to elliptic leaves. Grevillea didymobotrya subsp. didymobotrya can grow to over 3 metres (10') in height, although local plants tend to be around half this size. Flowering time is highly variable, no doubt being very reliant on local weather conditions that favour moist conditions after rain. It is recorded as flowering anytime from June to January, but locally August to November would be more usual.

Stylidium involucratum – Boomerang Trigger Plant

2011-11-15T18:13:00.000+08:00

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Stylidium involucratum – Boomerang Trigger Plant

In Western Australia there are a considerable number of Stylidium species, with many being added or revised on a regular basis. Stylidium involucratum has also been known as S. breviscapum var. involucratum and S. stowardii and is still often confused with Stylidium breviscapum, which remains a recognised species, whilst the others have been discontinued.

Both Stylidium breviscapum and S. involucratum are common in the Esperance region, but the former is more a coastal or near coastal species ranging from Mt Ragged (east of Esperance) to Hopetoun (south of Ravensthorpe and west of Esperance). Stylidium involucratum on the other hand commonly occurs west of Esperance, from inland mallee heath 110 km (70 miles) NW of the town, to become more coastal in the Fitzgerald River National Park (west of Hopetoun) and then north to the Southern Cross region.

Besides a different distribution, Stylidium involucratum differs from S. breviscapum by having unequal sepals (lobes just under the flower), with three of the five being larger than the other two, but with S. breviscapum they are all equal. There are other differences including labellum appendages, but sepal size is the easiest and most obvious means to distinguish between them.

Another Trigger Plant with similar boomerang shaped petals is Stylidium eriopodum, but that occurs further west to the Perth region and is well outside the Esperance district. Locally Stylidium involucratum is commonly encountered on gravel soils, sometimes with a shallow non-calcareous sandy overlay. Flowering has been noted from September to November.

Grevillea cagiana - Red Toothbrushes

2011-11-11T17:17:00.001+08:00

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Grevillea cagiana - Red Toothbrushes

Grevillea cagiana is a large bushy shrub commonly between 3-4 metres (10’-12’) in height, although it can reach 6 metres. The slender upright foliage is a silvery green to 12 cm (4”) in length and in the plants examined was undivided, although elsewhere they may be dissected. The Pink/cream toothbrush flowers with bright orange/red styles, extend from the tips of the upright branches and so are also angled upwards. This results in the styles facing towards the centre of the shrub and not upwards or outwards as most other species, but as the pollinating birds would be perched on the bare inner branches, the flowers are correctly positioned for them.

This Grevillea is mainly distributed in tall mallee heath from the NW and W of Esperance to the Bremer Range, then onto Merredin before turning NE to the Kalgoorlie/ Coolgardie region. It can be quite common in large colonies growing in deep sandy soils (sometimes over gravel), although plants tend to be widely spaced and in the colonies seen, did not form thickets.

The toothbrush flowers with their very bright styles plus slender foliage, immediately reminded me of the much smaller and more coastal Grevillea concinna (Red Combs), but Grevillea cagiana is unlikely to be confused with it, particularly as the similar toothbrush flowers of G. concinna are deflexed. Flowering time is highly variable and can be anytime from June to March, no doubt influenced by local weather conditions in this normally dry region.

Ptilotus obovatus var. obovatus - Cotton-bush

2011-11-08T19:47:00.002+08:00

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Ptilotus obovatus var. obovatus - Cotton-bush

I came across this species 140 km (85 miles) NE of Esperance, which considering its most southerly record is nearly 200 km west of Kalgoorlie and about 460 km (285 miles) NW of the above encounter, can be a little disturbing to collectors. These large discrepancies are not unusual in this part of the country, as vast areas are rarely if ever visited with only a few widely spaced 4WD tracks, so there would be many plants awaiting discovery.

Ptilotus obovatus var. obovatus was quite common on a large plain where shallow loams overlie granite or limestone, thereby restricting the size of the plants able to survive in this hot and low rainfall habitat, consequently any trees are small, few and far between. A fire had passed through the area 2-3 years before making conditions ideal for plant growth, which at other times may have limited the number of species present.

This plant is also known as the Smoke Bush or Silver-tails and besides WA occurs in the inland of NT, SA, NSW and Qld. There is another variety (var. griseus), but in WA it is only recorded centrally near the SA boarder and has pink flowers. Ptilotus obovatus var. obovatus grows to around a metre (3’) in height and generally forms a compact rounded shrub; the foliage and stems are densely covered in small-branched hairs, which is an important identification feature.

In WA flowering is recorded from June to December, but there would be some variation to this depending on location and rainfall.

Ptilotus spathulatus forma spathulatus – Pussy-tails

2011-11-05T18:54:00.000+08:00

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Ptilotus spathulatus forma spathulatus – Pussy-tails

The Ptilotus genus belongs to the Amaranthaceae family, but this group has been extensively reclassified with most species previously placed in the Trichinium genus and the Amarantaceae family. Plants in Ptilotus have terminal clusters of bisexual flowers and alternating leaves, which collectively separates them from other Amaranthaceae members, plus the larger and often colourful flowers make them the most ornamental.

The often elongated flower spikes have encouraged common names like Pussy-tails, Lamb-tails, Long-tails, etc, whilst plants with shorter spikes are frequently referred to as Mulla Mullas. Most occur in the warmer parts of Australia, especially inland, but several are also found in the Esperance district. Ptilotus spathulatus forma spathulatus can be encountered from the SW portion of the Nullarbor to Albany and north to the Geraldton district. However there is another form or variety (forma angustatus) that also occurs in the Esperance region, but is not as common or widespread.

The two forms of Ptilotus spathulatus differ from each other, by forma spathulatus having flower spikes greater than 2 cm (3/4”) diameter and the tips of the flowers barely projecting beyond the floral hairs. The flower spikes of forma angustatus are less than 2 cm diameter and the flower tips are longer than the floral hairs. Both forms have creamy/green flower spikes.

Ptilotus spathulatus forma spathulatus prefers sandy soils over granite, limestone or gravel, forma angustatus is more common on heavier clay loams. The species name of spathulatus refers to the spoon shaped leaves and the flowering time depends on rainfall/weather conditions, so can be anytime from August to November.

Dampiera fasciculata - Bundled-leaf Dampiera

2011-11-01T17:01:00.000+08:00

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Dampiera fasciculata - Bundled-leaf Dampiera

The genus Dampiera belongs to the large and often highly colourful Goodeniaceae family. These are largely fast growing herbaceous species, usually amongst the first to germinate after a bushfire and readily colonising disturbed soils. However, most are relatively short lived and largely disappear after a few years as larger plants begin to dominate.

Dampiera fasciculata is so named because of the leaf clusters on the upper branches; it is also recognised by the triangular shaped stems that have rounded corners. It is a very common sub-shrub particularly around the coast (although it also occurs inland in non-calcareous sandy soils) from Cape Arid (east of Esperance) to the west of Albany. It is found in most heath areas, around granite outcrops and on gravel soils, plus being a colonising species is often seen along roadsides.

In open habitats the Bundled-leaf Dampiera is a spreading clumpy plant to ½ metre (20”) in height, or when young or growing near larger species as a more scraggly semi-prostrate one. The flowers are mostly deep blue, although some can be paler, but all are colourful and very eye-catching. Flowering is recorded from August to November, although with good rainfall and mild temperatures, this can be extended to the end of the year.

Senna pleurocarpa - varieties pleurocarpa and angustifolia

2011-10-29T18:15:00.000+08:00

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Senna pleurocarpa

Senna pleurocarpa has three varieties of which two occur in Western Australia and both are found in the Esperance region (third variety restricted to Qld). The variety angustifolia is restricted to WA, whilst var. pleurocarpa occurs in all mainland states except Victoria. The local varieties mainly differ from each other by the number of leaflets each has, with var. pleurocarpa having 5-7 pairs and var. angustifolia 8-10. Mention is also made of the bracts, leaflet and pod size, although locally there is very little difference between them and sizes sometimes are greater or smaller than those specified.

The number of leaflets I find also varies, with var. pleurocarpa ranging from 3-7 pairs and var. angustifolia from 7-9 pairs even on the same plant, so locally identification can be tricky and why I include both in this post. It is highly likely that other forms exist elsewhere that differ more, but they do come close to merging around Esperance. Both varieties are fast growing, but relatively short-lived, so need regular bushfires or soil disturbance to keep them around, otherwise they disappear until after the next bushfire.

Senna pleurocarpa var. pleurocarpa

This variety I encounter more on and around granitite outcrops, with seed being distributed (probably by birds) into surrounding areas to produce plants in differing habitats, but usually on disturbed soils. It commonly grows to 1.5 metres (5’) in height, although it can grow taller and is recorded flowering from July to October. However locally September to November is more usual. Most of my sightings of this variety have been to the north and northeast of Esperance where granite outcrops are more common.

Senna pleurocarpa var. angustifolia

This variety I find more often in sandy loams, particularly over limestone and mainly to the NW of Esperance, but also in the NE to overlap with var. pleurocarpa, although not growing together. It tends to spread more and is commonly less than 1.5 metres (5’) in height. Flowering is recorded anytime between July to April, although local rainfall would have a considerable influence and in summer dominant rainfall zones (where this plant also grows), so would probably bloom then. Around Esperance there is little difference in the flowering period of either variety, probably reflecting similar weather conditions.

Pterostylis sargentii - Frog Greenhood

2011-10-25T15:47:00.000+08:00

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Pterostylis sargentii - Frog Greenhood

The Frog Greenhood orchid is mainly an inland species, commonly occurring in sheltered habitats under shrubs or between rocks in sandy loams over granite, gravel or limestone. It is found inland from Geraldton to the Stirling Range near Albany, across to the north and northeast of Esperance, then onto Norseman, to return further inland to the Geraldton region.

It mostly grows in small colonies and being around 15 cm (6”) in height with small dark flowers, it is commonly overlooked as the viewers attention is usually taken by larger and more colourful shrubs in a seldom visited location. The bent shape of the labellum (which some liken to a frog and how this plant got its common name) is unique to Pterostylis sargentii and combined with its small size and the absence of a basal rosette of leaves, it is unlikely to be confused with other species.

Flowering time is recorded from July to November, but this would be highly dependent on variable seasonal rainfall, which on average is between 20-40 cm (8”-16”) per annum, but often considerably less.

Eremophila lucida - Shining Poverty Bush

2011-10-21T17:36:00.000+08:00

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Eremophila lucida - Shining Poverty Bush

This West Australian Eremophila was named by Dr RJ Chinnock in his 2007 publication (book) called ‘Eremophila and Allied Genera,’ and subtitled A Monograph of the Myoporaceae, which has now (in WA) been reclassified into the Scrophulariaceae family. Eremophila lucida has to date only been recorded from the Norseman region 185 km (115 miles) north of Esperance, plus near Lake Cronin, which coincidently is also 185 km away, but WSW of Norseman.

Being so restricted in distribution, this species has a Priority One Conservation Code rating, which means it is known from less than five populations that are under threat and in urgent need of further survey. The above were photographed at Lake Tay, which is roughly half way between Lake Cronin and Norseman, but around 90 km (55 miles) further south, so although a new location, it is within an expected distribution zone. Further north there is a very large saltlake complex of several hundred square kilometres, which could also provid habitat for this plant, but access is very difficult and consequently has probably not been investigated botanically.

The above plants were part of only a handful growing 2-300 metres/yards apart and just before the Samphire zone of a southern inlet off the main playa lake, which is on the other side of a low sand dune about 400 metres/yards distant. The soil is a coarse sandy loam mixed with wind-blown clay from the lake. Two flower color forms were present, one being cream/yellow and the other a pink/red and both with a corolla (flower) length of 3 cm (1.25”). Officially, they are recorded blooming during October (same as my sighting), but going on the state of the plants, I would say they would likely flower from September to November.

Eremophila lucida is called the Shining Poverty Bush, as the leaves are very shiny due to their viscid (slightly sticky) nature. The plants grow to 2 metres (little over 6’) and due to the harsh hot/dry environment, drop their lower leaves during summer to leave their foliage on the upper branches, although in a less extreme habitat they would probably be more bushy and quite ornamental.

Cyanostegia angustifolia - Tinsel-flower

2011-10-18T16:44:00.001+08:00

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Cyanostegia angustifolia - Tinsel-flower

Cyanostegia is an ornamental genus from the Lamiaceae family and one that looks more suited to an English country garden. Yet these delicate looking plants sunbake in the hot/dry inland, from Kalgoorlie to inland Geraldton, SE to Lake Grace, then east to south of Lake Tay, 140 km (85 miles) NW of Esperance.

Locally growing to a little over a metre (4’) in height, this species favours sand/gravel soils in mallee heath. The terminal floral clusters appear mauve to pale blue, but this coloration is from the large colourful calyces (flower base or cup), the actual flower is the smaller dark purple, five lobed corolla that sits just above the calyx on a short tube and will promptly drop at maturity.

Presumably the soon deciduous corolla attracts pollinating insects before they fall, possibly by ultraviolet light that is invisible to us, but not to many pollinating invertebrates. Flowering is progressively anytime from July to November, although the flower-like calyces could exceed this period whilst the seed matures.

There are five Cyanostegia species, all occurring in WA (four endemic), with one species extending into the NT. The four endemic species are found in the southern portion of WA, but only C. angustifolia extends into my Esperance region, the others grow further to the west.

Eremophila glabra subsp. tomentosa - Tar Bush

2011-10-14T17:22:00.002+08:00

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Eremophila glabra subsp. tomentosa - Tar Bush

Eremophila glabra is a prominent and widespread member of the Scrophulariaceae family, but is not usually found in the Esperance region, despite various forms commonly occurring throughout WA and all States except Tasmania. Being so widespread, there are many forms that have currently been divided into 9 subspecies, 7 of which are endemic to Western Australia, with subsp. glabra occurring Australia wide and subsp. murrayana endemic to the Murray district of SA, NSW and Victoria. However, there is a much larger number of undescribed subspecies that await further study.

Eremophila glabra subsp. tomentosa is recorded from a coastal strip mainly from south of Geraldton to south of Exmouth, plus widely spaced inland between the Wiluna and the Kalgoorlie districts, with odd collections from further east near the WA and SA boarder, also coastal on the Nullarbor. The above in two small colonies, were encountered around 4 km (2.5 miles) SW of Mt Newmont (large granite outcrop 150 km or 95 miles NE of Esperance) and almost 500 km (310 miles) south of its closest northern colony. Locally, the soil was a sandy loam possibly overlying limestone and a bushfire had passed through the area 2-3 years earlier.

This species despite its many forms is also similar to another common, widespread and highly variable species Eremophila decipiens. However these are easily separated by the pedicel (flower stalk), with E. decipiens being at least twice as long as its longest sepal and curved into an S shape, whilst with all forms of E. glabra the pedicel is straight and about the same length as the largest sepal.

Eremophila glabra subsp. tomentosa grows to 2 metres (6’-7’) and apart from the actual corolla (petals and floral tube), is thickly covered in soft matted white hairs, giving the shrub an attractive grey coloration that spectacularly contrasts with the bird attracting orange/red flowers. Flowering is recorded from April to October, but this would vary depending on local weather conditions.

Verticordia verticordina – Myrtaceae

2011-10-11T17:49:00.000+08:00

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Verticordia verticordina – Myrtaceae

This unusual looking plant has confused a number of botanists, especially those who have tried to classify it. Initially it was included in the Chamelaucium genus, but later transferred to Darwinia where it remained for well over 100 years. It was eventually placed in Verticordia when Alex George revised the genus in 1991. However I must admit, when I first saw it, I too thought it might be a Darwinia as they mostly have undivided sepals and petals, plus a long style.

Verticordia verticordina is a rare species, restricted to the east of Esperance, mainly between Cape Le Grand and Cape Arid (90 km or 55 miles apart). The colony I happened upon, was growing after a bushfire at the base of an exposed rocky outcrop flanking the Alexander River about 80 km (50 miles) from Esperance. The Verticordia habitat was formed by clay materials eroded from the rock, then covered by wind-blown non-calcareous sand, which would receive additional moisture from rainwater run-off. There were 20 or so very localised plants, however this habitat is not uncommon in the district and other colonies are also likely to occur.

With such a limited distribution, this species has a Priority Three, Conservation Code rating, meaning it is only known from a few locations and in need of further survey. Verticordia verticordina can be prostrate or grow as a small shrub to 30 cm (1’) in height, the flowers are a pale green and although only opening to 5 mm (under ¼”) diameter, each has a style over three times this in length and whilst not being spectacular to look at, they do have character.

The golden brown strips at the base of the style are staminodes with similar alternating but shorter stamens. Flowering is recorded from August to October, but are also known to bloom at other times, which would probably depend on good rainfall and seepage from the rocky slope.

Pityrodia terminalis - Native Foxglove

2011-10-06T23:49:00.001+08:00

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Pityrodia terminalis - Native Foxglove

The Native Foxglove is a very exotic looking member of the Lamiaceae family, stirring memories of carefully tended European gardens that are far removed from the semi-arid mallee heath of inland Western Australia where this plant occurs. However being so unusual it will not be overlooked whether in flower of not. Despite a European appearance, it shows its Australian heritage by a dense covering of white hairs, which give a soft grey demeanour and the means to survive a hot dry climate rather than a cooler European one.

Pityrodia terminalis is found to the NW of Esperance and ranges to the Kalgoorlie region and west to the north of Geraldton. The above, which probably represents the extent of its SE distribution, was encountered growing in gravel soil just south of the 4WD section of Fields Road about 110 km (70 miles) from Esperance. It was also seen further west in similar habitat to the south of Lake Tay, so not uncommon in this part of the world.

Growing to a little over a metre (4’) in height, it produces on upright branches 1.5-2 cm (3/4”) long bloated tubular, white to pale pink flowers. However elsewhere these can be a bright red, which must be quite impressive as the local white form is very eye-catching. Flowering is recorded from July to January, but that would be over a large area with different climate zones, so exact timing may vary a little depending on local weather conditions.

Eremophila biserrata – Prostrate Eremophila

2011-10-04T18:56:00.000+08:00

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Eremophila biserrata – Prostrate Eremophila

The Eremophila genus from the Scrophulariaceae (Myoporaceae) family, contains well over 200 species (most in WA) with many more being regularly discovered. This is because they are a ‘desert loving species’ therefore mostly found in the hot/arid, sparsely populated and poorly collected inland portion of Australia. They come in all shapes and sizes with flowers in just about every color. However, prostrate species are most unusual within this diversity of form, with only three fully prostrate plants, plus a handful other species that have prostrate forms, but they do not produce roots from the horizontal branches, as do the three fully prostrate ones.

Of the three prostrate species, E. debilis occurs in NSW and Qld, whilst the other two (E. serpens and E. biserrata) are endemic to Western Australia and both are found in my Esperance survey region, although this species (E. biserrata) only just. It mainly occurs further west in the Hyden/Forrestania/Lake King region, with the above being the most easterly known colony 115 km (70 miles) NW of Esperance, growing in sandy soil over clay 50-100 metres from a dry saline river bed. The above habitat photograph was taken with my back to the river, with the Eremophila plants occurring on both sides of the track.

Eremophila biserrata has a Priority Four Conservation Code rating, which means the plant is considered rare, but not currently endangered. The above colony had around 20 or so plants, measuring to 60 cm (2’) in diameter, although further west and probably in a less dry habitat, it has been recorded growing to 3 metres across. The green upright toothed leaves, are tightly packed and can vary in shape and size between colonies. The dull red/yellow/green flowers are also upright and protrude above the leaves, they are noticeably smaller than Eremophila serpens, being around 2 cm (3/4”) in corolla length, whilst E. serpens is over 2.5 cm (1”) in corolla length. However, there is unlikely to be any confusion between the two as their foliage is vastly different.

Depending on local rainfall, flowering can occur anytime from autumn to early summer, although September/October would be the most reliable period. The flowers are pollinated by honeyeating birds that hop over the thick green leafy mats to do so.

Verticordia mitchelliana subsp. implexior - Rapier Featherflower

2011-09-29T18:00:00.001+08:00

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Verticordia mitchelliana subsp. implexior - Rapier Featherflower

This impressive looking shrub of around ½ metre (20”) in height x over 2 metres (6’6”) in width is found in the far NW of my survey area, with the above being encountered 115 km (70 miles) NW of Esperance, on the south side of a mostly dry creek that drains the upper Lort River catchment and near the intersection with the 4WD section of Fields Road, Here it is quite common, although localised on a sandy rise, which probably represents its most south-easterly distribution. The habitat shot above shows the rise and Peak Eleanora.

Verticordia mitchelliana has two subspecies, with the above occurring locally in mallee heath and extends westerly to about half way to Perth. The other subspecies (subsp. mitchelliana) is less common and found SE of Morawa (300 km or 190 miles north of Perth).

The soft silvery foliage stands upright, whilst the flowers are pendulous. The slightly inclined stems spread outwards and their tips are usually less than 30 cm (12”) from the ground, which I presume is to permit honeyeating birds to stand or hover, in order to feed from the hanging flowers. Above these spreading branches there are often other parallel branches with roughly a 10 cm gap between, permitting birds to stand on the lower branch to reach these flowers.

The smooth looking flower buds, are actually a couple of smooth deciduous bracteoles that completely cover and protect the highly divided inner sepals. The lobes of the sepals are fringed with long hairs that are bent back 180 degrees to produce that tangled mass of scarlet hairs, which probably deters crawling insects. The outside of the petals are covered in short hairs, except for their tips that are divided into longer ones; inside, the petals are hairless. The inner yellow projections are short stamens that alternate with longer staminodes. The long mostly straight style compliments the common name of Rapier Featherflower.

Leaves are around 1.5 cm (5/8”) in length and the flowers 2 cm (3/4”) in diameter, which hang from similar length peduncles (stalks). Flowering is recorded from August to December.

Pittosporum angustifolium - Weeping Pittosporum

2011-09-23T01:16:00.001+08:00

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Pittosporum angustifolium – Weeping Pittosporum

Pittosporum angustifolium is also known as the Native Apricot or Cattlebush and belongs to the family Pittosporaceae that contains a number of interesting shrubs like Bursaria, plus colourful climbing plants like Sollya, Billardiera and Marianthus, many of which are only found in Western Australia. P. angustifolium was known as P. phylliraeoides, but this species now only refers to a WA coastal species between Geraldton and Karratha.

The weeping Pittosporum angustifolium is widespread inland, although in WA mainly south of Wiluna, but extends across the Nullarbor into SA, Victoria, NSW, Qld and the NT. It is not officially recorded for the Esperance region, although it can be found growing in sand/clay loams, particularly over weathered granite between Peak Charles (NNW of Esperance) and Mt Buraminya, 180 km or 110 miles to the ESE. The above were photographed 2-3 km SE of Peak Charles.

Growing to 8 metres (26’) in height and weeping almost to the ground, it is a very handsome tree even when not in flower or fruit. The flowers are a small creamy yellow and will bloom anytime from June to October, but the main attraction is the bright (1-2 cm or ½”) orange fruits, which contrast against the fine green foliage. These fruits (depending on seasonal conditions) appear anytime between September and March. The fruits spit in two, thereby releasing a couple of seeds, which are commonly eaten and spread about by birds. Although the fruits look sweet and edible, their taste is not palatable to most who have tried them, although stock readily consume the foliage.

Grevillea excelsior - Flame Grevillea

2011-09-16T17:42:00.001+08:00

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Grevillea excelsior - Flame Grevillea

The Flame Grevillea like its name suggests is a most impressive looking small tree with vivid orange/red flowers, of which the native honeyeating birds are regular visitors to dine on the floral nectar. The plants I saw in two widely separated colonies, were to 5 metres (16’) in height, but apparently they can grow to 8 metres, plus expand considerably in width.

This remarkable Grevillea is mostly an inland species being mainly found inland from Geraldton to the Kalgoorlie region, then south to near Peak Charles (120 km or 75 miles NNW of Esperance) and only just extending into my Esperance survey district. One of the two colonies seen was a little south of Peak Charles growing in deep sand, whilst the other was growing in gravel off Fields Road around 110 km (70 miles) NW of Esperance and probably represents the extent of its south-eastern distribution. Each colony had between 20-40 plants that were restricted to a few hectares/acres, although 40 km further west they are quite common and widespread.

Grevillea excelsior was initially confused with a similar species G. eriostachya and sometimes their ranges overlap, but that species seldom exceeds 3 metres (10’) in height and the flowers are usually green and yellow. It is however very widespread and mostly found north of Perth, along the coast to near Broome and inland to central Australia. It is also found in SA and the NT.

The more local Grevillea excelsior (depending on suitable weather conditions) flowers anytime from August to November by producing very colourful toothbrush shaped flowering racemes to 15 cm (6”) in length. The grey/green subpinnatisect foliage is long and slender with lobes to 20 cm (8”) that are only 1.5 mm (less than 1/8”) wide. The lobes are often of different length and not necessarily formed in pairs.

Pterostylis allantoidea - Shy Greenhood

2011-09-13T15:41:00.000+08:00

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Pterostylis allantoidea - Shy Greenhood

This largely inland mallee greenhood is rarely seen within the Esperance region, although it is found on rocky habitats from Ravensthorpe to south of Kalgoorlie, then SE to Balladonia. However the above was photographed on a large granite outcrop called Mt. Newmont 150 km (93 miles) NE of Esperance, which is a small distribution extension for this species, although not unexpected.

A few plants in a single colony were encountered on the upper southern facing slope, growing in shallow loam between rocks and boulders, 2-3 years after a bushfire. I presume it is called the Shy Greenhood as it mostly occurs in remote locations, so is seldom seen. It appears to be rather alien when compared to other Pterostylis spp. due to the exceptionally long curved dorsal sepal, but it is not named (P. allantoidea) after that, but because of the highly irritable, sausage shaped labellum (seen in the first photo).

Flowering is recorded during August and September that also agrees with my sighting.

Gompholobium scabrum - Painted Lady

2011-09-06T15:54:00.003+08:00

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Gompholobium scabrum - Painted Lady

This pea-flower from the Fabaceae family, would be one of the most spectacular with large brightly coloured pink/purple/red flowers and well deserving its common name of Painted Lady, but when not in bloom these plants would not attract a second glance as they are insignificant and dissolve into the background. Gompholobium scabrum is widespread, ranging from north of Perth to east of Esperance, but although collectively common, locally they are usually found in small groups or scattered individuals

Around Esperance it favours a heath habitat in moderately flat non-calcareous sandy soil over weathered clay and coastal limestone, so would be slow draining and retain moisture for extended periods. In these windswept environments, the vegetation is undulating to around a metre (3’) in height, from which Gompholobium scabrum just protrudes.

Most Gompholobium plants produce 4 seeds per pod and once were the only members of this genus, but G. scabrum and several others have just 2 seeds per pod. This feature was initially used to place them into different genera, the other called Burtonia, so Gompholobium scabrum was previously known as Burtonia scabrum (now discarded).

The foliage is only about 1/2 cm (1/4”) in length, but are digitate (leaf lobes coming from a central axis, like fingers from a hand), whilst the prolific number of flowers are around 2 cm (3/4”) diameter. The flowering period is recorded from August to November, but weather conditions determine whether they bloom earlier or later, although the months of September/October are reasonably reliable.

Daviesia pachyphylla - Ouch Bush

2011-09-02T19:11:00.001+08:00

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Daviesia pachyphylla - Ouch Bush

This particular shrub would have to be one of the most unusual of the pea-flowers (Fabaceae), especially regarding the very fleshy (succulent) blue/green foliage. The leaves are up to 2.5 cm (1”) in length, firm and thicker than a pencil, but with the most viscous sharp point, guaranteed to draw blood unless great care is taken when handling and fully deserving its common name of Ouch Bush. Nevertheless, it is a most interesting looking plant, growing to 1.2 metres (4’) in height in a low heath habitat on a high range of sandy loams overlying eroded granite. This habitat is very dry and windswept with most vegetation stunted and low to the ground, leaving these shrubs to tower over them.

In this harsh environment, Daviesia pachyphylla is very common, but largely restricted to it. From a photographic point of view these plants are difficult to do them justice, as they are very open with an equally interesting and colourful background, enabling them to melt into it imperceptivity. This is further assisted by them not growing close together (permitting easy passage between), so difficult to establish a focal point, also the lower fleshy leaves tend to fall during hot dry weather, although those growing alongside the 4WD track with deeper soils and additional rainwater run-off, are less affected.

Daviesia pachyphylla is found from the Stirling Range (NE of Albany) to Ravensthorpe, which is outside my survey area, however the above colony occurs 55 km (34 miles) ENE of Ravensthorpe, or 125 km (80 miles) NW of Esperance and probably represents its most easterly distribution.

The yellow and red/brown flowers are recorded from May to September, but this would depend on local climate conditions. Locally July and August would be the usual period considering average weather conditions.

Eucalyptus creta - Large-fruited Gimlet

2011-08-30T19:49:00.000+08:00

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Eucalyptus creta - Large-fruited Gimlet

This species grows in mallee country to the north of Esperance and is found around 80 or so kilometres (50 miles) from the coast. It is very habitat specific preferring a heavy brown clay loam, noted for its sunken hollows known as crab-holes; it does not become swampy, but holds water well after prolonged rainfall. These habitats are usually dominated by Eucalyptus creta, but are mostly only a few hectares/acres in area, although over a few km/miles there could be several.

Eucalyptus creta is a slender tree reaching around 15 metres (50’) in height, the canopy is not wide and the foliage and flowers are usually well out of reach, but the birds love the 2.5 cm (1”) diameter yellow flowers and fly noisily from blossom to blossom. However the most spectacular feature is the glossy copper-orange trunk that is sometimes partially fluted and wonderfully smooth to the touch.

Under the trees there is little to no lower story vegetation, as these soils become very dry during summer and only the most hardy and deep rooted shrubs are able to survive the conditions. Flowering is anytime between May and September, the exact timing dependant on weather conditions when days are warm following seasonal rainfall that has moistened the soil. Once conditions are suitable they will progressively produce flowers over a 3 month period.

Pterostylis sp. ‘hairy’ - Hairy-stemmed Snail Orchid

2011-08-25T16:23:00.000+08:00

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Pterostylis sp. ‘hairy’ - Hairy-stemmed Snail Orchid

This species is detailed in the authoritative ‘Orchids of Western Australia’ by A Brown, P Dundas, K Dixon and S Hopper and apparently apart from Mt Augustus, occurs between Cue and Balladonia. The orchids above were photographed at a large rocky outcrop shown on some maps as Mt Newmont, which is 150 km (93 miles) NE of Esperance and 85 km (53 miles) SW of Balladonia, so a small range extension.

Two colonies were seen, one on the low-lying outer granite apron, growing in a sandy loam over granite and under tall shading shrubs, whilst the other (with longer stem hairs), was facing northeast on the upper rocky slopes, so more exposed to sunlight. They grew to 15 cm (6”) in height and were openly spaced within their colony. The flowers (excluding the long vertical sepals) were around 1.5 cm (3/4”) in depth.

Flowering is recorded from June to September, which also agrees with my observations.

Patersonia lanata forma lanata – Woolly Patersonia

2011-08-19T15:20:00.001+08:00

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Patersonia lanata forma lanata – Woolly Patersonia

The genus Patersonia belongs to the Iris Family ‘ Iridaceae’ and are generally known as Native Irises. They are mostly less than a metre (3’) in height and have 3 large petals and rush-like foliage. Usually these plants are moisture loving and commonly found in low-lying areas that periodically flood, but there are exceptions to this rule and Patersonia lanata is one of these, by growing on hillsides often in deep non-calcareous sand, but will also tolerate well drained gravel/clay soils.

This species can be encountered in near coastal environments from Israelite Bay (east of Esperance) to the Albany region. However, despite being quite common throughout its range, it seldom occurs in large colonies, but in suitable habitat as small groups and well-spaced individuals. There are two forms of Patersonia lanata and both are found in the Esperance region although this form is by far the most common. They differ by forma lanata having brown matted hairs on the lower leaf margins, the flower stem and below the flowers. The other called Patersonia lanata forma calvata, is without hairs on the lower leaf margins and lacks the matted hairs elsewhere.

Patersonia lanata forma lanata is a tufted plant, growing to 50 cm (20”) in height, one or two flowers develop on top of a naked stem (scape), with each producing a single bloom (sometimes together) that only last for a day. However, many flowers are produced over time, often on successive days (rarely on very cloudy or rainy days) so they can bloom for many weeks, particularly when there are several scapes.

The 3 cm (11/4”) diameter flowers are normally purple or blue, or very rarely white. On bright sunny days these plants will bloom between August and November, but better displays occur for a few years following bushfires or soil disturbance, which seems to invigorate them. Plants otherwise begin to slowly die back and although still alive, may not flower at all, although will following the next bushfire.

Pimelea aeruginosa – Thymelaeaceae

2011-08-16T18:00:00.000+08:00

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Pimelea aeruginosa – Thymelaeaceae

There are many ornamental Pimeleas that are also known as Rice Flowers, and of which Pimelea aeruginosa is one of them with its neat blue/green foliage and large pendant yellow flower clusters. Recorded growing to 11/2 metres (5’) in height, locally it is more common about half that size and can be found after bushfires or soil disturbance NW of Esperance, usually on gravel soils.

Pimelea aeruginosa is mostly an inland species, occurring from west of Kalgoorlie to the Geraldton region, then SE to Esperance. The individual hairless flowers are slender tubular and individually are not particularly ornamental, but are clustered within 2-3 cm (1”) diameter yellow bracts, which go on to develop an orange blush as the internal flowers progress to seed.

This species is not found east of Esperance, although a similar looking species Pimelea pendens that has sparkling white flowers does. The flowering of P. aeruginosa is recorded from May to October, but locally July would be the more usual starting period.

Bossiaea barbarae – Barbara’s Bossiaea

2011-08-12T16:28:00.000+08:00

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Bossiaea barbarae – Barbara’s Bossiaea

In Western Australia the genus Bossiaea is now (due to a newly adopted classification system) been placed into the Fabaceae family, but may still be contained in Papilionaceae or Leguminodae elsewhere. Bossiaeas are widely distributed in Australia particularly in southern parts, with WA having around 45 species (38 described), which is considerably more than the rest of the country. The WA ones were reviewed in 2006 by Dr. J. H. Ross who described 14 new species of which Bossiaea barbarae is one. It is named after Barbara Archer who is a substantial botanical collector from Norseman (200 km or 125 miles north of Esperance).

Bossiaea barbarae has been found from Esperance to Norseman, plus NW of Hyden, whilst the plants above were encountered at the intersection of Rockhole Road and the Oldfield River, which is centrally sited between these groupings. It is not a threatened species, but like many pea-flowers it appreciates periodic bushfires to reduce larger vegetation and stimulate seed germination, otherwise it will temporally disappear and therefore cannot be recorded. It grows in sandy loams around saltlakes and in this case above a brackish river, which seems to indicate a liking for mild saline conditions.

This species spreads from a central root system to periodically produce vertical stems of around ½ metre (18”) in height. It is quite prickly by having numerous small side-branches that end in a sharp point, these generally have small blue/green leaves each side and appear to be pinnate, but there is no specific arrangement. Nevertheless the leaves are an important identification feature, by being flat (no recurved edges) and having a pronounced central rib on the underside. Also as already mentioned, they are glaucous (blue/green).

The flowers although not especially large (less than 1 cm or 3/8” diameter) are numerous and colourful, thereby providing a pleasing display from August to October.

Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata – Emu Bush

2011-08-04T19:22:00.000+08:00

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Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata – Emu Bush

Due to the adoption of a new classification system in Western Australia the Eremophila genus has been transferred to the Scrophulariaceae family. Myoporaceae, the family where it and other genera had been located is officially no longer recognised here, although genera and species names remain the same.

Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata is a very attractive species that has only been found to the NE of Esperance (east of Mt. Buraminya) in dry mallee country, which is typified by shallow fine sand and clay loam over limestone. There are a couple of colonies close together, plus another 3-4 km to the NE. However I suspect this species is more widespread, but the area has not been burnt for several decades, resulting in the mature mallee dominating the moisture from limited rainfall, which forces the demise of most lower story species. Currently this species is classified and gazetted as Threatened Rare Flora.

After a bushfire when the eucalypts are either killed or forced to regrow from their rootstock, a dramatic change in the vegetation takes place, where many species not seen before will germinate and flourish for a few years before again being smothered by larger developing vegetation. An area alongside the track where this Eremophila grows was as a firebreak measure, chained and burnt a couple of years ago and has encouraged a considerable increase in the germination of this Eremophila, which has probably doubled the known population.

There is another subspecies called Eremophila denticulata subsp. denticulata, but this is only known from the Ravensthorpe district around 200 km (125 miles) west of Esperance and outside my flora zone. However some years ago I did find a single shrub growing in coarse sand in the Oldfield River, which just enters the Esperance region and I shall take photographs if I encounter it again.

Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata grows to around 2 metres in height and besides the large green leaves, has impressive brightly coloured flowers that initially are often orange, but change to lipstick pink or red. These are close to 3 cm (1”) in length and supported on a long curved pedicel (stalk); when pollinated by honeyeating birds, they produce rounded fruit depressed at the apex (the other subspecies does not, plus its leaf edges have more pronounced teeth).

Fruits are produced in some number and probably would have been eaten and distributed by Emus via their droppings, but as bushfires have not occurred in recent years, therefore neither have the other edible plants they need, so they are less common now and the seed just falls to the ground. Flowering time is highly variable and dependent on local rainfall, but will bloom if an early wet autumn or more commonly during spring.

Hybanthus epacroides - Spiny Hybanthus

2011-07-29T19:04:00.000+08:00

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Hybanthus epacroides - Spiny Hybanthus

Hybanthus are native Violets and reside in the Violaceae family. This particular species is commonly encountered as a small, very compact, small, spiky shrub with white flowers sporting tones of yellow and blue. However there is another form that most would think a different species, as there are no spikes and the leaves are usually larger and the tips abruptly recurved to produce a bilobed apex, plus the flowers tend to be more blue.

This spikeless form has been referred to as Hybanthus biloba, but it is an Unresolved Name, meaning it is not officially recognised as a species, probably because these plants are highly variable and grade into each other over their range. The recognised name of Hybanthus epacroides extends inland from north of Albany to Moora, then easterly to the NW Nullarbor region, moving down to Cape Arid, then around the coast to near Albany. Around Esperance it is quite common, although usually in scattered small colonies from near coastal to mallee regions, growing mostly on non-calcareous sandy soils, but also on gravel/clay ones where flower colours are often brighter.

Hybanthus epacroides is a compact shrub growing to ½ metre (18”) in height, although commonly half that size. The spikes when they occur, are the sharp ends of branches that appear more pronounced when their small leaves drop from them. Leaves from either form are less than 1 cm (1/4”) and much smaller than another local species Hybanthus floribundus subsp. floribundus (see right hand column for details).

The highly color variable flowers, are around ½ cm (3/16”) in length, but produced in such numbers that plants when in bloom and even with spikes are visually engaging. Flowering is recorded from May to October.

Pterostylis scabra - Shell Orchid

2011-07-26T18:34:00.000+08:00

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Pterostylis scabra - Shell Orchid

In Western Australia most greenhood orchids are referred to as Snail Orchids, however there are currently 8 species known as Shell Orchids (like this species), apparently because their flowers are much larger. Pterostylis scabra apart from the flower size (over 2 cm or 1” in depth, excluding lateral sepals), has a long curved protruding labellum, plus their basal leaf rosette is quite separate from the flowering stem.

The flowers of Pterostylis scabra can be either green or bronze coloured and due to the latter is also known as the Bronze Shell Orchid, although all the plants seen above were green. There were less than 10 flowering orchids in the above small colony, but visible leaf rosettes would more than double than number. Those above are currently the only members of this species I have encountered, as they are not recorded for the Esperance region, in fact, these orchids represent a distribution extension of around 300 km (185 miles), which certainly made me wonder if I had the right species.

Distribution of Pterostylis scabra is inland from Kalbarri to Ravensthorpe a distance of over 1,000 km (620 miles), so a further 300 km extension to the east of Ravensthorpe is feasible, particularly as extensive pristine habitat exists between. (The above were discovered on the eastern portion of Namerlonia Rock, which is 15 km east of Mt. Buraminya and 28 km NW of Mt. Ragged). Another contributing factor is the Esperance region is one or more days drive from Perth, so is not commonly visited by the WA Herbarium, especially during winter when relatively few plants are flowering and limited access tracks are often boggy and treacherous.

One of the photographs above is a habitat shot and the elongated exposed granite in the lower left is where the plants were growing. They were facing east and sheltering within 30 cm (12”) of the rock, plus their habitat acquired additional moisture from rainwater run-off and seepage. The plants were to 15 cm (6”) in height and in bloom during late July, possibly delayed as this year’s winter rainfall season has been running late. Flowering elsewhere is recorded from May to August.

Hybanthus floribundus subsp. floribundus – Native Violet

2011-07-22T16:03:00.001+08:00

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Hybanthus floribundus subsp. floribundus – Native Violet

In Western Australia the genus Hybanthus is the only native member of the Violet family (Violaceae) and contains eight species with several sub-species, of which two species and two subspecies are found in the Esperance district. Hybanthus floribundus subsp. floribundus and the other locally occurring subsp. adpressus differ most notably by their foliage, with subsp. floribundus leaves having a recurved top (uncinate), whereas subsp. adpressus leaves are straight. Although the name 'adpressus' normally refers to the leaves being pressed against the stems, with this plant they are not always distinctively so. It is known only from near coastal habitats west of Esperance.

Hybanthus floribundus subsp. floribundus is very widespread, being also found in SA, Victoria and southern NSW, whilst in WA it grows from Kalbarri to Israelite Bay and east of Kalgoorlie. However around Esperance it is not overly common and is mainly encountered inland in sandy mallee habitats. Being so widespread this subspecies is highly variable and can differ considerably, but these forms grade into each other so have not been divided further.

One WA form grows around Queen Victoria Springs in the northern Nullarbor Plain region and is recorded reaching 1.5 metres (5’) in height, but elsewhere this subspecies is usually much shorter and commonly around 60 cm (2’) high. Like many small shrubs, Hybanthus floribundus subsp. floribundus does well after bushfires when larger moisture dominating species are temporally removed, permitting this plant to rebound in moderately compact colonies.

Good sandy loams with a little clay content seem to be their favoured soil type, which in this region are often found in the vicinity of dry salt-lakes, here clay from the lakes is blown by the wind to mix with surrounding sand. Flowering is recorded from May to October, but this would be reliant on seasonal rainfall.

Xyris lacera - Yelloweyed Grass

2011-07-19T15:00:00.000+08:00

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Xyris lacera - Yelloweyed Grass

The Xyris genus is contained within the worldwide (mainly tropical) Xyridaceae family of which Western Australia currently has 17 species and the Esperance region two. They are commonly known as Yelloweyed Grasses, although they are not closely related to the grasses. Generally these are marsh plants, preferring wet or boggy conditions, which in WA are largely confined to the SW and NE part of the State. Around Esperance both species are restricted to near coastal non-calcareous regions east of the township.

Xyris lacera grows to 1.5 metres (5’) in height, although frequently only around 1 metre. It is nearly always found in shallow (to 20 cm or 8” deep) semi-permanent freshwater swamps, which may dry during autumn but quickly fill again after rain. With this species, the leaves are rounded in cross-section and similar to the tall flowering stems, although only about a third their length.

The other local species (X. flexifolia) grows to half the height of Xyris lacera, plus the leaves are more flattened and combined with the flowering stem, often twisted. The flower heads of this smaller species are usually longer than wide, whereas the taller species (X. lacera) are more globular.

The sparkling yellow floral display happens over a considerable period, as each bract on the flower head conceals a developing flower, so bright new blooms are continually being produced from around October to March that collectively can be seen from some distance.

Zygophyllum glaucum - Pale Twinleaf

2011-07-09T17:06:00.000+08:00

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Zygophyllum glaucum - Pale Twinleaf

The Zygophyllum genus belongs to the Zygophyllaceae family and is so named due to the leaf's two large leaflets. These plants are characterised by the leaf shape and stamens (winged or not at their base), plus the fleshy seed capsules, which fortunately for identification purposes develop very quickly. These can usually be found on most plants and although quite large, are because of their color not always obvious and frequently require close inspection to locate.

Apart from the yellow flowers, the entire plant of Zygophyllum glaucum is fleshy indicating an ability to withstand prolonged dry periods, therefore tending to grow inland especially in dry limestone and/or saline environments. This species is recorded from all mainland States and in Western Australia from sparse scattered populations, mainly surrounded by Hopetoun, Wagin, Southern Cross, Kalgoorlie, the Nullarbor and the coast. The above were encountered in shallow fine sand/limestone/gypsum soil over marine limestone in mallee country, around 140 km (90 miles) NE of Esperance.

Young plants initially have large bronze coloured foliage, but as the plants mature the leaves reduce in size and change to green. Depending on environmental conditions (which are as likely to be too much rain as too little), plants can be annual or perennial that will influence their ultimate size. Growth is usually low and spreading, locally varying from semi-prostrate to 50 cm in height, although they are known to grow 30 cm (12”) higher in other regions. Flowers are a bright yellow and flower continually from August to November.

Tetrapora verrucosa – Myrtaceae

2011-07-05T18:27:00.000+08:00

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Tetrapora verrucosa – Myrtaceae

In recent years there has been a great deal of study of the Myrtaceae family, whereby many new genera have been created, or previously disregarded ones resurrected. The genus Tetrapora is one of the latter; of which there are currently two species recognised for Western Australia and like a number of such Myrtaceae reclassification is heavily based on anther structure. This species was previously known as Baeckea corynophylla, but the anthers differ from Baeckea by being globular and black when mature. Also the style is inserted within a cylindrical shaped depression.

This species occurs mainly east of Albany to Munglinup (100 km or 60 miles west of Esperance), with a collection recorded NE of Esperance where I encountered it. Gravel/clay type soils appear to be the favoured habitat, sometimes with a shallow sandy overlay. Like many plants in these heathland environments, they do not draw much attention to themselves when not in flower, but once in bloom demand attention with flowers being so numerous they almost cover the entire shrub including the foliage.

Tetrapora verrucosa grows to around a metre (3’) in height, but produces arching branches that can spread to twice that size. The flowers are only about 5 mm (less than ¼”) diameter, but extremely plentiful, plus the pure white petals are visually enhanced by green to purple centres. Flowering time is recorded from August to May, but October to January would locally be more usual, other times would probably relate to non-typical weather conditions.

Eucalyptus doratoxylon - Spearwood Mallee

2011-07-03T15:58:00.001+08:00

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Eucalyptus doratoxylon - Spearwood Mallee

Eucalyptus doratoxylon is an interesting species for a number of reasons, one being after fire it sprouts several reasonably straight slender trunks to 3-4 metres (10’-12’) in length from an underground lignotuber. This feature plus it being a hard timber are excellent for aboriginal spear manufacture and although some may not be 100% straight, any slight bend could be heated over a fire (without burning) then straightened out. The tips were pointed and charred over an open fire to make them even harder and if when thrown they missed their mark, any damaged point could simply be sharpened with a chert flake (mustard coloured glass-like silica found in seepage and flood zones). These flakes were commonly discarded on hill and dune tops after repairs were made.

The Spearwood Mallee is largely restricted to coastal and near coastal districts to the east of Esperance and also to the west of Albany. It is usually associated with granite outcrops where commonly found in sandy soils along drainage lines. The multiple trunks of young trees are an attractive powdery white, but as the plant matures one or two take over and develop a rough flaky bark at their base, whilst upper branches remain smooth and white. Surprisingly, the adult trees that grow to 6 metre (20’) in height, are often very bent and twisted and quite unlike when they were young.

Another interesting feature of Eucalyptus doratoxylon is its opposite leaves that are retained even when mature, whereas with most other species only the juvenile foliage have opposite leaves and these usually change to alternate within the first year. The pendulous floral parts are quite ornamental with the white flowers initially covered by delicate pixie cap operculums, to then mature into eye-catching red cherry-like fruits. Flowering is highly variable and blossom may be found on trees at almost any time of the year.

Nitraria billardierei - Nitre Bush/Native Grape

2011-06-30T18:30:00.002+08:00

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Nitraria billardierei - Nitre Bush/Native Grape

Nitraria billardierei (previously known as Nitraria schoberi) is a widespread Australian species occurring in all mainland States, although may have been introduced to Queensland. It favours hot saline conditions and is consequently found around dry coastal regions and inland areas also with saline environments. In WA it is mainly encountered around the coast (often on the beach) from Exmouth (over 1,000 km or 620 miles north of Perth) to the Nullarbor (WA and SA boarder), with odd collections as far inland as Kalgoorlie. However as various birds spread the seed, colonies are probably more widespread particularly in remote areas.

Nitrariaceae is the Nitre Bush’s family, which in Australia has a single genus with a single species, although different ones exist in other countries. Nitraria billardierei is also called the Native Grape as the fruits are of similar size and appearance to table grapes, plus they are regarded as a Bush Tucker food and were commonly eaten by aborigines prior to European settlement. There are records of aboriginals on hot days, lying in the shade of a Nitre Bush and leisurely consuming all of the abundant fruit. The fruit is sweet, soft and fleshy with a single stone, the only drawback being a salty edge not popular with tastes of today, but in waterless regions where this plant commonly grows it would have been most welcome and quite refreshing.

In Western Australia we are fortunate not to have the introduced bird pests so common in the eastern States; a reason for this is the large waterless Nullarbor Plain these birds cannot cross unaided, however at least one bird (Starling) sometimes do so by feeding on Nitre Bush fruits. I might add, any birds that do succeed in this lengthy journey are quickly trapped to stop any possibility of them breeding here.

The Nitre Bush is quite a bushy shrub and usually found in small scattered colonies, growing to over 2 metres (7’) in height (although shorter in exposed situations), but can spread via arching branches to over 4 metres. The leaves locally are unarmed, fleshy and easy to handle, but spiny forms do occur elsewhere. The fruits are initially green, but age to yellow and/or red when mature. The flowers are small, white, with hooded petals that bloom from July to December; the fruits mature around December and continue through summer.

Conostylis breviscapa - Haemodoraceae

2011-06-25T18:27:00.000+08:00

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Conostylis breviscapa - Haemodoraceae

Haemodoraceae is the family to which the genus Conostylis belongs and shares with Anigozanthos (Kangaroo Paws), Haemodorum (Bloodroots) and others. Plants in Conostylis usually have scattered yellow flowers, but Conostylis breviscapa differs in having tightly bunched creamy white flowers and because of this, has no close relative within this genus and is thought to be a relict from an ancestral linage.

The ornamental Conostylis breviscapa is recorded from Wharton (65 km or 40 miles east of Esperance) to the Ravensthorpe district (200 km or 125 miles west of Esperance) where records state it grows in white sandheaths. Collections made 40 to 50 years ago were from near where I live, yet I have not seen this species despite knowing the area well. The only place I have encountered this plant is 130 km west of Esperance in a disused gravel quarry. So I am not sure what is going on here, whether clearing, disease, lack of bushfires, my poor observation, etc, have apparently caused it to become uncommon.

The handful of plants I observed consisted of round clumps of flat sedge-like foliage from 30-75 cm (1’-2.5’) diameter x 30 cm (1') in height, which were growing on the lower flat sections of old sand/gravel mounds. Nestled amongst the strap-like leaves to 100 cm (4”) high, were tight clusters of (3 cm or over 1” diameter) cream/white flowers that collectively resembled drumsticks. Flowering is recorded from August to January.

Anthotium humile - Dwarf Anthotium

2011-06-21T17:04:00.000+08:00

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Anthotium humile - Dwarf Anthotium

Anthotium is a small genus in the large Goodeniaceae family and of which only one species is known to exist in the Esperance region. This species Anthotium humile, occurs from Walpole (west of Albany) to Cape Arid (east of Esperance) and is commonly encountered in low-lying sand/peat areas around swamps, flood plains and seepage zones. Like many plants in this family they do well immediately after bushfires when competing plants have been destroyed to provide an open and ash fertilised habitat, which these fast growing herbaceous species speedily exploit.

This Anthotium, also known as the Dwarf Anthotium is a perennial, but behaves like an annual by dying back to the rootstock in autumn to then reappear the following spring. The simple linear leaves are round and fleshy and originate from a central rootsystem; the flowering stems are similar but produce large clusters of flowers at their apex. These can be white, through various hues of pink and purple, although locally a purple/pink form is the most common. Plants seen inland (Mt. Burdett) are more upright with white flowers.

Although Anthotium humile can be to 20 cm (8”) in height, around Esperance it is usually spreading to 30 cm (12”) diameter, with arching stems or completely prostrate apart from a few central tufted leaves. It is long flowering and if curtailed by a prolonged dry period, will recommence with the advent of rain, however it is recorded in bloom from October to March and locally plants will continually do so under favourable conditions. Pollination is via insects.

Calytrix leschenaultii - Myrtaceae

2011-06-18T16:52:00.001+08:00

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Calytrix leschenaultii - Myrtaceae

The genus Calytrix belongs to the huge Myrtaceae family, but is easily separated from other genera by the long hair-like calyx awns that are ornamental in their own right. However it is the brightly coloured starlike flowers that immediately catch the eye, which with this species are blue, violet, pink or purple, combined with prominent yellow (fading to red) stamens. This is a common WA species, occurring mostly in non-forested (heath) areas south of a line from Kalbarri to Israelite Bay.

Calytrix leschenaultii was once known as a variety of Calytrix brachyphylla, but this species is no longer recognised. In the Esperance region C. leschenaultii can usually be found in small scattered colonies, growing in non-calcareous sand or gravel from the coast to the mallee, but are easily located in habitat due to their striking color display. However when not in bloom, their small leaves to 2 mm (less than 1/8”) permit the shrub to vanish into surrounding vegetation.

This species can grow to a metre (little over 3’) in height, but is commonly closer to 60 cm (2’). Several 1 cm (3/8”) diameter flowers are produced at the summit of each branchlet to often obscure the foliage; the calyx awns extend the floral parts a further 1 cm to 2 cm diameter. Calytrix leschenaultii is known to bloom (throughout its range) from June to November, but locally August to November would be the norm, although the long lasting reddish calyx and awns can prolong this period.

Gyrostemon racemiger – Gyrostemonaceae

2011-06-15T16:56:00.000+08:00

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Gyrostemon racemiger – Gyrostemonaceae

This species although largely restricted to remote regions, is reasonably well known probably because of its wide distribution from south of Carnarvon to the northern Nullarbor Plain (ENE of Kalgoorlie) and down to the NE of Esperance, then directly across to the north of Perth. Around Esperance it is found in the mallee region where rainfall is lower and summer temperatures higher than closer to the coast. It favours deep sandy soil, but is only found after bushfires and then for no more than four years, however growth is extremely rapid with some plants reaching 4 metres (around 12’) with a sizeable tree-like trunk.

Apart from different habitat requirements, this species is commonly found growing near and sometimes marginally overlapping with another rapid growing Gyrostemon, G. ditrigynus (see here), but that species prefers heavier soils, particularly over limestone. A photo above shows this overlap, with G. ditrigynus growing immediately in front and behind the photographer, with Gyrostemon racemiger colonies further in front of the camera. Even at a distance, they are easy to separate, as G. ditrigynus has deep green foliage, whilst G. racemiger is a powdery grey/green and has much longer leaves.

Gyrostemon racemiger is also noticeably different with the color of the trunk and branches that are an attractive powdery pink. In the Esperance region this species is quite common, but nowhere near as common as the less widely distributed G. ditrigynus, which is currently (incorrectly) listed as rare. Officially, G. racemiger is recorded flowering between August and September, which may be the case in the northern regions, but around Esperance this is usually much later and often extending into December providing conditions are not extreme.

Gyrostemon ditrigynus – Wheel Fruit

2011-06-13T18:43:00.000+08:00

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Gyrostemon ditrigynus – Wheel Fruit

Gyrostemon is part of the Gyrostemonaceae family that in Western Australia has 5 genera, of which Codonocarpus would be the best known by C. cotinifolius the Native Poplar. Locally, Gyrostemon has 11 described species and several undescribed and due the arrangement of male flowers are sometimes referred to as Wheel Fruits. Many of these plants have unusual growth habits and are only found in remote locations, therefore it is not surprising they are generally poorly known. For instance this species G. ditrigynus has a Priority Four conservation status, which means the species is not currently threatened, but is regarded as rare. However when conditions are right, this plant literally occurs in their millions and is far from being rare.

Gyrostemon ditrigynus as with other local species in this genus are colonising plants and if there is a bushfire or soil disturbance will germinate as if in a seedling box. However, they grow rapidly, but are very short-lived, leaving no trace after only 4 years and commonly even less. This species even in a low rainfall zone, will grow to 11/2 metres (5’) in the first growing season, plus flower prolifically. The second year it can reach 3 metres, but signs of decline like the loss of lower foliage is already evident, with the third year they are beginning to die-off and are all gone by the fourth and do not germinate again until another fire passes through.

These plants have male and female flowers on different shrubs and are cross-pollinated by the wind. Species that require this method of reproduction commonly develop very quickly after their habitat has been demolished to take advantage of the lack of other plants, which might block the pollen spread. For the same reason, it is likely why they grow so fast and are short-lived, for after a few years other large growing species would be moving into their air-space to make pollen movement by this means inefficient.

When Gyrostemon ditrigynus germinates they produce several large flat leaves to form a basal rosette, but these quickly die and disappear as the stem develops. The stem and foliage is a deep green and quite viscid (sticky) to give off a musky odour. They begin to flower by November, but depending on seasonal rainfall and plant age, this period can be earlier of later, so flowers can be found anytime before the arrival of hot summer weather.

Generally this species favours sandy or clay loams over limestone, or the lower slopes of sandy rises, commonly under a burnt and denuded eucalypt upper story, however Gyrostemon ditrigynus is highly adaptable and very widespread, occurring in a variety of habitats and forming extensive colonies. It has been recorded from NE of Hyden (270 km or 170 miles west of Norseman) to Mt Ragged (220 km or 135 miles SE of Norseman). Norseman is 185 km (115 miles) north of Esperance. This region except for a strip of farming land north of Esperance in very remote with few tracks, which is probably why so little is known about this species.

Schizaea fistulosa - Narrow Comb Fern

2011-06-09T15:37:00.000+08:00

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Schizaea fistulosa - Narrow Comb Fern

Schizaea is a genus of unusual ferns with wiry fertile fronds and tiny paired pinnae arranged in combs at the summit. They belong to the Schizaeaceae family with several other Australian species, but Schizaea fistulosa is the only one in the Esperance district. Each of the pinnae hold two rows of sporangia (spore producing organ), so although the photos appear sparse, they contain the reproductive intricacy of the species. The vertical fertile fronds of this species (10-30 cm or to 12” in length) are undivided (forked in some species), as are the shorter infertile fronds that arise from an underground rhizome (creeping root system). The comb portion is around 2.5 cm or 1” in length, but only 2-3 mm (1/8”) wide.

The Narrow Comb Fern occurs across the southern part of Australia including WA, SA, Victoria, Tasmania and NSW, but despite being so widespread, it is rarely encountered. The comb-less, wiry, short, infertile fronds are impossible to see unless the fertile fronds with the combs are present, which in themselves are difficult to spot and mostly found by accident. If that were not difficult enough, the inconspicuous combs only appear during November and December, which means you have to be very lucky to come across them.

In WA this species is mostly near coastal and located from the north of Perth to Albany, with a couple of records in the Cape Le Grand National Park just east of Esperance. The photos above were taken in a nearby location, but there was only a single plant growing in a sandy peat seepage zone with wet heathland species. I have passed by this location at least once a week over ten or more years and have only seen it in one of those years, so perhaps the production of fertile fronds is not common or kangaroos/bushrats eat them, as the habitat has changed little.

Above a habitat shot is included, the Comb Fern was growing in the lower middle portion. Should I encounter this plant again, a more complete range of photographs will be taken.

Ophioglossum lusitanicum - Adders Tongue

2011-06-06T17:40:00.001+08:00

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Ophioglossum lusitanicum - Adders Tongue

The Adders Tongue is another Fern Ally and is represented in Western Australia by a single species Ophioglossum lusitanicum, although there are several in the Eastern States. These are housed in the Ophioglossaceae family that also includes the interesting genera Botrychium and Helminthostachys, of which the former does not occur in WA and the latter only in the far north above Broome, so neither are found in the Esperance district.

These plants have sporangia (individual structures that produce spores) that open horizontally and in Ophioglossum, are sessile (without stalks) and produced in two rows at the summit of a fertile frond (technically a frond, although looking like a stalk). Ophioglossum lusitanicum is by far the most widespread species being found in all States including Tasmania, but is mostly overlooked as they are ephemeral plants arising from a small tuber-like root.

Ophioglossum lusitanicum is more commonly encountered as small leaves (infertile fronds) in concentrated colonies, but with few or no fertile fronds, making identification uncertain. I have noticed they are stimulated by bushfires, which clears intruding vegetation and also fertilises the ground with the ash. They only produce fertile fronds during cool moist conditions, which locally can be anytime between May and September, but it means observers need to be there at the right time. This is probably why collections in WA are so sparse and widespread (extending far inland) and locally with only a single record to the NE of Esperance. However they are not uncommon, although colonies tend to be restricted to small areas.

Generally these plants can be found on or near low-lying granite outcrops, growing in loamy soils over granite and often with light seepage keeping the environment moist. The fertile fronds are usually around 10 cm (4”) in height and plants prefer open environments, but may also occur close to slow growing tall shrubs that provide a sheltered, but open habitat at ground level.

Phylloglossum drummondii - Pigmy Clubmoss

2011-06-02T16:10:00.001+08:00

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Phylloglossum drummondii - Pigmy Clubmoss

The Pigmy Clubmoss is the only recognised species in the Phylloglossum genus and currently listed in the Lycopodiaceae family, although some authorities now place it into Huperziaceae. Clubmosses are more commonly known from the larger Lycopodium genus, but none of these are known to exist in Western Australia. The genera differ by the Lypodods having small leaves along the stems and Phylloglossum only a basal rosette.

Clubmosses are not flowering plants, but related to ferns by producing asexual spores and are generally known as Fern Allies; their clubs are the cone-like structure at the apex of the stem where the spores are produced. The Pigmy Clubmoss occurs across southern Australia including Tasmania and extends to the northern island of NZ. It is rarely collected and probably remains unnoticed as colonies are ephemeral, small and well separated, plus the plants themselves are slight, being only 3 to 5 cm (1”- 2”) in height, therefore you need to be carefully looking in the right place at the right time.

In WA the Pigmy Clubmoss has been extensively collected from near coastal locations north of Perth to Albany with a few collections east of Esperance, where mainly encountered in low-lying peat/sand soils around light seepage areas, swamps, flood zones and over granite. The colonies are usually contained within a square metre/yard, although they can number well over a hundred and although collectively common, their small compact colonies make them vulnerable to habitat destruction. They normally make their appearance between July and October.

Petrophile squamata subsp. Ravensthorpe

2011-05-30T16:23:00.001+08:00

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Petrophile squamata subsp. Ravensthorpe

The most obvious difference between this species and Petrophile squamata subsp. northern is the width of the leaves, being wider with subsp. Ravensthorpe. Another is the commonly undivided leaves that with some plants remain that way, but with others become toothed at the leaf summit and later divided, whereas the leaves of subsp. northern are almost always markedly divided.

With older identification keys, the undivided leaves and another feature (mentioned later) has meant Petrophile squamata subsp. Ravensthorpe has uncomfortably keyed to Petrophile heterophylla and many collections were probably lumped with this species. After a Petrophile genus review, P. heterophylla is no longer regarded as occurring in the Esperance district, although this determination has still left this puzzling subsp. Ravensthorpe.

Another confusing feature of this species are the cones, where freshly developed ones have a hairy exterior, but these hairs are deciduous and as the cone ages, completely drop from them. So you can imagine the confusion of the taxonomist, when they have plant specimens, most with undivided leaves, others toothed and still more divided, plus with hairy and totally glabrous cones (without hairs). The hairs on the leaves are also deciduous, further adding to the confusion.

Petrophile squamata subsp. Ravensthorpe is quite common to the west of Munglinup 100 km (over 60 miles) west of Esperance to Bremer Bay, where it often grows in shallow sandy soil over gravel or limestone, or directly on gravel soils. The very compact shrub above with the lake behind was within 100 metres/yards of the beach.

This shrub is quite a compact growing species to around a metre in height (3’- 4’) and produces tight clusters of cream flowers in the upper leaf axils, which are probably pollinated by insects. The flowers bloom with gusto from August to December, but wetter or drier conditions will determine the actual blooming period.

The other subspecies, Petrophile squamata subsp. northern, can be seen here

Petrophile squamata subsp. northern - Proteaceae

2011-05-26T15:53:00.002+08:00

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Petrophile squamata subsp. northern - Proteaceae

The Petrophile genus is very similar to plants of the genus Isopogon, but most notably differ in the seed containing cones, of which the former retains the cone-like appearance including outer scales, whereas the Isopogon cones quickly drop the scales to leave a much smoother conical nut.

This species is generally known as Petrophile squamata, because currently there are no classified subspecies, although it is accepted with this highly variable plant that at least two exist. It has also been known as Petrophile propinqua, but that name is no longer valid and is discontinued. Petrophile squamata subsp. northern (as officially recognised) is commonly distributed from Perth via the wheatbelt to Israelite Bay (east of Esperance), then back to Perth around near coastal environments.

Petrophile squamata subsp. Ravensthorpe is the other subspecies and is a compact bushy shrub of a much-reduced distribution on near coastal limestone and gravel either side of Ravensthorpe (west of Esperance). The most easterly colony I know is SW of Munglinup 100 km (60 miles) from Esperance, of which I shall feature in my next post.

Petrophile squamata subsp. northern is found on non-calcareous sandy loams, particularly over gravel or granite and within the Esperance region mostly within 50 km (30 miles) of the coast. This species is usually encountered as scattered small to medium sized colonies, but is commonly overlooked when not in flower, despite having interesting divided foliage. However the foliage is slender and pale green, which blends into the many heath species with which it grows, but once the prolific cream flowers appear, it becomes difficult to ignore.

This subspecies is nowhere near as compact as the Ravensthorpe one, but locally is a more open shrub around a metre (3’-4’) in height, although recorded to 3 metres (10’) elsewhere. The flowers have been noted blooming from June to December, however around Esperance they tend to flower from August to November.

Details of Petrophile squamata subsp. Ravensthorpe can be seen here

Eutaxia parvifolia – Fabaceae

2011-05-24T18:43:00.002+08:00

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Eutaxia parvifolia – Fabaceae

The Eutaxia genus has been a very confusing group of plants, as many species are very similar to each other and require close inspection to separate. In the WA eastern distribution of this species, Eutaxia parvifolia is very similar to Eutaxia microphylla and has been misidentified as such for some time. However the differences between these species have now been clarified by Wilkins, Chappill and Henderson in their manuscript ‘An account of Eutaxia with a focus on the Western Australian species’, where they now conclude Eutaxia microphylla does not occur in Western Australia

The most obvious difference between these species is in the size and structure of the leaves, with Eutaxia parvifolia having a distinct petiole (stalk), highly variable sized leaves (length) on the same plant and at least one noticeable vein on the underside. Eutaxia microphylla leaves are either sessile (no stalk) or have a very short petiole to 0.2 mm, more consistently smaller sized leaves 2.3-4 mm long, plus have no visible veins. The distribution of Eutaxia parvifolia is from the north of Perth to Cape Arid (east of Esperance), then spreading in scattered colonies to the Albany region, where common to the west of the town.

Eutaxia parvifolia is sparsely scattered to the east of Esperance, but where it does occur it can be in considerable numbers, in one instance forming an extensive carpet of around 100 metres/yards square and to 60 cm (24”) in height. Locally this species favourers sandy loams over clay, where there is slow sub-surface water movement, which tend to be around rarely flooding Yate Swamps (Eucalyptus occidentalis). These environments are mostly within 50 km (30 miles) of the coast. Further inland (over 100 km) there is another similar looking species called Eutaxia actinophylla, but the leaves of this species are in whorls of three, instead of paired as with E. parvifolia.

Like many peaflowers Eutaxia parvifolia is visually appealing, when their bright red/yellow flowers are produced in great profusion between August and December, although locally with our lower rainfall and warmer conditions, flowers have usually finished by November.

Daviesia benthamii subsp. acanthoclona - Bitter-pea

2011-05-21T18:13:00.000+08:00

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Daviesia benthamii subsp. acanthoclona - Bitter-pea

Plants in the genus Daviesia are known as Bitter-peas as anyone who has crewed a leaf would know, they are members of the exceptionally large Fabaceae family, which now includes all legumes. Daviesia benthamii is a highly variable species occurring in WA and SA and has been known by many names, but Dr. M D Crisp’s ‘Contributions Towards a Revision of Daviesia. A Synopsis of the Genus’ (1995), refined these variations to 3 subspecies of which 2 occur in WA and the Esperance region. .

Daviesia benthamii subsp. acanthoclona is the most common in the Esperance district, but overall is found (mostly inland) from Bremer Bay (west of Esperance) to Geraldton, then via Kalgoorlie to Israelite Bay (east of Esperance), where it favours sandy soils overlying clay, gravel or limestone. This subspecies differs from the other two, by the spiky phyllodes being to only 1 cm (3/8”) in length, which are restricted to the upper portion of the branchlets, or (less commonly) no spines at all. The other local species, subspecies benthamii has only a few records to the northeast and far western portion of the Esperance region (although common elsewhere including SA), it has spiky phyllodes over 1 cm and often several centimetres in length, which are confined to the upper two thirds of the branchlets. Subspecies humilis only occurs in SA and is much shorter (to 60 cm or 2’ in height), plus has spiky phyllodes over the entire length of the branch.

Both local Daviesia benthamii subspecies can grow to around 2 metres (over 6’), but are usually closer to half that height; they are often widely spreading and commonly occur in small thickets. Despite their largely leafless appearance, they can be quite bushy and difficult to handle without their sharp spines drawing blood. Daviesia benthamii subsp. acanthoclona nevertheless is very showy when in bloom, with many racemes each producing several bright red/yellow flowers.

The pods of Daviesia plants are highly distinctive by being triangular in shape, and can be ornamental in their own right. The flowers are produced anytime from August to November during/after good seasonal rainfall and the advent of warm weather.

Gastrolobium latifolium – Fabaceae

2011-05-19T17:02:00.000+08:00

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Gastrolobium latifolium – Fabaceae

The genus Gastrolobium was reviewed by Chappill, Wilkins and Crisp in their Taxonomic revision of Gompholobium in 2002, in which the Brachysema genus was absorbed into Gastrolobium, however their toxicity if any are largely unknown. Gastrolobium latifolium was before that date known as Brachysema latifolium the Broad-leaved Brachysema. This is a prostrate species with large broad leaves and bright red flowers that commonly grows between Israelite Bay (east of Esperance) to Albany (west of Esperance), favouring non-calcareous soils within 50 km (30 miles) of the coast.

Like most pea-flowers, Gastrolobium latifolium does very well after bushfires or soil disturbance that removes plant competition and stimulates seed germination. Plants are at their best from 2-5 years after this trauma, but visually deteriorate to become tattered as other species around them begin to dominate available moisture and drop dead vegetation onto them. This and other stresses cause leaves to die back and spoil a once eye-catching species. Plants however are not short-lived and will persist for many years to form extensive carpets of vegetation, although these are probably made from several individuals growing together.

Generally Gastrolobium latifolium prefers the heavier loams or gravel in flat locations, often along drainage channels that are moist to wet during winter, but can be very dry during summer. Moisture availability is probably more important than sun or shade as these plants can thrive in either aspect. The flowers are bird pollinated and bloom from August to November, but being a moisture loving species will only do so if conditions are favourable, this even applies to plants in neighbouring habitats when one dries more quickly than the other.

Grevillea anethifolia – Proteaceae

2011-05-14T11:39:00.000+08:00

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Grevillea anethifolia – Proteaceae

This species is a handsome bushy shrub to 2 metres (over 6’) in height with creamy white flowers and finely divided foliage. Around Esperance it favours silt/sand loams over limestone and is usually encountered near roadside culverts and river/creek flood zones where soils are mostly well-drained, but may become inundated for short periods when waterways are in flood.

In WA Grevillea anethifolia has a scattered distribution from the NE of Esperance, then to Lake Grace, Southern Cross and Zanthus (on the Nullarbor), it is also found in SA and southwest NSW. In WA there is another very similar looking Grevillea (G. paniculata) that is further west and northwest from this species. The most obvious difference is G. anethifolia has hairy branches, covered with straight white, vertically appressed hairs, whereas the branches of G. paniculata have none. Also the style summit of G. anethifolia is truncated, but pointed in other species. Yet another similar looking species (G. biternata) occurs further north again, but is a considerable distance from the Esperance region.

The flowers although numerous are reasonably small and therefore probably pollinated by insects. Nevertheless, the shrub is quite ornamental being enhanced by the fine (slightly prickly) divided foliage. Flowering time varies depending on local rainfall, but is recorded from August to December, although when weather conditions are favourable, plants can flower at least twice during this period.

Persoonia helix – Spiral-leaved Geebung

2011-05-10T13:41:00.002+08:00

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Persoonia helix – Spiral-leaved Geebung

It is not unusual for Persoonia plants to have a twist in their leaves, but P. helix is the most pronounced with up to 3 complete revolutions, although with some plants the leaves have fewer turns. The Spiral-leaf Geebung is an inland species from 50-400 km (30-250 miles) from the coast and is found from the NNW of Esperance to the Ravensthorpe district, then north to the Coolgardie region (west of Kalgoorlie). It is a moderately bushy shrub to around 2.5 metres (8’), but in the Esperance region it seldom exceeds 1.5 metres (5’).

Persoonia helix grows in mallee heath and is widespread in the Rollonds/West Point Roads district NW of Esperance, usually in scattered small colonies growing in deepish sandy soils over granite or gravel. The twisted leaves have a vertical growth and are grey/green, leathery and tough, but not sharply pointed. The bright yellow flowers can be highly fickle as to when they appear, probably being more reliable in years of regular rainfall which is seldom the case where they occur, but they are recorded in bloom from November to February.

Pollination of many Persoonias is from various species of native bee, which land on the flower and force their way down between the style and anthers (in this case, the upper recurved portion of the flower) to the nectaries at the base of the flower. As native bee species are not common in coastal areas around Esperance, this may help explain why most local Persoonias are more common inland.

Persoonia dillwynioides - Fitzgerald Persoonia

2011-05-06T15:34:00.002+08:00

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Persoonia dillwynioides - Fitzgerald Persoonia

As the common name suggests, this species is mainly found in and around the Fitzgerald National Park to the south and southwest of Ravensthorpe, which is 175 km (110 miles) west of Esperance. It is also a near coastal species occurring within 50 km (30 miles) of the coast, where it grows into a bushy shrub of over 2 metres (7’-8’) in height. The photographed plant above represents a range extension, occurring around 45 km east of Ravensthorpe and a similar distance from the coast.

The Fitzgerald Persoonia above was growing in an open woodland in a sandy heath, with only a handful of widely spaced plants either side of the Oldfield River. Elsewhere it is recorded from gravel, clay and a stony loam, so obviously is quite adaptable to non-calcareous soils. Persoonia dillwynioides is similar in general appearance to Persoonia cymbifolia as both have slender concaved leaves although the former to 2 cm (3/4”) and up to twice that length with the latter. Persoonia cymbifolia also differs by being more of an inland species of over 50 km (30 miles) from the coast, and usually less than a metre (3’) in height.

The flowering period of Persoonia dillwynioides is recorded from November to January, but like many Persoonia spp. in these drier environments can be highly variable, even between neighbouring plants with one blooming early and the other late, so often repeated visits are required before they are caught in full flower.

My thanks to Dr Peter Weston for the identification of this species.

Hakea newbeyana – Proteaceae

2011-04-29T19:02:00.000+08:00

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Hakea newbeyana – Proteaceae

Official records place this Hakea outside the Esperance region, but it is to be found 100 km NW of Esperance, where it occurs in gravel and low-lying clay habitats. It is a bushy shrub of 2-3 metres (6’-10’) in height, with the taller shrubs growing amongst crowded Melaleuca and Eucalyptus spp., the shorter in open shrubby mallee heath in the Rollond/Neds Corner Roads region. It is an inland mallee species and formally distributed between Bruce Rock (north of Albany) to the Mt. Holland region (west of Norseman) and 275 km NW of Esperance.

On casual observation, this species is easily confused with a couple of similar looking hakeas, namely H. obliqua subsp. obliqua and H. scoparia. The former is more upright, but less bushy and with large corky fruits, whereas H. scoparia although similarly sized to H. newbeyana, the flowers are larger and more ornamental, plus the fruits are smaller with two distinct projections. Both these species are posted here under their botanical names in the lower right-hand column.

The flowers of Hakea newbeyana are tiny, being around 4 mm (under 3/16”) in length, whereas the fruit grow to 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm (13/8”x 1”) so from little things, big things grow. The flowers are in multiple small clusters that project from the leaf axils to provide a mass floral display, the timing of which is dependent on favourable weather conditions. Due to the small flower size and mass blooming habit, the flowering period is quite short and normally lasts less than a month, which depending on the weather can be anytime from June to October.

Adenanthos ileticos - Club-leaf Adenanthos

2011-04-26T16:16:00.001+08:00

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Adenanthos ileticos - Club-leaf Adenanthos

The Adenanthos genus is part of the Proteaceae family and similar to the Grevilleas, except the flowers are singular and not grouped together, plus the anthers of Adenanthos (unlike Grevillea) have a small appendage at their tip. Adenanthos ileticos is an inland mallee species restricted to sandy rises to the North and NE of Esperance and is common within 20 km (12.5 miles) north and east of Mt. Ridley, although not within several kilometres of the mount. Currently this species has a Priority Four conservation status, which is listed as Rare Flora, but not under any immediate threat.

The region where the Club-leaf Adenanthos is common, is difficult to access and probably has not been surveyed adequately and in my opinion this species does not warrant its rare status, although it is limited to a relatively small area so any future development could place it at risk. Adenanthos ileticos is a bushy grey/green shrub to around 2 metres (7’) in height and occurs in sandy soils with tall shrubby heath and open woodland.

The leaves are soft and shortly three lobed, whilst the cream to pale red flowers (initially difficult to see) are scattered singularly, especially at the summit of branches but also in some leaf axils. Although not particularly striking, these flowers are eagerly sort by honeyeating birds who are their main pollinators. The shrubs have a lignotuber from which new shoots sprout after bushfires, thereby providing these plants with an excellent survival mode by being able regenerate from the rootstock, plus establish new plants from seed.

Like many species in the low and irregular rainfall mallee region, opportunism to weather variation is strong and of which Adenanthos ileticos takes full advantage. It can therefore be found in flower at almost anytime, except during prolonged hot dry periods, which probably makes it a reliable food supply for birds that regularly check them out. Consequently, the necessity for bright colourful flowers in order to attract their attention would be of little benefit.

Olearia laciniifolia – Asteraceae

2011-04-22T16:51:00.000+08:00

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Olearia laciniifolia – Asteraceae

Most plants in the large Daisy family Asteraceae, are short-lived herbaceous species, but those in the Olearia genus are longer living woody shrubs. Olearia laciniifolia is found in the treed inland mallee region from Mt. Ragged to Lake Grace, but is usually represented by only a few plants in widely separated colonies and then mostly after fire or soil disturbance. I suspect the seed is either short lived or destroyed by hot fires, as plants tend to be at the cooler edge of fire zones.

Generally this daisy bush is found on gentle slopes and hollows in the deeper sandy loams (over limestone), or near playa lakes, or eroded sandy loams from low-lying granite outcrops. Despite the extensive range of Olearia laciniifolia of over 450 km (280 miles), it only occurs in a narrow strip of land and only then in small-scattered colonies. It currently has been given a Priority Two conservation status, which means this species is known from only a few populations and is in urgent need of further survey. I know of a number of populations, but overall there are relatively few plants.

Olearia laciniifolia grows to a little over 1 metre (4’) in height with an open structure. The flowers are white or pale pink with a yellow centre and grow to 4 cm (13/4”) diameter. The unusual and distinctive leaves are strongly toothed but not prickly, they have glandular hairs therefore are slightly viscid and odorous, although not unpleasantly so. Flowering is very much influenced by weather conditions and although mostly blooming during winter/spring, this timing is variable with blossom commonly found outside this range during cool periods after rainfall.