Environment Explorer

Telopea speciosissima (Waratah), flowers abundantly after a bushfire

One of the most attention-grabbing plant families in the Sydney basin is the Proteaceae family.  If plants were inclined towards family gatherings, the Proteaceae family would be suffering this Christmas.  This group of plants has been around since the time of Gondwana, the great southern super-continent, which lasted from 550 million to about 180 million years ago.  Before the movement of tectonic plates gradually broke it apart (call it family pressures), it included the land masses we now know as Africa, India, Australia, Arabia and South America.  As a result of the break-up of Gondwana the Proteaceae family is now dispersed across all the Southern continents and even parts of the Northern continents.  So, definitely no family get-togethers until Covid19 is under control!

Socially distanced Banksia spinulosa (left) and Persoonia levis (right)

Possibly the best-known members of the Proteaceae family are the South African proteas, which people often mistakenly believe are Australian native plants.  This could be because they are often included by florists in native plant arrangements (naughty!).  Don’t be fooled – the Australian ones (some would say in particular the Western Australian species) are just as long-lasting and even more spectacular.

Banksia Giant Candles is a naturally occurring hybrid with spectacular inflorescences

Relationships between plant species are determined by similarities in their flowers and fruiting bodies.  Proteaceae flowers always occur in inflorescences.  The flowers themselves are tiny, but the massed effect of an inflorescence is dazzling – especially to pollinators. In return, their nectar and fruits are a major food source for many native animals. The plants range from ground covers and quite small shrubs to substantial trees, with wide variations in bark and leaves.  They are amongst the most eye-catching and easily identified plants of our sandstone flora.

Banksia serrata, with distinctive corky bark, serrated leaves and yellow inflorescences

In Australia we have 40 different genera of Proteaceae plants.  I’ve often wondered how persoonias fit into this family, as their fruits are so different to those of other family members.   As always, Native Plants of the Sydney District (Fairley and Moore) has the answer – this is the go-to book for plant identification in the Sydney Basin and also includes great botanical information. The Proteaceae family has been around so long that it has greatly diversified.  The Proteaceae in the Sydney region are divided into 3 sub-families (splitters!) – the Persoonioideae, the Proteoideae and the Grevilleoideae.  Though the sub-families have plenty in common, there is enough of a difference between them to make a distinction.

The Persoonioideae includes only the persoonia genus (geebungs), whose fruit is a fleshy drupe. So they are, indeed, different – the black sheep of the family.

Persoonia pinifolia (Pine-leaved Geebung) fruits

The Proteoideae, whose fruit is a nut enclosing small wingless seeds, includes isopogons, petrophiles, conospermum and symphionema.

Reddish new growth of Isopogon anemonifolia (Drumstick)

The Grevilleoideae is the most diverse sub-family and includes the most spectacular genera – the telopea (waratahs), the banksias, the hakeas, the grevilleas, the lambertias (mountain devils) Xylomelum (woody pears), lomatias, stenocarpus and helicias.  This sub-family has paired flowers in the inflorescence, with a fruit which is a follicle (often woody), which will split, often after fire, to release winged seeds.  The winged seed ensures dispersal of the offspring and avoids competition with the parent plant.

Opened Hakea tereticornis fruits show indent of seed and wing

Persoonias are easily spotted in the bush and sometimes mistaken as exotics due to their bright green foliage. 

Persoonia levis (Broad-leaved geebung) stands out in the bush

They have entire leaves and yellow, cylindrical flowers with 4 segments. 

Persoonia linearis  (Narrow-leaved geebung) shows entire leaves and cylindrical flowers

Isopogons (drumsticks) have mostly yellow flowers and around here, mostly divided leaves. Check out the Fibonacci arrangement of the flowers in the inflorescence. The mature flowers (at the back) are already open as the central ones are in bud.

Isopogon anemonifolius (Drumsticks) flowers

Petrophiles (conesticks) have creamy-yellow flowers and divided/reduced leaves – a typical Proteaceae adaptation to deal with lack of water.

Petrophile pulchella (Conestick) cones and reduced leaves

Conospermum (smokebush) are shrubs with mostly white flowers in terminal clusters. Here reduced leaves are another adaptation to our dry climate and well-drained sandstone soils.

Conospermum taxifolium (Coneseeds)

Symphionema are small shrubs with divided leaves and flowers arranged in narrow spikes.  Though softer and smaller, with a different floral arrangement and fruit, they could easily be mistaken for Lomatia silaifolia.

Symphionema montanum (Mountain symphionema) prefers damp soils

Our first of the Grevilleoideae sub-family, the woody pear (Xylomelum pyriform), has only one local representative, which has creamy, terminal flower spikes covered in rusty hairs; distinctively veined leaves and equally distinctive pear-shaped woody fruits. The juvenile leaves are reddish and often deeply serrated – though not in this example.

Xylomelum pyriforme (Woody pear) has creamy flower heads  with rusty hairs

One of the most diverse Proteaceae genera in this area are the banksias.  Various species flower throughout the year, providing an ongoing source of nectar for honey-eating birds and mammals. 

Banksia spinulosa (Hairpin banksia) flowers throughout autumn and winter

Their characterful inflorescences, with remnant woody follicles, provided the inspiration for May Gibbs’ Big Bad Banksia Men in her famous children’s stories. 

Banksia serrata (Old Man Banksia) is a characterful tree

Like banksias, hakeas may take the form of either shrubs or trees.  The flowers of hakeas, unusually for Proteaceae, grow in the leaf axils, on short stalks.  Hakeas mostly have needle-like leaves, yet another adaptation to water shortage, as are the woody fruits, but in this region there are two species with flat leaves.

Hakea sericea (Needlebush) flowers are clustered in the leaf axles

Mountain devils (Lambertia formosa) also have distinctive fruits, resembling a horned and beaked “devil”. 

Woody Lambertia formosa fruits, showing horns and beak

Their red flowers grow in terminal clusters, usually of seven flowers, but occasionally nine, eleven or even thirteen occur – Fibonacci again.

Lambertia formosa (Mountain devil) has pungent-pointed leaves

Grevilleas are another very diverse genus, with around 25 species or sub-species occurring in Sydney and the Blue Mountains.  They come in two main forms – toothbrush flowers, where the racemes resemble the structure of toothbrush…

Grevillea longifolia has red toothbrush -like inflorescences and serrated leaves

… and spider-flowers, where the flowers appear to spread from a central point.  

Grevillea sericea (Pink Spider-flower) is a common bushland shrub

Forms range from ground-covers to large shrubs.

Grevillea laurifolia is distinctive, with its ovate leaves and trailing habit

Lomatias are small to large shrubs.  They have whitish-yellow flowers, which resemble grevillea flowers, as does the foliage.

Lomatia silaifolia (Crinkle Bush) is often mistaken for a Grevillea

The spring-flowering waratah (Telopea speciosissima) is New South Wales’ floral emblem.  It is well-named, as the name means “beautiful flower, seen from afar”. 

Telopea speciosissima (Waratah) is, indeed, seen from afar

It has dense, terminal, bright red inflorescences, with red bracts.  The fruits resemble pea pods, but are woody, and often remain on the plant over long periods.

Telopea speciosissima seed pods

The Proteacea family, with its long and distinguished pedigree, is one of the gems in the crown of the Sydney bushland flora.

In the Sydney Basin we are spoilt for choice when it comes to lizards to admire.  Here be dragons!

Dragon lizards can be identified by their loose-fitting, dull skin, strong legs and long digits, which they use for climbing.   They are well camouflaged, and “freeze” when they feel threatened, so most species are easily missed even when you are quite close to them.  The Eastern Water Dragon, being up to 95cm in length, is an exception.

Eastern Water Dragon, showing red chest

Eastern Water Dragons have brown to black bars across their backs, with a pale belly and a banded tail.  They have a wide black stripe extending back from the eye, which makes them seem bigger (and scarier!) to potential predators.  Mature animals can also have a bright red chest, should further warning be needed.

Their large angular head has a crest of spiny scales which then continues along their body and right down their long tail.  They also have a row of spiny scales across their neck and a large, exposed tympanum (ear-drum).

Eastern Water Dragon, showing both spiny and keeled (raised) scales

Their strong legs and vertically compressed tail (acting like a flipper) make them excellent swimmers.  This is a useful adaptation, as, when threatened, dragon lizards will often run very fast, and then stop suddenly, relying on their camouflage to conceal them while the intruder tries to work out where they stopped.  If feeling really threatened, Eastern Water Dragons will often run up a tree (they’re semi-arboreal) and drop into the water below.  They can stay underwater for up to 90 minutes.  They do this by slowing down their metabolism.  Not many predators would hang around waiting for a meal that long.

Strong legs and compressed tail – perfect for swimming after yummy frogs

Eastern Water Dragons eat a wide range of food, from cicadas and yabbies, to fruit, frogs, insects and smaller lizards.  I once watched one chase a Cunninghams Skink up a rainforest tree, presumably aiming for a nice snack.

A sub-species of the Eastern Water Dragon, known as the Gippsland Water Dragon, is found in the Southern Highlands.  The major difference is that they are grey-blue above, with greenish-grey sides and belly and yellow colouring under their throat.

The Gippsland Water Dragon is more widespread than the name would imply

Another quite large dragon of the Sydney Region is the Bearded Dragon, growing to 60cm and frequently mistaken for the Frilled-necked Lizard, a dragon species found in Northern Australia.  Like this species our Bearded Dragon will erect the skin around its neck if challenged, but ours has a single, spiny pouch not the divided flaps of the Frilled-necked Lizard.

Bearded dragon with flattened body and expanded neck pouch  Photo Jo Barrett

The Bearded Dragon may also swell up its body to look bigger and may even open its mouth wide, showing the bright yellow interior to frighten away predators.

Might just breathe fire!  Photo Jo Barrett

Our two smaller dragons, the Jacky Lizard and the Mountain Heath Dragon, can be quite hard to tell apart, though if you get a close look they do have several distinguishing features.  For the best chance of identifying one, stay very still and then move very slowly closer – but not too close!  Have your camera ready.

Both species can be brown to grey in colour, but the Mountain Heath Dragon is also sometimes a deep russet colour.  The Jacky Lizard can grow slightly larger; up to nearly 40cm, with the Mountain Heath Dragon only reaching half this size.  The Jacky Lizard has a longer, sharper snout and, like the bearded dragon, a bright orange-yellow mouth lining to scare off predators.  It is often seen on a stump or a rock, but is a quite an active lizard.

The Jacky Lizard is distinguished by a pale grey belly and a series of pale vertical blotches either side of its spine, which may run into each other.  It has a mix of ridged and spiny scales on its back and sides, and ridged scales all over the tail.

Jacky Lizard – note pale blotches and long snout  Photo Jo Barrett

Like the Eastern Water Dragon, it will tend to run up onto something if scared, but will drop into undergrowth rather than water.  If caught out on the ground it can even develop a bipedal gait – quite astonishing when a reptile runs away on two legs!

Its smaller relative is the Mountain Heath Dragon.  This lizard has a blunter snout and a slightly recessed tympanum.  It also has a pale belly and a series of patches running down either side of its spine, which may converge, but in this case they are evenly scalloped.   It has a set of four rows of spiny scales running along the body and also spiny scales at the base of the tail.

Mountain Heath Dragon, with scalloped pattern and blunt snout

Its preferred habitat is lichen-encrusted rock shelves strewn with stones, which provide ample camouflage.

Mountain Heath Dragon well camouflaged on a lichen-encrusted rock

If frightened it will move extremely fast; by the time you realise it has stopped you will have great difficulty locating the now stock-still creature.  If you do manage this, it may try to intimidate you by opening its blue and yellow mouth – which is quite amusing given it may be as small as 5 cm.

“You can’t see me…”

There is no need to fear dragons; though they are capable of giving you a nasty bite if you tried to handle them, they do not breathe fire (though they’d like you to think they do!) and are otherwise harmless creatures.  They also provide the very important service of helping to keep insect numbers in check.  If you see a sudden movement out of the corner of your eye, stop and have a close look at the ground – it may be that you’ve just disturbed a dragon in its lair!

Lomandra longifolia

Most people would be familiar with Lomandra longifolia (Spiny Mat-rush), a very tough, tufted, densely growing and spiky plant with flat strappy leaves. It is widely used for structure in landscaping and in mass plantings along roads.  It is used because it is a very tolerant plant, surviving heat, drought, neglect and all sorts of mistreatment.  Its spiky nature helps keep people and animals out of the plantings.  It is fair to say that it is used for its resilience, rather than its beauty. 

This tough variety of Lomandra longifolia originated in Queensland, though it is the same species as an endemic variety of Lomandra.  The local variety, however, is generally not as tall and grows in smaller clumps.

The endemic form of Lomandra longifolia

The leaves of Lomandra longifolia can be easily identified by the ends, which are spiky and look as if they have been chewed, usually having three irregular points.  The flowers are clustered along a flattened stem, sheltered within the leaves and further protected by very sharp spines.  Like all Lomandra species the flowers are yellow.

 

Lomandra longifolia flowers

The seeds of this plant, when husked, look a bit like grains of rice. 

Ripening Lomandra longifolia seeds

They are edible and were widely used by Aboriginal people, being ground up to make a type of flour.  The leaves were used for weaving and their bases are also edible, making this a very useful resource.

There are many  species of Lomandra in our area which are less well known, all characterised by tiny yellow flowers, mostly borne in spring.

Lomandra flowers, shown here magnified, are always yellow and bell-shaped

The most distinctive of these is Lomandra obliqua (Twisted Mat-rush), named for the twist in the leaves. 

Twisted, stem-clasping leaves of Lomandra obliqua

This very distinctive plant bears little resemblance to other members of the genus, being low growing, soft and quite delicate looking.

Clump of Lomandra obliqua

The relationship is only evident in spring, when its spikes of tiny yellow flowers appear.

Lomandra obliqua in flower

Like Lomandra obliqua, Lomandra brevis (Tufted Mat-rush) is a small plant, less than 15cm high, with a sharp leaf tip.  It more closely resembles other members of the genus, but when not in flower could easily be mistaken for a small type of grass.

Lomandra brevis

Lomandra multiflora is another distinctive member of the genus, at least when in flower.  

Lomandra multiflora

It bears its flowers in spherical inflorescences.

Spherical flower balls of Lomandra multiflora, showing brownish bracts

Lomandra glauca (Pale Mat-rush) can be recognised by its comparatively short, blue-grey leaves.  These often have a slight twist and always an acute end.  The common name is a bit misleading, as they are not a pale plant.

Distinctive colouring of Lomandra glauca

At a glance it is very difficult to pick between the other species of fine leaved Lomandra.  The main variations are in the cross sections of the leaves, with some being flattish, others convex or cylindrical.  The nature of the leaf bases and shape of the tips are further diagnostic features.

Lomandra gracilis has narrow leaves, flat above, convex underneath.  The bases may be brown or purplish in colour.

Lomandra gracilis

As with other species the flowers are bell-shaped, which can only be seen on close inspection.

Bell-shaped flowers and green bracts of Lomandra gracilis

Lomandra filiformis (Wattle Mat-rush or Iron Grass) is a variable species, featuring shreds of brown at the leaf bases and a rounded, though ragged, leaf tip.  Like several other Lomandra species, the male flowers are held on longer stalks than the female flowers.

Male flowers of Lomandra filiformis ssp filiformis

Female flowers of Lomandra filiformis ssp filiformis

Lomandra cylindrica (Needle Mat-rush) has, as the name would suggest, cylindrical leaves (though sometimes semi-cylindrical!), longer than many of the similar species, sometimes with a twist and always with a pointed end.

Lomandra cylindrica and Tetrathaca rupicola

As these species demonstrate, not all Lomandra resemble that tough Lomandra longifolia we are most familiar with.  Many, indeed, are surprisingly delicate and subtle plants.

Though not as showy as massed pea bushes, wattles or boronias, lomandras add to the diversity and beauty of our bushland, particularly in spring, when their tiny, yellow flowers help to distinguish them from other species of rushes. 

Lomandra gracilis

 

When you hear the word carnivore you may think of lions or dogs, but as always in Australia, it is more complicated than that.  The majority of carnivores lurking around the Sydney Basin are actually plants, with innocent sounding names such as Sundews and Fairies Aprons. 

Plants have developed a range of carnivorous, or insectivorous, adaptations to cope with nitrogen poor soils.  When we think of insectivorous plants most of us probably think of the more famous Venus Flytraps and Pitcher Plants, found in the tropics.  

Pitcher Plant, Baku National Plant, Sarawak

However, Australia has more species of carnivorous plants than any other country.  Ours are easily overlooked, being small and with many of them becoming dormant in dry periods or at varying times of the year.

Drosera auriculata

Drosera auriculata, for example, becomes dormant from early summer to early autumn, while Drosera binata (Forked Sundew) is dormant in winter.

Drosera binata unfurling in early spring

Droseras catch their insect prey by means of fine hairs which produce a sticky fluid, which looks like water droplets.  Insects which come to drink get stuck to the leaves and the hairs wrap around them.  The plant then emits a digestive enzyme to enable it to absorb the insect.  Yum!

Fine hairs of Drosera auriculata  wrap around insect prey (bottom LHS)

Charles Darwin was one of the first to study these intriguing plants and claimed to be fascinated by them.  “I care more about Drosera than the origin of all the species in the world” he wrote.  That’s some endorsement!  Good enough for Darwin – good enough for me!

Fine hairs entrap insect and inject digestive juices (centre, below flower)

Drosera binata (Forked Sundew) is easily recognised and is common on cliff faces in the Blue Mountains.

Drosera binata

Drosera spathulata (Common Sundew) can be recognised by its basal rosette of spatulate (spoon-shaped) leaves.  Like Drosera binata, it holds its flower on an erect stem, well away from the sticky leaves.  It wouldn’t do to digest a potential pollinator!

Drosera spathulata

Drosera glanduligera (Pimpernel Sundew) has a yellow-green basal rosette of spatulate leaves, and orange flowers arranged in an inflorescence.  It is rare in this area.

Drosera glanduligera

Drosera peltata (Pale Sundew) has hairy sepals, with toothed margins.

Drosera peltata, with toothed sepals visible to top RHS

Drosera auriculata is very similar to Drosera peltata, but has no hairs on its sepals, which have simple margins.  In shaded areas the basal rosette is often omitted.

Drosera auriculata

Some of the Drosera species can be very difficult to distinguish.  Drosera burmanni (Burman’s Sundew) is very similar to Drosera spathulata, but its, basal rosette has a smaller diameter and the petioles (leaf stems) are shorter.

Drosera spathulata

This next one I can’t identify, though I think it may be Drosera spathulata.  I also can’t find any info on the plants to the right and above.  Like Sundews, they appear to have sticky-hairy growths, but these are spiked among linear leaves, not like anything I’ve seen before on Sundews.  Perhaps it could be an immature version of the Sundew to the left of it, but I really don’t know.  If anyone can tell me I’ll be delighted!

Drosera, species unknown

The second group of relatively common insectivorous plants in the area are the Bladderworts. 

Utricularia dichotoma, also known as Purple Bladderwort or Fairies Aprons

These tiny, inconspicuous plants are found in damp to wet habitats.  Their method of capturing prey is quite different to the Sundews.  They have tiny bladders attached to their roots.  The bladder opening remains shut until triggered by an insect brushing against hairs/glands. These react to open it swiftly, sucking in the insect along with a rush of water.  Once full, the entrance closes, trapping the insect, which is then digested.

One of the more common of the Bladderworts is Utricularia dichotoma (Fairy Aprons).  It is often seen in seepage patches on Blue Mountains cliff faces or on the edges of swamps throughout the Sydney Basin.

Utricularia dichotoma

Reasonable rainfall this year has ensured a proliferation of insectivorous plants, so check them out and you’ll soon see why Darwin was so enchanted.

The orchidaceae group is considered to be the largest family of flowering plants, with over 800 genera and species numbering in the tens of thousands, maybe up to 30,000.  Then you have the vast number of cultivars developed by plant breeders.  Not surprisingly, there is great variety of shape, colour and form to be found amongst the orchids.

Sydney’s orchids come in many forms – Caleana major (Flying Duck Orchid)

So why are they often so hard to find in the bush?  Some plants may bear just a single flower, some flower for just a day, many are cryptically coloured and lots give off no scent (though some smell terrible and others are beautifully perfumed).  Often when not in flower they are virtually invisible in the bush, and some remain dormant underground during winter.  While many are spring flowering, a few even flower underground!

Tiny green flowers, such as this Pterostylis nutans (Nodding Greenhood) are hard to spot

The orchid family is comparatively poorly represented in Australia, as they tend to prefer mountainous rainforested areas.  Around Sydney there are about 190 species, of which the vast majority are terrestrial (growing and flowering close to the ground), with the remainder epiphytic (getting nutrients from the air or water) or saprophytic (getting nutrients from dead or decaying material), growing high up in trees or on rocks – they’re just not where we’re normally looking.  Here, our many terrestrial orchids grow in impoverished soils, with a few preferring moister areas.  In tropical areas, however, most orchids are epiphytic, as the forest floor is too dark for them.

Terrestrial orchids, such as Diuris maculata (Leopard Orchid) are the most common

To the untrained eye (mine) they look to have six petals, but this is actually three petals and three sepals (segments of the calyx, or flower casing).  The usual stamen, stigma and styles are fused together to become the central column.

Orchids have three petals, three sepals and a column – but it looks like six petals to me

The Sun Orchids, or Thelymitra species, are amongst the easiest to spot, and, as the name implies, open only in sunny weather.

Closed Sun Orchid on an overcast morning

Specimens seen here are mostly blue or purple, though pink and salmon ones can be found.  The one I see most commonly is Thelymitra ixioides, the Dotted Sun Orchid.

The beautiful Thelymitra ixioides, or Dotted Sun Orchid

Calochilus, the Bearded Orchid, is another relatively common genus, though far less easy to spot, being cryptically coloured and easily overlooked.

Calochilus robertsonii  (Purple Bearded Orchid) – dramatic up close, but easily overlooked

When I saw this Calochilus robertsonii it looked a bit strange.  It turns out that when in bud, the labellum (landing pad) of orchids points upward, but as the flower opens, the stalk twists and it turns downwards.  Orchids are strange!

An acrobatic Purple Bearded Orchid twists into position as the bud opens

Diuris stand out more, most species sporting bright yellow flowers, with brown markings.  Many have petals which seem to be separate from the rest of the flower, being held out on “claws”.

The dramatic Diuris maculata (Leopard Orchid)

Caleana, or Flying Duck Orchids, also have a very distinctive arrangement of the various floral parts.  Being quite small and not brightly coloured they can be difficult to spot, but once you see one you won’t be in any doubt as to what it is.  From the side it does indeed look like a flying duck (though one which is struggling to get its bulk off the ground!).

Caleana major (Flying Duck Orchid) in mid-flight

Botanist George Caley, working in Parramatta, was the first to collect and describe a range of Australian orchids, but this one was described and named by his friend Robert Brown, who also worked for Joseph Banks.

Caleana Major (Flying Duck Orchid), fittingly named after an orchid enthusiast

Caladenia orchids are very elegant little orchids, sometimes called Finger Orchids.  Colours range from white, through pink to blue.

Caladenia carnea (Pink Fingers)                  Photo by Bronwyn Hanna

The two local species of Wax Lip Orchids, or Glossodia, are purple to mauve in colour, looking quite similar to Caladenias.

Glossodia major (Wax-lip Orchid)

One of the best represented genera in the Sydney region is the Pterostylis, or Greenhood, orchids.  They are also amongst the most difficult to spot, blending in with any surrounding greenery.  One way to narrow down the possibilities for identification is whether the plant has a solitary flower or a terminal raceme of flowers.

Pterostylis longifolia (Tall Greenhood) has a raceme of flowers

Then check if it is alone or growing in a colony.  After that it gets trickier!  The shape, size and colour of the flower are all clues, along with the shape and arrangement of the leaves, but I’ve yet to sort them out.  So if you see one you want to identify, note down as much detail as you can and try to get photos from several angles.

A solitary Greenhood bud – this narrows down the identification possibilities

Pterostylis nutans (Nodding Greenhood) can be found growing in sheltered positions, alone or in colonies, and is relatively common. The flower is tilted forward so that it faces the ground and is totally green.

Pterostylis nutans (Nodding Greenhood) shows how it was named

Pterostylis curta (Blunt Greenhood) grows in shady gullies and also forms extensive colonies.  The flower is bright green and it has a broad labellum.

A colony of Pterostylis curta (Blunt Greenhoods)

Pterostylis longifolia (Tall Greenhood) is one of the species with flowers arranged in a raceme – in this case up to twelve of them.  It can be distinguished by its narrow-lanceolate, stem-clasping leaves.

A colony of near-translucent Pterostylis longifolia (Tall Greenhoods)

Cymbidium orchids, which are saprophytic,  are represented by only one species in the Sydney basin.  Cymbidium suave, or Snake Flower, grows in the decaying heartwood of logs and stumps, but can also be seen growing high up on branches of eucalypts and melaleucas.  It has fragrant yellow or green flowers arranged in racemes.

Cymbidium suave (Snake Flower) has sweet-smelling perfume

There are several Dendrobium species in this area, with quite diverse features, but all with flowers in racemes.  They can grow on rocks or trees.  The most spectacular, and a true star of the Sydney bushland, is Dendrobium speciosum, the Sydney Rock Orchid.

The massed flower spikes of Dendrobium speciosum ensure a dramatic display

Mature plants will display several sprays of bright yellow flowers which can be seen from quite a distance.  They grow on sandstone, but are also a feature of Jenolan in spring, growing on limestone outcrops and cliffs.

Dendrobium speciosum clings to limestone and sandstone cliffs

These are just some of the array of orchids to be seen in the Sydney Basin bushland, but are among the more common, and are relatively easy to spot and identify.  Remember, to find orchids in the bush, lower your eyes and keep them wide open – but glance up to the trees occasionally in the hope you might spot a Cymbidium suave.  Good luck!

A baby Red-bellied Black Snake warming up in the sun

As the weather gets warmer, snakes become more active and are more likely to cross paths with humans.  This can lead to risks to the safety of both the human and the snake.

Snakes do not want to take on a human – you are not a food source to them; you’re way too big.  They will only attack you if they feel threatened and cannot see a means of escape.

Most snake attacks on humans happen when the human attacks the snake first, or if the human surprises the snake.  So, the first way to avoid an encounter with an angry snake is to avoid surprising them. 

A  surprised Copperhead – not happy!

Generally we make a bit of noise and cause vibrations as we walk through the bush.  This is why the most common sightings of snakes are of a reptile’s tail disappearing into undergrowth; they want to escape you!  Ensure any snakes can hear you coming by making a bit of noise as you move through the bush.

The first line of defence for a snake is its camouflage – most snakes blend into the colours of the bush, so it is possible to accidentally get close to one before you see it.  Should this happen, do not continue to approach the snake.  Move back slowly, so as not to startle it with a sudden movement, and wait for it to depart.

Well camouflaged Drysdalia rhodogaster           Photo by Tina Willmore

Snakes are sometimes seen curled up right on the middle of the track.  It can seem as if they’re waiting to ambush you.  This is far from the truth.  In fact, snakes seen on tracks are often trying to warm up, as they cannot regulate their own body temperature and are reliant on heat or coolness from the environment to maintain their optimum temperature.  If the snake stays on the track, instead of escaping into the leaf litter, it may not yet have absorbed enough heat to be able to move away.  Do not approach; if unable to move away it may feel forced to defend itself. 

Absorbing some heat from the sun

If you need to continue along a track where a snake is staying put, make a very large loop around the snake, keeping watch that it has not started to move towards you.  If it has, move well back, watch where it goes and wait for it to depart.

If the snake raises its head and hisses, this is a sure sign that it is feeling threatened. 

This Copperhead is feeling threatened – time to move back to a safe distance

You are too close and it is giving you a warning to move back.  Take its advice!  Sometimes a snake may also flatten out its neck to make itself look bigger.  If this happens, move back from the snake immediately and give it plenty of space.

Do not run away from a snake – you are more likely to injure yourself falling over.  If a snake comes towards you, move to the side and then back away.  It is probably just following the track as an escape route. 

Escaping along the track

If the worst happens and you startle a snake and it rears up at you before you can get away, present the sole of your boot to the snake.  This is the thickest part of your clothing and a snake’s fangs are highly unlikely to pierce shoe leather.

Never attack a snake; by doing so you are leaving it no option but to attack and defend itself.

Though there are plenty of venomous Australian snakes, there are also many which are not venomous.  Even the venomous ones are not very efficient at injecting their venom.  Make sure to carry a pair of compression bandages in your first aid kit when in the bush – just in case. 

Like this Drysdalia rhodogaster, many snakes are harmless       Photo by Tina Willmore

Snakes are a natural part of the Australian bush.  They play an important role in the ecosystem.  They are also very beautiful, highly-adapted creatures.  This is where you can run into trouble – wanting to admire them more closely.  If this is you (and it’s absolutely me!)…

Olive python at Featherdale Wildlife Park – a perk of teaching!          photo Jo Barrett

…carry a telephoto lens with you, photograph them from a safe distance and admire them up close and personal on your computer screen in the safety of your home, or at a zoo or wildlife park under supervision.

If you show snakes due respect, you have nothing to fear from them. 

While there is huge diversity of colour and form to be found in the Fabaceae family of plants, known as the peas, there is also such a vast variety of species that most of us will struggle to correctly identify them.  This shouldn’t dim the pleasure they provide.  Names aren’t that important!

The things that will help bushwalkers who are not trained in botany to identify pea plants are the usual things you would look at to try and identify any plant: its location; size and form; flowering period; flower colour, shape and arrangement; fruit type and shape; leaf colour, shape and arrangement; stem colour.  With the pea family it also pays to check out whether the stems and leaves are hairy or smooth.

Sometimes the colour, leaf shape and form will be enough to allow an identification, but when it comes to “Bacon and Egg” plants it gets a whole lot harder!  Often the most obvious way to pick the genera (and with peas, if you can do this you’re way ahead of most people) is the shape of the flower.

Dillwynias are fairly easy – they have a really broad standard, looking like two ears sticking out.

But within the Dillwynia genera the species can be really tricky!  If you’re really keen, look closely at how the flowers are arranged and whether the leaves are twisted (retorted) or not.

Gompholobiums have leaves in threes…

… and black buds which are quite distinctive…

…followed by comparatively large flowers, which help distinguish them from other yellow peas.

The two most common species around my way are Gompholobium grandiflorum (Golden Glory Pea), identified by its narrow-linear leaves and Gompholobium latifolium (Broad-leaf Wedge Pea), with slightly wider leaflets.  Funnily enough the Golden Glory Pea has the slightly smaller flower of the two!

 

Davesia corymbosa (Bitter Pea) has larger leaves than most “Egg and Bacon” plants, with tightly bunched, small flowers.  All Davesias have very deep red markings.  Their pods are the only triangular ones in this region.

The Pultanaea genera are distinguished by a prominent standard, with a slight indent at the top.  They can be either yellow, or yellow with red centres.  The red is not as dark as in Davesia species.

 

Some have distinctive leaf shapes.

Bossiaea shrubs have “Egg and Bacon” flowers with a comparatively large, broad, rounded standard, indented at the apex.  The standard comes in to a tighter “waist” than Pultanaea species.

Leaf shapes will assist with identification between species.

Some Bossiaea species have flattened stalks, with barely any leaf at all!  This should make them easy to identify, but there is also a Davesia species which shares this feature.

 

 

Phyllota shrubs have alternate, simple leaves.  The leaf shape will help you distinguish different species.  The standard petal of the flower comes to a point at the top, and the keel is more obvious than in some other species.

Podolobiums have simple leaves, mostly opposite or in threes.  Flowers can be yellow (with or without a red keel) or yellow-orange.  Podolobiums ilicifolium has very distinctive, holly-shaped leaves.

Looking closely at the shape of the standard, can you tell which genera this plant belongs to?

Don’t be disappointed if you can’t identify a particular pea flower – you’re in good company!  Like this bee, if you can see the beauty in the flower, you know everything you need to.

 

 

Stypandra glauca – Nodding blue lily

One of the joys of having a particular walking track or bit of country that you revisit regularly is that you get to observe the incremental changes that are occurring week by week, as new plants comes into flower, others hit their peak and some start to fade and set seed.

Bossiaea rhombifolia flowers closing before setting seed

In the lower mountains the Blue Period has arrived.

Prostanthera scutelleroides – Native mint bush

Unlike Picasso’s, which lasted for 3 years and was then gone forever, here it only lasts for a few weeks, but returns every year.  It is the few weeks of the year when blue and purple flowers are at their peak in the bush.  As with other species common to both areas, it comes earlier in the lower mountains and then progresses to the upper mountains.  Throughout the year you’ll nearly always find some pink, yellow and white flowers, but blues seem to be more scarce and fleeting.

Scaveola ramosissima – Purple Fan Flower

In late winter the yellow of wattles and the deep pink of boronias are the first sign that the weather has turned.

Acacia elongata – Swamp wattle

As the boronias bloom and then fade, different types of peas begin to dominate, starting with bossiaeas, then dillwynias, pultenaeas and gompholobiums.

Gompholobium grandiflorum – Golden glory pea, flowers and buds

Blue comes mostly from dampiera species…

Dampiera stricta – Blue dampiera

…with the purple from ground orchids…

Thelymitra pauciflora – Slender sun-orchid

…and patersonias…

Patersonia longifolia – Dwarf purple flag

… pea plants and an array of tiny flowers such as the Slender violet.

Hybanthus monopetalus – Slender violet

The brilliant yellow of the gompholobiums and hibbertias, both largish flowers by Australian standards, coincides with the blue period.

Hibbertia bracteata – Guinea flower

The blue and purple provide a punctuation mark to the masses of warm colours – they deliver contrast to the yellow and yellow-red of the predominant peas…

Bossiaea obcordata – Spiny bossiaea

…but are often quite subtle displays, being either small flowers, partially hidden in the undergrowth, or plants displaying just a few individual flowers.

Early spring wildflower display, lower mountains

Hardenbergia violacea and Indigofera australis are exceptions to this, providing mass displays of purple, lilac or pink peas.

Hardenbergia violacea – Purple twining-pea

In early spring the white flowers start to join the yellows, while the deep pinks are largely gone.

Pimelia linearis and Gompholobium grandiflorum

Pimeleas are the first, with epacris, eriostemon, pandorea, sprengelia and actinotus also featuring.

Actinotus helianthi – Flannel flower

Even the late flowering boronias are a pale pink (almost white), but they make up for their lack of vibrancy by having the most wonderful scent.

Boronia floribunda – Pale pink boronia

While the flowers are the most obvious change, others changes are also ongoing.  New growth, quite lush after good rains this year, is in evidence everywhere as the sun warms the ground.

New growth on a Persoonia levis – Broad leaved geebung

Of course in Australia most of our trees don’t shed their leaves in one major autumn event, they shed and replace them on a regular, more subtle basis.  However some, including Angophora costata (Smooth Barked Apple, or Sydney Red Gum), Eucalyptus deanei (Blue Mountains Blue Gum) and Eucalyptus punctata (Mountain Grey Gum, Guide’s Friend) instead shed their bark (decorticate) annually.

Eucalyptus deanei – Blue Mountains blue gums, decorticating

The new bark freshly revealed has yet to acquire a coating of algae, so the colours at this time are more vibrant, providing splashes of orange and ochre.  Eucalyptus punctatas sometime reveals a green tinge in their fresh bark and Eucalyptus deaneis display softly-coloured streaks of many hues.

Eucalyptus deanei bark

Whether resulting from floral displays, new leaf growth or fresh bark, there is an ever-evolving palette of colours brightening the subtle greens of our bushland.

Patersonia longifolia – Dwarf  Purple-flag

 

One of the most widespread families of plants in Australia is the Fabaceae family – the peas.  Like wattles, they are legumes, which makes them a very important part of our bushland.  The seeds of Fabaceae plants develop in pods, the same as more familiar legumes like runner beans, peas and broad beans.

Legumes can take nitrogen (an essential plant nutrient) from the atmosphere, and develop root nodules which can, in conjunction with Rhizobium bacteria, convert the nitrogen to forms which other plants can then use.

This ability to fix nitrogen ensures their place as pioneer plants.  They germinate and grow quickly after fire or other disturbance, increasing soil fertility for the other plant species which will follow.  As colonisers, their numbers diminish over time, being replaced by a succession of other plants, until further fires begin the cycle again.

They are also one of the most familiar splashes of colour in our bushland, with many species flowering in late winter and throughout spring.  They mostly grow on sandy soils.

The flowers of the Fabaceae family, like animals, have bilateral symmetry, meaning the left and right sides are mirror images of each other.  Orchids share this feature, while the flowers of boronias and daisies, for example, have radial, or circular, symmetry.

Pea flowers have a large petal at the top, called the standard, two smaller side petals, called wings, and two lower petals (often hidden by the wings) known as the keel.  I can remember these names because the famous “winged keel” of Australia II set the “standard” in yachting.

The erect standard attracts pollinating insects and the lower petals provide a landing platform, from which the pollinators can seek the flower’s nectar.

Many people would recognise “Eggs and Bacon” or “Bacon and Eggs”, the familiar small, red-centred yellow flowers, as pea flowers, but there are actually a broad range of colours in evidence, from purple and pink, through red, orange and yellow.

Leaves are mostly simple…

…though some species have leaves in threes…

…or pinnate leaves.  Small leaves help conserve moisture, which is often in short supply in the Australian bush. 

Most of the local genera consist entirely of shrubs, but a few consist of climbers and twiners.

Some members of this family have spines, so approach with caution!

As you can see, the pea family is actually a very diverse group, with over 800 Australian species.  Even in the Sydney region there are about 170 different species, from 40 different genera, so you can expect to see a lot of variety.  Just don’t expect to be able to identify all of them!

 

Wattle Day is officially 1 September, but I reckon that around here it should be 1 August – so many species are in flower by then.

Wattle flowers can vary from a creamy yellow to an orange yellow in colour. They are grouped in three ways:

• as individual balls, also known as heads, which may grow in pairs, small clusters or singly

Acacia ulicifolia (Prickly Moses) – pungent pointed phyllodes, individual heads

• as individual balls arranged in racemes, which are flower clusters with the separate flowers attached by short equal stalks at equal distances along a central stem

Acacia terminalis (Sunshine Wattle) – bipinnate leaves, racemes

Acacia myrtifolia (Myrtle Wattle)- phyllodes, racemes

• or in cylinders, that we call rods or spikes

Acacia oxycedrus – pungent phyllodes, rods

Acacia longifolia (Sydney Golden Wattle) – Phyllodes, rods

Wattles can have either:

• phyllodes (flattened leaf stalks), instead of true leaves

Acacia longifolia (Sydney Golden Wattle) – phyllodes, buds

Acacia myrtofolia (Myrtle Wattle) – phyllodes

• or bipinnate leaves, which are ‘twice-divided’ leaves (bi equals two)

      Acacia terminalis (Sunshine Wattle) – bipinnate leaves   

Acacia decurrens (Black Wattle) – bipinnate leaves

Some species, including Acacia rubida, can have a combination of the two until they are fully mature, and all species have bipinnate leaves when they are seedlings.

All wattles, whether with phyllodes or bipinnate leaves, have a nectary gland at the base of the phyllode or leaf.  You can feel this as a small bump and can usually see it fairly clearly.

Acacia suaveolens (Sweet-scented Wattle) – showing nectary gland at bases of phyllodes

Wattles, like peas and beans, are legumes, where the fruit is in the form of seed pods, which, when mature, will split along one side to reveal a row of seeds.  The pods are different sizes in different species.

Acacia terminalis – bipinnate leaves, pods

Acacia falcata – pods, falcate phyllodes with off-centre main vein

These four major features – flower arrangement, phyllodes or leaves, pod shape and size and prominence of nectary gland – along with form, size, habitat and location, will help you to identify different species of wattles.

Wattles, along with other legumes, are very important because they can absorb nitrogen (an essential plant nutrient) from the air and fix it in the soil (make it accessible to other plants) through nodes on the plant roots.  As wattles are one of the first plants to colonise disturbed areas (eg after fire or bulldozing) they help make the soil ready for the next plants to grow.

The Sydney Golden Wattle is the floral emblem of Australia.

Acacia longifolia – Sydney Golden Wattle