Large Native Seed Head

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Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Large Native Seed Head

Common billybuttons, Craspedia glauca

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Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Common billybuttons, Craspedia glauca

Asteraceae. A mall, sub-alpine herb growing in clumps.

Height: 15-60cm

Leaves: Narrow spatulate, in basal rosette, 5-15cm long.

Flowers: Compact, flat, bright yellow heads on stems 5-60cm.

Flowering: Summer.
Fruit: An achenc.

Habitat/Distribution: Moist grassland of sub-alpine slopes. Restricted to Central Plateau and Ben Lomond. Also WA. SA.Vic, NSW, Qld.

Cultivation: Would require well drained moist soil in full vs. Propagate from fresh seed.

Distinguishing features: Flat headed, yellow, compact idaisy flower.

var. glatrata, narrow shiny leaves, confined to wet alpine grasslands.
var. macroceplrala, stem to 1 m high.
var. racilis, common billybuttons.

Yam daisy Seed Head

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Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Yam daisy, Microseris lanceolata

Asterace.A perennial herb with fleshy, edible rootstock.

Height: 10-40

Width: 5-30cm

Leaves: Very variable in shape and size from a basal rosette, 6-15 cm long.

Flowers: Bright yellow, 2-4cm across, terminal. single, hollow stalk.

Flowering: Winter/spring/summer.

Fruit: An achenc, 0.5-1 cm long with longer pappus.

Habitat/Distribution: Widespread in grasslands and ight forest, from sea level to alpine. Also WA, SA, Vic, \SW

Cultivation: Requires well drained soil in some sun. suitable for rockeries and containers. Susceptible to cinnamon fungus, Phytophthora cinnannomi. Propagate from seed or by division.

Distinguishing features: The dandelion-like flower.

Native Hardwood Fungi

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Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Native Hardwood Fungi

Southern storksbill, Pelargonium australe

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Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Southern storksbill, Pelargonium australe


Geraniaceac. A smallground-hugging, aromatic, perennial herb.

Height: 10-50cm

Width: 30-60cm

Leaves: Aromatic, green, softly hairy, kidney-shaped leaves 1-3cm deep, with intricate veins.

Flowers: Pale to deep pink petals with magenta bee-lines to the centre. The multiple, terminal flower heads arc on a long slender, hairy stalk.

Flowering: Spring/sununer/early autumn.

Fruit: 5dehiscing seeds held in an enclosed calyx with a protruding awn.

Habitat/Distribution: Widespread and common in dry, sandy, rocky soils as part of the undcrstorey. Also WA, SA, W Q.

Cultivation: Hardy and adaptable herb useful as a filler. Requires good drainage. Self seeds freely. Propagates easily from cuttings.

Distinguishing features: Dainty small pink multiple flower heads, with magenta
bee-lines, in dry areas.

Native Spider

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Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Native Spider

European Honey Bee Feeding on Golden Everlasting Daisy

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Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Golden everlasting,

Xerochrysum bracteatum

Asteraceae. Predominantly an annual herb.

Height: 30-50cm

Width: 10-40cm

Leaves: light green, sheathing, broadly elliptical, 3-15cm, with a prominent central vein.The young growth is sticky on the main fleshy stem.

Flowers: Cream/orange, terminal paper daisy, 2-5cm across.

Flowering: Spring and sporadic.

Fruit: An achene.

Habitat/Distribution: An understorey plant in dry anphyll forest. Also WA, SA,Vic, NSW, Q.

Cultivation: Hardy, requiring summer moisture. Removing spent flower heads promotes further flowering. Will self-seed freely, often producing interesting forms. Propagation easy from seed or cuttings. Many commercial forms are now available.

Distinguishing features: Stiff papery bracts.

European Honey Bee Feeding on Golden Everlasting Daisy

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Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Golden everlasting,

Xerochrysum bracteatum

Asteraceae. Predominantly an annual herb.

Height: 30-50cm

Width: 10-40cm

Leaves: light green, sheathing, broadly elliptical, 3-15cm, with a prominent central vein.The young growth is sticky on the main fleshy stem.

Flowers: Cream/orange, terminal paper daisy, 2-5cm across.

Flowering: Spring and sporadic.

Fruit: An achene.

Habitat/Distribution: An understorey plant in dry anphyll forest. Also WA, SA,Vic, NSW, Q.

Cultivation: Hardy, requiring summer moisture. Removing spent flower heads promotes further flowering. Will self-seed freely, often producing interesting forms. Propagation easy from seed or cuttings. Many commercial forms are now available.

Distinguishing features: Stiff papery bracts.

Spreading flaxlily, Dianella revoluta

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Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Spreading flaxlily, Dianella revoluta

Liliaceae. A tufted perennial herb spreading by rhizomes in extensive clumps.

Height: 30-100cm

Width: 0.5-2.5m

Leaves: Dark green, long strap-like to 70cm, with conspicuous central vein, narrow, 1-2 cm wide. Edges firmly rolled.

Flowers: 6 blue/purple petals with yellow stamens, in open bunches on long stalks.

Flowering: Late spring/summer.

Fruit: Blue/purple shiny berry containing masses of black seed.

Habitat/Distribution: Widespread, coast to 400m preferring damp to dry situations and tea-tree heaths. Also WA, SA.Vic. NSW, Q.

Cultivation: A very good soil-binding plant that withstands harsh conditions from first line coastal to 400m. Ideal for growing close to trees. Survives dry conditions and fires because of suckering growth habit. Can be controlled by removing stickers. Propagation by division or seed.

Distinguishing features: Tightly rolled strap-leaves.

Spreading flaxlily, Dianella revoluta

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Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Spreading flaxlily, Dianella revoluta

Liliaceae. A tufted perennial herb spreading by rhizomes in extensive clumps.

Height: 30-100cm

Width: 0.5-2.5m

Leaves: Dark green, long strap-like to 70cm, with conspicuous central vein, narrow, 1-2 cm wide. Edges firmly rolled.

Flowers: 6 blue/purple petals with yellow stamens, in open bunches on long stalks.

Flowering: Late spring/summer.

Fruit: Blue/purple shiny berry containing masses of black seed.

Habitat/Distribution: Widespread, coast to 400m preferring damp to dry situations and tea-tree heaths. Also WA, SA.Vic. NSW, Q.

Cultivation: A very good soil-binding plant that withstands harsh conditions from first line coastal to 400m. Ideal for growing close to trees. Survives dry conditions and fires because of suckering growth habit. Can be controlled by removing stickers. Propagation by division or seed.

Distinguishing features: Tightly rolled strap-leaves.

Native Bee

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Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Native Bee

Honey Fly Feeding on a Golden Everlasting Daisy

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Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Golden everlasting, Xerochrysum bracteatum

Asteraceae. Predominantly an annual herb.

Height: 30-50cm

Width: 10-40cm

Leaves: light green, sheathing, broadly elliptical, 3-15cm, with a prominent central vein.The young growth is sticky on the main fleshy stem.

Flowers: Cream/orange, terminal paper daisy, 2-5cm across.

Flowering: Spring and sporadic.

Fruit: An achene.

Habitat/Distribution: An understorey plant in dry anphyll forest. Also WA, SA,Vic, NSW, Q.

Cultivation: Hardy, requiring summer moisture. Removing spent flower heads promotes further flowering. Will self-seed freely, often producing interesting forms. Propagation easy from seed or cuttings. Many commercial forms are now available.

Distinguishing features: Stiff papery bracts.

Blue Stars, Chamaescilla corymbosa

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Photographed by Sparra Mc ©


Blue Stars, Chamaescilla corymbosa

Liliaceae. A perennial herb with a tuberous root.

Description
Height: 10-15cm

Width: 10-20cm

Leaves: Linear, to 15crn long, 1.5-5mm wide with hairy margins, broader at base tapering to a point, a basal tuft of 2-6 leaves that die off in the sunnner.

Flowers: Blue. 1-6, with 6 rounded petals on stalk up to 25cm, twisting as the flower dries.

Flowering: Spring. Fruit: A 3-lobed capsule.

Habitat/Distribution: Moist sandy or peaty heaths or light forests from sea level to 200m in the north-West, north-east, Midlands, south-cast. Also WA, SA,Vic.

Cultivation: An adaptable plant for Well drained areas in part sun. Seems to be short-lived. Propagate from seed.

Distinguishing features: Basal tuft With terminal bright blue flowers on slender stem. The only Chatnaescilla species in Tasmania.
var. eoryrnbosa, blue stars.

Milkmaids, Burchardia umbellata

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Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Milkmaids, Burchardia umbellata

Liliaceae. Showy herbaceous perennial.

Height: 15-50cm

Leaves: Grass-like from a sheathing base.

Flowers: Terminal cluster, 6 white petals, 6 burgundy tipped stamens and a burgundy ovary.

Flowering: Late spring.

Fruit: Triangudar capsule, containing many angular seeds.

Habitat/Distribution: Grassland or open forest. Also WA, SA,Vic, NSW, Q.

Cultivation: Well drained site with part shade to full sun, Frost tolerant. Propagate from seed.

Distinguishing features: Burd:ardia has completely white petals with flowers in clusters. Similar species Il'hrmbea rlioica has burgundy on petals and filaments.

Spider on Milkmaids, Burchardia umbellata

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Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Milkmaids, Burchardia umbellata

Liliaceae. Showy herbaceous perennial.

Height: 15-50cm

Leaves: Grass-like from a sheathing base.

Flowers: Terminal cluster, 6 white petals, 6 burgundy tipped stamens and a burgundy ovary.

Flowering: Late spring.

Fruit: Triangudar capsule, containing many angular seeds.

Habitat/Distribution: Grassland or open forest. Also WA, SA,Vic, NSW, Q.

Cultivation: Well drained site with part shade to full sun, Frost tolerant. Propagate from seed.

Distinguishing features: Burd:ardia has completely white petals with flowers in clusters. Similar species Il'hrmbea rlioica has burgundy on petals and filaments.