tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21717650884037107162024-03-15T01:40:49.998-07:00Toowoomba PlantsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger494125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-90568347383541826552024-03-15T01:34:00.000-07:002024-03-15T01:40:18.595-07:00Which Plant is Best for Your Site<p> </p><p><span style="font-size: small;">The Toowoomba region has a number of different soil types. It also has considerable variation in rainfall and frost. The best results from plantings come from plants chosen to suit your own situation. The Crows Nest Community Nursery has leaflets to help you. </span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: small;">To find leaflets that suit your needs, you can call at the Nursery during its opening hours (Thursdays 8.00am to 1.00pm) or contact the Nursery Manager by phone (</span><span>131 872)</span></i></p><p><span>Leaflet titles available are:<br />• Allora Mountain and other stony or sandy basalt-derived black soils<br />• Bees, pollen and nectar sources<br />• Blacksoil. Plants for black cracking clay soil<br />• Bush tucker plants<br />• Butterfly host plants<br />• Frost resistant plants. <br />• Gowrie Junction<br />• Gumtrees. Choose the right trees for your soil<br />• Highfields<br />• Koala food plants <br />• Sandstone based soils (as at Kleinton, Cooby Dam, Goombungee and Crows Nest)<br />• Street and Park Trees, Trees under power lines, or for large spaces</span></p><p><span>The Nursery has more information on the shelf signs behind each </span><span>individual </span><span>species of plant. This includes detailed information on the plant sizes, soil and sun requirements, frost and drought hardiness, bird friendliness, etc.<br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-22411424017895014442023-12-15T18:57:00.000-08:002024-01-28T13:03:31.844-08:00Should we ban Cunjevoi?<p><span style="font-family: times;"><i> Alocasia brisbanensis</i></span></p><p>Yesterday a petition was lodged with the Queensland Parliament, to ban this plant. </p><p><a href="https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Petitions/Petition-Details?id=4006">https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Petitions/Petition-Details?id=4006</a> <br /></p><p>The wording of the ban requests: <span style="font-family: times;"><i>the total ban of the sale, keeping, growing or removing from our rainforests Cunjevoi or Alocasia brisbanensis, Alocasia macrorrhizos plants across the state.</i></span></p><p>Cunjevoi is a well-known plant to all those who walk in the rainforests of Queensland and New South Wales. The juice of the leaves is often recommended as a cure for the sting of the giant stinging tree.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizADPKRNHGm-Ft7ofaP0lkSn9zl1EyP3tXN6cpKDccGulegnykghyphenhyphenIvZKvwbej930BqoD9Z_XwTBTMdAO2zO41AB-_x17jRsuxIXoE8-d4RG4-rdqkRova1yBoAl_SIlrZ51OHAmw3SAaq3ufgQTLfi1uQXsuT9D6KaZBj-ENPVqBFqWChUQY7k2ciov2S/s787/01%20Alocasia%20brisbanensis%20%20Goomburra%20March%202012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizADPKRNHGm-Ft7ofaP0lkSn9zl1EyP3tXN6cpKDccGulegnykghyphenhyphenIvZKvwbej930BqoD9Z_XwTBTMdAO2zO41AB-_x17jRsuxIXoE8-d4RG4-rdqkRova1yBoAl_SIlrZ51OHAmw3SAaq3ufgQTLfi1uQXsuT9D6KaZBj-ENPVqBFqWChUQY7k2ciov2S/s320/01%20Alocasia%20brisbanensis%20%20Goomburra%20March%202012.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>It is also often grown in gardens, and public parks, because it is beautiful. I see on the internet that Bunnings offers it for sale. </p><p>The petition states: "<i>It has been found that even a small snippet of the plant could kill an adult, child or pet in under 30 minutes.</i>" It also claims that even whippersnipping near the plants has dire effects on the person wielding the tool.<br /></p><p>These claims are obviously overstated, but is cunjevoi really dangerous? <br /></p><p>Yes. The book "<i>Australia's poisonous plants, fungi and Cyanobacteria</i>", by Ross Mckenzie, CSIRO Publishing, 2012, is one of the best guides to poisonous plants in Australia. </p><p>It awards Cunjevoi 1 (one) star for degree of danger. <br /><br />But is it really THAT dangerous? To put it in proportion, compare it with Narcissus (daffodils and jonquils), which rate 2 stars for degree of danger. Logic suggests that an even smaller "snippet" of daffodil must have the deadly effect described above.<br /><br />SO SHOULD WE BAN DAFFODILS?<br /><br />Well yes, if we are to be consistent, we should be regarding this as a more urgent matter than banning Cunjevoi. All Narcissus (daffodils and jonquils) rate 3 stars for weight of evidence of toxicity, and 2 stars for degree of danger.<br /><br />In fact, if we wanted to get the job done properly, we should comb through that CSIRO book, and get a lot of plants banned. There are more than seven thousand of them that qualify for one star or more. If we follow the logic of banning Cunjevoi, they should all be banned. Just to name a random few, they include grevilleas, pine trees, maples, daisy bushes, buttercups, gingko trees, pigface, oleanders, vinca, Hoya, citrus (leaves), tomatoes, heliotropes, box hedges, St John's wort, lupins, ferns of all kinds, and so on, and on, and on... </p><p>Many of them are more dangerous than Cunjevoi. Rhubarb leaves, for example, rate 3 stars for degree of danger. So does Deiffenbachia, a plant which is also advertised for sale in Bunnings. It is an ornamental plant with leaves somewhat resembling Cunjevoi. Green tomatoes and tomato leaves rate 2 stars. Parsley, mint, and quite a few other popular culinary herbs rate 1 star. They are safe in small amounts - and so, probably is cunjevoi - but don't try it!<br /></p><p>So why has Cunjevoi, a mere 1-star plant, been singled out for special treatment? It is hard to be certain. I suspect a lack of serious knowledge or research by the petitioner might be the cause.<br /></p><p>The petitioner, Gary Duffy, a former One Nation candidate, is clearly a man who takes his responsibilities as a citizen seriously and wants to see wrongs righted wherever he sees them. He has made news previously with other petitions, including a petition to ban off-premise billboards (Dec 2022), and one to have repairs to the Brisbane Valley Highway, in the area where he lives, carried out to a higher standard (Aug 2023). Now he is trying for a ban on Cunjevoi.<br /></p><p>I support his view, but only to the extent that I think it is very important that we should all be aware that any plants in our gardens, that are not normally eaten as food, might well be poisonous. This can also apply to parts of plants where other parts of the same plant are well known to be safe to eat.<br /></p><p>But as for banning Cunjevoi?</p><p>Not really. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-10851845554592382092023-11-19T21:19:00.000-08:002023-11-23T12:16:58.220-08:00Bottlejong<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Brachychiton x turgidulus</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i> </i></span> This year is being a great year for Brachychitons. Toowoomba is aflame with Flame Trees <span style="font-family: times;"><i>(B. acerifolius</i></span>). The large, felty pink flowers of Lacebarks (<span style="font-family: times;"><i>B. discolor</i></span>) are looking wonderful where they have been planted along the new England Highway at Highfields, and where they still occasionally occur in the remnants of their natural rainforest habitat at Highfields and Gowrie Junction. Locally native Kurrajongs (<span style="font-family: times;"><i>B. populneus</i></span>) are heavily in flower along the roadsides, particularly between Goombungee and Meringandan, where their nodding bells are inconspicuous until you slow down for a closer look. And our other local native brachychitons, the Bottle Trees are displaying their creamy-white flowers. The main street in Goombungee is a good place to look for them. There are also many beautiful <span style="font-family: times;"><i>Brachychiton</i></span> hybrids, produced and marketed by those clever people in the horticulture industry, to be seen in gardens of the district.<br /></p><p></p><p>Less familiar is the naturally occurring hybrid between kurrajongs and bottle trees. It occurs often enough to have been given its own name,<span style="font-family: times;"><i> Brachychiton x turgidulus, </i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and it occurs in places where its parent trees can be found somewhere nearby. We call it a bottlejong.<br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3PrPIyZ21Xz4Jz6gpJ6iihFnhnhsm0iAz6zUuf-_-Zn6EciHqz3tXxNtGXN2yiEqpUYxWuvjpP4PfLfLPpVVEsiZYQa7r2OPV8qnDXdezevHK3v3wsRmPEgFBtaxBZEhZw9nK2jr-yLEHtOf7ldaUuJYatrcOjCgp8LlL1cTAFUhW9a-bi7zNzgVNvfh/s750/01%20Brachychiton%20x%20turgidulus%20Biddeston%20Nov%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3PrPIyZ21Xz4Jz6gpJ6iihFnhnhsm0iAz6zUuf-_-Zn6EciHqz3tXxNtGXN2yiEqpUYxWuvjpP4PfLfLPpVVEsiZYQa7r2OPV8qnDXdezevHK3v3wsRmPEgFBtaxBZEhZw9nK2jr-yLEHtOf7ldaUuJYatrcOjCgp8LlL1cTAFUhW9a-bi7zNzgVNvfh/s320/01%20Brachychiton%20x%20turgidulus%20Biddeston%20Nov%202023.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottlejong<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Its flowers take some of the characteristics of their parents. Their redness comes from the kurrajong, but they are usually redder. Compare this photo with the kurrajongs below.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaXlB6lSLCtW0HD8q7MXSYBcR5ZoA49bgQ-JQkaFVmLRrZJ0X3NpP9sACvTEtApvWJ4hX4qwIw6KhOAH8tR-Olx5JQVFtPKGm6UtNeN_v846L3Gp_XqOgeWzJyJG-lrP7i1c3oO14PDhtiV3yobXDir57IG3vOqWlZrx_8FaJtRqDzO095GWIFAwvtXYT/s500/01%20Brachychiton%20populneus%20Gilgandra%20Oct09.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaXlB6lSLCtW0HD8q7MXSYBcR5ZoA49bgQ-JQkaFVmLRrZJ0X3NpP9sACvTEtApvWJ4hX4qwIw6KhOAH8tR-Olx5JQVFtPKGm6UtNeN_v846L3Gp_XqOgeWzJyJG-lrP7i1c3oO14PDhtiV3yobXDir57IG3vOqWlZrx_8FaJtRqDzO095GWIFAwvtXYT/s320/01%20Brachychiton%20populneus%20Gilgandra%20Oct09.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kurrajong. Minimally red. Note the shorter lobes.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2d8NjleG-kyL_1hoGgSGfEmoJ3jbSz5_NP9JPcAepeEkXR3zPL8IdberfUn9qIArCIEeT5qXXlQDURqEIU18t8rok3WJ9F3SLMWFJXUcH5gI2MHekAW8BfsytLSVzDlcmHxnk051a-UuUj2LEESlRpd43c_eu4Otk_lnc3XxVYcUZsXSAKuziKsghN3g/s300/01%20Brachychiton%20populneus%20PG%20Tree5,1%20Gowrie%20Little%20plain%20Nov%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2d8NjleG-kyL_1hoGgSGfEmoJ3jbSz5_NP9JPcAepeEkXR3zPL8IdberfUn9qIArCIEeT5qXXlQDURqEIU18t8rok3WJ9F3SLMWFJXUcH5gI2MHekAW8BfsytLSVzDlcmHxnk051a-UuUj2LEESlRpd43c_eu4Otk_lnc3XxVYcUZsXSAKuziKsghN3g/s1600/01%20Brachychiton%20populneus%20PG%20Tree5,1%20Gowrie%20Little%20plain%20Nov%202023.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kurrajong, tree 2. Greener flowers, with a red centre.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jq82QkgoplJvqkh0UJXw3gNOl_KHF0MMd8XnNGeiw8wA6tSxv-joeHl0MAXSNKXtigqoMyYrLnx2fNUDJKb72bSbsY4hVI8rVsKAvOphLMYaPcSlwXTOvrgoBLRWmcnM30fS1fSyHfRCmNPSu8M8M-arzo7_FZXT9HoMV-kbJgLMzgsm-h6boNxIPl3i/s600/01%20Brachychiton%20populneus%20Meringandan%20Goombungee%20Rd%20Nov%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jq82QkgoplJvqkh0UJXw3gNOl_KHF0MMd8XnNGeiw8wA6tSxv-joeHl0MAXSNKXtigqoMyYrLnx2fNUDJKb72bSbsY4hVI8rVsKAvOphLMYaPcSlwXTOvrgoBLRWmcnM30fS1fSyHfRCmNPSu8M8M-arzo7_FZXT9HoMV-kbJgLMzgsm-h6boNxIPl3i/s320/01%20Brachychiton%20populneus%20Meringandan%20Goombungee%20Rd%20Nov%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kurrajong, tree 3. Strongly red flowers<br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The white backs of the Bottlejong,together with their subtle hairiness,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> come from the bottle tree parent</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. The flowers of bottle trees also vary naturally a little both in their hairiness and their colour. They can be white or cream, and may have some red speckling..<br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpd3RR3zh5n796uWldbX6tcr21Gefacaq8lkhbcMydrafxOjynDts_NQzYd1ZG2F0zEwW1FaGsYRRxFt2wFR_9F6QWs0UmZ6qMrBEXq-KspigM1uTYtg2-WS-ncBT2_QoLmYl_PNQ2H0Jncus6shs3wSEefr3OQZ-9hl-izzysFUbvO9eGju6K-NIyichK/s639/01%20Brachychiton%20rupestris%202%20Goombungee%20Nov2023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpd3RR3zh5n796uWldbX6tcr21Gefacaq8lkhbcMydrafxOjynDts_NQzYd1ZG2F0zEwW1FaGsYRRxFt2wFR_9F6QWs0UmZ6qMrBEXq-KspigM1uTYtg2-WS-ncBT2_QoLmYl_PNQ2H0Jncus6shs3wSEefr3OQZ-9hl-izzysFUbvO9eGju6K-NIyichK/s320/01%20Brachychiton%20rupestris%202%20Goombungee%20Nov2023.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottle tree. A very white flower.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvv2e6e0ZPL0-z4SaCzzoZ_Is1fLQmJCk05E_r7SCryVVLgWQsAGntZ2lR1oOgBOO0-BLKPIp9PR0EATqatRLsGsEgEVnyi_B9cQ13NwmMvOpyzhuDzTPIUefSTg8-C5FzkFYSg-4biJCdisfaStvqokFJbW4DzOooyFv80WFa3miO1f-tfNf_4na44LB/s500/01%20Brachychiton%20rupestris%20P%20Gardner%201%20Nov%202019.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="500" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvv2e6e0ZPL0-z4SaCzzoZ_Is1fLQmJCk05E_r7SCryVVLgWQsAGntZ2lR1oOgBOO0-BLKPIp9PR0EATqatRLsGsEgEVnyi_B9cQ13NwmMvOpyzhuDzTPIUefSTg8-C5FzkFYSg-4biJCdisfaStvqokFJbW4DzOooyFv80WFa3miO1f-tfNf_4na44LB/s320/01%20Brachychiton%20rupestris%20P%20Gardner%201%20Nov%202019.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A different bottle tree. A hairier flower, with a few red speckles.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In shape Bottlejongs are part-way between parents, with lobes longer than the kurrajong, but shorter than the bottle tree, in relation to the overall length of the flower. Note also the different colour of the flower back of the hybrid, in relation to its kurrajong parent. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UX3m2nU8N1yDJYXLozVUrF8jwZ8f1Gtbl68Y8ZpDu8sPIalNaIAprNrY4sk9ShmHENHK1beJsmJzz2hCU6wsue9s1TXCoypQQmrdJXQMFTsHEy06JoDB_xAm_pufFLvwk3U-H7ilW0sj4bAQ00kK1cA_6rZeEASvkJGEXxfzlW808UvdbTYaS3SisbZv/s652/01%20Brachychiton%20populneus%20PG%20Tree1,1%20Mering%20Goom%20Rd%20Nov%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UX3m2nU8N1yDJYXLozVUrF8jwZ8f1Gtbl68Y8ZpDu8sPIalNaIAprNrY4sk9ShmHENHK1beJsmJzz2hCU6wsue9s1TXCoypQQmrdJXQMFTsHEy06JoDB_xAm_pufFLvwk3U-H7ilW0sj4bAQ00kK1cA_6rZeEASvkJGEXxfzlW808UvdbTYaS3SisbZv/s320/01%20Brachychiton%20populneus%20PG%20Tree1,1%20Mering%20Goom%20Rd%20Nov%202023.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kurrajong. Rounded bell, green on back.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8sZYxAJ3oOpt01r5Ojsp4sNVLmFnwzOQsaCF_Qk07MUaCUnPumt6IG8jy2VSMBV3gdy5OgYZaKUGwph__G-JcwkQ_bXC6MEAhtz6gZ2MR5YhBp8NFeUOabVDrEK4hk6Kz9-y1qmBuR-KV72de8Vb2wXCK5IEKvQKaq-dKgce8eyxaGZEWsfYckbp7toz/s532/01%20Brachychiton%20x%20turgidulus%20PG1%20Sunrise%20Rd%20Nov%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8sZYxAJ3oOpt01r5Ojsp4sNVLmFnwzOQsaCF_Qk07MUaCUnPumt6IG8jy2VSMBV3gdy5OgYZaKUGwph__G-JcwkQ_bXC6MEAhtz6gZ2MR5YhBp8NFeUOabVDrEK4hk6Kz9-y1qmBuR-KV72de8Vb2wXCK5IEKvQKaq-dKgce8eyxaGZEWsfYckbp7toz/s320/01%20Brachychiton%20x%20turgidulus%20PG1%20Sunrise%20Rd%20Nov%202023.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Bottlejong</i>, </span>wider flowers, with whitish, V-shaped back.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The trunk of the Bottlejong is stouter at the base than the trunk of a true kurrajong (for which it is often mistaken) but not as stout as a bottle tree trunk. "Turgid" means swollen, and it is the wide trunk that distinguishes the hybrid from kurrajong, and has given </span><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Brachychiton x turgidulus</i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> its name.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfqprDhlR1GPSRg1X06s00elfV5LeKKKg8K3HJ4K9YBP-LrkjEcZLJ8P6G2q3iJCWQaU0g3D5jLh7t5C4S03v5nCh6eTSFq_-4bkrpJbVXyyw-6umZmJFtkg07CU0taToz9Q_qhTsIh51RfSy2inBJE8WzcOsEgN7YK16XHcNf1Hhr6XP5iUstPWkzO3P/s600/02%20Brachychiton%20x%20turgidulus%20PG7%20Sunrise%20Rd%20Glencoe%20Nov%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfqprDhlR1GPSRg1X06s00elfV5LeKKKg8K3HJ4K9YBP-LrkjEcZLJ8P6G2q3iJCWQaU0g3D5jLh7t5C4S03v5nCh6eTSFq_-4bkrpJbVXyyw-6umZmJFtkg07CU0taToz9Q_qhTsIh51RfSy2inBJE8WzcOsEgN7YK16XHcNf1Hhr6XP5iUstPWkzO3P/s320/02%20Brachychiton%20x%20turgidulus%20PG7%20Sunrise%20Rd%20Glencoe%20Nov%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wide flowered Kurrajong, <span style="font-family: times;"><i>Brachychiton x turgidulus</i></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmEn9r6X2QUakBYGhFFoqiwFxnY2fhmJSefvsajIvNaJrNGr9pIv1os2mfCyCL105vw5ARo0ZNAizZ5vU5A5c18c0H-TELMRF-ohN6GykVWOIHVT7gQhtopokIkcov0ebgZnDrz9XdWXfpHNTUrXt3StAgN90ZK3SX8Z-vaIgBoxeJ3ZSviPG8HiBjH9p/s3072/Brachychiton%20populneus%20and%20bushwalkers%20Sep09.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmEn9r6X2QUakBYGhFFoqiwFxnY2fhmJSefvsajIvNaJrNGr9pIv1os2mfCyCL105vw5ARo0ZNAizZ5vU5A5c18c0H-TELMRF-ohN6GykVWOIHVT7gQhtopokIkcov0ebgZnDrz9XdWXfpHNTUrXt3StAgN90ZK3SX8Z-vaIgBoxeJ3ZSviPG8HiBjH9p/s320/Brachychiton%20populneus%20and%20bushwalkers%20Sep09.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kurrajong, <span style="font-family: times;"><i>Brachychiton populneus. </i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Note the straight trunk.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqJjA_3RwZKAwVnUOv7JMEjI-T67BXBpBfETmZVhrFm-_SalBTOvvlNyXtgmL3NvwNOz2Z1KSDQWYycVOMSVOelRgLHEg5NH1kIdGrOtjJGXhYyXvF_lvIR6m4HpK4mEJ2K7TRftkh5lmEWyajTC3HDjsYOhjbQFf12eGwc4HONruVcQgcpPOextN4_zK/s635/02%20Brachychiton%20rupestris%20Jimbour%20May2021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqJjA_3RwZKAwVnUOv7JMEjI-T67BXBpBfETmZVhrFm-_SalBTOvvlNyXtgmL3NvwNOz2Z1KSDQWYycVOMSVOelRgLHEg5NH1kIdGrOtjJGXhYyXvF_lvIR6m4HpK4mEJ2K7TRftkh5lmEWyajTC3HDjsYOhjbQFf12eGwc4HONruVcQgcpPOextN4_zK/s320/02%20Brachychiton%20rupestris%20Jimbour%20May2021.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottle tree, <span style="font-family: times;"><i>Brachychiton rupestris.</i></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because they are so often mistaken for kurrajongs until they reach the age of flowering, which may take 20 or 30 years, young </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">hybrids go unnoticed. We are uncertain
whether their leaf-shape has the same variability as their parents. Like its parents, it usually drops most of its leaves before flowering. In its best flowering years, such as this one, the leaf-drop may be complete, with new leaves coming in as the flowers begin to die.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I only know, personally, of a few of these trees. I have been told that they are quite widespread around Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, however, so would be interested to hear from any readers who are aware of this interesting plant.<br /></span></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZH-FkVH3mgRCUXd-GKI9A9-q4TaLmKfZr7qPjzzwdbRZ0yikeJM6WhO073IjSct58sCVcZrxngAnNSt4nGmhPRNY7XAx54mmYf8ZiDgANzh5XIHsAy59AK_zESBO9R1GQfilEUD-M6ZopbiV0ldaQj1O9h20dTqEJL8bvQcxDJmTICyuylGQ-bZBJW2Q/s639/01%20Brachychiton%20rupestris%20PG%20toilet%202,%20Goombungee%20Nov2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">x</a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-62602391261013977662021-10-02T00:20:00.006-07:002022-10-18T23:11:06.908-07:00<p><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> “Yellowtop” or “Fireweed”?</span></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;">Which yellow daisy is which?</span></span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdw3bYrhJyf6-EnV12ElZ_qIDMK7KFwLwP6sGN2jREw8DvMObLEhie6kC71GBzJ15c_8eO_44-7HbeKhi_SpCTBzgm_XtMJcoOvjffdlLAduXNXiLW2JfowEgOqTugJTv0x33Agl8z-1Ue/s600/01Senecio+brigalowensis+2+Sep08+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdw3bYrhJyf6-EnV12ElZ_qIDMK7KFwLwP6sGN2jREw8DvMObLEhie6kC71GBzJ15c_8eO_44-7HbeKhi_SpCTBzgm_XtMJcoOvjffdlLAduXNXiLW2JfowEgOqTugJTv0x33Agl8z-1Ue/w400-h266/01Senecio+brigalowensis+2+Sep08+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a> </span></span><br /><i><span style="font-family: times;">Senecio brigalowensis</span></i>, BRIGALOW YELLOWTOP (Native, annual)<br /><i><span style="font-family: times;">Senecio pinnatifolius</span></i> var. <i><span style="font-family: times;">pinnatifolius </span></i>PERENNIAL YELLOWTOP (Native, biennial or perennial)<br /><i><span style="font-family: times;">Senecio madagascariensis</span></i>*, Madagascar fireweed (Non-native, annual or biennial, a serious weed)</p><p><br />The countryside around Toowoomba is ablaze with yellow daisies at the moment. There are three species involved, but from a distance, the plants seem almost identical.<br />To some people, they are all “fireweeds” and are treated as equally undesirable.<br />Two of the three species are native, however, and are important hosts for some beautiful and increasingly rare native insects. (<a href="http://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/2017/06/mountain-katydid.html">See http://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/2017/06/mountain-katydid.html</a> or search for Mountain Katydid, <i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Acripeza reticulata</span></i>).<br />So which yellow daisy is which?<br />It is quite easy to distinguish Madagascar fireweed from the other two species by the shape of its leaves. All Senecios have leaves of a rather variable size and shape, but if you are trying to tell one yellowtop/fireweed from the others, look for the leaves around the middle of a fully-grown plant. They will still be variable, but you can get a good idea of the most common leaf shape.<br />The leaves of Madagascar fireweed (<i><span style="font-family: times;">Senecio madagascariensis</span></i>*), are spear-head shaped, with teeth, as below: <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfJbvXgRRMqqsO7BULQUxa1DAQaOiP7MXNB5yPixxS2ab_fLchWzSHUHfxxYuGWcl0sCI7Q554PtqrjY0SjoC1E7XvVwQ5BWVhzuIjWFMMIh3OnEvaSbppfcO7hKgYqP0wamcv6xZHiNr/s600/01+Senecio+madagascariensis+PGardner+DarlingHts+Sep2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="600" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfJbvXgRRMqqsO7BULQUxa1DAQaOiP7MXNB5yPixxS2ab_fLchWzSHUHfxxYuGWcl0sCI7Q554PtqrjY0SjoC1E7XvVwQ5BWVhzuIjWFMMIh3OnEvaSbppfcO7hKgYqP0wamcv6xZHiNr/w400-h339/01+Senecio+madagascariensis+PGardner+DarlingHts+Sep2021.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /> </p><p>The leaves of both the native species have long thin lobes, which gives them a “whiskery” look. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoot7lKELMyLq1MkIgoRPk0ZAFiqoweOcKvKwSKSQNNWfrLHunOulHuDljgDtDLy-fX0g_vmgPuDIdUw7azB4b9KVvyjUqIvDyvZNbDD-OFNzifG7CGCnqS11WfMprYIdm_3oLjnybReAW/s600/01+Senecio+brigalowensis++Gummingurru+Sep2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="600" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoot7lKELMyLq1MkIgoRPk0ZAFiqoweOcKvKwSKSQNNWfrLHunOulHuDljgDtDLy-fX0g_vmgPuDIdUw7azB4b9KVvyjUqIvDyvZNbDD-OFNzifG7CGCnqS11WfMprYIdm_3oLjnybReAW/w400-h351/01+Senecio+brigalowensis++Gummingurru+Sep2021.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />The leaves and leaf-lobes of Perennial yellowtop (<i><span style="font-family: times;">Senecio pinnatifolius </span></i>var. <i><span style="font-family: times;">pinnatifolius)</span></i> tend to be narrower than those of Brigalow yellowtop (<i><span style="font-family: times;">Senecio brigalowensis</span></i>), but there is some overlap so this is not a reliable guide. If the “whiskers” of the leaves have any very tiny teeth on the edges, you have Brigalow yellowtop, but many brigalow yellowtops have no teeth - just the long, thin, thready-looking lobes as above.<br />The most reliable way of distinguishing between the two natives is to count the bracts (not the petals). The bracts are the tiny green strips which make up the green cup in which the daisy flowerhead sits. You may need a good pair of reading glasses to count them, and at first though this seems like a hopeless task. </p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZSUEfGpJ8qO7xbOVSM5KaYf8UktVMLKRpmvGLcQgYr-AqBtniN6VyUGfVMlKWWHufyJV0MqxvR5bGltRMfmKTv-fMDYX0I1DBsc3drGFdKYriErRwLh1yKfzVL2eUHqn4ydpW3xsETeS/s600/01+Senecio+pinnatifolius+with+pin+Aug08+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZSUEfGpJ8qO7xbOVSM5KaYf8UktVMLKRpmvGLcQgYr-AqBtniN6VyUGfVMlKWWHufyJV0MqxvR5bGltRMfmKTv-fMDYX0I1DBsc3drGFdKYriErRwLh1yKfzVL2eUHqn4ydpW3xsETeS/w400-h266/01+Senecio+pinnatifolius+with+pin+Aug08+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>However brigalow yellowtop (<i><span style="font-family: times;">Senecio brigalowensis</span></i>) has more than 18 bracts and in practice there are usually about 22 of them. Our local (Darling Downs) perennial yellowtops (<i><span style="font-family: times;">Senecio pinnatifolius </span></i>var. <i><span style="font-family: times;">pinnatifolius)</span></i> have only about 13. Really, by the time you are half-way round you are going to know whether the full count is going to be more like 13 or 22, so it’s not that hard after all. Can you see, by the photo above, that you are looking at perennial yellowtop? Enlarge the photo and you can see only 6 or so bracts on this side. There is not going to be room for a total of 22 altogether, so you hardly need to count them all the way round! The bracts of the perennial yellowtop also tend to be purple-tipped, but this is not always a reliable indicator.</p><p>Perennial yellowtops flower later than brigalow yellowtops, and don't tend to produce such a crowd of plants. Their petals are also somewhat longer and slimmer. Once you know both plants you will find you can distinguish them at a glance. <br /></p><p><br /><u><b>MADAGASCAR FIREWEED <i><span style="font-family: times;">Senecio madagascariensis</span></i>*</b></u><br /><span style="color: red;">Poisonous to horses, cattle, pigs and poultry.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcZqts9ow-B7LMHXTFYVAbWgjHkiNcSEZxcM0gMuNhMmQGp9Trh-kUzPRVB5Yad-I4QVBoPosapFkn8pu9rb5MgGPb_scI-_lAx_AarMgGdTHbpo-qvARYkqVz8gi4DV2yUsf4TauLBzG/s900/01+Senecio+madagascariensis+PGardner+2+DarlingHts+Sep2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcZqts9ow-B7LMHXTFYVAbWgjHkiNcSEZxcM0gMuNhMmQGp9Trh-kUzPRVB5Yad-I4QVBoPosapFkn8pu9rb5MgGPb_scI-_lAx_AarMgGdTHbpo-qvARYkqVz8gi4DV2yUsf4TauLBzG/w266-h400/01+Senecio+madagascariensis+PGardner+2+DarlingHts+Sep2021.jpg" width="266" /></a> </span><br />If you have this one, you should get rid of it as soon as you can. It can have SIX GENERATIONS of seed per season. (Native yellowtops breed at a more civilised rate, only producing one generation of seed per season.) You can see why a few Madagascar fireweed plants might turn into a rather big problem rather quickly. <br />To make it worse, if you pull out plants with flowers but no seed on them, any flowers can mature and produce viable seed while they are drying out in your garbage bin. The seeds have fluffy tops designed to blow in the wind, so those plants that you thought were safely disposed of will spill seed even as your friendly helpful garbo is tipping your rubbish into the truck. The moral of the story is that all Madagascar fireweed flowers, as well as seeds, <u><b>should be carefully placed into a sealed plastic bag for disposal.</b></u></p><p><br /><u><b>BRIGALOW FIREWEED <i><span style="font-family: times;">Senecio brigalowensis</span></i></b></u><br /><span style="color: red;">Poisonous to horses, cattle, pigs and poultry.</span><br />Every few years in spring we have a big flush of these flowers, and this year is a biggie. Our paddocks and some road verges are sheets of yellow. They do like disturbed land. If you want to see a really good display, drive around the northern edge of Toowoomba on the new bypass road. You will notice how the road verges are a mass of colour, but very few plants have spread to the other side of the fence. The same can happen between one paddock and the next, which tells you some things about those paddocks’ different histories or use patterns. Heavily grazed paddocks are more prone to a big flush of yellowtops.<br />The curious thing is that it is only in some years that we have these big flushes, and it has only been happening here since 2007. Nobody is sure why, but it probably has something to do with our changing climate.<br />Unless you (or you neighbours) have horses or cattle, these lovely wildflowers can be left alone for you to enjoy, and for small native creatures to feed upon. They are part of our natural Australian environment.<br />Don’t feed them to the chooks, though.</p><p><br />PERENNIAL FIREWEED (<i><span style="font-family: times;">Senecio pinnatifolius</span></i> var. <i><span style="font-family: times;">pinnatifolius</span></i> Syn<i><span style="font-family: times;"> Senecio lautus</span></i> ssp. <i><span style="font-family: times;">dissectifolius</span></i>)<br /><span style="color: red;">Not regarded as dangerous to livestock.</span><br />This plant flowers a little later in the season, and never reaches pest proportions. You will notice it scattered about in paddocks which are grazed by cattle, with no resulting problems. In a well-managed (not overgrazed) paddock, such as the one in the photo below, they are not a problem. Perhaps they taste nasty, so cattle avoid them unless they are in a situation such as a stockyard or stock route, where heavy grazing leaves them with little choice of fodder.</p><p>They are a local wildflower to celebrate. What a pity that the issue of whether or not to let them grow is so confused by their weedy relatives. <br /></p><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuhtHhrIhOp6Ioe2EIEHOWG6e23R8vc5i3mV8_aqpMHlcEuIioyDx5BQ9rjpZZCq1lr32BLNab8m5ZfJFMPvuUCPnTGXDnzbkszjzxpykpf66HeuzzEQvzPZbPPZSgYhCAtztoIkPNeKN/s600/01+Senecio+pinnatifolius++on+hill+Goombungee+Sep08+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuhtHhrIhOp6Ioe2EIEHOWG6e23R8vc5i3mV8_aqpMHlcEuIioyDx5BQ9rjpZZCq1lr32BLNab8m5ZfJFMPvuUCPnTGXDnzbkszjzxpykpf66HeuzzEQvzPZbPPZSgYhCAtztoIkPNeKN/w400-h266/01+Senecio+pinnatifolius++on+hill+Goombungee+Sep08+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-83047677571323190152021-09-17T21:08:00.001-07:002021-09-17T21:08:59.295-07:00Which Greenwattle is Which?<p><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Acacia decurrens</i></span><br />SYDNEY GREEN WATTLE<br /><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Acacia irrorata</i></span><br />CINNAMON GREENWATTLE</p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Family: <span style="font-size: x-small;">MIMOSACEAE <br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLd7C8_YjnKwtmMq_zLvTIXGlMjeUubi1qDUcdDijnBmyJEtomDI9zTeVHKCbKNvHGpx6KKmuyz-d51MCgOitIrwwItIesQlOYQp-tMFZ4Gxv9NHW5Q6giYjVrEVSwwf6rRpwFxjZBvIX/s600/01+Acacia+decurrens+3+Max+H+Sep2021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLd7C8_YjnKwtmMq_zLvTIXGlMjeUubi1qDUcdDijnBmyJEtomDI9zTeVHKCbKNvHGpx6KKmuyz-d51MCgOitIrwwItIesQlOYQp-tMFZ4Gxv9NHW5Q6giYjVrEVSwwf6rRpwFxjZBvIX/w400-h266/01+Acacia+decurrens+3+Max+H+Sep2021.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: Max Henderson. Acacia decurrens.<br /></span></span><p></p><p>I have walked past these plants in Duggan and Hancock Parks (Toowoomba) many times, and simply failed to notice that they are not the ordinary local greenwattle, <span style="font-family: times;"><i>Acacia irrorata</i></span>, which is a very similar plant.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7BMh3hxXjH_dO2-WbfgD73cTurZctjE7ity8QgdTFY2auWsinYFfz1jWJ3XYIRNHdH3YZ0fx-A9eFlirwnkQCg2avf_Z9Yxdpfho5KI6ktOXqYjo1XDjr7aVmXbGJbZhuXVboS7XKbnT/s1007/Acacia+decurrens+2+Max+H+Sep2021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="669" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7BMh3hxXjH_dO2-WbfgD73cTurZctjE7ity8QgdTFY2auWsinYFfz1jWJ3XYIRNHdH3YZ0fx-A9eFlirwnkQCg2avf_Z9Yxdpfho5KI6ktOXqYjo1XDjr7aVmXbGJbZhuXVboS7XKbnT/w266-h400/Acacia+decurrens+2+Max+H+Sep2021.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: Max Henderson. Acacia decurrens.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><br />I wasn’t certain whether to be disappointed or delighted. Really, they are an environmental weed. However they are also a part of Toowoomba’s history - a reminder of a lost industry.<br />Native to the area around Sydney, their value as a source of tanbark was recognised early in our colonial history, and bark-strippers began plundering the naturally-growing plants. To ensure an ongoing supply, Sydney greenwattle plantations were established up and down Eastern Australia, to produce bark for tanning leather. They were also introduced to southern Africa and California. They have naturalised, and are spreading in many of these habitats, where they are now an environmental weed. Around Toowoomba, however, they are not aggressive colonisers, so are not an weed of any serious importance.<br />Whether they produced better bark for tanning than our local green wattles is doubtful. As we so often see, a certain plant becomes popular,often because it is simply better known, because its natural habitat is near a major cit. Then it planted in other areas regardless of whether there is a better local plant available. The people establishing the Toowoomba plantations would have found the seed of the Sydney greenwattle easy to obtain, and might not have even investigated the qualities of the bark of the local species, let alone wanted to pay staff to collect its seed. Here, they would have been used in our once-thriving and prosperous tanneries.<br /></p><p>Our local <span style="font-family: times;"><i>Acacia irrorata</i></span> is a plant with a wider natural range extending from Gympie to Gippsland. Down south, they call it “blueskin”. I have no idea why. Perhaps a southern reader will enlighten me? It is also called Cinnamon Greenwattle, because of the cinnamon scent of its leaves - a scent which is absent in <i><span style="font-family: times;">A. decurrens.</span></i> <br /><br />As new seedlings, both species look remarkable similar. However, distinguishing the two is quite easy, even from a distance, once they have reached a metre or more tall. <i><span style="font-family: times;">Acacia decurrens</span></i> has a shiny, bright green look about it, while<i><span style="font-family: times;"> Acacia irrorata</span></i> has softer-looking, non-shiny, dull green leaves. There is also a slight difference in the colour of the flowers, with <i><span style="font-family: times;">A. decurrens</span></i> having more strongly yellow flowers, while those of <i><span style="font-family: times;">A. irrorata</span></i> are a more creamy yellow.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoTsbt1Z9RFhl6hyphenhyphenFFyazKOjYSQemzfscHHXucN9LCbVkxG2aMp9XL2ReuCbKrsL2T2l2USxgLQzX7VWXJ2stEH2_R6CA-nTHfUpEO4OceBnWN9He5oBMw6tcUDgpQCvH1yn6uRHIPg-i/s600/01+Acacia+irrorata+flower+and+leaf+detail+MtK+Nov+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoTsbt1Z9RFhl6hyphenhyphenFFyazKOjYSQemzfscHHXucN9LCbVkxG2aMp9XL2ReuCbKrsL2T2l2USxgLQzX7VWXJ2stEH2_R6CA-nTHfUpEO4OceBnWN9He5oBMw6tcUDgpQCvH1yn6uRHIPg-i/w400-h268/01+Acacia+irrorata+flower+and+leaf+detail+MtK+Nov+2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: Acacia irrorata</span></span><br /><br /><i><span style="font-family: times;">Acacia decurrens</span></i> has a noticeable gland on the leaf-stem (petiole). Both of them have glands further along, between the leaflets, but <i><span style="font-family: times;">A. irrorata</span></i> has no gland on the petiole.<br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CxzzFU_JKGLWvd2KHqVNz31si_Jy3QS5KOCDbCHoEC8483EN6Lp-sDud0gycOUuBXwvEff2R_x91gXONzDHwsD0H-TRNDmBmdivYXivR5cyOx3RvF4Skj1d-cFeZyqWsv7sbiwQOoUWc/s426/01+Acacia+decurrens%252C+Max+henderson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="426" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CxzzFU_JKGLWvd2KHqVNz31si_Jy3QS5KOCDbCHoEC8483EN6Lp-sDud0gycOUuBXwvEff2R_x91gXONzDHwsD0H-TRNDmBmdivYXivR5cyOx3RvF4Skj1d-cFeZyqWsv7sbiwQOoUWc/w400-h240/01+Acacia+decurrens%252C+Max+henderson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: Max Henderson. Acacia decurrens.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span>The fresh yellow growth tips also differ. Those of A. <i><span style="font-family: times;">A. decurrens</span></i> are usually hairless, while <i><span style="font-family: times;">A. irrorata</span></i> has growth tips that are softly hairy to the touch.</p><p>The tiny leaflets of <i><span style="font-family: times;">A. irrorata</span></i> are no longer than 5mm long. In <i><span style="font-family: times;">A. decurrens</span></i> they are always longer then 5mm, and can be as much as 15mm.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Which One to Grow?</b></span></span><br />Local people choosing to grow a plant species for environmental reasons should choose <span style="font-family: times;"><i>Acacia irrorata </i></span>because it occurs naturally in the Toowoomba district. It has always been very common locally. (It is the plant that Greenwattle Street is named for.) It is a fast-growing plant with a life-span of not much more than 15 years, which makes it an excellent choice for beginning the task of restoring a wildlife habitat where the land has been cleared of trees. It is also a great plant for creating a fast windbreak, where several rows of trees are to be planted. One row could be of this species, which will be up and doing the job while the more long-lived species are getting their act together.<br />It attracts a very wide variety of insects, so brings in birds and other insect-eating wildlife species.<br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1e62wVhJKhG49ZDiI2adGMy_JXqGl2Y_aG3CDxLtZHpXp2lk7ImxqNxE8uS8WmOVy9h2kk5QfcXO2inQ5UUqOUPnH9w3-nO23B1ofnXpe3n60nJZXDRyEmZPoH0iqgC5fAjLLf4cTdzwF/s600/01+Acacia+irrorata+MtK+Nov+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1e62wVhJKhG49ZDiI2adGMy_JXqGl2Y_aG3CDxLtZHpXp2lk7ImxqNxE8uS8WmOVy9h2kk5QfcXO2inQ5UUqOUPnH9w3-nO23B1ofnXpe3n60nJZXDRyEmZPoH0iqgC5fAjLLf4cTdzwF/w400-h266/01+Acacia+irrorata+MtK+Nov+2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: Acacia irrorata</span></span><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-84621246484521192752021-08-26T00:56:00.001-07:002021-08-26T00:56:27.774-07:00Gargaloo - something to add<p> <span style="font-family: times;"><i>Parsonsia eucalyptophylla </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><i> </i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEMrjCEhYre9UNv700sQOTOx37j0e5ISdto-Y0cZ_SUTn_kQlXWoKTqhvhuwVbYLlLxQZOYHnJ090zmRaruYkt7YDBh5C3ebX5UPJtMeGrJMVmtBlLXv65xH3-Z3jiYh1sjfD5OrDywo/s600/01+Parsonsia+eucalyptophylla+sev+flowers+Jan10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEMrjCEhYre9UNv700sQOTOx37j0e5ISdto-Y0cZ_SUTn_kQlXWoKTqhvhuwVbYLlLxQZOYHnJ090zmRaruYkt7YDBh5C3ebX5UPJtMeGrJMVmtBlLXv65xH3-Z3jiYh1sjfD5OrDywo/w400-h266/01+Parsonsia+eucalyptophylla+sev+flowers+Jan10.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></div><i><br /><br /></i> <br /><p>I love it when a reader tells me something I didn't know.</p><p> Jane
Pye of Walgett read my original blog about this pretty, drought-hardy
vine, and wrote to ask me about its tuber. Could I could confirm that it
was poisonous? She added "<span lang="EN-US">There is a lot of it here around the old kamilaroi
camps so seems odd they encouraged a poisonous vine - why not the bush
banana instead? "</span></p><p><span lang="EN-US"> </span>Having
had no idea that it even had a tuber, I was no help to her. I have
never thought to dig up the roots of one and examine them. I couldn't
find any botanical descriptions which mention a tuber, so perhaps no
botanist has ever dug one up, either. I did find a reference that said
that cattle and sheep "eat it" apparently without ill effect. Sheep are
known to dig up some tubers, but perhaps this comment refers only to the
above-ground parts of the plant. Could the gargaloo tubers be too deep
for the sheep to find? Or perhaps the first nibble tells them that it
tastes bad, so it gets left alone. </p><p>Presumably a gargaloo which has been eaten to the ground can then regrow from the tuber.</p><p>My original blog about the Gargaloo can be found at <a href="https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=gargaloo">https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=gargaloo</a></p><p>An article about the poisonous tuber can be found here: <a href="https://archive.lls.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/495749/archive-vines.pdf">https://archive.lls.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/495749/archive-vines.pdf</a> </p><p>Jane has an excellent blogsite of her own, which I recommend to you. You can find it at <a href="https://scartrees.com.au/">https://scartrees.com.au/</a><br /></p><p> </p><p>A
gargaloo seed capsule (below). The ripe seeds have little silky
"parachutes" which help spread the seeds. Just a few of these seeds may
have been lucky enough to land in a suitable spot to create a new plant.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj2eVU9uqcgHcHNqBOsTLMcVwQYlOrWL_grULKMwmUGT3sCt-FI_TFA_S_ADVVYM4H6d0GpbCE611NgiQ8CHwZu_PmrdLAO9ydXGSci3imX0pmBekXpYhkc1g8qktiaKziKXxNh44R50/s750/01+Parsonsia+eucalyptophylla+seed+capsule+open++Irongate+Apr+10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj2eVU9uqcgHcHNqBOsTLMcVwQYlOrWL_grULKMwmUGT3sCt-FI_TFA_S_ADVVYM4H6d0GpbCE611NgiQ8CHwZu_PmrdLAO9ydXGSci3imX0pmBekXpYhkc1g8qktiaKziKXxNh44R50/w266-h400/01+Parsonsia+eucalyptophylla+seed+capsule+open++Irongate+Apr+10.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p> Gargaloo
flowers have a lovely honey scent. The plants west of Toowoomba seem to
me to have a more appealing fragrance than those on plants further
east. They appeal strongly to butterflies.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQ85D5CSFAcTrqopZErAqiS1yfX9ffliAi0uahC1_ezzmQ2e8Aa7rZY4W34ko5LxtmsK0awTm73cWNS6tJaJIt7AxGOieZAwowToPKrZS93ZDt-1orAsX6K8nCOQbsuwXeAYaVJ4wp4Q/s600/01+Parsonsia+eucalyptophylla+with+caper+white++Irongate++3079+on+-+0752.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQ85D5CSFAcTrqopZErAqiS1yfX9ffliAi0uahC1_ezzmQ2e8Aa7rZY4W34ko5LxtmsK0awTm73cWNS6tJaJIt7AxGOieZAwowToPKrZS93ZDt-1orAsX6K8nCOQbsuwXeAYaVJ4wp4Q/w400-h266/01+Parsonsia+eucalyptophylla+with+caper+white++Irongate++3079+on+-+0752.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p> And
finally, a photo which shows the distinctive flower shape of Parsonsia
flowers - but will also appeal to the readers of a certain very popular
children's book by Richard Scarry. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUJ0lT1x2Yi8XxaczbbdQUXvp_BG_hdw8IvTaeLsbbgPpzReLhcdnGvuBr5C_-ePoqzjHBcYvN7CsD521UUACfYwz3OPgdRyB3aaQjmb1jUKuYSZjt0fin2JRF8o36I4mQ5AnJjIJi2Y/s750/01+Parsonsia+eucalyptophylla+with+Goldbug+Jan2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUJ0lT1x2Yi8XxaczbbdQUXvp_BG_hdw8IvTaeLsbbgPpzReLhcdnGvuBr5C_-ePoqzjHBcYvN7CsD521UUACfYwz3OPgdRyB3aaQjmb1jUKuYSZjt0fin2JRF8o36I4mQ5AnJjIJi2Y/w266-h400/01+Parsonsia+eucalyptophylla+with+Goldbug+Jan2021.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Here's Goldbug!</b> </span></p><p>(Double click on the photo to enlarge it, and you will see him.)</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-2355095024722950822020-12-04T22:38:00.001-08:002020-12-04T22:38:29.302-08:00Python Tree<p><i><span style="font-family: times;">Gossia bidwillii. </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></i><br />Australia specialises in trees with beautiful trunks. This is one of our loveliest.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-Lu1-b-HvrAS534bV_osXN-tc3qzF2H_OGwWGb7tNJFssH4flFzYLIukRw1_3wKyOpzIkHb2CTCG25WiJyouaCuqa2FOwzQmkCf69mDifwCrIYnHQPCCnkw5qIJFvRlqEaTMR3_ODSnO/s900/01+Gossia+bidwillii+trunk+1+Jun2013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-Lu1-b-HvrAS534bV_osXN-tc3qzF2H_OGwWGb7tNJFssH4flFzYLIukRw1_3wKyOpzIkHb2CTCG25WiJyouaCuqa2FOwzQmkCf69mDifwCrIYnHQPCCnkw5qIJFvRlqEaTMR3_ODSnO/w266-h400/01+Gossia+bidwillii+trunk+1+Jun2013.jpg" width="266" /></a><br /> </p><p>It is a small tree. For the most part it is found in vine scrubs and dry rainforests along the range, but also occurs in the remnants of the Gowrie Scrub, a once-large scrub which stretched from Highfields and North Toowoomba through Gowrie Junction to Kingsthorpe and beyond. It is very suitable for suburban gardens.</p><p><br />Its name comes from the smooth mottled python-like trunk, which is cool to the touch even on a hot day. (Some people call it “refrigerator tree”. ) Its shape often suggests muscles under the skin. The specimen below, which has obviously had a hard early life, shows these “muscles” to an exaggerated extent.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCfRIPbjmbNusppsEZsMgedgF-GO5Ojvxp-QCdfcyvWrbnY6MLxI4KwcF4y0gumz_ivxYTvsPlp_G4yNNHWMtqCNsAb7Rd5rju2hulbbxrj1lsw1lzhn3uMEu7-7Z0OhqE8XxZ8yW9ZGP/s600/01+Gossia+bidwillii+muscles.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="600" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCfRIPbjmbNusppsEZsMgedgF-GO5Ojvxp-QCdfcyvWrbnY6MLxI4KwcF4y0gumz_ivxYTvsPlp_G4yNNHWMtqCNsAb7Rd5rju2hulbbxrj1lsw1lzhn3uMEu7-7Z0OhqE8XxZ8yW9ZGP/w400-h263/01+Gossia+bidwillii+muscles.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /> </p><p>The distinctive upper roots at the base of the trunk are often exposed, and are a feature which helps you identify the tree in the wild.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-we0b-QGqeKtat27jF6DUjv-gcMNvK6ujYuH-siaIvgSrBnknLldhzdNGwwPovLmGyLgXusOnYVD161arAF91C0vHzeFx9p3Pz4qxCyQiL4QNbW8gxoWUgmvVW9A-xu1BThThOspFxlL/s928/01+Gossia+bidwillii++Sep08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-we0b-QGqeKtat27jF6DUjv-gcMNvK6ujYuH-siaIvgSrBnknLldhzdNGwwPovLmGyLgXusOnYVD161arAF91C0vHzeFx9p3Pz4qxCyQiL4QNbW8gxoWUgmvVW9A-xu1BThThOspFxlL/w259-h400/01+Gossia+bidwillii++Sep08.jpg" width="259" /></a><br /> </p><p>The shiny green leaves resemble lillypilly leaves, except that they have red-brown twigs, which help you to to distinguish them.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKk_SswOXpC8EUtpeABobmJd4xz8FkdEickf-i3xiesaL5Wn0MplzIqIcVoxgheZlStHKbgYQIARu5cdNzXfb5IhXuxMvk-lySMEU8ANGlj5NehJ-BeVujj4a0JlLKvqKYqvpN__dlWC-V/s600/01+Gossia+bidwillii++Nov+2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKk_SswOXpC8EUtpeABobmJd4xz8FkdEickf-i3xiesaL5Wn0MplzIqIcVoxgheZlStHKbgYQIARu5cdNzXfb5IhXuxMvk-lySMEU8ANGlj5NehJ-BeVujj4a0JlLKvqKYqvpN__dlWC-V/w400-h266/01+Gossia+bidwillii++Nov+2010.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /> </p><p>They are a brilliant, translucent red when new, and make a great show in the garden.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrNuMwzpDne0N7q8kKBruBDLK4wCaJAWl1Q2PD-z21Dp-KpW1RVMZbqMXI2b5rubgw5OVB3GEe1WomMIRFu4p9oCNJAFfefS7GUPzR9mE-AXOxcEJiMAqJHV1zdBm9E5wFDespoVOmR6l/s600/01+Gossia+bidwilli+Oct+2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrNuMwzpDne0N7q8kKBruBDLK4wCaJAWl1Q2PD-z21Dp-KpW1RVMZbqMXI2b5rubgw5OVB3GEe1WomMIRFu4p9oCNJAFfefS7GUPzR9mE-AXOxcEJiMAqJHV1zdBm9E5wFDespoVOmR6l/s320/01+Gossia+bidwilli+Oct+2010.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /> <br />Python trees have juicy, edible fruits. </p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfKO-TKzAOX-QnVgrpdajcERBCnxl9cPwnAgAaqBm9KWGA3OURF_g-8X5sgjK-AC4ZpvxuP6ksCRvj4xswNL-5vt8GqgRvoEVLTBDc6x9r5Uy7nKG1cM1UOMPfTkeoRHGYuHQOGzWzZHR/s600/01+Gossia+bidwillii+fruits+Peacehaven+Jan+2016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="600" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfKO-TKzAOX-QnVgrpdajcERBCnxl9cPwnAgAaqBm9KWGA3OURF_g-8X5sgjK-AC4ZpvxuP6ksCRvj4xswNL-5vt8GqgRvoEVLTBDc6x9r5Uy7nKG1cM1UOMPfTkeoRHGYuHQOGzWzZHR/w400-h343/01+Gossia+bidwillii+fruits+Peacehaven+Jan+2016.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /> </p><p>If you pick one in the wild to try, don’t forget to plant the seed in a suitable spot after you have sucked it clean. This species is in decline, and would appreciate the little bit of help to produce the next generation.<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-84617347697416443392020-05-31T01:32:00.000-07:002020-05-31T01:32:11.624-07:00Talking about LeavesBotanical jargon can seem off-putting to a beginner, but it is worth the trouble of learning a bit of it. Knowing some of the botanical words makes aware of what details about leaves to look for, and the more we know about what to look for, the more details we notice.<br /><br />So let’s start with a few easy botanical terms, and what they mean.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Alternate or opposite leaves?</span></b></span><br />If you’re looking at a plant and wondering what it is, this is one of the first identifying features to look for.<br />
<br /><b>Opposite</b> simply means that the leaves are in pairs. Here is a specimen of a local climber with <b>opposite</b> leaves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioI72boxV4fjhM0khPbUynkpvmdBH0QSSASM6xfHROU7Zmc9kXcYAVo7rkii4FjlF81WyEmozs_IpuVE3d5Du6Iu1Irooq1ecEEtR3FBkk5kWSTOQS7x2YjFyub-Y6OjhvqE6gRCxkSDWG/s1600/01+Jasminum+simplicifolium..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioI72boxV4fjhM0khPbUynkpvmdBH0QSSASM6xfHROU7Zmc9kXcYAVo7rkii4FjlF81WyEmozs_IpuVE3d5Du6Iu1Irooq1ecEEtR3FBkk5kWSTOQS7x2YjFyub-Y6OjhvqE6gRCxkSDWG/s400/01+Jasminum+simplicifolium..jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Stiff Jasmine, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jasminum simplicifolium</span></i> </b>- for more details on this plant see: <a href="https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=pearls">https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=pearls</a></span><br />
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<b>Alternate</b> means the leaves are joined onto the twig (botanical term: <b>branchlet</b>) one at a time, not in pairs. The plant below has <b>alternate </b>leaves along its slightly zig-zagged <b>branchlets.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPRmeM_E92MMAkLOPttLGrtgZQIcV7JH0CGs96k_9I2270qeBuWQ-kxm4SZ7vHusm5mJi4Bsc2gOYT5U0q6hacuvD6_eu5aZtwzcnI3TzKNMMTEf_ScetXDM-3kUCNSqgoAUSJY1wZaqg/s1600/01+Geijera+parvifolia+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPRmeM_E92MMAkLOPttLGrtgZQIcV7JH0CGs96k_9I2270qeBuWQ-kxm4SZ7vHusm5mJi4Bsc2gOYT5U0q6hacuvD6_eu5aZtwzcnI3TzKNMMTEf_ScetXDM-3kUCNSqgoAUSJY1wZaqg/s400/01+Geijera+parvifolia+2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Scrub Wilga, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Geijera salicifolia</span></i></b> - for more details on this plant see:<br /><a href="https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=bone-chilling.">https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=bone-chilling.</a></span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Simple or Compound Leaves?</span></span></b><br />
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<br />This is a little trickier. A <b>simple</b> leaf is never divided into leaflets. Simple leaves come in a lot of different shapes, but there is always is just a single leaf-blade, joined directly to the branchlet. The Jasmine and the Wilga above have <b>simple</b> leaves.<br />So does the plant below - and you will notice that they are <b>opposite.</b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEith6Cq-Dsan5-GN_7eF9bi5n6Q3eyMaraS3XptfW9wSjAsLjII_c5irilZmpuwM64igRzR86yp-12_u-2fSDM7VuASP9-fCqAPTwNRgmZ8Pvo8njbzOOqD2wWMR5Xxlj2mq6GlheJz1hVv/s1600/01+Elaeodendron+australe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="600" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEith6Cq-Dsan5-GN_7eF9bi5n6Q3eyMaraS3XptfW9wSjAsLjII_c5irilZmpuwM64igRzR86yp-12_u-2fSDM7VuASP9-fCqAPTwNRgmZ8Pvo8njbzOOqD2wWMR5Xxlj2mq6GlheJz1hVv/s400/01+Elaeodendron+australe.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></b><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;">Red Olive-plum <b><i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Elaeodendron australe</span></i> var. <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">integrifolium</span></i></b>, - for more details on this plant see:<br /><a href="https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=olive-plum">https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=olive-plum</a></span><br /><br />Another local with <b>simple</b>, <b>opposite </b>leaves is this one.<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ramg2P_dI3FHulXxO0I0JKpdP5cUBtYW6sUwCoWIiS49u8IP9tda3iXAkEt8xjD2YKHwmO6GNhUrDvLRm54Pjkf-FPkfK9WT0wzV9Hbu9AYMsZdP6fMMy1LH_hmKZRjaRF8M2d-ESxnR/s1600/Notelaea+microcarpa.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ramg2P_dI3FHulXxO0I0JKpdP5cUBtYW6sUwCoWIiS49u8IP9tda3iXAkEt8xjD2YKHwmO6GNhUrDvLRm54Pjkf-FPkfK9WT0wzV9Hbu9AYMsZdP6fMMy1LH_hmKZRjaRF8M2d-ESxnR/s400/Notelaea+microcarpa.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>Small Fruited Mock Olive, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Notelaea microcarpa</span></i> </b>- for more details on this plant see:<br /><a href="https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=Rosenthal">https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=Rosenthal</a></span><br /><br />This one has simple, alternate leaves:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8Q_bFV5oaK1_nUPP2AjSAZfRIJBYKLa8rmV3Qc4tawge9FLcGHpLwEw27dsKqF6TVouJwujrDbJNN95Hfr1eZJx9Xus1_0SK4CnMRSgxPODnrHMcgiSI73B-eJybvnOwSQDbEOLtnKX2/s1600/01+Alectryon+diversifolius%252C+red+leaves%252C+Stahmann+Aug2013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="600" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8Q_bFV5oaK1_nUPP2AjSAZfRIJBYKLa8rmV3Qc4tawge9FLcGHpLwEw27dsKqF6TVouJwujrDbJNN95Hfr1eZJx9Xus1_0SK4CnMRSgxPODnrHMcgiSI73B-eJybvnOwSQDbEOLtnKX2/s400/01+Alectryon+diversifolius%252C+red+leaves%252C+Stahmann+Aug2013.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Scrub Boonaree, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Alectryon diversifolius</span></i> </b>- for more details on this plant see:<br /><a href="https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=dormitory">https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=dormitory</a></span><br /><br />And here’s another one which also has <b>simple, alternate</b> leaves:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuiP0_h47LULflPk2UgXqYXAChRR4TIoovSyHfLm-p9iE-v0A5ojxRsAzDMPcY3zOqm9QaQ_i2g8vCkJbRfw8o7l23-a-TNZlnQHiHl3mGn1GD3g9GqyUPSuLB6Qg2ffG9eeTxa8IjjXy/s1600/01+Breynia+oblongifolia++Jan+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="600" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuiP0_h47LULflPk2UgXqYXAChRR4TIoovSyHfLm-p9iE-v0A5ojxRsAzDMPcY3zOqm9QaQ_i2g8vCkJbRfw8o7l23-a-TNZlnQHiHl3mGn1GD3g9GqyUPSuLB6Qg2ffG9eeTxa8IjjXy/s400/01+Breynia+oblongifolia++Jan+2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Breynia, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Breynia oblongifolia</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span></i></b><br /><br />Instead of being <b>simple</b>, leaves can be <b>compound.</b><br />This means that the leaf is divided up into sub-leaves (botanical term: <b>leaflets</b>). This cam be confusing, because leaflets look rather like leaves!<br />
<br />The picture below shows ONLY THREE leaves. They are<b> </b>the kind called<b> compound</b> leaves, rather than <b>simple</b> leaves.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rzHiKBKydRa60iWVIEDELrM2Q7EAt2SpZXRoU7bcpwEQm7WkS0yVb9NT6yTCo2jWk3huQHyYXyW_Lwpocu4eZKBp2bi85NO7CFyJTxKSdMqPxHkh5-uSNKOL_pjieg94-92l8UDntzsL/s1600/01+Elattostachys+xylocarpa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rzHiKBKydRa60iWVIEDELrM2Q7EAt2SpZXRoU7bcpwEQm7WkS0yVb9NT6yTCo2jWk3huQHyYXyW_Lwpocu4eZKBp2bi85NO7CFyJTxKSdMqPxHkh5-uSNKOL_pjieg94-92l8UDntzsL/s400/01+Elattostachys+xylocarpa.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>White Beetroot Tree <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Elattostachys xylocarpa</span></i></b> - for more details on this plant see: </span><br />
<a href="https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=multiple-trunked"><span style="color: #0b5394;">https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=multiple-trunked</span></a><br />
<br />Two of its leaves are divided into five leaflets each, and the other leaf has only two leaflets.<br />You could mistake those leaflets for <b>simple</b> leaves, couldn’t you?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_X9DOY-0kRvWFvvlRLauW5jr1URGCLaveg0IEQaQMzRQIEs8l7p4e89CNSJdPAJeO1IzPZRtzdnYl0g4E1qVEPGA0ID9Qq9S6_LtAAuCJLdFB4IeRDGbYxVmS-MbZ97CEWW7hFttp32i/s1600/01+Elattostachys+xylocarpa+6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="600" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_X9DOY-0kRvWFvvlRLauW5jr1URGCLaveg0IEQaQMzRQIEs8l7p4e89CNSJdPAJeO1IzPZRtzdnYl0g4E1qVEPGA0ID9Qq9S6_LtAAuCJLdFB4IeRDGbYxVmS-MbZ97CEWW7hFttp32i/s400/01+Elattostachys+xylocarpa+6.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /> <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>White Beetroot Tree <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Elattostachys xylocarpa</span></i></b></span><br />
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The difference can be seen by looking at the join between the leaf-stalk and the <b>branchlet.</b> (The botanical term for this join is “<b>axil</b>”.) Can you see that there is a shoot coming from the <b>axil</b>? Only leaves have those shoots. There is never a shoot at the base of leaflets. The position of the shoot tells you that you are looking at <b>compound</b> leaves.<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b> </span><br />(And did you notice that this plant has <b>alternate</b> leaves?)<br /><br />So does this one below - and its <b>compound</b> leaves are very large.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibceJXYXjKhL6sTvyMXegs3_kCywoyYIMu7HXIC5mGjcxVImTdvvWEk2sOP7mYKJ0tPjqeG-J5qTzJ4Hm7-SGYG3zi9pXgDUrgxVE2ayA36nYMHkQzHh0dh3O2yOscks-ZSKk6z5G93DIK/s1600/Rhodosphaera+rhodanthema.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibceJXYXjKhL6sTvyMXegs3_kCywoyYIMu7HXIC5mGjcxVImTdvvWEk2sOP7mYKJ0tPjqeG-J5qTzJ4Hm7-SGYG3zi9pXgDUrgxVE2ayA36nYMHkQzHh0dh3O2yOscks-ZSKk6z5G93DIK/s400/Rhodosphaera+rhodanthema.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Deep Yellowwood, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Rhodosphaera rhodanthema</span></i>,</b> - for more details on this plant see: <a href="https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=deep+yellowwood">https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=deep+yellowwood</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><br />Note the tiny shoot in the leaf axil, by my finger. The shoots in leaf axils are sometimes just very small points, so you need to look carefully for evidence that this is a <b>compound</b> leaf.<br />
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Also note the white sap oozing from the places where I have snipped off leaves, so I could show a clear photo of a single leaf. Relatively few trees have white sap, so this is an important identifying feature. (I washed my hands afterwards, an important precaution after handling this kind of plant.) <br />
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White beetroot tree and Deep Yellowood have the kind of <b>compound</b> leaves called <b>pinnate </b>leaves. <b>Pinnate</b> is a word about feathers. Can you see how the leaves in the photo above are arranged a bit like a feather - with a leaflets lined up on either side of the central rib, like the barbs of a feather? The central rib of the leaf is called the <b>rachis</b>. (Pronounced RAH-KIS) The strong central spine of a feather is a <b>rachis</b>, too.<br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Trifoliate Leaves</span></span></b><br />Here is another plant with compound leaves. In this case, its leaves are opposite.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCWk9T56ROkvmJZL9wyylvPJNpbCZS6sG0rVXbCnM3vADe6QjItKRcLSNJviSP4UbgerHc5oa3YQPrTMZtnnsHmYDYr1ksb3wmd61ti4aHXvKp4R2tLEjn_12SKbiLXILAoYNGGs6MD1K/s1600/01+Jasminum+didymum+subsp.+racemosum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCWk9T56ROkvmJZL9wyylvPJNpbCZS6sG0rVXbCnM3vADe6QjItKRcLSNJviSP4UbgerHc5oa3YQPrTMZtnnsHmYDYr1ksb3wmd61ti4aHXvKp4R2tLEjn_12SKbiLXILAoYNGGs6MD1K/s400/01+Jasminum+didymum+subsp.+racemosum.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Triple Leaf Jasmine, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jasminum didymum</span></i> subsp. <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">racemosum</span></i></b> - for more details on this plant see:<br /><a href="https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=didymum">https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=didymum</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><br />Despite its deceptive common name, it is the <b>leaflets</b> that are triple, not the leaves. If you look closely (double click on the photo) you can see the beginnings of shoots in the leaf <b>axils</b>.<br />
<br />Plants with compound leaves, having three leaflets arranged in this pattern are called “<b>trifoliate</b>” (or some people prefer “trifoliolate”, which is such a tongue twister that the word is dropping out of use, despite its being more correct). So the jasmine above has <b>opposite, trifoliate</b> leaves.<br /><br />Here is another example of compound leaves which are trifoliate.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzAUwFR6I5z4VIzn6LFZ1g5SRcXtNw3jA0AijPcVUtgbH8J25LADTGZDXJZsnB2Du9SFK2bWVEm8fjhD6QVBujNAj_F4RXfB2TLS15Wv97qR3tnUHngZHWG_kJtK-iTkGiwlJl4Wzoelo/s1600/Dinosperma+erythrococcum.+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzAUwFR6I5z4VIzn6LFZ1g5SRcXtNw3jA0AijPcVUtgbH8J25LADTGZDXJZsnB2Du9SFK2bWVEm8fjhD6QVBujNAj_F4RXfB2TLS15Wv97qR3tnUHngZHWG_kJtK-iTkGiwlJl4Wzoelo/s400/Dinosperma+erythrococcum.+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Tingletongue, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dinosperma erythrococcum. </span></i></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><br />Can you see that there is a tiny shoot at the base of those <b>trifoliate</b> leaves? And that the leaves are <b>opposite</b>?<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Now for a plant family - one with spikes.</span></span></b><br />A word that helps you identify quite a few of the trees in our local scrubs and dry rainforests is <b>Sapindaceae,</b> (Usually pronounced SAP-IN-DAY-SEE) <br />It is the name of a plant family, and we have an unusually large number of its members here in our local area. They all have alternate leaves. A few, (like the Scrub Boonaree) have <b>simple</b> leaves, but most of our local <b>Sapindaceae</b> have <b>pinnately compound</b> leaves.<br />Members of this family can be picked out from other plants with <b>pinnate</b> leaves by a small spike at the tip of the <b>rachis</b>, just where the top leaflet-stem joins on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsoRjDCp_TneqfF5Opy1An5Wt3z8FCtO4084tfIfv1vjP7RjJJLllRAIl22vz5RS4b0njd313pF2qBZYK6Rk7XX8TWcFqTOdDf_DPhZSZ9UYwlTcAzU3bBJ-GV-iYWX6JUu2JW6UYQMjM/s1600/01+Cupaniopsis+parvifolia+5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsoRjDCp_TneqfF5Opy1An5Wt3z8FCtO4084tfIfv1vjP7RjJJLllRAIl22vz5RS4b0njd313pF2qBZYK6Rk7XX8TWcFqTOdDf_DPhZSZ9UYwlTcAzU3bBJ-GV-iYWX6JUu2JW6UYQMjM/s400/01+Cupaniopsis+parvifolia+5.jpg" width="397" /></a> <br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Scrub Boonaree, Cupaniopsis parvifolia.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> FAMILY</span>: Sapindaceae</span><br />
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You will also find spikes on the <b>rachis</b>-tips of a plant we looked at, earlier in this blog.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJndqpIjmjFgJhUuax0SRYfVYubKSvj9qviH2Y-Df3QW2dYxlLxXBhuTFvx_Vcf7CIlNcsQO6ONp64zoL69Zj3YmPCQlQVUc2_e1ofU_s_b5Ac_fkWHxl6LpAW2XaaxMLrawtgbrpYflwA/s1600/01+Elattostachys+xylocarpa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJndqpIjmjFgJhUuax0SRYfVYubKSvj9qviH2Y-Df3QW2dYxlLxXBhuTFvx_Vcf7CIlNcsQO6ONp64zoL69Zj3YmPCQlQVUc2_e1ofU_s_b5Ac_fkWHxl6LpAW2XaaxMLrawtgbrpYflwA/s400/01+Elattostachys+xylocarpa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>White Beetroot Tree <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Elattostachys xylocarpa.</span></i></b></span> </span></b></span><b>FAMILY</b></span><b>: Sapindaceae</b></span><br /><br />We’d better have a closer look<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLn7GCWXickZnY04wKQloV9xajO6gpnMxLCmLywma0-2zjB5_EB2aYHxtvv_cl0-6wYkNfNusnOUUOHtaetwXdtrrIW6oXpUCTQzzhCzLB8uvWjKFUtwg-RBAfPt0q3ghXESmzn2f-Xn4W/s1600/01+Elattostachys+xylocarpa+8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="600" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLn7GCWXickZnY04wKQloV9xajO6gpnMxLCmLywma0-2zjB5_EB2aYHxtvv_cl0-6wYkNfNusnOUUOHtaetwXdtrrIW6oXpUCTQzzhCzLB8uvWjKFUtwg-RBAfPt0q3ghXESmzn2f-Xn4W/s400/01+Elattostachys+xylocarpa+8.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /> <b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">White Beetroot Tree, Elattostachys xylocarpa. </span>FAMILY</span>: Sapindaceae</span></b><br />
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And here's another member of the <b>Sapindaceae</b> family. <br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQcXzXT4FqKICXnswJq-C6XZ9zQPG2q0u5HMwIcWDmVf-csmFJXpD4_g8p-nKBh_FjU2_G09x2sqKNhdOzXz17FasvQQ6o3UREI8E5KYQVXQ1cu581mR0e3_VwnzcvXvYH9qwdgj7jpwe/s1600/01+Arytera+foveolata+foliage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="600" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQcXzXT4FqKICXnswJq-C6XZ9zQPG2q0u5HMwIcWDmVf-csmFJXpD4_g8p-nKBh_FjU2_G09x2sqKNhdOzXz17FasvQQ6o3UREI8E5KYQVXQ1cu581mR0e3_VwnzcvXvYH9qwdgj7jpwe/s400/01+Arytera+foveolata+foliage.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Pitted Coogera, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Arytera foveolata</span></i>. </span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">FAMILY</span>: Sapindaceae</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><br />The spikes at the tip of the <b>rachis</b>, of its <b>pinnately compound, alternate</b> leaves, are rather blunt.<br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xYDwaMczZSIXORdErTfeHBXlkADGxAUnzD-1rLyiBCeWceNEY5-uc8nlINdDnmvbdu3R-YMVCzo8wy25xZUcGd34j7VlwozfSfmC3JmPC49FRwDPvXIVlZET16ggGiwJ1BNG5qqTKbrd/s1600/01+Arytera+foveolata+leaf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xYDwaMczZSIXORdErTfeHBXlkADGxAUnzD-1rLyiBCeWceNEY5-uc8nlINdDnmvbdu3R-YMVCzo8wy25xZUcGd34j7VlwozfSfmC3JmPC49FRwDPvXIVlZET16ggGiwJ1BNG5qqTKbrd/s400/01+Arytera+foveolata+leaf.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Pitted Coogera, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Arytera foveolata</span></i>. </span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">FAMILY</span>: Sapindaceae</span></b><br />
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Looking at the back of the Beetroot Tree's leaflets, you can notice another interesting feature.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zjgT_Llt5cC_7N3p280Bo8XCBlG-ldK_cDl2k198OHJdg8hn3VARWh58D4HVyEue08b926x3vLlKWmMWRmX8GoyFCQbXZ0wh13Ec_YDXuEFcF3AEEfEuGCZsNNV2OU5ZIIQ0Es9O33gu/s1600/01+Elattostachys+zylocarpa+domatia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zjgT_Llt5cC_7N3p280Bo8XCBlG-ldK_cDl2k198OHJdg8hn3VARWh58D4HVyEue08b926x3vLlKWmMWRmX8GoyFCQbXZ0wh13Ec_YDXuEFcF3AEEfEuGCZsNNV2OU5ZIIQ0Es9O33gu/s400/01+Elattostachys+zylocarpa+domatia.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>White Beetroot Tree, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Elattostachys xylocarpa</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span></i></span><br /><br />
There are little hairy pits, at each junction of a side vein with the main central vein,. These pits are called <b>domatia</b>. The word means “little homes”, and that’s exactly what <b>domatia</b> are. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SplPtb-R551UUlcq9Raw7cphisC2y-DHid1O8wiEr_ndxevp-Ete7AyC3dmhld6l_iH0HhoSrST1zlvZlIIvlOOr7dei1PgilUbvyfoYfelQYJHyCVEOeYn7_qkKWqBAyMX7R8d_fkzr/s1600/01+Elattostachys+zylocarpa+domatia+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="600" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SplPtb-R551UUlcq9Raw7cphisC2y-DHid1O8wiEr_ndxevp-Ete7AyC3dmhld6l_iH0HhoSrST1zlvZlIIvlOOr7dei1PgilUbvyfoYfelQYJHyCVEOeYn7_qkKWqBAyMX7R8d_fkzr/s400/01+Elattostachys+zylocarpa+domatia+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>White Beetroot Tree, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Elattostachys xylocarpa</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><br /><b>Domatia</b> are good investments for the trees that have them. They have evolved these structures so they can be landlords. Small mites move in, and “pay their rent” by preying on small insects which would otherwise eat the leaves.<br />
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Some species of plants have them, and some don't. Where <b>domatia</b> are present, they give another clue to the identity of the plant.<br />
<br />These leaves also have <b>domatia.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcNvD5EpctahhNlSqSJ9tU8Rxy7ccDAzLbtUde26KaQvLK4Dd2BkaQqYim8wUA-VGGSFpVTvPh9RmFlUNlUzpoSPPVRJpOzEaE57BZtfpxrUuheu_2PMgslt9Hl69uktfzjeAzkxdgjhz/s1600/01+Arytera+foveolata+domatia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="600" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcNvD5EpctahhNlSqSJ9tU8Rxy7ccDAzLbtUde26KaQvLK4Dd2BkaQqYim8wUA-VGGSFpVTvPh9RmFlUNlUzpoSPPVRJpOzEaE57BZtfpxrUuheu_2PMgslt9Hl69uktfzjeAzkxdgjhz/s400/01+Arytera+foveolata+domatia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Pitted Coogera, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Arytera foveolata</span></i>. </span><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span></b><br />
<br />You could easily overlook them, couldn't you? If you double-click on the photo they will be easier to see, and now that you know the word, <b>domatium</b>, perhaps you will look with more interest at the backs of leaves and leaflets.<br />
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And I hope that you will be more aware of whether leaves are <b>alternate or opposite</b>, and whether they are <b>simple or compound.</b> If they are <b>compound</b>, you can look to see whether they are <b>trifoliate or pinnate</b>. If they are <b>pinnate</b> you can check whether they are members of the <b>Sapindaceae</b> family.<br />
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What else can you learn about leaves?<br />
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<br /><br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-77144811238453933692020-01-02T21:55:00.001-08:002020-01-02T21:55:34.589-08:00TRIPLE-LEAF JASMINE<br /><i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jasminum didymum</span></i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> subsp.</span><i> <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">racemosum</span></i><br />FAMILY: OLEACEAE <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQ5RomeJDElSUdqx_zIwr9wNXwuvF6tJHlSdhL6UJhC-dI3SrIAK-y0W7b4zIa4OjRBhYEPVALzi9GDHPbV1ssgMlYs6SARyjtthyphenhyphenQkgHXZJKnPQ0P4D5DItpI5obiZxpf6yYl98zkDwC/s1600/01+Jasminum+didymum+subsp+racemosum+Fl++Feb+2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="600" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQ5RomeJDElSUdqx_zIwr9wNXwuvF6tJHlSdhL6UJhC-dI3SrIAK-y0W7b4zIa4OjRBhYEPVALzi9GDHPbV1ssgMlYs6SARyjtthyphenhyphenQkgHXZJKnPQ0P4D5DItpI5obiZxpf6yYl98zkDwC/s400/01+Jasminum+didymum+subsp+racemosum+Fl++Feb+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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This common local plant is one of our four local species of jasmine. A mature plant produces large numbers of tiny, fragrant white flowers in summer, and is a favourite feeding spot for insects including various species of native bee. The dense foliage offers good nesting sites for small birds, which are also attracted by the insect smorgasbord, and the fruits, which ripen to black.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0oyul8xfRdKDz4P0NQa0HcYnvHPaaKxQTFUHf6Q9oLi4u1aWUqrNSDmCYuAQCAzmrJSaqZT32H5AyYbnVdW5ALt_pMgjaeXaiXGelQKJPx-wR8FyMR6vxXYwSB-3kgA6z1W7hfNmMGvH/s1600/01+Jasminum+didymum+subsp.+racemosum+fruits++Irongate+Apr+10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0oyul8xfRdKDz4P0NQa0HcYnvHPaaKxQTFUHf6Q9oLi4u1aWUqrNSDmCYuAQCAzmrJSaqZT32H5AyYbnVdW5ALt_pMgjaeXaiXGelQKJPx-wR8FyMR6vxXYwSB-3kgA6z1W7hfNmMGvH/s400/01+Jasminum+didymum+subsp.+racemosum+fruits++Irongate+Apr+10.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />When I planted it twenty years ago, my idea was to cover this trellis with the jasmine to make a<br />
screen.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52w_vf5AtELU8MVzjbSZMVwVKMG50P0rJnO61ERAxXzVmYfWHHZqSbLpGwkVePWn6DqeNnwjBXJ0Wjqu56NYbVMGeix_98rQ43igxlV1ecW6xM-Tl6HfFGb4MkWpey_BQYzMf2kh3hAC_/s1600/01+Jasminum+didymum+subsp+racemosum+Feb+2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="600" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52w_vf5AtELU8MVzjbSZMVwVKMG50P0rJnO61ERAxXzVmYfWHHZqSbLpGwkVePWn6DqeNnwjBXJ0Wjqu56NYbVMGeix_98rQ43igxlV1ecW6xM-Tl6HfFGb4MkWpey_BQYzMf2kh3hAC_/s400/01+Jasminum+didymum+subsp+racemosum+Feb+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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As you can see, the jasmine had other ideas! Despite failing to gain the neat screen I had planned for, I have since grown to love the plant’s non-conformist shape. Almost completely concealed in the above photo is a native beehive, appreciating the shade in the heat of summer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZMwYAyscUQ7kBac7euFu_MK75xoPDvC5UAvkeaHTr5u2DgLsEub2XPN-3IxIJpEsrJU0jkEjXFsXl8dGqxiK593_p-dAEQRhrJfWnvChu-cEfyG2KXNcHEi114Mo562AfhEm1_g3dS52/s1600/01+Mar2015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZMwYAyscUQ7kBac7euFu_MK75xoPDvC5UAvkeaHTr5u2DgLsEub2XPN-3IxIJpEsrJU0jkEjXFsXl8dGqxiK593_p-dAEQRhrJfWnvChu-cEfyG2KXNcHEi114Mo562AfhEm1_g3dS52/s400/01+Mar2015.jpg" width="311" /></a><br />
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In autumn, I give the jasmine a trim to let in the sun. The hive is situated on the eastern side of the trellis with a northern aspect, so it is snugly situated to pick up the winter sunlight until mid-day, while sheltering from our cold August winds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4avIWT9aMEKi5ZajCwuvuqJ0vJM5ChOVjexhEsw6EBeLG-cxErFfBOICUBJFvLM68PM41OHik06b6hOwa9n1EBfVA69fN8avjGSwNZ14kOTUraQD0WJohEtHY8vl253yPyXvXGmOZXMBg/s1600/01+Jasminum+didymum+subspp.+racemosum+and+lineare+Jan09+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4avIWT9aMEKi5ZajCwuvuqJ0vJM5ChOVjexhEsw6EBeLG-cxErFfBOICUBJFvLM68PM41OHik06b6hOwa9n1EBfVA69fN8avjGSwNZ14kOTUraQD0WJohEtHY8vl253yPyXvXGmOZXMBg/s400/01+Jasminum+didymum+subspp.+racemosum+and+lineare+Jan09+.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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The triple-leaf-jasmine was slow to grow in its first year or two, and I planted some desert jasmine (<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>Jasminum didymum</i> subsp. <i>lineare</i></span>)
on the same trellis. It is still there, but a little difficult to find among the much greater bulk of its
broader-leafed cousin’s canopy.<br />
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This jasmine (and probably most of the other jasmine species) is happy to be refreshed by hard pruning. I recently decided it was time to take my plant back to basics, because I was concerned that its weight might be putting too much strain on the twenty-year-old trellis. I trimmed it down to its woody skeleton. What I learned from picking up the clippings was that despite their apparent bulk, the weight was negligible and I need not have worried. What an excellent plant this would be for a rooftop garden or large balcony - the size of a substantial shrub, but without the weight.<br />I removed every scrap of leaf, and for a few weeks I worried that I had overdone it. What it I had killed my beloved jasmine?!! To my relief it has bounced right back.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmsecn5WjlLMrAS4RnTs3u23jRDEz75JGhIZkn61e4MUG8rHLKaUhzIgG_5GAvsDkn56xDgVYfVJRfTvvZGBJGh14GxFxsypZAIFqW_HiGblF_IKL8YAvE-r_hyphenhyphen3uglBUro5ijlCcoxjR0/s1600/696h+Jasminum+didymum+subsp+racemosum+home+Sep+2019+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="1600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmsecn5WjlLMrAS4RnTs3u23jRDEz75JGhIZkn61e4MUG8rHLKaUhzIgG_5GAvsDkn56xDgVYfVJRfTvvZGBJGh14GxFxsypZAIFqW_HiGblF_IKL8YAvE-r_hyphenhyphen3uglBUro5ijlCcoxjR0/s320/696h+Jasminum+didymum+subsp+racemosum+home+Sep+2019+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /><br />As the photo shows, it is still stubbornly determined to make its bulk at the top of the trellis. Meanwhile I have cut off its flowering stems for this summer, so will have to wait another year for flowering. A gentle trim no later than March should help the new growth to thicken up still more, and give the plant time to put on a good insect-feeding display next summer.<br />
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In the wild, This jasmine often grows as a tangled shrub-like thicket, providing shelter for wildlife of many kinds. the photo below, however, shows one which has used a shrub - long since dead - as a trellis. The result is a little jasmine tree, something that could be reproduced in a garden, with the right kind of support.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDtV1xTT7mFaKh9GUvrwAx2dSVtcUgRyQ9n-p3ts0Cp4NnbGmknZ3wqR33Xm45lWGxSbGSZlXO7SsbMaWdGyIf36ThTZ7I-yb8rAfPQtNPNnTURQohnbdtvAPH5NOFW7g9prBi0zvQvpp/s1600/01+Jasminum+didymum+subsp.+racemosum+on+capparis+Jun08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDtV1xTT7mFaKh9GUvrwAx2dSVtcUgRyQ9n-p3ts0Cp4NnbGmknZ3wqR33Xm45lWGxSbGSZlXO7SsbMaWdGyIf36ThTZ7I-yb8rAfPQtNPNnTURQohnbdtvAPH5NOFW7g9prBi0zvQvpp/s320/01+Jasminum+didymum+subsp.+racemosum+on+capparis+Jun08.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-26928058346613485382019-12-31T22:22:00.001-08:002019-12-31T22:22:51.125-08:00SWEET JASMINE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jasminum dianthifolium<br />(Jasminum suavissimum)</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">FAMILY: OLEACEAE</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNJzjFvEzF5OGOwXxoXjBXSHkBcmPEfCpjN-x8rmT-3G9TECGmdhZ2NSZJEB-lcRlpR7cnXW__ssUo_ByFVSc4mdOG1AqfZKxBrbU_oQ-U57ao3GBosAomg7txXY0SDmNlWUlg_r7ngWL/s1600/01+Jasminum+dianthifolium+flower++Cooby+Creek+Oct+2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNJzjFvEzF5OGOwXxoXjBXSHkBcmPEfCpjN-x8rmT-3G9TECGmdhZ2NSZJEB-lcRlpR7cnXW__ssUo_ByFVSc4mdOG1AqfZKxBrbU_oQ-U57ao3GBosAomg7txXY0SDmNlWUlg_r7ngWL/s400/01+Jasminum+dianthifolium+flower++Cooby+Creek+Oct+2010.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />
This little plant, like all the jasmines, can be a twiner with the ability to climb. However it can also spread underground, and is more often seen as a small, low-growing plant in grasslands. Its substantial underground root system means that it can withstand grazing, and (as seen below) attacks by a Council grader. What seem to be a group of plants in the picture probably comes from a single root.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4MkRknEG1cHhnHOpCcFC5jKzvLMdGf7sjaN1U6KjNpTRHOpndzhko_i1UKLdgwiuTvgP3bL6MmUsl8F0wX2bj5KZ8HGtMPQ7Ivs55-STvRJKDTnvd5y2HuL5kCELTOgDng1boSh_3gIH/s1600/01+Jasminum+dianthifolium+mown+road+batter+Cooby+Creek+Oct+2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1600" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4MkRknEG1cHhnHOpCcFC5jKzvLMdGf7sjaN1U6KjNpTRHOpndzhko_i1UKLdgwiuTvgP3bL6MmUsl8F0wX2bj5KZ8HGtMPQ7Ivs55-STvRJKDTnvd5y2HuL5kCELTOgDng1boSh_3gIH/s320/01+Jasminum+dianthifolium+mown+road+batter+Cooby+Creek+Oct+2010.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />
It has what I think is the best perfume of all the local jasmines. You might like to compare it with the other local jasmine species (Jasminum simplicifolium, Jasminum didymum subsp. racemosum, <br />Jasminum didymum subsp. lineare, and the natural hybrid, Jasminum simplifolium x suavissimum), to find your own favourite. The perfume is strongest in the evenings and early mornings, which is typical of moth-pollinated flowers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwGvMQ22wTGnZ4CluhOX5qeibV9vQYJdVLTnQmuljI3ClN0O07LANu1xSA0vyY2hAZ-uNOMpyr0WYl4SgG5ob2apvUtlvQgvOX9-aJ_VqXcqxAyuR77yGoe1USQahvE65jnfXrcKCYS5A/s1600/01+Jasminum+dianthifolium+suavissimum+Coalbank+Nov+2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwGvMQ22wTGnZ4CluhOX5qeibV9vQYJdVLTnQmuljI3ClN0O07LANu1xSA0vyY2hAZ-uNOMpyr0WYl4SgG5ob2apvUtlvQgvOX9-aJ_VqXcqxAyuR77yGoe1USQahvE65jnfXrcKCYS5A/s320/01+Jasminum+dianthifolium+suavissimum+Coalbank+Nov+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />
Provided they are found by pollinators, the flowers will be followed by small, succulent black fruits, which appeal strongly to small birds.<br />
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In a garden, the best situation for this plant might be an a mulched shrubbery, where it can wander at will, popping up wherever it likes. However it can be grown in many situations, including in a pot where it can be left to trail over the edge, or provided with a tiny trellis. Once established, it can be pruned as hard as you like to help it to grow into a bushy plant.<br />
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It likes the dappled light among trees, or a situation where it gets sun for only part of the day, and tolerates all soils except heavy poorly drained clay. It survives frost by dying down to its roots, regrowing in spring. Its lifespan is not known, but you can expect it to be long-lived.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-25839840834463004942019-06-04T16:41:00.003-07:002019-06-04T16:41:50.131-07:00Is Cullen tenax seed edible?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFJKXhofHj9DztHeh-0WnM5N3VlJSTm1pKP9RZoIWvdzNVe0VTP0oySaFQPPRo1y445Kb74IsexBQCMkjxlecc_h5kWolTWcBa482ode8ykqMRpQbckV2fFN0Qn6hi0L7RJ_JM4R4kYc_/s1600/01+Cullen+tenax+Darling+Downs+Jan+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFJKXhofHj9DztHeh-0WnM5N3VlJSTm1pKP9RZoIWvdzNVe0VTP0oySaFQPPRo1y445Kb74IsexBQCMkjxlecc_h5kWolTWcBa482ode8ykqMRpQbckV2fFN0Qn6hi0L7RJ_JM4R4kYc_/s400/01+Cullen+tenax+Darling+Downs+Jan+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />I was asked this question after my post on Cullen species,<br />
<a href="https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=Cullen+tenax"> https://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/search?q=Cullen+tenax</a><br />
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None of my bushfood books mention it, but I found several internet references to recipes for using the seeds in cooking (a cake, and biscuits).<br /><br />
I could find no references to aboriginal use of it, or to any testing having been done to establish the safety of eating the seeds.<br /><br />
I am aware that enthusiasm for bushfoods has led to some experimentation with foods that may not be safe to eat, so would not suggest that anyone do it, without having some further knowledge.<br /><br />
Can anyone help us here?<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-57663712140914768222019-02-08T19:24:00.003-08:002019-02-08T19:24:53.753-08:00Devil’s Marbles<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>Eremophila debilis</i><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">FAMILY: SCROPHULARIACEAE (MYOPORACEAE)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK3EgI7hnIayDrDC0tMs6widMyWLP_oICadwVJfbyVjHdPvay9M4qv2p7nYdydVD33R-43qtR3H578cheTvVlKHPum1OmBenwETVv1lTd8c8aPINf8i0KODs83xaC8eLXfvqM2fh1qNoR/s1600/01+Eremophila+debilis+fruit%252C+hand%252C++Feb+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK3EgI7hnIayDrDC0tMs6widMyWLP_oICadwVJfbyVjHdPvay9M4qv2p7nYdydVD33R-43qtR3H578cheTvVlKHPum1OmBenwETVv1lTd8c8aPINf8i0KODs83xaC8eLXfvqM2fh1qNoR/s400/01+Eremophila+debilis+fruit%252C+hand%252C++Feb+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />Down south, this plant is known as Winter Apple - and that’s when it usually fruits.<br />
<br />However, like so many of our local native plants, Devil's Marbles is an opportunist. By means mysterious, it decides when its chance of producing a new generation is at its best, and this year it has chosen February. I would love to think that it "knows" rain is coming!<br />
<br />For those who would like to grow this useful and hardy ground cover plant, now is a good time to look for fruits on your properties and on roadsides.<br />
<br />The best technique is to plant one seed per small tube, in good-quality potting mix. Cover it to a depth equal to the diameter of the seed, and keep it damp until it germinates. Some people say they have good results if the flesh is left on the seed, but I prefer to remove it. You can do this by sucking your seed clean. This is regarded as a bush tucker plant, and is quite safe. I leave it to you to decide whether you like the flavour, which I find quite acceptable (if unexciting) provided the fruit is very ripe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbf4VSMwARZDeDRB_PE3t4lp6Y2ZXRg2Db2ZgaRxVTH1zZ-sI3biABBemBMfUoOAcIgJtiJshjZWVhF26hKSmfCW3eWLNY2Yl9jOS8oaO-mlVY39ZaecrUIxefgvt7lKXeDsY-8bKxLY9s/s1600/01+Eremophila+debilis+planting+Feb+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbf4VSMwARZDeDRB_PE3t4lp6Y2ZXRg2Db2ZgaRxVTH1zZ-sI3biABBemBMfUoOAcIgJtiJshjZWVhF26hKSmfCW3eWLNY2Yl9jOS8oaO-mlVY39ZaecrUIxefgvt7lKXeDsY-8bKxLY9s/s400/01+Eremophila+debilis+planting+Feb+2019.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Once the plants have reached a good size, they are can be planted straight into the garden. <br />
<br /><b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">To find a more detailed article about this plant, use the white Search box at top left.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-3309058394020022092019-02-04T00:29:00.004-08:002019-02-04T00:29:42.271-08:00Desert Jasmine<i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jasminum didymum subsp lineare (Jasminum lineare)</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">FAMILY: OLEACEAE</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHURvfN086PlzCNGSjcSTdIF-UBL2OljEOoChjn5nqaFAE0Mzry9chK-DAsGIxHvSc42sKj3MeoN62GSa5RNuy1lRgUOADfzXUxRQnPZQLlFgD9CNdsZOHQzc5o8SRvX10TkawYFdRITe3/s1600/01+Jasminum+lineare++flower+10+Dvn+Pk+Rd+Feb+2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="600" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHURvfN086PlzCNGSjcSTdIF-UBL2OljEOoChjn5nqaFAE0Mzry9chK-DAsGIxHvSc42sKj3MeoN62GSa5RNuy1lRgUOADfzXUxRQnPZQLlFgD9CNdsZOHQzc5o8SRvX10TkawYFdRITe3/s400/01+Jasminum+lineare++flower+10+Dvn+Pk+Rd+Feb+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />Despite its name, this is a plant we see on the black soil of the Darling Downs. As the name suggests, it is very drought hardy indeed.<br />
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It can be distinguished by its triple leaves from Sweet Jasmine, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jasminum dianthifolium</span></i>, a plant whose simple leaves look much the same. Sweet Jasmine is a low-growing plant that spreads by underground stems.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCEplirg7QxhZVdFK_KmxWnu4_wpw7KA1iIMripPkdIpPG9rTzLLgUfaiLYoa1PaHGLXiXa-f5zpKdce0EJZKh44RfHqEkpnN9BBbPkdG269i5YmbF8QePY0cqtTGvXYU31FjzvhZCi68/s1600/01+Jasminum+lineare+leaf+Lk+Broadwater+Nov+2012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCEplirg7QxhZVdFK_KmxWnu4_wpw7KA1iIMripPkdIpPG9rTzLLgUfaiLYoa1PaHGLXiXa-f5zpKdce0EJZKh44RfHqEkpnN9BBbPkdG269i5YmbF8QePY0cqtTGvXYU31FjzvhZCi68/s400/01+Jasminum+lineare+leaf+Lk+Broadwater+Nov+2012.jpg" width="353" /></a> <br />
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Desert Jasmine is a variable plant. In full sun, it grows as a shrub about 60cm tall.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozV3xYEruFSVVJlkgr2lNvjEvVgGUa5V8EXN7R6Xy8gsShhlYdvFQBDMSNEX1YTyej3Sc9F4i5ztOudh0hy_7JKLOKxQISydNX8S1sJ1v_t3I3oDHtPOH-o6d2lPlpiY_og8qOfaMsbwI/s1600/01+Jasminum+lineare+plant+Dvn+Pk+Rd+Feb+2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozV3xYEruFSVVJlkgr2lNvjEvVgGUa5V8EXN7R6Xy8gsShhlYdvFQBDMSNEX1YTyej3Sc9F4i5ztOudh0hy_7JKLOKxQISydNX8S1sJ1v_t3I3oDHtPOH-o6d2lPlpiY_og8qOfaMsbwI/s400/01+Jasminum+lineare+plant+Dvn+Pk+Rd+Feb+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />If it finds itself close to suitable support, however, its stems will take to twining, and it becomes a small shrubby climber. This means that it may not grow quite as you expected.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Gs6Axhp-YRbod_wWkZDDKbrfghqkRrqngDLKVAp9F2xt564R_4OYDwcbB5MK8vdgsCPLqMZNQ4dhZk9aE6w_05MyWU-eZf51Fq2zMURx2pm-jjtWk49DrtWVyOcSXfxXRGSUu1bc6hHn/s1600/01+Jasminum+lineare+twining+Dvn+Pk+Rd+Feb+2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Gs6Axhp-YRbod_wWkZDDKbrfghqkRrqngDLKVAp9F2xt564R_4OYDwcbB5MK8vdgsCPLqMZNQ4dhZk9aE6w_05MyWU-eZf51Fq2zMURx2pm-jjtWk49DrtWVyOcSXfxXRGSUu1bc6hHn/s400/01+Jasminum+lineare+twining+Dvn+Pk+Rd+Feb+2019.jpg" width="222" /></a><br /><br />If a shrub is what you want, a bit of discipline with the secateurs can keep it in order if it shows signs of turning into a climber. Otherwise it can be left to express its own creative nature among garden shrubs, on a trellis, or in revegetation or wildlife corridor planting.<br /><br />Desert jasmine is a delight in the garden, because the tiny flowers have a strong jasmine fragrance. Like all native jasmines, they attract native bees and other small insects.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDu1kdOa8oByRI8vbk7tZjJeKVTD53t3lvoTg_8TfOQeR1FqJh8vPPq5M9e-s7Iq1ngvuvOI2r_eZK8lujilm1Y6AIEhd1E52EzvAH0mKWT6LOicRXnM2grKr3QHgm8Ql7V_CNwgIPLSjf/s1600/01+Jasminum+lineare+fruit+Dvn+Pk+Rd+Feb+2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDu1kdOa8oByRI8vbk7tZjJeKVTD53t3lvoTg_8TfOQeR1FqJh8vPPq5M9e-s7Iq1ngvuvOI2r_eZK8lujilm1Y6AIEhd1E52EzvAH0mKWT6LOicRXnM2grKr3QHgm8Ql7V_CNwgIPLSjf/s400/01+Jasminum+lineare+fruit+Dvn+Pk+Rd+Feb+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />The little soft black fruits are very appealing to birds.<br /><br />Its favourite sites are those which provide it with partial shade.<br />
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It is frost hardy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAOlSccqwDoILCevfc_jGkje6Jq09Ijpg06WYcxIyJc4f1Gl8lzCy4sokivWnrevTz7daOLU3Yljv2bmM-J24fvecDXVc4LH6a-ZRx0AwEtAGKiXyHgYaDSLn_V30p1ZYumk9b3mfo1HL/s1600/01+Jasminum+lineare+home+Jan09+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="600" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAOlSccqwDoILCevfc_jGkje6Jq09Ijpg06WYcxIyJc4f1Gl8lzCy4sokivWnrevTz7daOLU3Yljv2bmM-J24fvecDXVc4LH6a-ZRx0AwEtAGKiXyHgYaDSLn_V30p1ZYumk9b3mfo1HL/s400/01+Jasminum+lineare+home+Jan09+.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-35503732923838557692019-01-28T16:10:00.001-08:002019-01-28T16:10:45.385-08:00Triangular Clubrush<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>Schoenoplectiella mucronata <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Schoenoplectus mucronatus, Scirpus mucronatus)</span></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">FAMILY: CYPERACEAE</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpi_CUPuDMmnK8PNtkrNQ_JyuF1hxCYA-xNhbtNpnVRnJqiEhgmz2vGMASEKTDM6AT4QicQuVwmr5rLDoci6fzmlobfdqDNap6nO5vv1rslBB1-TisSxDn2f7WblMOlBdT5zW1X6Ul94T/s1600/01+Schoenoplectus+mucronatus+flowers+Jan+2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpi_CUPuDMmnK8PNtkrNQ_JyuF1hxCYA-xNhbtNpnVRnJqiEhgmz2vGMASEKTDM6AT4QicQuVwmr5rLDoci6fzmlobfdqDNap6nO5vv1rslBB1-TisSxDn2f7WblMOlBdT5zW1X6Ul94T/s400/01+Schoenoplectus+mucronatus+flowers+Jan+2019.jpg" width="266" /></a><br /><br />
This small species of perennial rush can’t be mistaken for any other plant. It has distinctive yellow-green triangular stems, each ornamented in summer with a neat cluster of golden-brown cone-like “clubs” about 2 cm from the stem-tips. (They resemble posies, and look like something that might be carried by a bridesmaid with attitude!)<br /><br />The plant is worth growing if for no other reason than for use in floral arrangements.<br /><br />Shown here in a bird bath, it is easily grown in any small container which holds water. It grows rather fast, so a pot of it is best refreshed each spring by having three quarters of the plant, and its rather dense root ball, removed and replaced with fresh soil or potting mix.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJArTnSv-s0M1rmeIUi4HiqKmR8GzrMXdctWYo2EVKvw94_UTO3jIF1Cs1nJmbEbRmGWIJtIZKj6mwiVmP9JClX9ml91GqiTvqO7T4Kf0HeTHc0AK8Fu5hBzsNsMDiOTJoPAQoMFKC9dsr/s1600/01+Schoenoplectus+mucronatus+Jan+06.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJArTnSv-s0M1rmeIUi4HiqKmR8GzrMXdctWYo2EVKvw94_UTO3jIF1Cs1nJmbEbRmGWIJtIZKj6mwiVmP9JClX9ml91GqiTvqO7T4Kf0HeTHc0AK8Fu5hBzsNsMDiOTJoPAQoMFKC9dsr/s400/01+Schoenoplectus+mucronatus+Jan+06.jpg" width="261" /></a><br /><br />In a pond or dam, triangular club-rushes form a low thicket which grows from the water’s edge to the point where the water is too deep for them, which is at approximately 30cm. They will survive deeper water provide it is temporary, such as in a flood.<br /><br />It also tolerates some drying out (as shown here at Cressbrook Dam) but probably needs good wet soil not far below the surface.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yH-j2lo-BmquOnJ0y48y4WbN3VbLNNfgbu_k9ZU692LSpOFp8W4ybuSrGE1W7c_RHD-RnQJ3S1lgaONT0U_LJMNFKcuEBpQX7UxZWMkRUU89QPPGpiCxoJPUrQ6HEAoZsAWJ3s9reQP_/s1600/01+Schoenoplectus+mucronatus+Nov+2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yH-j2lo-BmquOnJ0y48y4WbN3VbLNNfgbu_k9ZU692LSpOFp8W4ybuSrGE1W7c_RHD-RnQJ3S1lgaONT0U_LJMNFKcuEBpQX7UxZWMkRUU89QPPGpiCxoJPUrQ6HEAoZsAWJ3s9reQP_/s400/01+Schoenoplectus+mucronatus+Nov+2010.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />In creeks, it will only grow where there is permanent water, which must be either still or slow-flowing.<br /><br />Triangular clubrush is a frog-favourite, and particularly useful for small garden ponds in wildlife friendly gardens.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hJZ6WZkoJ9VdSikYjbMF-bP9u5azJCL1pxDSJHWkcIj7ajUEyXOzh5QpUyJVeYjful-8ExnjVq3NWaLFIFeumm30vXzbABcFYvQJPi8O0TJ7jZsgP0OCSqrid57N5f2G48bi-3uxhO0h/s1600/01+Striped+marsh+Frogs+mating%252C+Sep+2017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hJZ6WZkoJ9VdSikYjbMF-bP9u5azJCL1pxDSJHWkcIj7ajUEyXOzh5QpUyJVeYjful-8ExnjVq3NWaLFIFeumm30vXzbABcFYvQJPi8O0TJ7jZsgP0OCSqrid57N5f2G48bi-3uxhO0h/s400/01+Striped+marsh+Frogs+mating%252C+Sep+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />This is one of the few shade-tolerant rushes. It can survive in full shade provided it is well lit (though it does tend to get leggy), and is equally happy in full sun. <br /><br />It is also frost hardy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-580307924328544732019-01-26T22:07:00.002-08:002019-01-26T22:38:14.452-08:00Silver-leafed Ironbark.<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eucalyptus melanophloia</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">FAMILY: MYRTACEAE</span><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i><br />
This tree is now in flower at Federation Park in Drayton Connection Road. The photo shows its masses of small, nectar-laden flowers, and its unusual leaf habit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJWDLrvQ34CqKN6bk5F_VsrqZrrwx_5u47NhX93gZHRP5YaEr9EtlkN7qz6sk-izLQ45aUR-k4q-d4VlKi7l-CRACO56A8KjEz_ColLNYMz5DC4u79NscuWJzWgFsTqotW94oGLXmEHcX/s1600/01+Eucalyptus+melanophloia+flowers+1+Fed+Pk+Jan+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="600" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJWDLrvQ34CqKN6bk5F_VsrqZrrwx_5u47NhX93gZHRP5YaEr9EtlkN7qz6sk-izLQ45aUR-k4q-d4VlKi7l-CRACO56A8KjEz_ColLNYMz5DC4u79NscuWJzWgFsTqotW94oGLXmEHcX/s400/01+Eucalyptus+melanophloia+flowers+1+Fed+Pk+Jan+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Unlike most other (and all other local) Australian Eucalyptus species, adult trees have opposite leaves rather than alternate ones. You can see that the leaves are also “sessile” (which means that they have no stems).<br />
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This is one of our prettiest local eucalypts, as well as possibly the smallest. It has been known to grow to 20metres high, but in our district we usually see it as a smaller tree, growing no higher than 10 metres.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbO5NFipTbSP9h_r2g0UyjLueMbduhaWQOkctaE5AU6CBlB4zo8tPTPgITBbvabOTFvENNZ4OG9gC654N5vs-XClrlSLY4qupLJk2RYSjjV1bzimI_tiMeGy2bzDGYIgL2Qrq7zQHZemRe/s1600/01+Eucalyptus+melanophloia%252C+Emu+Ck+Road%252C+Aug+2016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbO5NFipTbSP9h_r2g0UyjLueMbduhaWQOkctaE5AU6CBlB4zo8tPTPgITBbvabOTFvENNZ4OG9gC654N5vs-XClrlSLY4qupLJk2RYSjjV1bzimI_tiMeGy2bzDGYIgL2Qrq7zQHZemRe/s400/01+Eucalyptus+melanophloia%252C+Emu+Ck+Road%252C+Aug+2016.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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It is one of the most suitable for gardens. Besides being relatively small, it is a tidy tree, as gumtrees go. Like most ironbarks it is reliable about not dropping large limbs.<br />
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Its flowers are rather small, but produce a reliable nectar flow, which makes it a good honey tree.<br />
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It has a reputation for being very resistant to the stresses of being used as a cattle camp. Some Eucalypts die younger than they should, unable to cope with many years of soil compaction resulting from heavy use of their root zones by large heavy hoofed animals, and the over-fertilisation of those nice shady areas under trees where stock rest (and excrete) on hot days.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXpmLMW3uSCoTlPFYvcVgIjXshZLN7cQ4sQvMUab3KSiTdNo1u2kDDEnNF1R6BWZDbIm2Vq-gglM5831HG23ZoXjvh4qBw1pDcrxZP2Gk0j5m0imL3HwUFEYGP94-KZlCB8_8U9r-zpsd/s1600/01+Eucalyptus+melanophloia%252C+and+bull.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="600" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXpmLMW3uSCoTlPFYvcVgIjXshZLN7cQ4sQvMUab3KSiTdNo1u2kDDEnNF1R6BWZDbIm2Vq-gglM5831HG23ZoXjvh4qBw1pDcrxZP2Gk0j5m0imL3HwUFEYGP94-KZlCB8_8U9r-zpsd/s320/01+Eucalyptus+melanophloia%252C+and+bull.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
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This sturdy tree is ideal for planting in pastures and in paddock-edge planting strips intended as windbreaks or wildlife corridors.<br />
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In the wild, it tends to grow on ridges and slopes because it likes at least moderately good drainage. It is happy to grow on most local soil types including black soil, although it doesn’t like the very heavy black soil of the plains.<br />
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It is very hardy to drought, and testing has established that it tolerates frost to at least -5°.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-42562685081552826312018-11-02T00:44:00.002-07:002018-11-02T00:44:44.770-07:00Some Pretty Cullen Species.<i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cullen patens, Cullen tenax</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">FAMILY: FABACEAE</span></span><br />Two of our local species of Cullen are flowering at the moment, out near Oakey.<br />They are both perennial plants, and are pretty at this time of the year, smothered with flowers in two shades of pink.<br />As well as being good for native pastures because of their palatibility to stock, they are great plants for a wildlife garden. A number of animals eat them, and they are hosts for several butterfly species. This includes several kinds of small blue butterflies, and the large and showy chequered swallowtails - butterflies whose numbers are dwindling in the Toowoomba area due to loss of habitat. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINhtJJWhx1wn6H8uTB8dbq_L7WiXGqpuyscUwi55aGTgB_awLflBY6hkNJmAhZkT4glpRxggPqTEy1nv8ZhjB8Po3uAkGi5_KGtx-arMhv-XxEvcL1QRdWL46osuoAhDhYFKioTblEg2f/s1600/01Papilio+demoleus+Chequered+Swallowtail+Goomburra+6844+on+-++2491.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="600" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINhtJJWhx1wn6H8uTB8dbq_L7WiXGqpuyscUwi55aGTgB_awLflBY6hkNJmAhZkT4glpRxggPqTEy1nv8ZhjB8Po3uAkGi5_KGtx-arMhv-XxEvcL1QRdWL46osuoAhDhYFKioTblEg2f/s400/01Papilio+demoleus+Chequered+Swallowtail+Goomburra+6844+on+-++2491.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />The photo below shows Bullamon lucerne, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cullen patens</span></i>, a spreading perennial growing to about 15cm high. It comes in two leaf colours. Out west it’s blue-green, but here the leaves are dark green.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqAo_ING3NE-5XRvd6wJ_LxrQDPLzcTTnWPvcPgbrsQPolrOsQXASIzw5M1GSliuzeuGQFxYJu-4cmiiwGfJiIvAxxwxYxG-_dWstF3_V0AtQIm9RpR26UYgU3Ma6pCF2e48567Cyrs8d/s1600/01+Cullen+patens+plant2+Oakey+Nov+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="600" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqAo_ING3NE-5XRvd6wJ_LxrQDPLzcTTnWPvcPgbrsQPolrOsQXASIzw5M1GSliuzeuGQFxYJu-4cmiiwGfJiIvAxxwxYxG-_dWstF3_V0AtQIm9RpR26UYgU3Ma6pCF2e48567Cyrs8d/s400/01+Cullen+patens+plant2+Oakey+Nov+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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It loves the hard conditions in the gravel right near the edge of the road, where the drainage is good and the plants get a bit of moisture from the road.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaH-K3U-LYO6sWRCktext736S-vYkelUZy1sObjldnVmgX45FsalB_r3tZ8n3UPCmNDvKyLX8tLCGpSw1EQgelrX4Hez4Nsa9fijSoyAFXaYxXUW462dremoF_ifEXf1pdQfUlUewei_V-/s1600/01+Cullen+patens+flower+and+leaf+Oakey+Nov+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="600" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaH-K3U-LYO6sWRCktext736S-vYkelUZy1sObjldnVmgX45FsalB_r3tZ8n3UPCmNDvKyLX8tLCGpSw1EQgelrX4Hez4Nsa9fijSoyAFXaYxXUW462dremoF_ifEXf1pdQfUlUewei_V-/s400/01+Cullen+patens+flower+and+leaf+Oakey+Nov+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cullen patens.</span></i><br /><br />
Emu Foot, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cullen tenax</span></i>, has lush green leaves, lavender-coloured flowers, and is slightly taller than its cousin, growing to knee-height.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FI__EqVi-UTTpKjUGjMSTksjS2LXoGJ1VNddJ6A3unvtszqW0Twwv0borKuNy7ZRVyz4NFGFVOA9kzrHtkIaq0TNvsfT0MjK9VUlrmug6gC4rlj9KtB0ulVhzj1X0AJgl206JTLUZqNX/s1600/01+Cullen+tenax+plant+Oakey+Nov+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="600" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FI__EqVi-UTTpKjUGjMSTksjS2LXoGJ1VNddJ6A3unvtszqW0Twwv0borKuNy7ZRVyz4NFGFVOA9kzrHtkIaq0TNvsfT0MjK9VUlrmug6gC4rlj9KtB0ulVhzj1X0AJgl206JTLUZqNX/s400/01+Cullen+tenax+plant+Oakey+Nov+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNXViIF4o1mqQ7H8Chvhhx92mWwus-Up5ym2PdySlURwgOIIj8HCDuMepuAiyjCf7zphMi2Qdb9YxorYgmxGewkJd3DGpuHhuCl3NUsOmrxHCsD-Xr-4FnkOgJIylLf5A-Qih23_Ui9Z6/s1600/01+Cullen+tenax+flower+Oakey+Nov+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="600" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNXViIF4o1mqQ7H8Chvhhx92mWwus-Up5ym2PdySlURwgOIIj8HCDuMepuAiyjCf7zphMi2Qdb9YxorYgmxGewkJd3DGpuHhuCl3NUsOmrxHCsD-Xr-4FnkOgJIylLf5A-Qih23_Ui9Z6/s400/01+Cullen+tenax+flower+Oakey+Nov+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cullen tenax </span></i><br />
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Both plants are flowering out near Oakey this week.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-78466738288772920522018-11-01T19:54:00.001-07:002018-11-01T19:54:41.707-07:00Carex appressa<span style="color: #990000;"><b>A Useful, Adaptable Sedge</b></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Carex appressa</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">FAMILY: CYPERACEAE</span></span><br />This is a plant that is happy to have its feet in the water all year round.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fDByywn34sjZ5u8jnFc9hGu2armYvhn_pViJqricEXXfyGy10s1RUzDUZC4YL1c4FuEMtQJnbwxq0w3w9HoeDwumgJa3W2i9kclXMRK90YQRJF4g6GjS3QNu5iIE5V1sIxC40X2JGIBF/s1600/01+Carex+appressa+with+frog+eggs+Oct+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fDByywn34sjZ5u8jnFc9hGu2armYvhn_pViJqricEXXfyGy10s1RUzDUZC4YL1c4FuEMtQJnbwxq0w3w9HoeDwumgJa3W2i9kclXMRK90YQRJF4g6GjS3QNu5iIE5V1sIxC40X2JGIBF/s400/01+Carex+appressa+with+frog+eggs+Oct+2018.jpg" width="266" /></a> <br />
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(Note the frog eggs in the corner behind it.)</div>
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It also grows on dry land, tolerating a surprising amount of drought. This makes it excellent as a plant for the edge of a dam or pond whose water might vary in height, but it is also good in shady nooks on the garden, dry watercourses, and areas of poor drainage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5q6ZtI3fPQFHwDV6teJeJkyJQZt6V-1oflX0_3lOt3ozuCl8jwA5urvOBhuV1K7dZcAtYSYLEgeXenz-L3IFpOeggNaJJBsJNFJnkDxKJsP8fmK7C7bW894jU7uCOIdtnm-XZ3AFMXBtM/s1600/01+Carex+appressa+Perseverence+Dec+2012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5q6ZtI3fPQFHwDV6teJeJkyJQZt6V-1oflX0_3lOt3ozuCl8jwA5urvOBhuV1K7dZcAtYSYLEgeXenz-L3IFpOeggNaJJBsJNFJnkDxKJsP8fmK7C7bW894jU7uCOIdtnm-XZ3AFMXBtM/s400/01+Carex+appressa+Perseverence+Dec+2012.jpg" width="300" /></a> <br />
<br />It’s common name is “tall sedge”. How boring is that? For such a useful and attractive plant, I feel we should be able to do better!<br />
<br />I find it is a frog-favourite. My single pot of Carex creates a nice little niche for a pair of frogs to get together to produce eggs. After a croaky night, we often see a froth of eggs tucked in the corner behind it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZZqAYR2T20YjCf2z8nC4e2Z7W3VOawBzMhtR044UtkGD0Gisty_xatFG36tKPqBfyeOqB9QDCJfeniVBEvzdkG9EANIgGcmNsbAuh-sbsgVhr9RlmV8-j4TqNd4XuWdGD8YEWbpMJwY7/s1600/01+Striped+marsh+Frogs+mating%252C+Sep+2017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZZqAYR2T20YjCf2z8nC4e2Z7W3VOawBzMhtR044UtkGD0Gisty_xatFG36tKPqBfyeOqB9QDCJfeniVBEvzdkG9EANIgGcmNsbAuh-sbsgVhr9RlmV8-j4TqNd4XuWdGD8YEWbpMJwY7/s320/01+Striped+marsh+Frogs+mating%252C+Sep+2017.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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These are striped marsh frogs.<br />
<br />Like most Carex species, it is monoecious (having male and female flower-heads on the same plant). Female flower-stems are shorter than the males<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvE2YYWSP87QGuuLj03pDCnVzxcjLXgcEd6R45n094GcOB_NEwy1Uvz7bb-0lxfR6_ULL57Ot8gKkAUo81F5CPh-oSaNXkyStIxv7Zo1bGY0gcmmOP4vPnZdaq8WIGlvoBAYG8EeveMCW/s1600/01+Carex+appressa+male+flowers+Oct+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvE2YYWSP87QGuuLj03pDCnVzxcjLXgcEd6R45n094GcOB_NEwy1Uvz7bb-0lxfR6_ULL57Ot8gKkAUo81F5CPh-oSaNXkyStIxv7Zo1bGY0gcmmOP4vPnZdaq8WIGlvoBAYG8EeveMCW/s320/01+Carex+appressa+male+flowers+Oct+2018.jpg" width="155" /></a><br />
Male flower head<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4-R5CHkpCepGereKcQq2Clf0GqV3HvGhLT3skPSX-PPl_XqBZQn-eDOMkcNYMa9i_GJ_Bsx1YqI_UkGMAe-Wzc0A9RQyotXIl43amMJeBEXEthaE-EDSUG_RPfG4giVDCnSH53QSSppT/s1600/01+Carex+appressa+flowers+male+and+female+Oct+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="600" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4-R5CHkpCepGereKcQq2Clf0GqV3HvGhLT3skPSX-PPl_XqBZQn-eDOMkcNYMa9i_GJ_Bsx1YqI_UkGMAe-Wzc0A9RQyotXIl43amMJeBEXEthaE-EDSUG_RPfG4giVDCnSH53QSSppT/s320/01+Carex+appressa+flowers+male+and+female+Oct+2018.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Female (above) and male.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmk30MX5APIzClxEb54B__wsLDQtvr5X2RURH2vs-d3ghV-xGLZgObqFyvvEG_A9NlK-QC5Z_ZWJs0Y_A10pXR9xF-nDYQpRsg5c7FgVqYhz8DyAu6W8LaSkebTGzfzUfIMVzYvKejvLa/s1600/01+Carex+appressa+flower+close-ups+Oct+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmk30MX5APIzClxEb54B__wsLDQtvr5X2RURH2vs-d3ghV-xGLZgObqFyvvEG_A9NlK-QC5Z_ZWJs0Y_A10pXR9xF-nDYQpRsg5c7FgVqYhz8DyAu6W8LaSkebTGzfzUfIMVzYvKejvLa/s320/01+Carex+appressa+flower+close-ups+Oct+2018.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Detail. The male flower head has yellow anthers, which shed pollen.<br />
The female flowers (behind) have sticky white styles, to catch the flying pollen. Only the female flower head will produce seeds.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-50059612124213643132018-10-23T00:43:00.001-07:002018-10-23T00:43:39.986-07:00Desert Senna<i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Senna artemisioides subsp. zygophylla</span></i><br /><br />It’s senna time again, and our roadsides are lively with bright splashes of yellow. <br /><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqn1cf2j1_CnvzXekPU-SILaZFCA3PQj9udNWGdBkFwbYDp0VO2GFyDAjHC2ajpJmd1GnuGPeLjLWNzTQU6_iCveM-6VtcSAUJ5dTw9Mbn9NchTrMdeOf2K0wxVrftHoZJBA37wRmqGp9z/s1600/01+Senna+artemisioides+subsp+zygphylla+bush+felton+Sep+2015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqn1cf2j1_CnvzXekPU-SILaZFCA3PQj9udNWGdBkFwbYDp0VO2GFyDAjHC2ajpJmd1GnuGPeLjLWNzTQU6_iCveM-6VtcSAUJ5dTw9Mbn9NchTrMdeOf2K0wxVrftHoZJBA37wRmqGp9z/s400/01+Senna+artemisioides+subsp+zygphylla+bush+felton+Sep+2015.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />
These plants were in flower on the Oakey Cooyar Road last weekend.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkBktKNBH0G-7x-h1LwCGYpA5ReOQpI7UAlw5lQcQCG9kZl5Qpmp92qcIcIvqLk8C7_sC303mO_o9-9yLBMQzZxQ07PLZdWx2QV-WLOIxkMQElH3xL71sTxHmhNbTFf_F_oetDMFoH-dd/s1600/01+Senna+artemisioides+subsp+zygophylla+3+Lisa+Oakey+Cooyar+Rd+Oct+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="600" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkBktKNBH0G-7x-h1LwCGYpA5ReOQpI7UAlw5lQcQCG9kZl5Qpmp92qcIcIvqLk8C7_sC303mO_o9-9yLBMQzZxQ07PLZdWx2QV-WLOIxkMQElH3xL71sTxHmhNbTFf_F_oetDMFoH-dd/s400/01+Senna+artemisioides+subsp+zygophylla+3+Lisa+Oakey+Cooyar+Rd+Oct+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you drive past without looking closely, you might think you were seeing wattles. A closer look will tell you that these pretty plants have cassia-type flowers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBm6O1l2bU4GNvHQKoT9ieurMpPoOTv5CqYGyZwrwAmMtzph-wOyzcF-Kropc7XXFMLnoL7abhsUyp6Ev91HQjyuF8JO3TiuSodhu3dCWbp1KImzknZN4gfwGpyOClZlC4Wtb2kFMIHdy/s1600/01+Senna+artemisioides+subsp.+zygophylla+JondaryanJul2015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBm6O1l2bU4GNvHQKoT9ieurMpPoOTv5CqYGyZwrwAmMtzph-wOyzcF-Kropc7XXFMLnoL7abhsUyp6Ev91HQjyuF8JO3TiuSodhu3dCWbp1KImzknZN4gfwGpyOClZlC4Wtb2kFMIHdy/s400/01+Senna+artemisioides+subsp.+zygophylla+JondaryanJul2015.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Despite its name, this is not just a plant of deserts, but is quite at home in the drier parts of Toowoomba region. It lives up to its name when it comes to its water needs, though. It is a very drought hardy plant, never needing watering once established<br />
<br />Australia has 46 of the world’s 350 Senna species. Alas we also have a few extras, including the weedy Easter cassia, <i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Senna pendula</span></i>, which is a native of tropical America. It is it has put some people off growing sennas at all, which is a pity. Our natives are very civilised plants, usually growing to not much more than waist high, and of course, by definition, local native plants can't become feral weeds!<br />
<br />Sennas are not long lived plants. They tend to need replacing every 5 - 10 years, which is easy enough to do as they are simple to grow from seed. Look for them in November. In nature a fire, followed by rain, results in a flush of new plants. You can imitate this by using the boiling water method to get them started. (Put them in a coffee cup. Pour boiling water on. Leave to cool overnight. Plant.)<br />
<br />They may also self-seed for you if you live in their home territory, as older seed can germinate without fire.<br />
<br />Like all Sennas, they are butterfly host plants, attracting several different species of yellow butterflies to breed.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaxsZD_gW532rvXs_Luz4-eVad-EpOdXxb6D-fswVk-yuMI_bx-Wef5lvSxS0GqbU0ENWQUHZ_UTt3KWDIdHHOc8eaIBz5cAzuFt4NYdBxAvWqW15-4Ctq8i1fqTPdoYPYCgg2Jcy2AcY/s1600/Catopsilia+pomona+male+Lemon+Migrant+3002Mt+K+Apr10++-+0719.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="600" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaxsZD_gW532rvXs_Luz4-eVad-EpOdXxb6D-fswVk-yuMI_bx-Wef5lvSxS0GqbU0ENWQUHZ_UTt3KWDIdHHOc8eaIBz5cAzuFt4NYdBxAvWqW15-4Ctq8i1fqTPdoYPYCgg2Jcy2AcY/s400/Catopsilia+pomona+male+Lemon+Migrant+3002Mt+K+Apr10++-+0719.jpg" width="400" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-52522132230116024762018-09-24T23:11:00.001-07:002018-09-25T17:07:50.838-07:00Gum Vine<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Aphanopetalum resinosum</i><br />Family:<span style="font-size: x-small;"> APHANOPETALACEAE </span></span><br />
I visited the Cranbourne Australian Garden near Melbourne, some time ago. It impressed me because of its many suggested ways of using Australian native plants in stylish ways, for modern small gardens. It takes Australian gardening away from the informal “bush garden” style which has dominated native plant gardens.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx50wIKByIWE3V_V8wihX9FjoaVgZ374htlwl32mPLeM0bSTFH8j1JoreNqsG2Vzr7KH7f1wIOkAoG1uhFQODSbJYfEfJgDg7GP1VmIEWOP11dN_kfpZ1jRagdVd7vvAteslXN8d3_Bb-6/s1600/01+Aphanopetalum+resinosum+Cranbourne%252C+column+trellis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="600" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx50wIKByIWE3V_V8wihX9FjoaVgZ374htlwl32mPLeM0bSTFH8j1JoreNqsG2Vzr7KH7f1wIOkAoG1uhFQODSbJYfEfJgDg7GP1VmIEWOP11dN_kfpZ1jRagdVd7vvAteslXN8d3_Bb-6/s400/01+Aphanopetalum+resinosum+Cranbourne%252C+column+trellis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
This nifty idea makes use of gum vine, Aphanopetalum resinosum.<br />
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The theme of that particular section of the Cranbourne garden was to do with getting height in a small garden, and I was intrigued with these tubular trellises. I expect that this particular vine species would fill the tube with growth, then could be kept loosely pruned to make a screen, or trimmed more closely to make neat formal columns.<br />
As you can see from the photo is going to conceal the trellis, as the plant grows to fill it. This is quite a fast-growing plant, so it shouldn't take long. <br />
A spring-flowering plant, it grows naturally east of the great Dividing Range from the Sunshine Coast to eastern Victoria. It can be found near Toowoomba along the eastern side of the Range, where it grows in rainforests and dry vine scrubs. Its favourite sites are rocky screes and cool gullies.<br />
Its shiny “wet-look” foliage and masses of long-lasting, spectacular white sepals make it one of our most beautiful local native climbers for garden use.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfedGKy157gQ1DuWndvsKHoTj0hjPD1lBsUfN0IKJf7hXQ3E4KrQUIUeP-ru1zkVi7XGr6eh-yXApf4Rr7a2tNhrhxuDdAbuNbuKNEdSRcGXG-PbmFz3XL47RWw4Uh3LgSsGONmtB9vKfv/s1600/01+Aphanopetalum+resinosum+flowers+MtK+Oct+2010.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfedGKy157gQ1DuWndvsKHoTj0hjPD1lBsUfN0IKJf7hXQ3E4KrQUIUeP-ru1zkVi7XGr6eh-yXApf4Rr7a2tNhrhxuDdAbuNbuKNEdSRcGXG-PbmFz3XL47RWw4Uh3LgSsGONmtB9vKfv/s400/01+Aphanopetalum+resinosum+flowers+MtK+Oct+2010.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
“Aphanopetalum” is a word meaning “invisible petals”, which seems surprising at first glance - as the plant seems to be covered with perfectly visible, gleaming, white ones. Closer examination shows you, however, that these are not petals, but sepals.<br />
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It is the beautiful sepals which catch our attention, but if you turn one up to face you, you can see the tiny flowers, complete with four very small petals, which they conceal. (Double click on the photo for a closer look.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbQAhonPC7qVVMqq_NLcz8pjKytfkiZNYipr1SN2rWEHJqWRbUZbFOGcpfKFbQJOI7Z6aaTkooMRVCSy4zM72I8ZDJ1uCrvTincFCw87x8au_ZK8e_JrEqjoHq4MMGL-IFHaDreZHgMSu/s1600/01+Aphanopetalum+resinosum+flower+close+Oct+2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="600" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbQAhonPC7qVVMqq_NLcz8pjKytfkiZNYipr1SN2rWEHJqWRbUZbFOGcpfKFbQJOI7Z6aaTkooMRVCSy4zM72I8ZDJ1uCrvTincFCw87x8au_ZK8e_JrEqjoHq4MMGL-IFHaDreZHgMSu/s320/01+Aphanopetalum+resinosum+flower+close+Oct+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
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The sepals continue to ornament the bush as the flowers die and the fruits develop, creating the impression of a very long flowering season.<br />
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The leaves have tiny teeth on their margins, and the stems are covered with raised “lenticels” (little bumps) which make them rough to the touch.<br />
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If planted in a position where it has nothing to climb on, gum vine grows as a dense, spreading shrub or deep groundcover, but given something to climb it twines upwards, and can make a good privacy screen. It thrives on heavy pruning. It needs a bit of discipline to restrict it to a trellis or fence, as it has a natural tendency to get quite wide.<br />
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It can cope with very heavy shade (making it suitable for use indoors, or as a patio plant in a hanging basket). For good flowering, however, it prefers a little sunshine each day. It grows naturally on the rocky screes and stream banks on our eastern escarpment, where it can have its preferred cool, well-shaded root-run. It is claimed to be frost hardy, and thrive in a sheltered Toowoomba garden but I would not trust it to survive in areas which get hard frosts.<br />
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Like all rainforest plants, it likes a rich soil full of compost, and a good mulch. Well-watered, it grows very rapidly - yet it also grows in our local dry rainforests and scrubs, tolerating a degree of drought. Leave it alone and it can survive and look attractive without any watering at all.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-42217730265592761292018-09-14T18:04:00.001-07:002018-09-23T21:21:10.066-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Crows Nest Community Nursery </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Open Day</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Saturday 6 October</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">8.00am to 2.00pm</span></div>
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It has now been scientifically proven that trees keep the area where they grow cooler (by 2-3°) and make more rain.<br />
(See <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-09-15/trees-make-rain-ease-drought/10236572">http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-09-15/trees-make-rain-ease-drought/10236572 </a>)<br />
You can be part of the process.<br />
Any old trees will do the job. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">However... </span></span></div>
At the same time, you could be helping our local environment, and growing the plants that attract our local birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1mW2hH5fXIC87jtGXbSzTg293BWS9qwFJEAUxGNteIJrgeWWnpsd5nhhKAY8F5bpIHm6cnQCF2hu0lAUgykWOnLuNWKQ98kJFXp4b9_e6poPWC7p4_F2XQpVQWYMuJgbQAEDg1kr5-x0/s1600/001+Four+butterflies+on+callistemon++Apr+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="600" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1mW2hH5fXIC87jtGXbSzTg293BWS9qwFJEAUxGNteIJrgeWWnpsd5nhhKAY8F5bpIHm6cnQCF2hu0lAUgykWOnLuNWKQ98kJFXp4b9_e6poPWC7p4_F2XQpVQWYMuJgbQAEDg1kr5-x0/s400/001+Four+butterflies+on+callistemon++Apr+2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For this, what you need are <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>"indigenous" plants</b></span> - those plants that are native to your own patch of Australia.<br />
Crows Nest Community Nursery specialises in growing the native plants of the Toowoomba Region, from seed and cutting of local provenance.<br />
These plants are suitable for local gardens, as street and park trees, and for farm plantings and revegetation work.<br />
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<img class="CSS_LIGHTBOX_SCALED_IMAGE_IMG" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqYq3TOHW8X0P3ZSa8bCdwlBtQDGxnoKYAmjuzIhIlVwaCzwY-BAR1Ar7RbeqtO2hMqiNlqpyXlHoL2eMFNGEixpXM7njaaq9V0h_XT2IpuQoOHuzmC56XX_U5gIJcw3MyIrKWzdumKKv/s1600/01+17012606+customers%252C+CNCN.jpg" /> <span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">To find the Nursery:</span></b><b><span style="color: #783f04;"> </span></b></span></div>
<b><span style="color: #783f04;">Approaching Crows Nest from the south
(i.e. from the Toowoomba direction), slow down at the 80 sign and take
the first turn right into Industrial Avenue.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #783f04;">Follow the <span style="color: #38761d;">green street signs</span> (which say <span style="color: #38761d;">NURSERY</span>). </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #783f04;">For more information, call 131872 </span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Volunteering at the Nursery</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"> Much of the work that keeps the Crows Nest Community Nursery going is done by volunteers. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">If you want to do something worthwhile for
the local environment, or just to learn more about plants and make new
friends, you might consider becoming one of them.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">The jobs done include:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: #783f04;">Seed collecting</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #783f04;">Preparing seed for planting, or for storage in the seed bank.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #783f04;">Planting seed</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #783f04;">Potting on the little seedlings, into nursery tubes.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #783f04;">Putting plants out on the shelves. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #783f04;">Weeding and tidying them as required. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #783f04;"> No expertise is needed. Other volunteers help you to learn on the job. Just bring along a pair of willing hands and a smile.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">To join, you can simply turn up on a
Thursday and introduce yourself. Alternatively, you can make enquiries
by email or phone to the nursery manager, as above. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-54557836725001945752018-06-12T19:02:00.002-07:002018-09-24T22:38:44.616-07:00Western Boonaree<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Alectryon oleifolius</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Family<i>: </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">SAPINDACEAE</span><i><br /></i></span><br />
This is a plant that could easily go unnoticed, because it can be mistaken for a wattle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjw9q5_OQ_qNOvgJTuc9YSXlrn_oxNUW79Cb2ZoD8srdr9cyoWD1mnwYLtCKLfeG4hDqDebXo_bmBreXN8ib3hWZ9aGJQU3gXvN9T10ge1zUrS11Kdk0Mw8T0w65IeUFtJO3-6ZL-5WRf/s1600/01+Alectryon+oleifolius%252C+Roma+2006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjw9q5_OQ_qNOvgJTuc9YSXlrn_oxNUW79Cb2ZoD8srdr9cyoWD1mnwYLtCKLfeG4hDqDebXo_bmBreXN8ib3hWZ9aGJQU3gXvN9T10ge1zUrS11Kdk0Mw8T0w65IeUFtJO3-6ZL-5WRf/s400/01+Alectryon+oleifolius%252C+Roma+2006.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Its yellow-green flowers are small and inconspicuous, and even the bright and pretty fruit could be overlooked unless the plant has branches close to the ground.<br />
Livestock find the leaves very tasty, so wherever it grows in grazing country the leaves are trimmed off as far as the animals can reach. Seedlings have difficulty surviving under these conditions. Western boonarees were once very common, as is shown by their impressive list of common names (western rosewood, inland rosewood, bullock bush, cattle bush, jiggo, boneree, bush minga, applebush, and red heart). They are known to live for more than 100 years, but may be in decline in the wild nowadays, due to non-native animals which destroy the seedlings. They are a favourite food for cattle, sheep, and wild goats. Even rabbits love them.<br />
One of those alternative names, rosewood, tells us that heartwood is a pretty shade of red. It is soft and easy to work, but non-durable if used outdoors.<br />
It is not a common plant here on the eastern Darling Downs, but I found some plants in seed a few days ago in the piece of Yarran woodland by the roadside east of Jondaryan. (This ecologically valuable woodland remnant contains several plants that are more usually found further west, including yarran, <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Acacia melvillei</i></span>)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_7nM5o-zthkbGeODygYhXVMkYIYbsmHkd1rbMFs_uDWIk3HWd2VZT-svjwNA86OHh_Dvsg2XQt33yMoZnDoltT-IrgBpeI3KBn1Nh6Qoa9OV1CWd6I8ifThZEm2fNfs9mvoRlqh-Mbvc/s1600/01+Alectryon+oleifolius+seed%252C+Jondaryan+June+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="600" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_7nM5o-zthkbGeODygYhXVMkYIYbsmHkd1rbMFs_uDWIk3HWd2VZT-svjwNA86OHh_Dvsg2XQt33yMoZnDoltT-IrgBpeI3KBn1Nh6Qoa9OV1CWd6I8ifThZEm2fNfs9mvoRlqh-Mbvc/s400/01+Alectryon+oleifolius+seed%252C+Jondaryan+June+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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As with most Alectryons, the flowers are produced in pairs but often only one of them is fertilised so the result is one developed seed twinned with an undeveloped embryo.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Y6EBNxU6ANLep1s4WV3dPg16cCMgBU4lwizRGr16F9v0fpqmUYK7xAkzge0XkFZHSvZAgSBwCxL3xrY1phF4_wxEIu6gkclN7yqKS0dq4DigUOtM_iSyTDdWqZakp0SoSHcf9GQQGGxE/s1600/01+Alectryon+oleifolius+fruit+detail%252C+Jondaryan+June+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="600" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Y6EBNxU6ANLep1s4WV3dPg16cCMgBU4lwizRGr16F9v0fpqmUYK7xAkzge0XkFZHSvZAgSBwCxL3xrY1phF4_wxEIu6gkclN7yqKS0dq4DigUOtM_iSyTDdWqZakp0SoSHcf9GQQGGxE/s400/01+Alectryon+oleifolius+fruit+detail%252C+Jondaryan+June+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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When the seed is ripe, its red aril swells and bursts the capsule open. The seed is half covered by the nutritious, bird-attracting red aril, and is brown rather than the typical Alectryon black.<br />
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The internet informs me that Northern Territory Aborigines eat the arils. I find them so disgustingly astringent that I wouldn’t recommend putting them in your mouth.<br />
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Like all members of its genus, it is a host to some species of little ant-blue butterflies - provided it is grown where those particular butterflies occur naturally, and where they have the right kind of ants to help rear the caterpillars.<br />
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Western Boonaree is a pretty plant, with its silky new leaves, and drooping foliage which covers the plant to ground level for many years when it is young.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEing9pCWTqeo45TePkOoEChQJRg5ZBiBdzBJLljPE0ba9jXd9OC5ghOMPxUemKldCLJbuu2m5toNjy_vbgTV1TJ7dg70h6DMUu1i344X0sZ6MJO88-xcczrvCqjcBEsDpHqjEzmlxZbeGyv/s1600/01+Alectryon+oleifolius+with+hand%252C+Jondaryan+June+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="600" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEing9pCWTqeo45TePkOoEChQJRg5ZBiBdzBJLljPE0ba9jXd9OC5ghOMPxUemKldCLJbuu2m5toNjy_vbgTV1TJ7dg70h6DMUu1i344X0sZ6MJO88-xcczrvCqjcBEsDpHqjEzmlxZbeGyv/s400/01+Alectryon+oleifolius+with+hand%252C+Jondaryan+June+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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It is very tough, hardy to both frost and drought, and suitable for windbreaks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-24912107782615930142018-06-04T17:34:00.001-07:002018-09-24T22:40:14.360-07:00Orange Thorn<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pittosporum multiflorum (Citriobatus pauciflorum)</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Family: <span style="font-size: x-small;">PITTOSPORACEAE </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i><br />
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZHS9X3Zy2SClZSrXPpDFm9tMyBoOnsIhJRITgQ0LU3egAz2FMWUNOAgRsL_qiAgAseDdHWxME4jRxqm0mhHEQLk-rRZPJnwEhb4xUFl69kdeROZ1Szgbt8StCLZFxlxn2vWOfXxRbQ_X/s1600/01+Pittosporum+multiflorum+Mt+Cordeaux+Jun07+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZHS9X3Zy2SClZSrXPpDFm9tMyBoOnsIhJRITgQ0LU3egAz2FMWUNOAgRsL_qiAgAseDdHWxME4jRxqm0mhHEQLk-rRZPJnwEhb4xUFl69kdeROZ1Szgbt8StCLZFxlxn2vWOfXxRbQ_X/s320/01+Pittosporum+multiflorum+Mt+Cordeaux+Jun07+%25284%2529.jpg" width="207" /></a></i></div>
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Here’s a modestly pretty little bush which can start to show fruit at this time of year when there is little else in the way of bright and pretty fruits to be seen.<br />
There’s something odd about its name, though. “Multiflorum” implies that it has lots of flowers, while the old name “pauciflorum” means that it doesn’t have many at all. Wherever I see it, I would have to say that it neither flowers nor fruits particularly vigorously. What they lose in quantity, though, they make up for by being bright and pretty, gleaming out amongst the dark leaves in its usual shady habitat.<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGFpEGOF5j346Y7mGcgWezqUJtlRsqlKOPUcyOtLLUJXFrXFAL8tmZbzia6RYTkBLAl_th21Euw7X-tC2eBZsrelkbNe44G-nKc5Qn2bVJJGc4dfySrBt3pf2G2bIURl7Dxl2Dn6auvtO/s1600/01+Pittosporum+multiflorum+Mt+Cordeaux+Jun07+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGFpEGOF5j346Y7mGcgWezqUJtlRsqlKOPUcyOtLLUJXFrXFAL8tmZbzia6RYTkBLAl_th21Euw7X-tC2eBZsrelkbNe44G-nKc5Qn2bVJJGc4dfySrBt3pf2G2bIURl7Dxl2Dn6auvtO/s400/01+Pittosporum+multiflorum+Mt+Cordeaux+Jun07+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></i><br />
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It is the rainforest cousin of our more familiar birds’ nest bush, <i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pittosporum viscidum</span></i>. Not quite so drought or frost hardy, it grows in our local wetter rainforests at Ravensbourne, Goomburra, and the Bunya Mountains.<br />
Like its cousin, it no doubt offers much appreciated shelter to the small birds, which are doing it tough these days when cats are everywhere. Those of us who like to attract birds to our gardens try to make space for some prickly small shrubs in the low-traffic corners of our gardens.<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxu5wfyz0A0p3HsIfbuLK9291FEV7JJel8YTekIB0ksW8nqZ-_EVGrwlkzxmWzb9CEB_v_8Dn-VTwvQj0YwvkI9LkawnO6Gw87fdkTGTGlpA7TKb0_w1vmlx3q39xuff5M1dHd6S9cnHL/s1600/01+Pittosporum+multiflorum+Mt+Cordeaux+Jun07+%25286%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxu5wfyz0A0p3HsIfbuLK9291FEV7JJel8YTekIB0ksW8nqZ-_EVGrwlkzxmWzb9CEB_v_8Dn-VTwvQj0YwvkI9LkawnO6Gw87fdkTGTGlpA7TKb0_w1vmlx3q39xuff5M1dHd6S9cnHL/s640/01+Pittosporum+multiflorum+Mt+Cordeaux+Jun07+%25286%2529.jpg" width="425" /></a></span></i><br />
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Orange thorn tends to be a scruffy little bush in the wild, but as a garden plant it could probably be tided up with pruning to produce an even more dense, bird-sheltering bush. It does best in sites where it gets some shade.<br />
The fruits were apparently eaten by aborigines, but I have not heard of any modern people eating them and suspect that we might not rate them as particularly tasty. I would rather leave them for the native pigeons, myself, but if your experience is otherwise, can you please let me know?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-11365164039561920372018-03-05T19:07:00.000-08:002018-09-24T22:42:52.734-07:00Donkey’s Ears Wattle.<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>Acacia complanata</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Family: <span style="font-size: x-small;">MIMOSACEAE </span><i><br /></i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNToQBH4KL-je2uYsjMiTmgqj0DsU3TojvOsxgrDbDpUD-kT5KTPlM5Hi9zn2zO8n-oBkdoIeilRnUI9uXuAfGNjlZi3Ruu-i0HASMTRXjVyhAwSpzGF31KpNGAL19wet_91JjWLNAMFL8/s1600/01+Acacia+complanata+flower+detail+Dec2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="600" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNToQBH4KL-je2uYsjMiTmgqj0DsU3TojvOsxgrDbDpUD-kT5KTPlM5Hi9zn2zO8n-oBkdoIeilRnUI9uXuAfGNjlZi3Ruu-i0HASMTRXjVyhAwSpzGF31KpNGAL19wet_91JjWLNAMFL8/s400/01+Acacia+complanata+flower+detail+Dec2014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In our district, the big wattle-flowering season begins in June, peaks in August, and is all over in September.<br />
A few rebel species don’t flow along with the crowd, however, and this is one of them. Its flowering time can vary, according to rainfall, but it is common for it to choose to flower in February and March.<br />
It has been spectacular this year.<br />
Botanists use a rather boring “common name” (flat-stemmed wattle) for this plant, but I prefer the more descriptive name that ordinary people use - "Donkey’s Ears". It is such an easy plant to pick from a distance because its “leaves” (actually they’re phyllodes) are held at such an unusual angle. Sometimes they stick out sideways, sometimes they stand up like donkey’s ears. They never droop downwards.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWwzfkiDx80wIUe-KlvRTnBpfFBqoeQAnsNnxzILWDW2flwqNr8uA-dm09TX90xN_O16qizbhB02bYBAvutqd7SsweeDpcETsN9FJA4F8YDGCa1rbijqk1dYpytuGfps-KWCxcno9XT5c/s1600/01+Acacia+complanata+flower+mass+Murphy%2527s+Ck+March+2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWwzfkiDx80wIUe-KlvRTnBpfFBqoeQAnsNnxzILWDW2flwqNr8uA-dm09TX90xN_O16qizbhB02bYBAvutqd7SsweeDpcETsN9FJA4F8YDGCa1rbijqk1dYpytuGfps-KWCxcno9XT5c/s400/01+Acacia+complanata+flower+mass+Murphy%2527s+Ck+March+2011.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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The species is quick growing, and long lived. A well-grown plant can get to 3m high, but it’s more usual to see it at about 1.5 metres and it is very comfortable if kept to that height with occasional pruning.<br />
If it gets a bit old-looking and scraggly it is easily refreshed by pruning it very hard.<br />
It’s a drought hardy plant for full or half sun, and is hardy to frost and drought in our district. <br />
Keep an eye out for local seed in August.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQECh1pWHLsJLSS5cnY18tndyp4chUVLwR_waM3hGdGucRxYe75QVPCYnXrhn2J_mAPQYlekB7KOFVhAS-oDNgkRk_UnRVMCazoBDWBhlsRqSXuQfrvupEulLbzHkldsO1QTUcVsUDxJLR/s1600/01+Acacia+complanata+leaf+and+seed+Aug09.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="600" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQECh1pWHLsJLSS5cnY18tndyp4chUVLwR_waM3hGdGucRxYe75QVPCYnXrhn2J_mAPQYlekB7KOFVhAS-oDNgkRk_UnRVMCazoBDWBhlsRqSXuQfrvupEulLbzHkldsO1QTUcVsUDxJLR/s400/01+Acacia+complanata+leaf+and+seed+Aug09.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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You will find it easy to know that you have identified the plant correctly because of those distinctive phyllodes. Pick it when it’s ripe (which the ones in the photo are not, quite), and give the seeds the boiling water treatment before planting. The seeds grow quickly, and you can have a fine display of flowers when the plant is about a year and a half old.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-26500570096625667732018-02-13T21:49:00.000-08:002018-02-14T22:57:35.374-08:0010 Butterfly Plants for the Toowoomba District<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b> The secret of attracting butterflies to your garden. </b></span></span><br />
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Well, there's more than one "secret";<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>SECRET 1:</b></span> <b>Provide baby food</b>. Butterflies’ favourite gardens are the ones that will let them raise a family. Put in plants that their caterpillars can survive on, and they will come - BUT be aware that most butterflies can breed on only a few plant species. Some can breed on only one. These are called “host plants”. Female butterflies are attracted by “their” plants’ special smell, (and male butterflies are attracted by females) .<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>SECRET 2</b></span>. <b>Know your local butterflies</b>. Putting in plants for species which never come to our district will get you nowhere. Right now, it’s the peak of the butterfly season - a good time to get out and look for butterflies. If you don’t already know your locals, it’s a great time to start learning. If you garden seems to have a poor selection, take a trip to somewhere with a better selection of surviving bushland, to learn what could be attracted to your garden with the right host plants.<br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">SECRET 3.</span></b> <b>Choose local native plant species</b>.<br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">SECRET 4.</span></b> <b>Plenty of flowers for nectar</b>. Flowers with a "honey" smell do the job best. This is a "secret" with erratic results, though. Plenty of people plant flowers with nectar, but many native butterflies are disappearing from Australia's suburbs for lack of host plants. Don't count on using "Secret 4" by itself!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Butterfly Host plants for our Own District.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>A Shortlist </b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">1. NATIVE CASSIA</span></b>, Senna acclinis and other Senna species (small shrubs) - Yellow and lemon migrants, small grass-yellow, large grass-yellow<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>2. MONKEY ROPE VINE</b></span> Parsonsia straminea (Large climber) - Common crow, Native wanderer<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>3. SNOW WOOD </b></span>Pararchidendron pruinosum (Small tree) - Tailed Emperor<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>4. ORANGE SPADE FLOWER </b></span>- Hybanthus enneaspermus (Small perennial) - Glasswing<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>5. DARLING PEA</b></span> - Swainsona queenslandica (Small, spreading perennial) - Grass Yellow<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>6. CRESSIDA BUTTERFLY VINE</b></span> -Aristolochia meridionalis (Very small light climber) - Clearwing<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>7. CURRACABAH</b></span> Acacia concurrens (Medium wattle tree) - Imperial hairstreak, Tailed Emperor<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>8. FAN FLOWER</b></span> Scaevola albida (Groundcover perennial) - Meadow Argus<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>9. ZIG ZAG VINE</b></span> Melodorum leichhardtii (Large climber) - Four-barred swordtail, pale triangle, eastern dusk-flat<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>10. LEOPARD ASH</b></span> Flindersia collina (Small to Medium tree) - Orchard swallowtail<br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">11. JACKWOOD</span></b> Cryptocarya glaucescens (AND OTHER Cryptocarya species. Medium shade tree. - Blue triangle<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Getting Hold of the Plants.</span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">All the above are currently available </span></b>from the <b><span style="color: #990000;">Crows Nest Community Nursery.</span></b><br />
Normally only open on Thursday mornings, it is also having an <b>Open day on Saturday 3 March. </b>8.30am - 2.00pm.<br />
To find the nursery, see<br />
<a href="http://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com.au/search?q=nursery">www.toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com.au/search?q=nursery</a><br />
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For a longer list of suitable local Butterfly host plants see<br />
<a href="http://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com.au/search?q=host">http://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com.au/search?q=host</a><br />
There is also a recent ABC article on the excellent work being done by Helen Schwenke on butterfly host plants in SE Qld coastal districts. Excellent reading.<br />
<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-13/how-to-attract-butterflies-to-your-garden/9422772">www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-13/how-to-attract-butterflies-to-your-garden/9422772</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Some Local butterflies</span></b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWQ0OwLh1J3YCSmU2eVSM28Btu1qmXRswW9ERXAAc5Fs_CDbS14_mfUfHwJ9e5mE91bxGuFTm9eUnNkTKUuTrl5osMisXrIBm2hBhTbyAFoYL7aVk7K2j34x6rMQ7ZQinI1iYGDStuLRE/s1600/01+Common+Crow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="600" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWQ0OwLh1J3YCSmU2eVSM28Btu1qmXRswW9ERXAAc5Fs_CDbS14_mfUfHwJ9e5mE91bxGuFTm9eUnNkTKUuTrl5osMisXrIBm2hBhTbyAFoYL7aVk7K2j34x6rMQ7ZQinI1iYGDStuLRE/s400/01+Common+Crow.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Common Crow<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZadTQgRZyPjcfwAVK_WnlAB72ZPL7Uk48LWqjlmnzaw2EsiZZbTcJy7EVlw2jRqF89Ni_B6d8hX8MhSAKsX5fNXriOsnuMefvw31s4OAf9fFrYRtoiiKMSxXdWB8Lx8vxK8uG6zUyje3/s1600/01+Polyura+pyrrhus+Tailed+emperor+rotated.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZadTQgRZyPjcfwAVK_WnlAB72ZPL7Uk48LWqjlmnzaw2EsiZZbTcJy7EVlw2jRqF89Ni_B6d8hX8MhSAKsX5fNXriOsnuMefvw31s4OAf9fFrYRtoiiKMSxXdWB8Lx8vxK8uG6zUyje3/s400/01+Polyura+pyrrhus+Tailed+emperor+rotated.jpg" width="351" /></a><br />
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Tailed Emperor<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-GVBFyEXUVWiLw3HIgyVPQ4qvWtdmJbAG9vojvSQCwfmryFq9MUArQxc92oiogdiqd_RKeyUy9lAw4Bv8g5FmmXAkDW20J4R-BcbVf9MVq5-jgppsWwz0YV9K4wEaKs9EXxQEh3FAY69/s1600/01+Blue+Triangle++Gardner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="500" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-GVBFyEXUVWiLw3HIgyVPQ4qvWtdmJbAG9vojvSQCwfmryFq9MUArQxc92oiogdiqd_RKeyUy9lAw4Bv8g5FmmXAkDW20J4R-BcbVf9MVq5-jgppsWwz0YV9K4wEaKs9EXxQEh3FAY69/s400/01+Blue+Triangle++Gardner.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Blue Triangle<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMvtLjkM9zS7LFWGaIU9kNg0-WI8TQTLoKyzM5xYQd-KqLRCup4auFmYzDmvQjRHId9Kbw0FsivVrBuuFTKL0Y50km1098Dg0wvzqal1yIsfKCTaLixCpT_8mTYWD8Zmgd8YwFYSzpiPI/s1600/01+Yellow+migrant+Brookvale+Apr10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="500" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMvtLjkM9zS7LFWGaIU9kNg0-WI8TQTLoKyzM5xYQd-KqLRCup4auFmYzDmvQjRHId9Kbw0FsivVrBuuFTKL0Y50km1098Dg0wvzqal1yIsfKCTaLixCpT_8mTYWD8Zmgd8YwFYSzpiPI/s400/01+Yellow+migrant+Brookvale+Apr10.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Migrant<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-CbV7Ylgi6g0dV7Dt4ztIWT__1VWgRrzVWKaaa3JnJRGWrSkhN2PeBcn9O7jz7yyoIIMVtBuCJ9TVLzLL0K5ZHvKilgWPWkhMYJx0i8hv3oNreBTJ5ssCGGGzUq93s5cWZ0Rnb_nVZGq/s1600/01+Junonia+Villida+Meadow+Argus++Cressbrook+4814+-1620.tif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="600" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-CbV7Ylgi6g0dV7Dt4ztIWT__1VWgRrzVWKaaa3JnJRGWrSkhN2PeBcn9O7jz7yyoIIMVtBuCJ9TVLzLL0K5ZHvKilgWPWkhMYJx0i8hv3oNreBTJ5ssCGGGzUq93s5cWZ0Rnb_nVZGq/s400/01+Junonia+Villida+Meadow+Argus++Cressbrook+4814+-1620.tif" width="400" /></a><br />
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Meadow Argus<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9inzmIGQzIhvM66ylGwiH0a_NTFfAVAvSVlgBTxYgaGF1l4w3Ceoo77LnsYaSAgylqL4Tp5lcWFsIdE0I0kHEGiWE932JebD2Cpj916Z2TndXPKEd9jrg4Pg3cn5MT_U1ZUJ7CO3MsxrM/s1600/01+Grass-Yellow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="600" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9inzmIGQzIhvM66ylGwiH0a_NTFfAVAvSVlgBTxYgaGF1l4w3Ceoo77LnsYaSAgylqL4Tp5lcWFsIdE0I0kHEGiWE932JebD2Cpj916Z2TndXPKEd9jrg4Pg3cn5MT_U1ZUJ7CO3MsxrM/s400/01+Grass-Yellow.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Grass Yellow<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZtp4bw5FVOTfTY54yBYo387qRk-QJa9kiaAD3EmYirM9Ly_N40O615xAE5inozxWfuvvwZ7ag785BILB2W6UoKMeJTedJBt-jZjj0Rdk7F-i2Y8EP6H-30Gw1rDs96FswsS_H_mwYTnF/s1600/01+Papilio+aegeus+Orchard+Swallowtail+male.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZtp4bw5FVOTfTY54yBYo387qRk-QJa9kiaAD3EmYirM9Ly_N40O615xAE5inozxWfuvvwZ7ag785BILB2W6UoKMeJTedJBt-jZjj0Rdk7F-i2Y8EP6H-30Gw1rDs96FswsS_H_mwYTnF/s400/01+Papilio+aegeus+Orchard+Swallowtail+male.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Orchard Butterfly<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXKSV6_I1Zykgh2UlxXUBl6jpTqtYXAHUdA8Pavopu42obBNE7RO58Lf7E_BDdMt6OuKXvbDf_-U6rDORtibf9SBuDpzhmzN7LSZ8Ca1DqU5uriAru46QusBasB_75ne6hNTheYnpox6C/s1600/01+Common+Grass+Blue+open+wing+Jan+09.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXKSV6_I1Zykgh2UlxXUBl6jpTqtYXAHUdA8Pavopu42obBNE7RO58Lf7E_BDdMt6OuKXvbDf_-U6rDORtibf9SBuDpzhmzN7LSZ8Ca1DqU5uriAru46QusBasB_75ne6hNTheYnpox6C/s400/01+Common+Grass+Blue+open+wing+Jan+09.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Grass Blue<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXeXFaBeS99Z2NqTt3BVHnTteYMln-TidppWuN7D1vo_WljeQUwm_Ip-cTwVodlRB4NSH8_upREZLX2I-uTGlKXMzPznHgPzSroLbOKnocjtuf0PintId22c9F1ZKlq8i3hvMIZ19qaAP/s1600/01++native+wanderer+1428-0132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXeXFaBeS99Z2NqTt3BVHnTteYMln-TidppWuN7D1vo_WljeQUwm_Ip-cTwVodlRB4NSH8_upREZLX2I-uTGlKXMzPznHgPzSroLbOKnocjtuf0PintId22c9F1ZKlq8i3hvMIZ19qaAP/s400/01++native+wanderer+1428-0132.jpg" width="351" /></a><br />
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Native Wanderer<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjAIUiP2cZ7bLGSw361FIhtxYl7vRwYwt4MPR9-z7VbIrkWtVNcV7I_XsDJLVU9xzKEv8gL__n9M2L45GYXAgxR8ZQCLqnuqxWQA9hz3IEQoha8nWcF1CSENdu6tEDurHpCL_reOkOOIB/s1600/01+Glasswing++on+grass.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="600" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjAIUiP2cZ7bLGSw361FIhtxYl7vRwYwt4MPR9-z7VbIrkWtVNcV7I_XsDJLVU9xzKEv8gL__n9M2L45GYXAgxR8ZQCLqnuqxWQA9hz3IEQoha8nWcF1CSENdu6tEDurHpCL_reOkOOIB/s400/01+Glasswing++on+grass.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Glasswing<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171765088403710716.post-69680206224319583382018-02-03T00:51:00.001-08:002018-09-24T22:43:58.604-07:00Something special, in Rainy Weather.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Tar Vine</span></b> <i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Boerhavia dominii</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">FAMILY: NYCTAGINACEAE</span></span><br />
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Some of you will be familiar with this delightful little plant.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPOrLeCXo_9NNWLFpRdMQHelm0Yz8QVEfHxa1mbs9wVVxYljDBmxRsoQDdKWFEAwNiXEtZnvprTL5qHoNVB8IC-cYl_PIJ32L_f1nx2t2WQJFPukhd_ObHHM4zRnLunFRS2SJ-u0WRPY_/s1600/01+Boerhavia+domini+flowers%252C+McE+St+For+Jan+2015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="600" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPOrLeCXo_9NNWLFpRdMQHelm0Yz8QVEfHxa1mbs9wVVxYljDBmxRsoQDdKWFEAwNiXEtZnvprTL5qHoNVB8IC-cYl_PIJ32L_f1nx2t2WQJFPukhd_ObHHM4zRnLunFRS2SJ-u0WRPY_/s400/01+Boerhavia+domini+flowers%252C+McE+St+For+Jan+2015.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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I photographed the one below near Wyreema,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOC1MLBKbg3H_8guQ9tFrGEk5nsr3ZBG24XVE_wil30zsQX-OBk1jBaQaL4f-lJWtGxgDslLwiiXC-Bou2wB3c816Py4ELytQTBIyL7l5dA9J7Q4eJNuwWahj6oUOGMnSmb-h-bYVtwQxT/s1600/01+Boerhavia+domini+Wyreema+wetland+Mar2017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="600" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOC1MLBKbg3H_8guQ9tFrGEk5nsr3ZBG24XVE_wil30zsQX-OBk1jBaQaL4f-lJWtGxgDslLwiiXC-Bou2wB3c816Py4ELytQTBIyL7l5dA9J7Q4eJNuwWahj6oUOGMnSmb-h-bYVtwQxT/s400/01+Boerhavia+domini+Wyreema+wetland+Mar2017.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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and the one below this was at McEwan State Forest near Pittsworth. As you can see, the leaves vary a bit from place to place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ-Jw_4cZSWhIrpk5tLVwSI54pvoC-47PrgW-ua7xnbwFWbo6bBGH2vqaNANHWjH28rREdtcE7YNQVOy8ADI6wfRZSmxv3dubfcDBuZjYsys5aI41GvU99gaAR4bw-XwuW_GQMekxVNL2/s1600/01+Boerhavia+domini+McE+St+For+Jan+2015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ-Jw_4cZSWhIrpk5tLVwSI54pvoC-47PrgW-ua7xnbwFWbo6bBGH2vqaNANHWjH28rREdtcE7YNQVOy8ADI6wfRZSmxv3dubfcDBuZjYsys5aI41GvU99gaAR4bw-XwuW_GQMekxVNL2/s400/01+Boerhavia+domini+McE+St+For+Jan+2015.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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The plant itself is not showy enough to ever become popular as a garden ornamental, but is pretty, all the same. The tiny flowers are exquisite. As a romantically-inclined farm child from the Darling Downs, I was sure they would be fairy favourites.<br />
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A friend from Pittsworth sent me these photos yesterday, showing the amazing transformation of the seeds after rain. She says the little blobs which have developed to encase the seeds are “slimy”.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAtSVjOcWAAW-RDvDxlkM3KwbWQNCZByvU148MD5D1N6_Phre0pIWyNmTNkyP7aztQZu31xQw8VeQQzXg60C1Aj3tjk8yUNAxVye7-xaQ9XweY4OQ8wXpa9K477e2KbVzLy7loRMVjiZh/s1600/Boerhavia+domini+seeds+with+mucilage%252C2+Pittsworth+Jan+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAtSVjOcWAAW-RDvDxlkM3KwbWQNCZByvU148MD5D1N6_Phre0pIWyNmTNkyP7aztQZu31xQw8VeQQzXg60C1Aj3tjk8yUNAxVye7-xaQ9XweY4OQ8wXpa9K477e2KbVzLy7loRMVjiZh/s400/Boerhavia+domini+seeds+with+mucilage%252C2+Pittsworth+Jan+2018.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxIlJKaF2LwYmfAsysAz_TYrthJWFNcmMiVAKW_iRalgtnhspG_2UsrUVKNMWU9Y6Hs4cTfhlpr6wCo8kOczp8Qc8wA-L2BIQ97vkyP_z1TPrHWnqRdNm-OepLrSIi_uf5ggsNhyphenhyphentyN2O/s1600/Boerhavia+domini+seeds+with+mucilage%252C1+Pittsworth+Jan+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxIlJKaF2LwYmfAsysAz_TYrthJWFNcmMiVAKW_iRalgtnhspG_2UsrUVKNMWU9Y6Hs4cTfhlpr6wCo8kOczp8Qc8wA-L2BIQ97vkyP_z1TPrHWnqRdNm-OepLrSIi_uf5ggsNhyphenhyphentyN2O/s400/Boerhavia+domini+seeds+with+mucilage%252C1+Pittsworth+Jan+2018.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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Aren’t they beautiful? Like little pearls! If you click on the photos, you can get a good look at the details.<br />
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On the second rainy day, the seeds are falling off, and collecting under the plant, looking "like frogspawn". <br />
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The reason for it all is that the seeds contain mucilage, which swells when wet, encasing the seed in a little damp ball to improve its chances of staying wet long enough for the newly germinated seeds to have a good chance of growing. Now would be a very good time to move some of those seeds into a bare dry patch that needs a bit of ground cover, and tuck them under a light cover of damp soil, being careful to preserve their mucilage coating. They can cope with a very tough, sunny site that gets very dry.<br />
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The mucilage has another function as well. It is designed to stick to the fur of passing mammals.This technique has helped the plant to spread itself about over much of Australia.<br />
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<span style="color: #073763;">ADDENDUM: Since I published this blog, a correspondent has told me several other things about this plant.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">The secret of its survival in hard, dry conditions is its persistent taproot. This root is edible, and is still collected for this purpose by people living a traditional lifestyle in Central Australia. (If you want to try it, please be cautious. It may need to be cooked first). The leaves of the closely related <i>B. diffusa</i> are often used as a green vegetable in many parts of India.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Apparently it is unpopular with farmers, and can actually reduce the value of a farm because it is a difficult "weed" to kill by any means including poison, and tends to tangle in a plough. Pastoralists, however, regard it as a good, palatable pasture plant. Horses are said to get fat (and lazy) on it.</span><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0