Wildflower walk Sunday 5 November
Michael Doherty led 35 people on his information-packed walk. On a perfect Sunday afternoon, we wandered up Blue Metal Road, through Scribbly gum grassland and back down the Casuarina trail.
Small clumps of Snow grass (Poa siebriana) with purple flowerheads, grew near short, fluffy-headed Wallaby grasses and several Spear grass species. Scattered among the grasses were groups of Yellow buttons (Chrysocephalum apiculatum), scaly buttons (Leptorhynchos squamatus) and a few bluebells (Wahlenbergia sp). Several metres away in grassy bushland, were a group of immature Blue devils (Eryngium ovinum) which will soon begin to branch and turn a spectacular blue as they form flower heads protected by a ball of sharp spines.
Native hop bushes (Dodonaea viscosa) were in full bloom past the dams. Growing among large clumps of Red-anther Wallaby grasses were a few late orchids including the Hornet orchid (Diuris sulphurea), and pink flowering trigger plants (Stylidium sp.). Under the native cherry trees was a lush groundcover of climbing saltbush (Einadia nutans) covered in tiny succulent red fruit which lizards eat. Michael noted that the flowering mat rushes (Lomandra sp.) produce seeds which are viable for up to 70 years and reliably grow back after fires.
In spite of the warm windy weather which had dried off some flowers, there was much to see, including grasses and forbs (herbaceous plants). There were no vistas of showy wildflowers, but Michael demonstrated that if we look closely, the grassland and bush is full of fascinating, colourful flowers. |