Thysanotus tuberosus
Family: Anthericaceae
Name: Thysanotus tuberosus
Meaning of name: tuberosus = having tubers
Other names: Common Fringe-lily
Growth form: Ascending or sprwaling herb with stems to 50 cm long
Flowering time: Spring – summer
Flower colour: Purple
References: PlantNet, Robinson pp 235
Photos: Peter Fallon, 23/01/2010
Comments: Not common in area. The tuberous root is edible.
Phebalium squamulosum ssp. argentum
Family: Rutaceae
Name: Phebalium squamulosum ssp. argentum
Meaning of name: argentum = silvery scales on leaves (Latin)
Other names: Silvery Phebalium, Scaly Phebalium
Growth form: A dense spreading shrub 1.5 – 2 m high
Flowering time: Spring
Flower colour: Cream/white
References: PlantNet, Robinson pp 304
Photos: Peter Fallon, 09/08/2008
Comments: Found on rocky ridge top.
Dillwynia floribunda
Family: Fabaceae
Name: Dillwynia floribunda
Meaning of name: floribunda = abundant flowered (Latin)
Other names: Parrot Pea
Growth form: A bushy shrub 1-2 m high
Flowering time: Early spring
Flower colour: Yellow with red markings
References: PlantNet, Robinson pp 77
Photos: Peter Fallon, 31/08/2009
Comments: Common in area.
Acacia suaveolens
Acacia suaveolens pods
Family: Fabaceae
Name: Acacia suaveolens
Meaning of name: suaveolens = Sweet smelling (latin)
Other names: Sweet Wattle
Growth form: Slim shrub to 1.5 m high with sharply angular stems
Flowering time: April-September (Winter)
Flower colour: Cream/white/pale yellow
Comments: Very common in the area.
References: PlantNet, Robinson pp 72
Photos: Peter Fallon, 31/08/2009
Acacia terminalis
Acacia terminalis
Name: Acacia terminalis subsp. angustifolia
Other names: Sunshine Wattle
Family: Fabaceae
Growth form: Open shrub to 1.5 m high
Flowering time: Late summer and winter
Flower colour: White/yellow
Meaning of name: terminalis refers to the terminal inflorescences
Not uncommon.
References: PlantNet, Robinson pp 66.
Photos: Peter Fallon, 31/03/2007.
Epacris pulchella
Name: Epacris pulchella
Other names: Wallum Heath
Family: Ericaceae
Growth form: Erect shrub to 1.5 m high
Flowering time: Throughout year, mainly Jan.–May
Flower colour: White
Meaning of name: pulchella = Latin pulcher, beautiful
Not common, found mostly in the sandstone swamp/heath area.
References: PlantNet, Robinson pp 107.
Photos: Peter Fallon, 11/03/2007.
Senna pendula
Name: Senna pendula
Other names: None
Family: Fabaceae
Growth form: Spreading shrub to 3 m high
Flowering time: Late summer-autumn
Flower colour: Yellow
Although this plant is not a native it is quite common in the area. Originally from South America, it has escaped from local gardens and has naturalised so well it has been declared a noxious weed.
References: PlantNet, Robinson pp 148.
Photos: Peter Fallon, 17/03/2009.
Bossiaea heterophylla
Name: Bossiaea heterophylla
Other names: Variable Bossiaea
Family: Fabaceae
Growth form: A slender herbaceous plant 0.5-1 m tall
Flowering time: Spring
Flower colour: Yellow and red
Meaning of name: heterophylla = Variable-leaved
Not uncommon in area. There is an amount of variability in the size and shape of the leaves.
References: PlantNet, Robinson pp 74.
Photos: Peter Fallon, 08/04/2007.
Since the last posting on what is currently flowering in Berowra the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has done a number of hazard reductions in the area. These burn offs were limited to areas close to houses and were performed in order to protect lives and property for the coming fire season, my home being one of the properties protected. These photos were taken of the bush close to the Wideview Road end of the Lonsdale fire trail.
Burnt bush
An unfortunate by product of hazard reductions is the loss of much, if not all of the under story, much of which was currently flowering. It will be interesting to watch the regrowth of the burnt areas over the next few years. I intend keeping track of what plant species reappear and how long it takes for the burnt areas to increase their biodiversity.
Burnt bush
For anyone still interested in finding plants around Berowra you may need to travel a bit further off the fire trails to get to the unburnt areas. There’s still plenty of bush out there.
It is the beginning of September and spring has definitely arrived in Berowra, there is a plethora of plants in flower at the moment. The unseasonally warm weather has resulted in early flowering of many species. Some species, such as Acacia longifolia and Acacia ulicifolia are coming to the end of their flowering period and mostly have old flowers on show but there are numerous species that have just blossomed for the first time this season.
Acacia longifolia
Acacia ulicifolia
The flowers of Grevillea buxifolia, Grevillea sericea and Eriostemon australasius have been out throughout August and can be found quite easily.
Grevillea buxifolia
Grevillea sericea
Eriostemon australasius
The diminutive Actinotus minor seems to be always in flower.
Actinotus minor
There are also a large number of species that have burst into flower over the last few weeks, a selection of which are listed below.
Gompholobium latifolium
Epacris microphylla
Pittosporum undulatum
Grevillea speciosa
Boronia pinnata
Allocasuarina distyla
Bauera rubioides
Pomaderris lanigera
Pultenaea flexilis
Pultenaea daphnoides
Isopogon anethifolius
All of these plants, and many more, can be seen right now along the fire trail between Wideview road and Lonsdale street. I will be adding more species to this post throughout the month as I collect more photos.
