Flora of Berowra

Thysanotus tuberosus

pfallon — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:29:25 +0000

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

pfallon — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:44:42 +0000

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

pfallon — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:07:04 +0000

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

pfallon — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:53:25 +0000

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 subsp. angustifolia

pfallon — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:35:37 +0000

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

pfallon — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:31:25 +0000

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

pfallon — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:08:24 +0000

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

pfallon — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:51:23 +0000

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.

Flora Reduction

pfallon — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:25:03 +0000

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.

Whats flowering now? (September)

pfallon — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:00:59 +0000

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.