Australia So Much to See
Austrostipa species, Speargrass
There are many native grasses in our bushland, often overlooked as weeds. Austrostipa is a primarily Australian genus of plants in the grass family (Australian Stipa), commonly called Speargrass. The spear-like seeds can be seen at right. All known species are native to Australia, most of them found nowhere else.
Ref: Wikipedia
Spring
Bridgetown,
South West region, Western Australia and Austrostipa species occur throughout much of the state, excluding the northern Pilbara and
the Kimberley.
Astartea onycis, Claw Astartea, Onyx Astartea, Onyx Star-Bush
A shrub with long weeping branches. Pale pink blooms with five
petals with serrated edges. Calyx has five elongated tips almost as long as the petals. Wide flower centre has stamens
around the edge, mostly in around five groups. Slender stems are red, with pairs of cylindrical green leaves along the stem, and held
close to it.
December and can flower through to March.
Priority 4 flora, due to the limited area is grow in.
Asterella drummondii, sometimes called Licorice Strap, due to the shape of the flat green basal leaf.
A tiny green thallose liverwort,
a group which are distinct from leafy liverworts. Liverworts are flowerless, spore producing plants, with the spores produced
in small capsules. Asterella drummondi is a tiny green umbrella shaped plant, growing from a flat green base. These depicted
were only seen on expanding a photo of another small plant they were growing under.
August
Merredin, Wheatbelt, Western Australia,
growing in a damp environment at the base of a granite outcrop. Found over a wide area of the state, excluding the north
and the central deserts.
Atriplex codonocarpa, Flat-topped Saltbush, Dwarf Saltbush
A short light green shrub, with a green perianth with a felted-look surface
around the flowers. Leaves are an irregular shape with the jagged edge at the top.
August