Monday 29 September 2008

Bannockburn

Our plant survey at Bannockburn was rewarding because the area along the creek yielded lots of species for us to argue over. This one in particular was tricky. We didn't have enough references with us to solve the problem, but once we got home and put the photos up on the screen and pulled Flora Vic off the self we were in business. Our guess at Daviesia ulicifolia Gorse Bitter-pea was right. The problem was caused because, as Flora Vic says, it's "an extraordinarily variable species". Our plant had spiny phyllodes but they were very hairy and the books didn't mention that, it was growing low to the ground and the books said it was a shrub, and we didn't have any pods - Bitter-peas have triangular shaped pods.

There were a few orchid leaves hidden in the grass but very few orchids flowering. We found one patch of the Golden Moths Diuris chryseopsis standing proud and looking brilliant. These orchids didn't grow in the area where I grew up and I remember being overcome by their beauty when I first saw them. They're relatively common in the grasslands around Geelong.

2 comments:

Zealot Ape said...

great pictures!!!

Denis Wilson said...

Hi Boobook

Lovely deep colour on the outside of your Daviesia. Out on the heath country (on the sandstone plateau) there are masses of Pea flowers - of many different species. I took some photos the other day, but have not yet worked out what they all are.

The Diuris plants in my area have not started yet, probably about 2 weeks to go, going on last years dates. I know an area near Goulburn (NSW) where that species is found. I will make a special trip to see if I can see them.

Cheers
Denis