A humble beauty

A pretty but common plant can get a bit tiresome when really you want to see something else. Bent Goodenia Goodenia geniculata is brightly coloured and an interesting shape but it's really common and I keep checking to make sure it's not a Spur Velleia Velleia paradoxa or a different Goodenia.

Yay! Success! Today I was walking in a damp heathy woodland and found the beautiful little Swamp Goodenia Goodenia humilis in patches. I've seen it before but it was lovely to see it again.

Hop Goodenia

Hop Goodenia Goodenia ovata is widespread, meaning you can find it growing in a lot of places in Victoria, especially in moist areas. It got its specific name ovata because of the shape of its leaves

It has an untidy, straggly habit, grows up to two metres, flowers for a long time, is easy to grow in the garden or revegetation areas, will tolerate a wide variety of soils, and has a beautiful little yellow flower about 1-2 cm long. Yet, I'm not very fond of the Hop Goodenia - don't know why, because I like most of its smaller cousins.

This one was flowering yesterday at Jerringot Wetland in Belmont, suburban Geelong.