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We live in a changing world and this is also true in the plant world where research of historical records and growth of taxonomic knowledge result in changes to scientific names.

We have recently been alerted to four more plant names that have changed since the publication of Flowers of Anglesea and Aireys Inlet (2009). Thanks to Neville Walsh Royal Botanic Gardens

Pale Sundew (page 18)
Drosera hookeri
In 2012 the Drosera peltata complex was reviewed and found to consist of at least 5 species. Drosera hookeri was named for the species in our area in honour of Joseph Hooker (1817-1911), an early botanical explorer of Tasmania, New Zealand and Antarctic as well as director Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England, who originally recognised this taxon.

It is believed that Drosera peltata is a narrowly described species in Tasmania.

Drosera hookeri is typically a plant of moist habitat. It usually has a well-developed rosette of leaves at the soil surface and shield-shaped leaves with tiny sticky hairs that trap insects.

Pale SundewPale Sundew

Yam Daisy (page 94)
Microseris walteri
Three distinct ‘forms’ of Microseris occur in Victoria, separable on root and pappus morphology. Two species had already been named as M.scapigera and M.lanceolata. Ours continued to be known as M. sp. 3. Looking back in history it was found that our species had been named as M. walteri in 1918 by a French botanist, Michael Gandoger, using a type specimen collected by Chas Walter, a prolific collector of Victorian plants in the 1800s. Our species 3 had therefore been already named in honour of Chas Walter!

The Yam Daisy is a tufted perennial herb with bright yellow flower-heads that appear in spring. It has shiny, long narrow toothed leaves and its flowers droop in bud until opening.

Yam DaisyYam Daisy

Branching Fringe Lily (page 150)
Thysanotus racemoides
This plant was recognised as a new species in in 2013 when it was segregated from Thysanotus juncifolius which is now restricted to east Gippsland wet heaths. T. racemoides grows in SA and western Victoria with outlying eastern occurrences near Anglesea and is so named as the flowers grow in a raceme-like bunch. T. juncifolius usually has finer, weaker and more branched stems.

The plant grows to about 60cm tall and has branched stems that are rigid and usually leafless. Mauve flowers appear in racemes in late spring.

Branching Fringe LilyBranching Fringe Lily

Beaded Glasswort (page 160)
Salicornia quinqueflora subs. quinqueflora
After a few decades of being known as Sarcocornia, the Beaded Glasswort has reverted to an earlier name of Salicornia. Being a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants this seems a more acceptable name. The flowers are in rows of five, embedded in paired bracts with only the stamens and stigmas being exposed. This facilitates wind pollination.

Beaded GlasswortBeaded Glasswort

Ref: Flowers of Anglesea and Aireys Inlet (2009) Ed. Margaret MacDonald

Marg MacDonald