A group of 12 came on the ramble. We started from the car park and proceeded left along the path leading to the three bridges over the Anglesea River. It was lovely weather, and photos were taken during the walk in the following order.

Creeping Brookweed Samolus repens (Paul Wright)

A summer flowering perennial herb found in swampy brackish marshland. It has a trailing habit of growth, forming lush mats up to a metre wide. White and pink flowers are produced on upright stems which sit above the mat.

 

Water Ribbons Cycnogeton procerum (Gail Slykhuis)

An attractive plant with long leaves that grow up and float on top of the water. The plant helps oxygenate the water so fish can flourish. In spring and summer green flower spikes with many white flowers emerge from the water.

 

Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa (Gail Slykhuis)

These elegant water birds spend more than 25 per cent of the day feeding; the rest of the day is spent sitting on ground adjacent to the water. These ducks eat both plant and animal matter.

 

Sallow Wattle Acacia longifolia subsp. longifolia (Gail Slykhuis)

Sue observing this introduced species which can hybridise with the Coast Wattle, Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae. Sallow Wattle also suppresses regenerating indigenous plants.

Black Wattle Acacia mearnsii (Paul Wright)

The photo shows the small round green glands which are irregularly found along the midrib of the leaves. This is a diagnostic feature for the identification of this wattle.

Cherry Ballart Exocarpos cupressiformis (Gail Slykhuis)

This is a hemiparasitic tall shrub or small tree with numerous branchlets. The red ‘fruit’ which is really the enlarged flower stem is edible; the true fruit is green and hard. The wood is useful for furniture making and the indigenous people used it to make woomeras.

Lynne admiring a magnificent specimen of Red-fruit Saw-sedge Gahnia sieberiana. You need space in your garden to grow this beauty.

Red-fruit Saw-sedge Close up of fruiting stem (Sue Powell)

A lovely view of Coogoorah Park (Gail Slykhuis)

In the front right- hand corner can be seen Sea Rush, Juncus krausii subsp. australiensis, and Water Ribbons, Cycnogeton procerum. Common Reed, Phragmites australis, is in the background

Philippa Hesterman