A group of Angair members went to Coogoorah Park on 15th December for a Nature Ramble.
Coogoorah Park is an area beside the Anglesea River, full of peat. During the 1983 bush fires, the peat caught on fire and could not be extinguished. It was decided to flood the area to put out the fire, and to make it into a recreational area. Today, there is a playground, a sunken ship, and great opportunities to kayak and canoe along the waterways. Angair members and others enjoy the flora as well.
Along the path, we saw Clematis microphylla Small-leaved Clematis covered in fluffy white seeds – obviously the female plant. It was climbing over a small shrub.
Coogoorah Park is a wonderful place to see Cassinias and Tree Everlastings and compare the two.
Cassinia aculeata Common Cassinia has fine, feathery foliage, and a head of tiny flowers which do not open fully.
Ozothamnus ferrugineus Tree Everlasting has broader leaves with a waxy coating on the surface which can be scraped with your fingernail. Its head of tiny flowers open to show their centres.
The bush was very attractive with these two white shrubs flowering everywhere.
Clumps of Lomandra longifolia Spiny-headed Mat-rush were still in flower with the spiny floral bracts exceeding the flower cluster.
While other clumps were at the fruiting stage
Gahnia filum Chaffy Saw-sedge was looking very sculptural on the riverbank.
Indigofera australis Austral Indigo had finished flowering but still looked attractive with its dangling seed pods.
Along the water’s edge, the fan-shaped flower of Selliera radicans Shiny Swamp-mat was peeping through its glossy, succulent-like leaves.
Triglochin procera Water Ribbons, was also in flower in the water.
As we walked away we were farewelled by a number of cormorants silhouetted against the sky – a pleasant ending to a pleasant ramble.
Chris Morrissey