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Our July Nature Ramble was to the Dusty Miller Track, well-named, as the Dusty Miller plant, Stylidium parvifolium is wide-spread in the area.

 

dustymillermassedLots of Dusty Miller

Its tiny flowers are surrounded by pale greyish floral leaves, making the plant the look as if a miller has dusted his floury hands over the it: hence its common name.

Close-up of Dusty Miller

Although the ‘Track’ is now used by four-wheeled drive cars, the vegetation is remarkably untouched and weed-free on either side.At the start of the track we were pleased to see Myrtle Wattle, Acacia myrtifolia in flower.

myrtlewattleMyrtle Wattle

A plant quite difficult to see and only a few centimetres high was the Rosy Baeckia, Euryomyrtus ramosissima subsp. prostrata; a delightfully dainty little plant with its pale flowers facing down amongst its fine leaves.

Rosy Baeckia

There were Common Heath, Epacris impressa plants scattered about, mostly bright pink.

Common Heath

One clever member found a single Banded Orchid, Pterostylis sanguinea, just off the edge of the track.

bandedorchidBanded Orchid. Note: The plant with pink buds in the picture is a weed and was removed.

Running Postman, Kennedia prostrata,was just starting to bloom. It’s large red pea flowers are always much admired.

Running Postman

The only large weed we found, and removed, was Coastal Wattle, Acacia longifolia var. longifolia.

coastalwattleCoastal Wattle

There were many sedges and rushes in the area, including the Sandhill Saw-sedge, Lepidosperma concavum.

Sandhill Saw-sedge showing fan shaped plant base

Many species of fungi were still about – this one, growing flat on the ground, was one of the multi-coloured ones.

fungusFungus

We were pleased to see some new members on the ramble and hope they continue to come on our different activities.

Christine Morrissey
Photos by Gail Slykhuis and Ellinor Campbell