Pink Flannel Flower p1010029 image
Smaller Floral Families
of the
Blue Mountains National Park
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Blue Mountains National Park Wildflowers
index

Smaller Families - but certainly not lesser.

This set of wildflowers are "simply" those that belong to smaller floral families.

An index to the images included below.
Andromeda Pomaderris
Angel Sword
Apple Berry
Bitter Cryptandra
Black Sassafras
Black Wattle
Black-eyed Susan
Blue Dampiera
Blunt Sandalwood
Broom Spurge
Carrot Tops
Daisy-leaved Goodenia
Euphrasia bowdeniae
Fairies’ Wings
Fish Bones
Forked Comb Fern
Forked Sundew
Grass Triggerplant
Heath-leaved Poranthera
Hop Goodenia
Lesser Flannel Flower
Matchheads
Mistletoe
Narrow-leaved Triggerplant
Native Parsnip
Native Sarsaparilla
Native Violet
Olax
Old Man’s Beard
Pink Flannel Flower
Purple Dampiera
Purple Eyebright
Rice-flower Pseudanthus
River Rose
Scented Marsdenia
Silky Daisy Bush
Single Bladderwort
Slender Rice Flower
Slender Violet-bush
Small St. John’s Wort
Snake Flower
Spiny-headed Mat-rush
Sweet Pittosporum
Sydney Flannel Flower
Thyme Mitrewort
Thyme Spurge
Triggerplant
Variable-leaved Goodenia
Varied Mitrewort
White Marianth
White Root
White Sour Bush
Woolly Xanthosia

Other attractions of the Blue Mountains National Park

Female Gang Gang Cockatoo p3120525 image Male Gang Gang Cockatoo p3120522 image

The Gang Gang Cockatoo is one of 265 native bird species that live in the Park - refer United Nations Environment Programme.

This is almost a third of Australia's native birds.

The following birds have their own web-page -
Australian King-Parrot
Crimson Rosella
Kookaburra
Rainbow Lorikeet
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Tawny Frogmouth

Images of many of the other birds found in the Park are on our Birds web page. These include -

Australian Magpie
Australian Raven
Australian Wood Duck
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Common Bronzewing
Crested Pigeon
Eastern Spinebill
Eurasian Coot
Galah
Grey Currawong
Grey Shrike-thrush
Magpie-lark
New Holland Honeyeater
Noisy Miner
Pacific Black Duck
Peaceful Dove
Pied Butcherbird
Pied Currawong
Red Wattlebird
Red-browed Finch
Satin Bowerbird
Spotted Pardalote
White-faced Heron
White-throated Treecreeper


Smaller Families

Select the thumbnail image to see the full image.


Family Goodeniaceae
Snake Flower image p3290168
Snake Flower
Scaevola ramosissima
Small summer flowering climber with distinctive flowers and leaves.
Also known as the Purple Fan-flower.
Blue Dampiera image p1010569
Blue Dampiera
Dampiera stricta
Distinctive, mainly due to its colour. Also identified by its diamond shaped leaves. Flowering most of the year, but best in spring.
Also see our Blue Dampiera web page.
Here's an image of a white variant.
Purple Dampiera image pb160370
Purple Dampiera
Dampiera purpurea
Although its flowers are very similar to the Blue Dampiera in shape, their purple colour is a give away.
Its oval leaves are also very different.
Daisy-leaved Goodenia image p1010578
Daisy-leaved Goodenia
Goodenia bellidifolia
Summer flowering, usually with single flowers along the stem with several at the "crown". Flowers are 10mm across.
Variable-leaved Goodenia image p1010578
Variable-leaved Goodenia
Goodenia heterophylla subsp. montana
Flowering from Spring through to Autumn, the subspecies montana is recognised by its hairy revolute leaves.
Here's another image.
Hop Goodenia image pb180183
Hop Goodenia
Goodenia decurrens
Its initial growth is cunningly disguised as a broad-leaf weed, but once in flower it is 5-10cm long and 2cm wide leaves which identifies it.
Here's another image.


Family Apiaceae
Besides Flannel Flowers and Pennyworts, this family includes carrots and celery
and a host of herbs such as parsley, coriander and fennel.
Also see our Flannel Flowers web page.
Pink Flannel Flower image p1010029
Pink Flannel Flower
Actinotus forsythii
Also known as the Ridge Flannel Flower, this endangered flower only appears in the season following bush fires.
The flowers are 20mm in diameter.
Sydney Flannel Flower image p1010074
Sydney Flannel Flower
Actinotus helianthi
Its felt like petals tipped in the softest pale green make this a favourite of many.
The leaves are also a feature of this plant.
The flowers are 50mm in diameter.
Lesser Flannel Flower image pc080309
Lesser Flannel Flower
Actinotus minor
A small plant with flowers up to 12mm across. Like its siblings, it doesn't have petals, the petal-like part are bracts.
It seems to always be in flower.
Carrot Tops image p5090088
Carrot Tops
Platysace linearifolia
Flowering in Autumn, Carrot Tops is best identified by the bouquet of tiny (3mm across) flowers at the end of a long and oblique stalk.
Native Parsnip image p6070158
Native Parsnip
Platysace lanceolata
This is the mountain heath form whose leaves are broad. A variety found in the Lane Cove National Park has lance like leaves.
Woolly Xanthosia image p8050051
Woolly Xanthosia
Xanthosia pilosa
This small plant is recognised by its hairy variable leaves and tiny yellow flowers.
The leaves are sometimes lobed; sometimes diamond shaped; and, of course, sometimes neither. The latter two are shown on the specimen found in the Lane Cove National Park.
It flowers for much of the year, but mainly in Summer.


Family Apocynaceae
Scented Marsdenia image pc020295
Scented Marsdenia
Marsdenia suaveolens
A climbing vine with a an umbel* of white flowers (5mm wide) in summer. The fruit is 5cm in length.
Here's another image.
* - an umbel is an inflorescence in which all flowers or flower stalks arise from one point.
The NSW Flora Online shows three Marsdenia species in the Central Tablelands region.

As far as I can ascertain -
  • M. flavescens has smaller (3mm wide) yellow flowers and its vine stems are thinner and pubescent (covered in short weak hairs).
  • M. rostrata has larger (10mm wide) pale yellow flowers and ovate (oval-ish) leaves and fruit.


Family Cunoniaceae
River Rose image p7280445
River Rose
Bauera rubioides
A unique plant - with its pink flowers hanging down and its six leaves radiating from the stem. It flowers in spring and summer and prefers sheltered damp embankments.
It is also known as the Dog Rose.
Here's another image.
Black Wattle image pb180206
Black Wattle
Callicoma serratifolia
With flowers that resemble some of those of the acacia family, this beautiful tree grows over 10 metres high along watercourses. It flowers in spring.
Here's another image.
This image shows its dramatic new growth.


Family Elaeocarpaceae (formerly Tremandraceae)
Genera Tetratheca - Black-eyed Susans

The NSW Flora Online describes some 14 species that occur in New South Wales. The species are collectively
called Black-eyed Susans, and their similarity to each other provides a real challenge in trying to identify them.
Black-eyed Susan image p9210362
Black-eyed Susan
Tetratheca ericifolia
Identified by its recurved, slightly hairy leaves with tubercles (bumps) on the edges and tapered at the end. The leaf is not that dissimilar to that of Banksia ericifolia (except for the tapering at the end).
Black-eyed Susan image p9210325
Black-eyed Susan
Tetratheca rupicola
Similar to Tetratheca ericifolia but without the hairs and tubercles. Interestingly, its red branchlets are not mentioned in references.


Family Euphorbiaceae
Broom Spurge image pa230251
Broom Spurge
Amperea xiphoclada
A small broom-like shrub with characteristic square-ish branches. The inflorescence is about 5mm across.


Family Phyllanthaceae
Family Phyllanthaceae was formerly part of the Euphorbiaceae family - see NSW Flora Online for more details.
Thyme Spurge image pb160411
Thyme Spurge
Phyllanthus hirtellus
A small shrub whose shiny and hairy leaves are about 6mm long, and are often bent at the tip. The variety that has red male flowers (shown here) only occurs in the Sydney region.
Heath-leaved Poranthera image pa310427
Heath-leaved Poranthera
Poranthera ericifolia
A small plant to about 30cm high. Its recurved shiny leaves are about 12-15mm in length.
The flower-heads are held at the end of long branching stems and contain both male and female flowers.
The female flowers have red styles - only 3 styles, but they are bifid (divided in two).
The male flowers are shown more clearly on the Lane Cove National Park specimen.


Family Picrodendraceae
Family Picrodendraceae was formerly part of the Euphorbiaceae family - see NSW Flora Online for more details.
Rice-flower Pseudanthus image pa100077
Rice-flower Pseudanthus
Pseudanthus pimeleoides
At first glance it looks like a white Dahlia.
(The Dahlia is Mexico's national flower.)
Flowering in Spring, the flower head contains multiple flowers. The name Rice-flower Pseudanthus is not in wide use.


Family Lobeliaceae
White Root image p3290197
White Root
Pratia purpurascens
A delightful little plant with a self explanatory name. The undersides of its leaves are purplish. Its 10mm flowers appear in the warmer months.
Angel Sword image pc210362
Angel Sword
Lobelia dentata
This delicate little flower appears in spring and summer. It can have a vibrant electric blue colour, that I have (as yet) been unable to capture.


Family Loganiaceae
Varied Mitrewort flower bud

There are six species of the Mitrasacme genus (the Mitreworts) in NSW - five of which are probably found in the Blue Mountains National Park.

The orange flower bud is shaped like a bishop's hat - which is called a mitre - thus its name.

Missing from the gallery below are M. alsinoides, M. paludosa and M. pilosa.

Thyme Mitrewort image pc300545
Thyme Mitrewort
Mitrasacme serpyllifolia
The easiest of the Mitrewort siblings to identify - due to its negligible pedicel (stalk).
[The botanical word for this is "sessile".]
Its flowers are 6mm wide; its leaves are 6mm long and 2mm wide.
Varied Mitrewort image pb180169
Varied Mitrewort
Mitrasacme polymorpha
Identified by its multiple flowers, it is also leggier (at 25cm) than its siblings.
It has very hairy branches and leaves.
This image shows the multiple flowers.


Family Lomandraceae
Fish Bones image pb170458
Fish Bones
Lomandra obliqua
The easiest member of the Lomandra genus to identify due to its 'fish bone" like leaves.
It flowers in spring
Spiny-headed Mat-rush image pb010519
Spiny-headed Mat-rush
Lomandra longifolia
Also known as Honey Reed, both its thorns and leaves can inflict pain. Very hardy and flowers in spring.


Family Pittosporaceae
Apple Berry image pa240376
Apple Berry
Billardiera scandens
Flowering in spring, its 20mm flowers become purple edible fruit. This climber is also known as Dumplings.
Sweet Pittosporum image pa170019
Sweet Pittosporum
Pittosporum undulatum
A tree to about 8 metres in height, it has scores of white flowers in spring which progress to orange coloured berries by autumn.
Also see our Sweet Pittosporum web-page.
White Marianth image p9230086
White Marianth
Rhytidosporum procumbens
Also known as Mary's Flower, it is a small plant whose flowers are only 8mm wide.


Family Polygalaceae
Matchheads image pa100135
Matchheads
Comesperma ericinum
A tall leggy shrub over a metre high. Its mauve flowers appear in spring. Also known as Pyramid Flower, Pink Matchheads and Heath Milkwort.
Fairies’ Wings image p1010057
Fairies' Wings
Comesperma defoliatum
Also Known as Leafless Milkwort, C. defoliatum is about half the size of C. sphaerocarpum and they look very similar.
[This image was taken in 2004 when I was not taking supplementary photos that included a rule. I have deduced that the specimen above is not C. sphaerocarpum due to slightly different shaped petals - see the specimen on the LCNP webpage for a comparison.]


Family Rhamnaceae
Andromeda Pomaderris image p9100196
Andromeda Pomaderris
Pomaderris andromedifolia
Pomaderris plants are in bud for months before they bloom, and are also hard to distinguish from each other. I have deduced that the above specimen is Pomaderris andromedifolia, as its flowers are yellow and have petals. Its leaves are 30mm long, 10 mm wide, hairless above, but very felty below.
The name Andromeda Pomaderris is not widely used.
Bitter Cryptandra image p8080036
Bitter Cryptandra
Cryptandra amara var. amara
A tiny plant - its aged-looking branches making it look like a bonsai.
Its spine-like branches help identify it.
Its 3mm long flowers start out white, and then become pink, and eventually are a dusky pink with a "red centre".
Bitter Cryptandra image p6210421
Bitter Cryptandra
Cryptandra amara var. amara
Its leaves are 3mm long and 1 mm wide.

There are three varieties -
amara - shown here
floribunda - doesn't have spiny branches
longiflora - has flowers up to 6mm.


Family Santalaceae
The family includes the Native Cherry (Exocarpos cupressiformis), the Australian Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum)
and Quandong (Santalum acuminatum ). Here's an informative treatment of the Santalum genus.
White Sour Bush image p7300099
White Sour Bush
Choretrum candollei
A blaze of tiny white flowers - barely 2mm wide - in late winter through to summer.
Here's an image of the bush.
Blunt Sandalwood image p1120137
Blunt Sandalwood
Santalum obtusifolium
Identified by its discolourous* and recurved leaves it is the only species of this genus in the Blue Mountains.
The images captured here are between flowering in November and maturing of the fruit in late summer. The flowers are white and the mature fruit is purple. [* discolourous - coloured differently on the two surfaces.]


Family Scrophulariaceae
The NSW NPWS says in its brochure on the Euphrasia bowdeniae, that
"Plants of the genus Euphrasia are rare, probably due to their parasitic nature".
Euphrasia bowdeniae image p9200325
Euphrasia bowdeniae
Euphrasia bowdeniae only grows in the Upper Blue Mountains, and is classed as vulnerable.
It can be distinguished from other members of the genus by its leaves which have one set of "teeth", and its upper leaves are toothless.
Purple Eyebright image p9090001
Purple Eyebright
Euphrasia collina ssp. paludosa
The Purple Eyebright is identified by its 3 pairs of "teeth" on its decussate* leaves.
* pairs of opposite leaves that
are 90o from the next pair.
Purple Eyebright image p9160467
Purple Eyebright
Euphrasia collina ssp. paludosa
Here is a white variant of the "Purple" Eyebright. It was growing with its more colourful siblings.


Family Stylidiaceae
The hammer-like trigger (column) is used to pollinate any insect that lands on the flower.
There are four species in the Stylidium genus that are found in the Upper Blue Mountains.
The one missing from the set below is the Tree Triggerplant (Stylidium laricifolium).
Narrow-leaved Triggerplant image p1090071
Narrow-leaved Triggerplant
Stylidium lineare
The easiest of the triggerplants to identify due to its crowded basal rosette of narrow leaves which are usually about 25mm long and only 1 mm wide.
Here's another image.
Grass Triggerplant image p1090003
Grass Triggerplant
Stylidium graminifolium
Identified by its leggy leaved rosette whose leaves are over 50mm long and up to 250mm, and whose leaves are 5mm wide.
Triggerplant image p1090132
Triggerplant
Stylidium productum
Identified by it sets of leaves along its aerial branches. Younger plants are hard to distinguish from the Grass Triggerplant.
The image shows a flower that has two triggers.


Family Violaceae
The Violet Family - which includes 900 species of violets and pansies worldwide.
Native Violet image p1150296
Native Violet
Viola hederacea
Found in sheltered and damp areas, it is a fairly common groundcover.
Its leaves are variable, and it is best identified by its white and purple flowers - which are 15mm wide.
Here's another image.
Slender Violet-bush image pb260334
Slender Violet-bush
Hybanthus monopetalus
The genus is called Spade Flowers.
This species is also known as Lady's Slipper, and its multiple flowers on each stem, distinguishes it from H. vernonii.


Other families
Mistletoe image p8290207
Mistletoe
Amyema pendulum
Clinging to its Eucalyptus host, with its pendulous Eucalyptus like leaves.
Forked Comb Fern image p6240135
Forked Comb Fern
Schizaea bifida
The fronds of this unusual fern appear in winter and are 15mm wide.
Native Sarsaparilla image pc290433
Native Sarsaparilla
Smilax glyciphylla
Also known as Sweet Sarsaparilla, this climber is identified by the three veins on its leaves. Its tiny flowers become black berries that are about 7mm across.
Slender Rice Flower image p8240485
Slender Rice Flower
Pimelea linifolia ssp. linoides
Its 3cm wide flowers are glorious in close up.
The linoides subspecies is a leggy plant and can be well over two 2 metres in height - and this can help identify it.
The plant shown here was found on the Prince Henry Cliff Walk near Gordon Falls, Leura.
It is also known as Granny's Bonnet.
Olax image p7290496
Olax
Olax stricta
This easily identified plant is a uniform dull light green in colour. Its leaves are in two rows on opposite sides of the branch. Its small flowers are about 5mm across.
Silky Daisy Bush pb160374
Silky Daisy Bush
Olearia erubescens
The shiny prickly leaves helps identify this species, as does the redness underneath the leaves. The newer leaves are dark red.
Here's another image.
Forked Sundew image pb160339
Forked Sundew
Drosera binata
A member of the Droseraceae family that includes the Venus Fly Trap, the Forked Sundew has 2, 4 or 8 "branches" that have glandular hairs that trap insects.
It bears white 10mm wide flowers in summer - whose long stems could be mistaken for belonging to another plant.
Black Sassafras image p7270281
Black Sassafras
Atherosperma moschatum
Also known as the Southern Sassafras, this winter flowering tree is found near water in sheltered gullies.
It is the only species in this genus.
Here's another image.
Single Bladderwort image p1120156
Single Bladderwort
Utricularia uniflora
Bladderworts are carnivorous plants that take in and digest small organisms through their leaves.
This species flower is 14mm wide and 9 mm deep.
U. dichotoma is similar but has two flowers.
Small St. John’s Wort image p2040011
Small St. John's Wort
Hypericum Gramineum
A sibling of the herb St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum).
The flowers are about 1cm across and the leaves near the flowers are appressed.
Old Man’s Beard image p4180204
Old Man’s Beard
Caustis flexuosa
Easily recognised, Old Man's Beard is also known as Curly Wig.