Lane Cove National Park wildflowers - Pea Flowers, Orchids, Lillies & Irises

Pea Flowers, Orchids, Lillies & Irises of the
Lane Cove National Park

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Pea Flowers, Orchids, Lillies & Irises
Families Fabaceae, Orchidaceae, Liliaceae* & Iridaceae

With over 1,100 species, the Pea Flower family is one of the largest in Australia.

There are about 1,000 species of Orchids in Australia and as many as 35,000 species worldwide - making it the world's largest flower family.

* Most of the Australian species in the Liliaceae Family have recently been reclassified into a dozen or so other botanical families.

The Iris family is represented throughout the world by freesias, gladiolis and irises - and in Australia by the Genus Patersonia.

Pea flowers have five petals.
The standard or banner, two wings, and two petals, usually fused together, referred to as the keel.

An index to the images included below

Pea Flowers

Broad-leaf Wedge Pea
Broom Bossiaea
Common Hovea
Dainty Wedge-pea
Dusky Coral Pea
Fine-leaf Bush Pea
Golden Spray
Graceful Bush-pea
Hairy Bush Pea
Handsome Flat-Pea
Heath Phyllota
Heathy Parrot Pea
Large-leaf Bush Pea
Large Wedge Pea
Leafless Globe-pea
Love Creeper
Pointed Leaf Hovea
Purple Coral Pea
Rough Parrot Pea
Rusty Pods
Spiny Bossiaea
Variable Bossiaea

Orchids

Copper Beard Orchid
Golden Donkey Orchid
Hooded Orchid
Large Duck Orchid
Nodding Greenhood
Pink Fingers
Pixie Orchid
Purplish Beard Orchid
Red Beardie
Sharp Greenhood
Small Waxlip Orchid
Splotched Hyacinth Orchid
Spotted Sun Orchid
Tall Greenhood
Tall Leek Orchid
Tiger Orchid
White Fingers

Lillies

Blue Flax Lily
Milkmaids
Rush Fringe Lily
Pale Grass-lily
Yellow Rush Lily

Irises

Leafy Purple Flag
Silky Purple Flag

Other attractions of the Lane Cove National Park

The Eastern Water Dragon is one of sixteen kinds of snakes and lizards that live in the Park.

Other lizards include the Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko and the Copper-tailed and Eastern Water Skinks.

The Eastern Water Dragon to the right appears a little skinny - this is because it is early October, and she has only recently emerged from hibernation.

[I have assumed it is a "she" as the males are red on their chests - like Spike.]

Eastern Water Dragons are found along the coastal watercourses of Eastern Australia.

To escape a threat, they will plunge into the water. So if you hear a splash while walking near a creek in the Park, it may be an Eastern Water Dragon.

Select the thumbnail image to see the full image.

Pea Flowers - family Fabaceae

Bossiaea genus
Spiny Bossiaea Bossiaea obcordata This pea flower is characterised by its sharp branches (spines), and heart shaped leaves. Flowers in spring.	Broom Bossiaea Bossiaea scolopendria A virtually leafless plant with characteristic flat stems. Similar to B. ensata (see our Blue Mountains peaflowers, but B. scolopendria has reddish wings and the flowers are larger.	Variable Bossiaea Bossiaea heterophylla Flowering in Autumn, this, plus its variable leaves and crimson keel identify it. The leaves vary on the plant and may be ovate or thin, and also vary in size.
Dillwynia genus
Heathy Parrot Pea Dillwynia retorta ssp. retorta Probably the most common peaflower in the Park, and although flowering in winter and spring, there are invariably "spot flowers" throughout the year. Its twisted perpendicular narrow leaves helps identify it. The leaves aren't hard.	Rough Parrot Pea Dillwynia rudis Dillwynias typically have broad standards, and keels that are shorter than the wings. The Rough Parrot Pea (a name not in common use) is identified by its 15mm long rough leaves with the Dillwynian channel on top.
Hovea genus
Common Hovea Hovea linearis Flowering in late winter, this beautiful pea flower is also known as the Erect Hovea or Blue Bonnet. The latter being a delightful name.	Rusty Pods Hovea longifolia While the Common Hovea is a small shrub to 50cm in height, Rusty pods is a small tree and can be over 2 metres high. It also has longer, shinier and darker green leaves.	Pointed Leaf Hovea Hovea acutifolia Distinguished from the Hoveas to the left by its wider leaf, it is also known as the Northern Hovea.
Pultenaea genus - Bush Peas
Graceful Bush-pea Pultenaea flexilis A mass of deep yellow flowers in spring. Its height (up to 4 metres) and flat pointed, occasionally concave, leaves identify it.	Hairy Bush Pea Pultenaea villosa Identified by its green keel and hairy concave leaves. Similar to P. hispidula however P. villosa's leaves if not concolourous (of uniform colour) then the lower surface is darker than the upper surface - vice versa for P. hispidula.	Large-leaf Bush Pea Pultenaea daphnoides A beautiful rosette of flowers - about 30mm across. Its leaves are 30mm in length. Besides its size, it can also be identified by the crimson "keel" under each flower - see flower on the right.
Fine-leaf Bush Pea Pultenaea stipularis A 2 metre high shrub with a crown of golden pea flowers. Identified by its 1 cm long stipules (a small leafy growth at the base of a leaf) - see enlarged image.
Gompholobium genus - Golden Glory Peas
Broad-leaf Wedge Pea Gompholobium latifolium Spring flowers that are 30mm from top to bottom. Distinguished from similar Wedge Peas by the broad flat leaves. Also known as the Golden Glory Pea.	Dainty Wedge Pea Gompholobium glabratum Its 10mm wide flowers have the most beautiful yellow colour. It is identified by its pinnate leaves and warty stems.	Large Wedge Pea Gompholobium grandiflorum Similar to the Broad-leaf Wedge Pea (far left), but has narrower leaves. If anything, despite its name, its flowers are a titch smaller.

Love Creeper Glycine clandestina This widespread climber is found in all eastern states. Its narrow long leaves helps identify it.	Handsome Flat-Pea Platylobium formosum The opposite heart shaped veined leaves identifies this spring flowering pea flower.	Dusky Coral Pea Kennedia rubicunda A robust climber that produces exquisite crimson pea flowers in spring.
Heath Phyllota Phyllota phylicoides Phyllotas can be recognised by their long bracteoles - the leaf-like bract under the flower. Flowering in Spring, its broader bracteoles distinguishes it from the Summer flowering Phyllota grandiflora.	Purple Coral Pea Hardenbergia violacea Flowering in early spring, this magic climber has several cultivars - "Happy Wanderer" being one. Also known as the False Sarsparilla.	Leafless Globe-pea Sphaerolobium minus Differentiated from S. vimineum by its shorter wings that expose its keel, and having only a hint of red on some flowers, and none on most. The flowers are barely 5mm wide and long.
Golden Spray Viminaria juncea It is also known as Native Broom - and this describes it well. This leggy leafless shrub grows to several metres, and is spring flowering. It is the only species in the Viminaria genus.

Orchids - family Orchidaceae - also see our Orchids web page.

Although Orchids vary greatly in form, colour and size,
their flowers are composed of 6 segments. The outer
3 segments are the sepals; and inner three segments
are the petals. The third petal becoming a lip or labellum.

Pink Fingers Caladenia carnea This delightful little orchid has petals that are 12mm long and has red tiger stripes in its labellum. It flowers in early spring.	White Fingers Caladenia catenata This attractive orchid is 25mm wide and flowers in winter and early spring.	Splotched Hyacinth Orchid Dipodium variegatum Summer flowering, its green stem differentiates it from the Hyacinth Orchid - Dipodium punctatum.
Golden Donkey Orchid Diuris aurea Donkey Orchids are easily recognised by their donkey ear-like petals with two leg-like sepals below.	Tiger Orchid Diuris sulphurea This spring flowering Donkey Orchid is 30mm from the top of its petals to the bottom of its sepals. A key in its identification is the lack of a callus on its labellum.	Large Duck Orchid Caleana major Resembling a duck in flight, this small orchid's labellum snaps shut against the column trapping the visiting insect and turning it into a pollinator - see the full image.
Tall Leek Orchid Prasophyllum elatum Also known as the Piano Orchid, this orchid occurs in all other Australian States except the North Territory. It can be identified by its long leaf stem.	Spotted Sun Orchid Thelymitra ixioides var. ixioides Also known as the Blue Sun Orchid, it has dark blue dots on its upper three segments. The flower is 25mm wide, but needs a sunny day to open. It is best identified by the finger like papillae as not all Spotted Sun Orchids have spots as this image shows.	Small Waxlip Orchid Glossodia minor A small orchid that is 20mm wide. The flower stem is leafless - the leaf leaving the stem near the ground.
Nodding Greenhood Pterostylis nutans Flowering in winter, this translucent green orchid stays "drooped". The flower is 20mm long.	Tall Greenhood Pterostylis longifolia Characterised by its long leaves and the multiple flowers on each stem.	Sharp Greenhood Pterostylis acuminata Also known as the Pointed Greenhood after its pointed labellum. It flowers in Autumn with a single flower at the end of each stem - the stem has a rosette of leaves at its base.
Purplish Beard Orchid Calochilus robertsonii Spring flowering, its thick purple beard at the top of the labellum differentiates it from the other Beard Orchids.	Copper Beard Orchid Calochilus campestris Spring flowering, the Copper Beard Orchid is identified by the two blue plates on its labellum.	Red Beardie Calochilus paludosus The lack of "eye-like" glands at the base of the labellum distinguishes this Beard Orchid from its siblings.
Pixie Orchid Acianthus fornicatus A tiny orchid well hidden by is mute colours and shady locations. Also known as Pixie Caps, its basal leaf helps locate and identify it.	Hooded Orchid Cryptostylis erecta This orchid is all labellum. The other petals and the sepals looking more like leaves. It is also known as the Bonnet Orchid and the Tartan Tongue Orchid.

Lillies

Blue Flax Lily Dianella caerulea var. producta The most common Blue Flax Lily in the Park, distinguished from Dianella caerulea var. caerulea by its leaves and flower coming from along the stem.	Milkmaids Burchardia umbellata With a 15mm wingspan, the spring flowering lily has a sweet fragrance.	Milkmaids Burchardia umbellata This image is included due to its beauty.
Yellow Rush-lily Tricoryne simplex A delightful spring flowering lily that's 15-20mm wide. The twisted flower after flowering readily identifies it.	Pale Grass-lily Caesia parviflora Another lily that is stunning in close-up. The distinctive lily-type flower is about 12mm wide and bears three fine purple stripes on each petal.	Rush Fringe Lily Thysanotus juncifolius This species of the easily recognised fringe lily is identified by its lack of basal leaves and the striate stems. It is about 25mm across and only lasts a day.

Irises - family Iridaceae - also see our Native Irises web page.

Leafy Purple Flag Patersonia glabrata
Flowering for barely a day, the 50mm flowers of the Purple Flags can be from light blue to dark purple.

Silky Purple Flag Patersonia sericea
The leaves of the Silky Purple Flag are fan like and come from the ground; while the Leafy Purple Flag's leaves and flower stork are borne on a stem.