Smaller Floral Families of the Lane Cove National Park

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The Laughing Kookaburra is one of over hundred species of birds that live in the Park. Other birds in the Park that have their own web-page are -

◊ Australian King-Parrot ◊ Channel-billed Cuckoo (juvenile) ◊ Crimson Rosella

◊ Rainbow Lorikeet ◊ Sulphur-crested Cockatoo ◊ Tawny Frogmouth

Select the thumbnail image to see the full image.

Snake Flower Scaevola ramosissima Small summer flowering climber with distinctive flowers and leaves.	Blue Dampiera Dampiera stricta Tiny blue flowers on a small plant - flowering most of the year, but best in spring. Also see our Blue Dampiera web page.	Velleia lyrata Its lyre shaped bracts provide both its name and its key distinguishing feature. It is an uncommon species.
Variable-leaved Goodenia Goodenia heterophylla Flowering from early spring, its leaves, although variable, are similar. The flower is about 10mm square.	Daisy-leaved Goodenia Goodenia bellidifolia Distinguished from the other members of the Goodenia genus by the lack of leaves on the flower stem.	Ivy Goodenia Goodenia hederacea Also known as the Violet-leaved Goodenia, it is best identified by the flower stem coming from a rosette of leaves. It grows along the ground.

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.

Matchheads Comesperma ericinum A white form of Matchheads. Most commonly appears as mauve as shown on the left.

Broom Milkwort Comesperma sphaerocarpum Also a member of the Comesperma genus, this fragile little plant has no leaves. The "wing-span" of the flower is barely 10mm.

River Rose Bauera rubioides A unique plant - with its pink flowers hanging down and its six leaves radiating from the stem.	River Rose Bauera rubioides Flowering in spring and summer, it prefers sheltered damp embankments. It is also known as the Dog Rose.	River Rose (white variant) Bauera rubioides As the flowers of this plant are similar in size to the pink version (15mm wide), it isn't the much smaller Bauera microphylla whose flowers are less than 8mm wide.
NSW Christmas Bush Ceratopetalum gummiferum Distinguished at any time by its trifoliate jagged leaves, it bursts into colour in summer. Up to 5 metres high, it is a Christmas joy.	NSW Christmas Bush Ceratopetalum gummiferum However, the NSW Christmas Bush produces white flowers. Its sepals turn to red in fruit. Its 25mm diameter flowers are twice that of its sibling (the Coachwood) - see right.	Coachwood Ceratopetalum apetalum Once you can identify it - by its grey bark with white mottles, or its flowers in summer, - you will see this 20 metres tall tree in stands along the creeks of the Park. It was used in early coach making, WWII .303 rifle butts and for the frame of the Mosquito fighter-bomber (an all wood construction!).
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.

Sydney Flannel Flower Actinotus helianthi White drifts on the sandstone ridges in spring. Also see our Flannel Flowers web page.	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.
Heathy Platysace Platysace ericoides A low bush with leggy stems whose leaves are 5mm long, 1mm wide and pointed. The flower heads are at the end of the stems and have both male and female flowers.	Native Parsnip Platysace lanceolata Also known as Scrubby Platysace, the flower head of this summer flowering shrub is about 25mm across.	Carrot Tops Platysace linearifolia Flowering in late summer, Carrot Tops is best identified by the bouquet of tiny (3mm across) flowers at the end of a long and oblique stalk.
Woolly Xanthosia Xanthosia pilosa A small plant with characteristic "woolly" diamond shaped leaves.	Rock Xanthosia Xanthosia tridentata A delightful little plant whose leaves have three tips. The autumn flowers droop and are hidden by the hairy bracts.

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.	Rough-fruit Pittosporum Pittosporum revolutum Its yellow flowers and dull leaves distinguish it from the Sweet Pittosporum (to the left). It is also known as Wild Yellow Jasmine.	White Marianth Rhytidosporum procumbens A small plant whose flowers are only 8mm wide. It is also known as Mary's Flower.
Blackthorn Bursaria spinosa The thorns of this summer flowering tree become branchlets which bear the flowers.	Apple Berry Billardiera scandens Flowering in spring its 20mm flowers become purple edible fruit. This climber is also known as Dumplings.

Heath Micrantheum Micrantheum ericoides A tiny shrub that can be identified by its trifoliate leaves. Its male flowers have three anthers.	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 Sydney's north.	Thyme Spurge Phyllanthus hirtellus This image shows the cream male flower. The Thyme Spurge is supposedly monoecious, but I have yet to find a plant that has both male and female flowers.
Wedding Bush Ricinocarpos pinifolius This spring flowering shrub produces female flowers followed by male flowers. The green ball on the above thumbnail image is the fruit. The flowers are around 15mm wide.	Heath-leaved Poranthera Poranthera ericifolia A small plant to about 30cm high, whose flower-heads are held at the end of long branching stems. Its recurved shiny leaves are about 12-15mm in length.

Ball Everlasting Ozothamnus diosmifolius Also called Rice Flower, Sago Bush and White Dogwood. This spring flowering shrub grows to over 2 metres in height. It is very similar to the Bent Cassinia (Cassinia uncata).

Bridal Daisy Bush Olearia microphylla A show of white 10mm flowers in early spring. Its leaves are tiny.

Stiff Cassinia Cassinia denticulata Identified from other members of the Cassinia genus by its shiny green toothed leaves that are recurved and are white underneath (see larger image). The leaves are typically 10mm long and 4mm wide.

White Root Pratia purpurascens A small plant whose flowers are about 10mm long. Besides its lobelia like flower, it is easily identified by the pale purple undersurface of its older leaves.

Angled Lobelia Lobelia alata Pretty little flowers, barely 5mm wide, appearing singly on leggy stems. The leaves have two opposite bumps (glands?) half way along. See the Angel Sword on our Blue Mountains Wildflowers web page.

Narrow-leaf Logania Logania albiflora Recognised by its sweet smelling white flowers on grey stalks that come from leaf joints.

Varied Mitrewort Mitrasacme polymorpha These flowers are less than 10mm wide. The orange flower bud is shaped like a bishop's hat - which is called a mitre - thus its name.

Austral Clematis Clematis aristata Another stunningly symmetrical flower in close up. This climber is distinguished from the Forest Clematis by its "toothed" leaves and the long appendage on its anthers. It flowers in spring. It is also known as Traveller's Joy.

Forest Clematis Clematis glycinoides var. glycinoides Also known as Headache Vine, it is identified by its smooth edged leaves and the short appendage on its anthers. Flowering in late winter, its 25mm wide flowers appear earlier than the Austral Clematis.

Forest Clematis Clematis glycinoides var. glycinoides The seeds of the Clematis are stunning. This is an image of the Forest Clematis showing the dozen or so achenes (1 seeded fruit) each with a long wispy tail. The SGA website provides good information.

Rusty Pomaderris Pomaderris ferruginea The members of the Pomaderris genus are difficult to distinguish - the leaves and the flower colour provide the vital clues. The dark brown hairy branches assist identify this species.

Tree Pomaderris Pomaderris intermedia The Tree Pomaderris is initially identified by its 10cm long, non-toothed leaves and hairless top surface. From there, its yellow flowers with petals and the tertiary veins on its leaves distinguish it from P. discolor.

Common Sundew Drosera spatulata Its flowers are around 7mm wide. It is also called the Rosy Sundew as its flowers are occasionally pink.	Common Sundew (leaves) Drosera spatulata Best identified by its 15mm long spatula shaped leaves - and thus its botanical name. One of the most common sundews, it is found in eastern Australia, New Zealand and east Asia.
Pale Sundew Drosera peltata A tiny flower, barely 10mm across, adorns this carnivorous plant. Distinguished from Drosera auriculata (Tall Sundew) by its hairy sepals.	Pale Sundew (leaves) Drosera peltata The drops at the ends of its leaves are sticky. The "tentacles" close up over any unwary insect. The entire leaf is 10 mm across; the centre 4mm.

Family Commelinaceae	Family Philesiaceae	Family Bignoniaceae
Scurvy Weed Commelina cyanea Probably because it is similar to "Wandering Jew", this climber is also known as "Creeping Christian". ["Wandering Jew" is an introduced plant (weed), has white flowers, and belongs to this family.]	Wombat Berry Eustrephus latifolius The enlarged image shows the 1cm orange berries of this climbing plant. The Wombat Berry is the only species in the genus.	Wonga Wonga Vine Pandorea pandorana A spring flowering climber, the bell shaped flowers are 20mm long and 10mm wide.
Family Elaeocarpaceae	Family Thymelaeaceae	Family Acanthaceae
Blueberry Ash Elaeocarpus reticulatus Best known for its blueberry like fruit - see large image. The delightful flowers provide another name for the tree - Fairy Petticoats.	Slender Rice Flower Pimelea linifolia Its 3cm wide flowers are glorious in close up. The Royal Botanic Gardens' PlantNET database warns that it is "toxic to stock". Also known as Granny's Bonnet.	Pastel Flower Pseuderanthemum variabile An unmistakable flower - this one had its photo taken from the top, so it is effectively upside-down. The 15mm flowers appear in summer.
Family Vitaceae	Family Ulmaceae	Family Santalaceae
Water Vine Cissus hypoglauca Also known as the native grape, the yellow flowers appear in summer.	Native Peach Trema tomentosa Also known as the Poison Peach and is toxic to stock.	Acid Drops Leptomeria acida Also known as the Native Currant, the 5mm wide green grape like fruit is shown in the enlarged image. The shrub is broom-like.
Family Caryophyllaceae	Family Smilacaceae	Family Sterculiaceae
Forest Starwort Stellaria flaccida This delightful little herb actually has 5 petals not 10 - each petal being deeply split. Its leaves help identify it. One of its siblings is Chickweed (Stellaria media).	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.	Rusty Petals Lasiopetalum ferrugineum var. ferrugineum Stunning flowers in close up - which look like a piece of fruit that has been partially cut into slices. Also known as the Rusty Velvet-bush.
Family Lamiaceae	Family Araliaceae	Family Geraniaceae
Narrow-leaved Hemigenia Hemigenia purpurea A small spring flowering plant that's also known as the Common Hemigenia. Similar to members of the Prostanthera genus but distinguished by its leaves. The flowers are about 10mm "square".	Long-leaf Star-hair Astrotricha longifolia Glorious in close up, each flower is 3mm wide. The erect shrub can be over 2 metres tall. It is a member of the Araliaceae Family which includes the ivy and ginseng.	Northern Cranesbill Geranium homeanum A small flower, in pairs (sibling not shown here). It has a distinctive geranium leaf.
Family Apocynaceae	Family Rubiaceae	Family Convolvulaceae
Scented Marsdenia Marsdenia suaveolens Also called Scented Milk Vine, this summer flowering climber is distinguished by its white flowers - the other species are mainly yellow. [The pink edges on this plant's flowers provides me with some doubt to its identity.]	Pomax Pomax umbellata This is the only species in this genera. The flower arrangement, produced in spring, has 8-12 stalks, each of which has several flowers. The fruit is retained long after flowering.	Australian Bindweed Convolvulus erubescens This spring flowering climber is 15mm wide and is also known as Blushing Bindweed.
Family Stylidiaceae	Family Campanulaceae	Family Tremandraceae
Trigger Plant Stylidium productum The hammer-like trigger is used to shower any insect that lands on the flower with pollen. Distinguished from similar species by its aerial stems. The flower is about 15mm in length.	Australian Bluebell Wahlenbergia gracilis Its tiny flowers (6mm across) distinguish it from its siblings.	Glandular Pink-bell Tetratheca glandulosa This species is classified as "vulnerable", and is best identified by its "hairy" sepals and stem. The species of this genus are referred to as Black-eyed Susans.
Family Xanthorrhoeaceae	Family Violaceae
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.	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.