(click images to enlarge)
Blue Mountains Wildflowers
Acacias & Myrtles
Members of the Mimosoideae subfamily and Myrtaceae family
(wattles, eucalypts and tea-trees).
Acacias (family Fabaceae; subfamily Mimosoideae)
Sunshine Wattle Acacia terminalis subsp.
aurea
There are an estimated 900 species of the Acacia genus in Australia. And this includes the
Australian Floral Emblem, the Golden Wattle (
Acacia pycnantha) - which is not indigenous to the Blue Mountains.
The greater Blue Mountains has over 100 Acacia species.
Although the Acacia genus is by far the largest genus in the Mimosoideae subfamily, PlantNET lists a further nine genera in NSW. Of these only the introduced Crested Wattle (Paraserianthes lophantha subsp. lophantha) is found in the Blue Mountains.
Myrtles (family Myrtaceae)
Blue Mountains Ash (
Eucalyptus oreades)
There's over 180 species of the Myrtaceae family in the Blue Mountains.
The most prolific genus is the eucalypt or gum tree which has around 100 species. The number of eucalypts commonly includes the Angophora, Corymbia and Eucalyptus genera. Ian Brown's Eucalypts of the Greater Blue Mountains provides an excellent overview.
Next is the Leptospermum genus (Tea-trees) with over 20 species.
In 2000 the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (GBMWHA) was inscribed on the World Heritage list due to its biodiversity - especially its number of eucalypt species.
You will find more information about the GBMWHA here.
Eucalypts have the distinction of giving the Blue Mountains its colour and therefore its name. The blue hue of distant hills is caused by fine droplets of eucalyptus oil in the air.
Note: I find taking photos and identifying eucalypts challenging as I don't have a cherry-picker to get close to their flowers and gumnuts.
Our Acacia Showcase
* Introduced species (weed)
Sunshine Wattle
Acacia terminalissubsp.
aurea
Although flowering for all except the summer months, it's in winter when it's at its best - bringing brilliant splashes of yellow to the bush.
This is the main subspecies found in the upper Blue Mountains.
Here's another
image.
Sunshine Wattle
Acacia terminalissubsp.
angustifolia
Its pale yellow flowers distinguishes it from
A. terminalis subsp.
aurea.
Here's an
image showing its leaves.
Here's another
image.
NB. The Sunshine Wattle subspecies have been given temporary names while they are reviewed. I have retained the previous name for the present.
- A. terminalis subsp. aurea ➡ A. terminalis subsp. Bright yellow flower (M.Tindale NSW248078)
- A. terminalis subsp. angustifolia ➡ A. terminalis subsp. Glabrous form (M.Hancock 94)
Swamp Wattle
Acacia elongata
Its bright yellow flowers and and long leaves with three longitudinal veins helps identify it.
It flowers from late winter into spring.
Here's another
image.
Sweet Wattle
Acacia suaveolens
Its sweet fragrance quickly identifies it when in flower.
Its strong red tinged
leaves with a mucro at the end also announces it.
Here's another
image.
Acacia ptychoclada
The terete (long and cylindrical) sparsely hairy leaves with a mucro identifies this acacia, coupled with the white and red hairs on its
peduncle (flower stalk).
It flowers in summer and autumn, and is found in swamps and next to watercourses in the Mid to Upper Blue Mountains.
Lunate-leaved Acacia
Acacia lunata
Brilliant yellow flowers in spring, this wattle is identified by the 3-5 flowers in each globe, and the
vein in its dull green leaves being off-centre.
Sydney Golden Wattle
Acacia longifolia
This spring flowering wattle is identified by two dominant
veins in its long leaves (up to 20cm), and two or three less conspicuous ones.
Blackwood
Acacia melanoxylon
A medium size tree - growing to 30 metres, it is identified by the 3-5 or more longitudinal veins on its
leaves.
Hedgehog Wattle
Acacia echinula
By far the most prickly of similar species, this, and its brighter flowers and more pungent pointed leaves identify it.
Its phyllodes can be terete (cylindrical) or 4-angled as shown
here.
It flowers from winter into spring.
Ploughshare Wattle
Acacia gunnii
The smaller triangular leaves (around 5mm) help identify this little wattle.
It flowers from winter into spring.
Spike Wattle
Acacia oxycedrus
A small tree, with very sharp broad leaves. Stunning when in flower in early spring.
This
image shows its opening buds and leaves.
Kangaroo Thorn
Acacia paradoxa
Also called Hedge Wattle and was previously A. armata. Its thorns and leaves readily identify it.
This plant was found in Wollemi National Park.
Myrtle Wattle
Acacia myrtifolia
Flowering in late winter, it is identified by its broad red edged leaves. It is also known as the Red-stemmed Wattle.
This
image shows its opening buds and red stem.
Acacia asparagoides
This small prickly plant is identified by its very short peduncles (stalks). It is an uncommon species and is only found in the Upper and mid Blue Mountains.
Its flowers are 10mm across and phyllodes (leaves) up to 15mm in length.
Here's
another image and
another.
Crested Wattle
Paraserianthes lophanthasubsp.
lophantha
Introduced species (weed)
A native of Western Australia, the Crested Wattle is a tree to 8m in height.
Its
leaves disguise it as a local native wattle, but its true identify is revealed when in
flower.
Gordon's Wattle
Acacia gordonii
This endangered species is recognised by its bright yellow globular flowers. Its bunched
leaves are different to
Acacia echinula, and its longer
peduncles (stalks) distinguishes it from
Acacia baueri.
It is mainly found in the lower Blue Mountains.
Here's
another image.
Rush-leaved Wattle
Acacia junifolia
Its long slender "reaching for the sky"
leaves and dark yellow
flowers highlight this acacia.
An often prominent longitudinal vein on its hairless
leaves helps identify it.
Three-veined Wattle
Acacia trinervata
The three veins on its pungent pointed
leaves identifies it.
It is mainly found in the lower Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury/Colo region.
Here's another
image.
Cedar Wattle
Acacia elata
The Cedar Wattle is a tall
tree with dark brown rough bark.
The first set of its distinctive pinnate
leaves are smaller than the rest.
It has a
gland half way along its leaf stalk. This gland is known as a nectary and its nectar attracts pollinators.
Our Myrtle Showcase
Eucalyptus genus
Silver-top Ash
Eucalyptus sieberi
Identified by its red branchlets and the veins of its leaves, this spring flowering eucalypt also has a purple ring around the edge of each flower.
Here's an image of its
gum nuts.
Blue Mountains Ash
Eucalyptus oreades
Magnificent! Its tall white trunk identifies it - together with the strips of bark around its base.
A photo can't capture its grandeur.
Here's an
image showing its base.
Leptospermum genus
Woolly Tea-tree
Leptospermum lanigerum
Very similar description to
L. grandifolium. However, I believe the specimen shown here is
L. lanigerum due to its very
silky sepals and shorter leaves - many less than 10mm.
Pink Tea-tree
Leptospermum squarrosum
Similar in description to several species, but its larger flowers (up to 20mm) differentiates it.
It also flowers in Autumn, which helps identify it. But to confuse matters, it also flowers in Spring.
Tantoon
Leptospermum polygalifolium
Also known as the Lemon-scented Tea-tree due to the lemony fragrance of its crushed leaves.
Oil dots can be readily seen on its leaves.
It produces a mass of flowers in early summer.
Paperbark Tea-tree
Leptospermum trinervium
Characterised by its paperbark
bark, it's a small tree that flowers in late spring/early summer.
The flowers are 10-15mm across.
Here's another
image that shows its pubescent (soft covering of soft weak hairs) new growth - both branches and leaves.
Prickly Tea-tree
Leptospermum juniperinum
This shrub is identified by its prickly leaves - its
new growth is not prickly and has long appressed hairs.
The leaves and flowers are held very tightly to the branches - as this
image shows.
The 10mm flowers appear in late spring.
Spider Tea-tree
Leptospermum arachnoides
Being prickly it can be confused with
L. juniperinum, however there are several marked distinctions -
◊ it has rough
bark;
◊ leaves are occasionally twisted;
◊ each
flower is at the end of a branchlet, and has a rosette of leaves.
Small Leaf Tea-tree
Leptospermum parvifolium
A small variety of tea-tree (up to 2m high) whose leaves are less than 1cm long and whose petals are barely 5mm.
other species in the Myrtaceae family
Common Fringe-myrtle
Calytrix tetragona
The thread coming from the tip of each of the five sepals is known as an awn. The petals are about 5mm in length.
This is the only Calytrix species found in the greater Blue Mountains and its form can vary.
Darwinia taxifolia
Darwinia taxifolia
The two patches of Darwinia taxifolia I have found in the upper Blue Mountains, are on the most exposed terrain possible.
This hardy plant flowers in winter and spring.
Pink Buttons
Kunzea capitata
Kunzeas are distinguished from Tea Trees by the
long style coming from the centre of the flower.
K. capitata is differentiated from
K. parvifolia by its longer leaves - 4-9mm versus 1-4mm.
Here's a
white form.
Weeping Baeckea
Baeckea linifolia
The 5mm wide flowers appear in summer.
The shrub is up to 2 metres high and its weeping form distinguishes it.
Here's another
image.
Tick Bush
Kunzea ambigua
Five Kunzea species are found in the Blue Mountains. The Tick Bush's white flowers along its branches, and short leaf stalk help identify it.
Here's another
image.
Turpentine
Syncarpia glomulifera
Looks like a eucalypt except for its distinctive
leaves.
Turpentine piles were used in the wharves of Sydney and London.
Here's another
image.
Heath Myrtle
Baeckea imbricata
Its 3-5mm circular leaves and 5-7 stamens distinguish it from
B. brevifolia which has narrower leaves and 10+ stamens.
Here's another
image.
Crimson Bottlebrush
Callistemon citrinus
While many bottlebrush species in the Blue Mountains are a creamy colour, the brilliant red of this species makes it a stand-out. Its crushed leaves have a lemony fragrance.
Megalong Valley Bottlebrush
Callistemon megalongensis
This endangered species is only found in the Megalong Valley. Its pink colour helps identify it.
Here's another
image.
Water Gum
Tristania neriifolia
The 15mm wide bright yellow flowers and dark green lance shaped leaves helps identify the Water Gum.
The
underneath of the leaves is much lighter. The Water Gum grows along side streams.
Here's another
image.
Rosy Baeckea
Euryomyrtus ramosissima subsp.
ramosissima
This small plant was formerly
Baeckea ramosissima, its white to deep pink round petals are 4mm across.
Its long flower
stalk helps identify it.
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