We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which these plants grow - the Darug and Gundungurra people - and pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Mountain Devil
Family Proteaceae
Although the Family Proteaceae is "only" the fifth largest of the Australia flora in terms of the number of species, it boasts some of the most popular and well known - including the Waratah and Old Man Banksia.
The Grevillea genus, with over 350 species, is the third largest genus - after Acacia and Eucalyptus.
Many of the species below are very prolific in the Blue Mountains.
There are ten Banksia species in the Blue Mountains - here's nine of them.
The tenth, the Hill Banksia (Banksia collina) currently eludes me.
Banksia hooked styles
Banksias vary within a species and hybrids can occur.
The first lesson is to disregard juvenile leaves - as they can be vastly different to the mature leaves used to identify plants - as this image of the seedlings of a Heath Banksia shows.
To assist in identification, the Banksias below are grouped into key identifiers.
Styles hooked.
The leaves distinguish these three from each other. The leaves of the missing Hill Banksia (Banksia collina) are toothed for most of their length, and lateral veins are evident underneath.
A tall dense shrub to small tree; it has orange candle like cones in Autumn.
Its 10-15mm long rosemary like leaves identify it.
Heath Banksias don't regrow after fire; they depend on seedlings.
Also see our Heath Banksia web page.
A small multi-stemmed shrub usually less than 2 metres in height. The multiple stems are due to regrowth after fire.
Its recurved 2mm wide leaves identify it. The leaves tend to be clustered at the end of branches and point upwards like fingers on a hand.
Here's another image and another.
Until recently it was known as Banksia spinulosa var. cunninghamii.
A single stemmed tree up to 6m in height. Its 5mm wide leaves radiate from its branches, and are reasonably flat and are
toothed towards the end.
Banksia cunninghamii doesn't regrow after fire; they depend on seedlings.
Styles not hooked; leaves in regular whorls.
Straightish styles and leaves in regular whorls distinguish these three from other Blue Mountains banksias. The three species are uncommon.
The leaves of the Swamp Banksia and Newnes Plateau Banksia help to distinguish them from each other. Note the difference in the number of teeth, lateral veins, how the leaves taper and the hairs.
It is appropriate to mention that the Coast Banksia (Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia) does not occur naturally in the Blue Mountains - but has been introduced. There's a few at Echo Point (Katoomba) and some magnificent mature trees at Bullaburra Station.
A tall leggy tree to 25m that grows in forests on soils derived from igneous rocks - such as at Mt. Wilson.
Its whorls of leaves, leaves themselves and small light yellow cone help identify it.
White Mountain Banksias regrow after fire. Here's another image.
A large shrub to 4m in height, its whorls of leaves and leaves themselves help identify it.
Here's a great image of its cone.
Here's another image and another.
Newnes Plateau Banksias don't regrow after fire; they depend on seedlings.
It gets its name from the underside of its leaves which are white and shine in the sun.
Here's another image and another.
Silver Banksias don't regrow after fire; they depend on seedlings.
See our Silver Banksia webpage.
My favourite plant.
Its distinctive cream cones in late summer with serrated leaves - all growing on a wonderfully gnarled tree identifies it.
Here he is covered in dew.
Old Man Banksias regrow after fire and also have seedlings.
See our Old Man Banksia webpage.
Once you see its straight styles and scattered leaves, the rusty hairy under surface of its 7cm long leaves and branchlets nails it.
It's a 2-3m high scrub.
Its bluish perianth also identifies it.
See our Fern-leaved Banksia webpage.
Distinguished from the other Grey Spider Flowers (G. buxifolia) by its narrower and very hairy leaves, and at 20mm wide its flowers are half the size.
It also lacks the little appendage at the end of its legs (styles). The foot-like pads at the end of the style are greeny-grey, where the (G. buxifolia)'s are a reddy-brown grey.
Here's another image.
Also called the Spiky Red Spider Flower. There are seven identified subspecies; the one shown here is most probably ssp. trinervis -
identified by its Blue Mountains location, its red colour and the width of its leaves - > 1mm.
Suspended on a stalk and looking much like a spider hanging by its silk thread, it is easy to see where this delightful wildflower gets its name.
The flower is around 60mm across.
The oval concave
leaves are 15mm long and 10mm wide and are hairy underneath.
The botanical name comes from the
mucro (leaf tip).
Here's another image and another.
Classed as vulnerable, it is only found in an area east of Rylstone.
It is identified by its "felty" leaves and crimson flowers.
This plant was found in Wollemi National Park.
Here's another image.
Yet another stunning member of the Proteaceae family.
Previously a subspecies of G. speciosa, its leaves are longer - > 4cm.
Here's another image and another.
Geebungs
- the Persoonia genus
There are about 100 species of Geebung - all endemic to Australia.
There are some 20 species in the Blue Mountains.
Their distinctive bright yellow flowers in summer and fruit (drupes) distinguishes them from any other genus.
They are known to hybridize, so identifying a species is not always straight forward.
One of the more easily identified Geebungs - as its broad leaves and flaky
bark are the keys.
Here's an image of its new growth.
Here's another image of its flowers.
The other Geebung with
flaky bark is the Narrow-leaved Geebung. Its leaves are very long (up to 80mm) and are usually just 2mm wide.
Here's another image.
Its very hairy leaves, branches and tepals (outer covering of the
flower) are the first thing you notice about this attractive plant.
There are nine subspecies - but this is the one most frequently found in the upper Blue Mountains.
Here's a close-up
image.
The leaves on this geebung tree are 65-70mm long, 15mm wide and are concolourous (same colour on both sides).
The pedicel (flower stalk) is 3mm long and the unfurled tepal (outer surface of flower) is 11mm long.
Here's another
image.
This Geebung is classified as "vulnerable". It is identified by its needle like leaves which are "subterete" (cylinder-like) and have a channel on them.
Here's another
image.
Hakeas
There are about 150 species of Hakea - all endemic to Australia - with about 10 in the Blue Mountains.
Their distinctive woody fruit (seed capsule) distinguishes them from other genera. The fruit does not open until the branch supporting it dies.
Arguably the most prickly customer in the bush. Its leaves are hard and sharp. It's named after its distinctively shaped fruit. It has white flowers in summer.
Also called Needlebush.
Only found in the upper Blue Mountains, Hakea pachyphylla is distinguished from H. propinqua by its yellow flowers, later flowering (spring) and smoother
fruit.
Flowering in spring, it is identified by its flat leaves that have three veins, its
fruit with its small beak, and glabrous (hairless) branchlets.
Also called the Broad-leaved Hakea.
Similar to Hakea laevipes.
Although having leaves with three veins, it is distinguished from the Finger Hakea by its conspicuous secondary veins, its beakless
fruit, and pubescent (hairy) branchlets.
It also flowers later than the Finger Hakea.
Being lignotuberous means that it may have multiple branches as the result of a bushfire.
Drumsticks & Conesticks - the Isopogon and Petrophile genera
- also see our Drumsticks & Conesticks web page.
There are 35 species of the Isopogon genus - all endemic to Australia. 7 are in NSW with 5 in the Blue Mountains.
There are 63 species of the Petrophile genus - all endemic to Australia. 4 are in NSW and the Blue Mountains.
The Conospermum flower identifies the genus - it has a three pronged bottom lip.
C. taxifolium is distinguished from C. ericifolium by its wider leaves - > 1mm.
Recognised by its long strapping leaves which are up to 25cm in length.
Here's a close-up of its
flowers.
This subspecies is mainly found in the Blue Mountains.
Other genera of the Proteaceae family
saving the best until last!?
There are 6 other genera in the Blue Mountains with 8 species in total.
The floral emblem of New South Wales. The crimson flowers appear in spring and are 15cm in diameter. Truly magnificent.
Also see our NSW Waratah web page.
There are only two species in this genera - both endemic to NSW. It is identified by its "ternate"
leaves (leaves divided into 3).
S. montanum has flatter leaves than S. paludosum and has a distinct mid-vein.
The name "Mountain Symphionema" is not widely used.
Easily recognised by its "fruit", the leaves are similar to the Waratah except the Woody Pear's are opposite on the stem.
Here's more images showing the flowers at various stages (different plants).
image 1 -
image 2 -
image 3