(click images to see larger ones)
Blue Mountains Wildflowers
Banksias & Grevilleas
and other members of the Proteaceae family
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.
Index to our collection -
Banksias
- also see our Banksias web page.
There are ten Banksia species in the Blue Mountains - here's nine of them.
The tenth, the Hill Banksia (Banksia collina), if it occurs, currently eludes me.
Banksia hooked styles
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.
Heath Banksia
Banksia ericifolia
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.
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.
Hairpin Banksia
Banksia spinulosa
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.
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.
Banksia cunninghamii
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.
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.
Swamp Banksia
Banksia paludosa
subsp. paludosa
A small shrub to 2m, its whorls of leaves and leaves themselves help identify it.
White Mountain Banksia
Banksia integrifolia
subsp. monticola
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.
Its whorls of leaves, leaves themselves and small light yellow cone help identify it.
White Mountain Banksias regrow after fire. Here's another image.
Styles not hooked; leaves scattered along stems.
Silver Banksia
Banksia marginata
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.
Here's another image and another.
Silver Banksias don't regrow after fire; they depend on seedlings.
See our Silver Banksia webpage.
Old Man Banksia
Banksia serrata
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.
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.
Fern-leaved Banksia
Banksia oblongifolia
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.
It's a 2-3m high scrub.
Its bluish perianth also identifies it.
See our Fern-leaved Banksia webpage.
Grevilleas
- also see our Spider Flowers web page.
Bog Grevillea
Grevillea acanthifolia
subsp. acanthifolia
This distinctive toothed grevillea with its red branches, flowers in swamps in spring.
Here's another image.
Here's another image.
[Note: The name "Bog Grevillea" is not widely used.]
Laurel-leaf Grevillea
Grevillea laurifolia
This stunning crimson ground-cover has a natural occurring hybrid with Grevillea acanthifolia (see left) that is known as Grevillea x
gaudichaudii.
Pink Spider Flower
Grevillea sericea
This delightful scrub (to 2 metres) produces vibrant pink flowers in spring.
Also see our Spider Flowers web page.
Also see our Spider Flowers web page.
Grey Spider Flower
Grevillea phylicoides
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.
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.
Juniper Grevillea
Grevillea juniperina
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.
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.
Green Spider Flower
Grevillea mucronulata
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.
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.
Grevillea aspleniifolia
Its toothbrush-like flower and jagged leaves identifies it. This plant was found in the Kedumba Valley.
Woolly Grevillea
Grevillea lanigera
Its name identifies it - woolly leaves and style. It flowers in spring.
Evans Grevillea
Grevillea evansiana
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.
It is identified by its "felty" leaves and crimson flowers.
This plant was found in Wollemi National Park. Here's another image.
Geebungs
- the Persoonia genus
There are 49 species in NSW of which 16 are 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 by an amateur botanist (namely me) is not certain.
The word Geebung has been long immortalised in Banjo Paterson's poem The Geebung Polo Club.
Narrow-leaved Geebung
Persoonia linearis
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.
Here's another image.
Mountain Geebung
Persoonia chamaepitys
This is a prostrate geebung. Its light green pine-like leaves identifies it.
Persoonia recedens
Its 20mm long flat leaves, that are up to 4mm wide, helps to identify it.
It is a threatened species, and is mainly found in the upper Blue Mountains.
It is a threatened species, and is mainly found in the upper Blue Mountains.
Soft Geebung
Persoonia mollis subsp. mollis
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.
There are nine subspecies - but this is the one most frequently found in the upper Blue Mountains.
Here's a close-up image.
Mossy Geebung
Persoonia acerosa
This is a
threatened species and is classed as vulnerable.
It can be identified by the channel on the upper surface of its leaves - which are around 15mm in length.
[I noticed that one of the flowers in the above image has unfurled into 5 parts.]
[I thought that this may have been P. hindii, but the helpful folk at the Royal Botanic Gardens have confirmed it as P. acerosa.]
It can be identified by the channel on the upper surface of its leaves - which are around 15mm in length.
[I noticed that one of the flowers in the above image has unfurled into 5 parts.]
[I thought that this may have been P. hindii, but the helpful folk at the Royal Botanic Gardens have confirmed it as P. acerosa.]
Lance Leaf Geebung
Persoonia lanceolata
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.
The pedicel (flower stalk) is 3mm long and the unfurled tepal (outer surface of flower) is 11mm long.
Here's another image.
Laurel-leaf Geebung
Persoonia laurina subsp. laurina
Identified by the rusty brown hairs on the outer layer of its flowers (the tepals).
There are three subspecies. Subsp. laurina has smooth leaves.
There are three subspecies. Subsp. laurina has smooth leaves.
Needle Geebung
Persoonia acerosa
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.
Here's another image.
Hakeas
There are about 150 species of Hakea - all endemic to Australia.
Their distinctive woody fruit (seed capsule) distinguishes them from other genera.
The fruit of the Hakea does not open until the branch supporting it dies.
Dagger Hakea
Hakea teretifolia
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.
Also called Needlebush.
Hakea pachyphylla
Only found in the upper Blue Mountains, Hakea pachyphylla is distinguished from H. propinqua by its yellow flowers, later flowering (spring) and smoother
fruit.
Finger Hakea
Hakea dactyloides
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.
Also called the Broad-leaved Hakea.
Similar to Hakea laevipes.
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.
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
- also see our
Drumsticks & Conesticks web page.
Broad-leaf Drumsticks
Isopogon anemonifolius
The Drumstick's leaves become red in the cooler months, giving each flower a sensational red and green surround.
Conesticks
Petrophile pulchella
Although looking needle like, its leaf are soft. Its cones are more oval than the Drumstick.
Stalked Conesticks
Petrophile pedunculata
Where the leaves of the Conesticks generally all point upwards, the leaves of the Stalked Conesticks point every which way.
Other genera of the Proteaceae family.
NSW Waratah
Telopea speciosissima
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.
The crimson flowers appear in spring and are 15cm in diameter. Truly magnificent.
Also see our NSW Waratah web page.
Mountain Devil
Lambertia formosa
Spot flowering throughout the year, but especially in the warmer months, its red flowers can be easily seen.
Also see our Mountain Devil web page.
Also see our Mountain Devil web page.
Mountain Symphionema
Symphionema montanum
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.
S. montanum has flatter leaves than S. paludosum and has a distinct mid-vein.
The name "Mountain Symphionema" is not widely used.
Variable Smoke-bush
Conospermum taxifolium
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.
C. taxifolium is distinguished from C. ericifolium by its wider leaves - > 1mm.
Sprawling Smoke-bush
Conospermum tenuifolium
The long stems emerge from, what looks like, a patch of long grass. The flowers are a lilac colour and appear in spring.
Crinkle Bush
Lomatia silaifolia
This small shrub is recognised through the year by its unique
leaves, and then in summer by its spikes of white flowers.
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