Porcupine Grass (Triodia scariosa- formerly irritans)
Triodia scariosa (Porcupine Grass)
A plant that I admire but treat with great caution is Spinifex, Triodia scariosa (used to be called Triodia irritans). Just getting the photos was a hazard. Backing into one of these is a painful experience. It is the dome shape that I like and when in flower it is attractive. Even these with the seed heads were good to look at.
Triodia scariosa (Porcupine Grass)
They are amazing plants. Bush creatures find them a welcome refuge. Even Brer Rabbit would not have wanted Brer Fox to throw him into these. We saw a small spiny dragon lizard scuttle into one as we drove along the track at Lowan Conservation park. As the plants become older, the centre dies out and we have seen kangaroos resting in the middle of large clumps of spinifex.
I just checked one of my reference books. It appears that I should be calling this Porcupine Grass, as the coastal plant is Spinifex sericeus.
Eucalyptus socialis (Red Mallee)
6 Comments »5th November, 2006; Category: Conservation of Plants, Drought Tolerant Plants, Eucalypts, Plants of South Australia, Trees
Eucalyptus socialis (Red Mallee)
Most of the Eucalypts at Lowan Conservation Park are the mallee, Eucalyptus socialis. I found a good specimen to photograph. I wanted to gather an album of local Eucalypts.
The mallees are great survivors. When top branches are chopped down, or blown down, or burnt by bush fires, they shoot again from buds in the stump, called a lignotuber. The trees can look dead and be covered in new shoots within weeks.
More Banksias
There were a number of Banksias in flower at the arboretum including Banksia ashbyi mentioned the other day. This photo is much better.
All the plantings are on deep sand. The soil seems to hold moisture quite well despite being in a low rainfall area.
Banksia ashbyi
Banksia hookerana (Acorn Banksia)
We took a day off today to check out the birds and plants at the Arboretum. We took a picnic lunch and thermos and found a spot near the Banksias which were in flower, to have lunch. Actually there were a lot of plants in flower so hopefully I have some good photos to down load.
Banksia hookerana was one that was covered in flowers, some still to open fully. It is a medium shrub 2-3m high. It is frost and drought tolerant and would make a good low windbreak plant. I think it would be a good cut flower also.
Banksia hookerana
Banksia ashbyi (Ashby’s Banksia)
I walked around the grounds of the campsite mentioned in the previous post, taking photos of plants in flower. A few years ago a small sheltered horseshoe shaped area of retreat was created with a large rockery forming the boundary. I found Banksia ashbyi flowering and looking surprisingly good, although I know this as one of the hardier Banksias.
Banksia ashbyi (Ashby's Banksia)
This is a medium to tall shrub, 2-6m high and 2-4m wide. Leaves are 15-50cm long, with a deep saw toothed edge. The flower heads are bright orange. It needs very well drained soil in a warm climate. It is drought tolerant and frost hardy once established. This Banksia is one of those grown for the cut flower trade.