Download - Lect 5 flora identification 2013
OEEDU5003 Connecting with Nature
Week fiveFlora identification.
Ecological literacy
• What does it mean to be ecologically literate?
• EL is about knowing and being comfortable in a place?
• What would make you more comfortable in a place?
Flora Identification
Using Costermans’ Trees of Victoria and adjoining areas book
Diagnostic features of plants
• List some diagnostic features used to ID plants
• Leaves, buds, flowers, fruits, barks, shape, height,…
• Observe leaves provided – Identify as many different characteristics as you can
Characteristics ofleaves (Costermans, 1998, p. 46)
• Vein pattern (lateral, lanceolate, ovate, longitudinal veins, oblique)
• Margins – toothed, scalloped, serrated, smooth
• Colour – if 2 surfaces different = discolorous
• Shape & size• Texture – waxiness (glaucous –
bluish-green)• Leaf attachment – opposite or
alternate• Attachment to stem – sessile
(stalkless, no petiole)• Symmetry or oblique• Glands• Smell (lemon-scented, peppermint)
Characteristics (Costermans, 1998, p. 46)
• a. Lateral veins at large angle to midvein (eg, Mahogany, Bloodwood)
• b. Long lanceolate leaf (eg, Manna Gum group)
• C. Ovate leaf, intra-marginal vein distant from margin (eg, Red Box)
Look closely at the leaves
Characteristics (Costermans, 1998, p. 46)
d. Lateral veins at small angle to midvein (eg, narrow-leaved peppermint)
e. Lateral veins tend longitudinal (eg, snow gum)
f. Leaf broad, curved, asymmetrical, oblique (eg, Messmate)
Juvenile leaves (Costermans, 1998, p. 46)
Buds, Flowers & Fruits (Costermans, 1998, p. 48)
Buds (Costermans, 1998, p. 48)
Flowers (Costermans, 1998, p. 48)
Parts of eucalypt fruits (Costermans, 1998, p. 48)
Barks – see pages viii-ix
Wattles – Pods & Seeds
• All wattles form pods• Differences in pods can
be helpful for ID.• The seed attachment
stalk (funicle) is a good diagnostic feature.
• Eg Blackwood, this is red & doubly encircles the seed
• Eg Lightwood, it is white & folded at the seed base
Key Groups of Wattles for ID (Costermans, 1998, p. 131)
• Adult foliage always bipinnate (‘feathery’), p. 132
• Adult foliage as phyllodes (‘simple leaves’), p. 135
• Flowers in cylindrical spikes, p. 135
Key Groups of Wattles for ID (Costermans, 1998, p. 131)
• Flowers in globular heads, p. 138
• Phyllodes one main vein, p. 138
• Phyllodes with more than one main vein, p. 143
Using the Costermans’ Book
• Need to know where your patch of bush is located?
• What vegetation type?
• See pp. 8-9