WildflowersWildflowersWildflowersWildflowers WildflowersWildflowersIndigenous Plants Geelong Landcare Network

This guide will assist in identifying some of the more common species of over a thousand indigenous plants found in the Moorabool River Catchment. Photos show plants in flower and colours may vary. Photos are not to scale. Measurements are average heights.

WHAT CAN I DO?Plant local species, rather than exotics (eg cypress) or natives from another region (eg Ovens Wattle, Cootamundra Wattle), so that:

• local fauna is supplied with their proper food and shelter. This means more birds for your enjoyment, especially if several plant species are used in a group.

• a better survival rate is achieved, as these are the plants already adapted to local conditions and pests.

• there is less need to water plants once they are established.

• plants may regenerate naturally saving time and money.

• a landscape is developed which blends and links in with the natural area.

• there is no threat of the plants becoming environmental weeds.

• you have a healthier property through natural pest control.

• fire hazard is reduced-native grasses stay greener later in the season.

Logs, rocks and leaf litter are an important part of the natural system for habitat, recycling plant nutrients and as a food source. Preserve old and dead trees and provide nest boxes. 60% of our mammals and 20% of land bird species require hollows for breeding and shelter. Even the smallest hollow takes 60 years to form naturally. Hollows are also found at ground level in stumps. Join a Landcare Group.

DID YOU KNOW?Bursaria and banksia are important food sources for native wasps. These in turn are a natural pest control for pasture grubs and scarab beetles. Black wattles are the main winter food source for our gliders. They are also known as one of the best plants to shelter our small birds who will also feed on the insects which attack these plants.

BIODIVERSITY WEB SITES: Land for Wildlife www.dse.vic.gov.au/notes/

Ballarat Environment Network (BEN) www.ben.org.au

Environment Australia www.ea.gov.au

Greening Australia www.greeningaustralia.org.au

Landcare Gateway www.landcare.net.au

Biodiversity Information Resources and Data (BIRD) www.bird.net.au

FURTHER REFERENCES:Costermans, L Native Trees and Shrubs of SE Australia

Costermans, L Trees of Victoria and Adjoining Areas

Lunt, Barlow, Ross Plains Wandering

Corrick & Fuhrer Wildflowers of Victoria

Lindenmayer Et Al Wildlife on Farm Dams

Viridans Wild Things of the Ballarat Area (CD)

Wildflowers of the Brisbane Ranges Lunt, Barlow and Ross

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

*©Viridans Biological Databases. Special thanks to Leon Costermans for the donation of material, pictures and drawings from his publication ‘Trees and Shrubs of South East Australia’. Thanks also to Leigh Catchment Group for allowing the

use of their brochure format. Thankyou to the following contributors for generously donating photographic material: Kurtis Noyce, Jenny Sedgwick, Ray Draper, Roger Thomas, Neil Marriott, Craig Allen, Tim D’Ombrain, Damien Cook, Paul McKenna & Libby Woodward.

Cover Photo by Paul McKenna: Chocolate Lily, Arthropodium strictum, 60cm

Common Bird-orchidChiloglottis valida

5cm

Common Beard-heathLeucopogon virgatus

20cm

Common HoveaHovea heterophylla

12cm

Common Onion-orchidMicrotis unifolia

15cm

Creamy CandlesStackhousia monogyna

15cm

Early NancyWurmbea dioica

10cm

Large Duck-orchidCaleana major

15cm

Ivy-leaved VioletViola hederacea

8cm

Golden MothsDiuris chryseopsis

20cm

Green-comb Spider-orchidCaladenia phaeoclavia

15cm

Hyacinth OrchidDipodium pardalinum

35cm

MaroonhoodPterostylis pedunculata

15cm

Leopard OrchidDiuris pardina

20cm

MilkmaidBurchardia umbellata

30cm

Button EverlastingHelichrysum scorpioides

15cm

Parson’s-bandsEriochilus cucullatus

10cm

Pink FingersCaladenia carnea

10cm

Purplish Beard-orchidCalochilus robertsonii

15cm

Scented SundewDrosera whittakeri

4cm

Sun-orchid spThelymitra sp.

15cm

Tall GreenhoodPterostylis melagramma

20cm

Tall SundewDrosera peltata

15cm

Tiger OrchidDiuris sulphurea

30cm

Twining Fringe-lilyThysanotus patersonii

20cm

Black-anther Flax-lilyDianella revoluta

40cm

Pink BindweedConvolvulus erubescens

1cm

Prickly WoodruffStellaria pungens

15cm

Trailing GoodeniaGoodenia lanata

3cm

Matted Bush-peaPultenaea pedunculata

10cm

Purple Coral-peaHardenbergia violacea

5cm

Snake WattleAcacia aculeatissima

15cm

Running PostmanKennedia prostrata

3cm

Creeping BossiaeaBossiaea prostrata

1cm

Bidgee-widgeeAcaena novae-zelandiae

15cm

GroundcoversGroundcovers

Stinking PennywortHydrocotyle laxiflora

10cm

Milky Beauty HeadsCalocephalus lacteus

8cm

Cranberry HeathAstroloma humifusum

6cm

Gnat Orchid*Acianthus pusillus

10cm

Running Marsh FlowerVillarsia reniformis

30cm

Bulbine LilyBulbine bulbosa

30cm

Blue StarChaemascilla corymbosa

15cm

Blue PincushionBrunonia australis

15cm

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Grass Trigger-plantStylidium armeria

40cm

Nodding GreenhoodPterostylis nutans

12cm

Tall GreenhoodPterostylis melagramma

20cm

Tall BluebellWahlenbergia stricta

30cm

Common Rice-flowerPimelea humilis

15cm

Clover GlycineGlycine latrobeana

8cm

Pink-bellsTetratheca ciliata

20cm

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Indigenous PlantsGeelong Landcare Network