Plants of the Mulloon Fire Trail

This was a Wednesday expedition by the ACT chapter of the Australian Native Plants Society.  In due course a report on the outing including a plant list, bird list and lotza photographs will appear under the "Wednesday Walks" tab in the linked site.
  
The Mulloon Fire Trail runs from the hamlet of Forbes Creek to the locality of Bombay (as far as I am aware there are no moves to change its name to Mumbai) in SE NSW.  There are a series of ridges along the way with most of the track being between 900 and 100o m AMSL.  The track is in reasonable condition with:
  1. quite a few exposed rocks which could do quite a job on low exhaust systems and and suspension parts;
  2. a crossing of Mulloon Creek which was about 30cm deep (and we haven't had any rain for 2 weeks); and
  3. considerable evidence of large trees having fallen across the track at various times (some not too distant).
    An illustration of point 2 is given in the excellent photo taken by Frances.  See the comments for an alternative interpretation of this image!
    As usual, the Subaru leads the Toyota!

    I shall attach names to images as I find them out.  I have grouped them according to families as best I can. Enjoy.

    The main reason for going was the display of Pomadderris sp.  Here is an extract from the Coordinator's report "most of us saw 10 species of Pomaderris today - in order of appearance - P. aspera, P. Bungonia sp. (an as yet un-named species which we originall found near Bungonia), P. costata, P. andromedifolia (a narrow-leaf form), P. ledifolia, P. ? elliptica (a new location for today), P. phylicifolia (didn't stop for this one), then P. pauciflora just before we got to Bombay Reserve.  At the Reserve there are P. andromedifolia ssp. confusa and P. betulina".    While they are attractive plants I don't believe they are sufficiently distinctive to include 10 or more images!
    A hillside covered in Pomaderris sp.
    Pomaderris ?
    Pomaderris  close up
    The next group of images are various orchids seen along the way.  We did also come across two species of 'not-caladenia" but as they are depicted here I have not included further images.
    Possibly a Diplodium?
     Bunochilus longifolius
    Thanks to Denis Wilson for advising that the fused sepals in this image is "..simply a developmental stage - a fresh flower which has not yet opened properly."

    Bunochilus longifolius with unfused sepals
    Pterostylis nutans, the Nodding Greenhood
    The next group are the members of Leguminosea (the pea family).  Those familiar with the track commented that in a week or two the whole place is orange, yellow and red as the members of this family come fully into flower.  On this trip only the first species (a prostrate form) was really in swathes.
    Mirbelia platyloboides
    Bosseiaea obcordata
    The leafless Bossiaea: Bossiaea bracteoasa
    The remaining set are other attractive flowers of which I or Frances managed to get an image.
    Stylidium graminifolium: the first time I have been able to capture this species as the are normally waving about in the wind!
    Boronia algida
      Banksia spinulosa
    The next image is of a species which always causes me some trouble, since I regard all blue of purple things in the Australian bush as being orchids.  Even if the number of petals etc is obviously wrong.  However it is a lovely flowers as shown in Frances' image.
    Pattersonia sericea

    Comments

    Unknown said…
    The Toyota was there to push the toys through when they drown.
    13 October 2010 at 17:25:00 GMT+11
    Flabmeister said…
    What can I say except "Bugger."
    13 October 2010 at 17:35:00 GMT+11
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