ANPS wades into All Fools Day

Despite the celebration of the modern equivalent of an Hilaria.  While we were awaiting the mass arrival in Captains Flat we were entertained by the interaction between the drivers and the Dux.

 This was a pleasing nil-all draw.

Also pleasing were the Autumn colours in (exotic) trees near the bog - to revert to the language of my youth.

We then proceeded over the range to Cooma Rd and to the morning tea stop at the Gundilion Cemetery.  There wasn't a lot of plant ID perpetrated  here, possibly due to the presence of several Pinus radiata and a good lot of broom (visible under the Eucalyptus pauciflora in this image).

We then drove the 500m or so to the car park at the start of the Big Hole track where folk organised themselves to wade the Mighty Shoalhaven.

 At the other end of the Shoalhaven other, more colourful, Orders were doing the wading as shown in a message to the COG Chatline.

This was the midstream view upstream.

 Once across the wet bit there was a layer of Banksia marginata.

We then got into quite a stretch of eucalypt woodland (with E radiata getting a mention) and a lot of bare rocky ground.  Two specimens of Daviesia mimosoides were bold enough to have flowers- here is one of them.

 Several Brachyscome spathulata added some mauve ot the scenery.

 As we moved up a couple of Xanthosia atkinsoniana were spotted.

Getting off the track a good number of this species were spotted on the edge of the heath,  So were Goodenia bellidifolia: this was one of the best examples.

The following provoked some discussion but onlooking at sundry books (and receiving advice) I have come down on the side of Epacris microphylla.

Far more common over the entire range of elevation covered on the day was Monotoca scoparia.

I have absolutely no idea what the following is.  It was suggested at the time that it was Philotheca salsolifolia but I read books when I got home which all talked about that species being white - not pink. Quite common where the track went through the heath, so suggestions welcome.  Suggestions have been received, all saying Philotheca, so I will put the colour down to odd mineralisation.

Hybanthus monopetalus: not the greatest image but I liked the collection of sepals!

 Proving we were on sandstone, we found a couple of examples of Mitrasacme polymorpha.

As we were getting close to the Hole a number of flowering wattles were found.  As the flowers were at the ends of the stems Acacia terminalis seemed like a very good call.

Allocasuarina nana was very evident in the higher areas and I eventually spotted a flower, next to a cone.

 Here is a shot of the heath.

 It is also in the foreground of this scenery snap.

 The local ants have done works large ...

 .. and small.

 That is, with no debate, a large Hole.

 Some ferns were growing on the side of the Hole ...

 ..  and many more at the bottom thereof.

 This lump of rock was on the track, and with the pebbles embedded in the basic sandstone made me wonder if it wasn't a siltstone. No it wasn't: it was a conglomerate!

This tree was right on the edge of The Hole.  I don't think I would underwrite an insurance policy against it joining the tree ferns.