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 | Common name | Cunningham's Snow-gentian |
Scientific name | Chionogentias cunninghamii
(formerly Gentianella diemensis) |
Family | Gentianaceae |
Relatives | Other Gentians |
Habitat | Swamps, wet heath |
Local example | Nunnock Swamp |
Notes | A tall, large-flowered Gentian. Australian Gentians have recently been reviewed, resulting in 20 species in the new genus Chionogentias, most of which occur in the alpine/sub-alpine zones (Chiono = snow). This species comes down a little lower, into the montane/sub-alpine levels of Bega Swamp and Nunnock Swamp. Chionogentias species are found in Australia, NZ and the Andes of South America. |
 | Common name | Billy Buttons |
Scientific name | Craspedia variabilis |
Family | Asteraceae |
Relatives | Other daisies etc |
Habitat | Forest, grassland |
Local example | Nunnock Swamp |
Notes | Characteristic globose heads without 'petals', one of 3 Craspedia species in the region. |
 | Common name | Swamp Heath |
Scientific name | Epacris paludosa |
Family | Epacridaceae |
Relatives | Other heaths |
Habitat | Swamps, wet heath, watercourses in ranges |
Local example | Nunnock Swamp |
Notes | May be the dominant shrub in swampy heath. Easily recognised by the long leaves and white flowers crowded at the ends of branches. |
 | Common name | Red-stem Cranesbill |
Scientific name | Geranium neglectum |
Family | Geraniaceae |
Relatives | Other Geraniums, Pelargoniums |
Habitat | Watercourses and swamps |
Local example | Nunnock Swamp |
Notes | A sprawling herb, easily the largest-flowered of the 5-6 local Geraniums. |
 | Common name | Golden Weathergrass |
Scientific name | Hypoxis hygrometrica |
Family | Hypoxidaceae |
Relatives | Other Hypoxis', not much else in Australia |
Habitat | Moist sites, grassland |
Local example | Wyndham Cemetery |
Notes | A perennial herb with a corm, fleshy roots and grass-like leaves. Hairs on the flowering stem move with changes in humidity (hence the common and scientific names). |
 | Common name | Murnong, Yam Daisy |
Scientific name | Microseris lanceolata |
Family | Asteraceae |
Relatives | Other daisies etc |
Habitat | Grassland, swamps, forest |
Local example | Nunnock Swamp |
Notes | A widespread species, now depleted in the wild. The fleshy taproots were an important Aboriginal food source. Distinguished from the introduced Catsear (Hypochaeris) by its narrow leaves, unbranched flower stem, green (not brown-tipped) underside of calyx and nodding flower buds. |
 | Common name | Lady's Tresses |
Scientific name | Spiranthes sinensis |
Family | Orchidaceae |
Relatives | Other orchids |
Habitat | Swamps and bogs |
Local example | Nunnock Swamp |
Notes | Widespread from the coast to inland areas. Easily identified by its striking array of pink flowers spiralling around the single flower stalk. Has fleshy roots, and appears to be one of the plants wild pigs seek when they demolish local bog areas. |
 | Common name | Grass Trigger Plant |
Scientific name | Stylidium graminifolium |
Family | Stylidiaceae |
Relatives | Other trigger plants |
Habitat | Forest, grassland |
Local example | Nunnock Swamp, Tantawangalo |
Notes | A widespread and common plant, the Grass Trigger Plant has recently been rejigged into several distinct species. In our local dry forests, it is now likely to be S. armeria. Each flower bears a touch-sensitive hammer-like column which deposits pollen on, and picks up pollen from, visiting insects. It resets slowly after firing. |
 | Common name | Fairy Aprons, Bladderwort |
Scientific name | Utricularia dichotoma |
Family | Lentibulariaceae |
Relatives | Other Bladderworts (Utricularia spp.) |
Habitat | Swamps, dams and slow watercourses |
Local example | Nunnock Swamp |
Notes | A common carnivorous wetland plant, with roots covered with tiny bladders, which trap aquatic animals. In cold areas, it spends the winter as sinking dormant buds called 'turions'. |
 | Common name | Golden Everlasting |
Scientific name | Xerochrysum bracteatum |
Family | Asteraceae |
Relatives | Daisies, artichoke, sunflower |
Habitat | Forest and heaths |
Local example | Burragate, Towamba Cemetery |
Notes | A hardy and showy tall herb, common along roadsides and in forests. This species spent a brief period in genus Bracteantha when it was transferred there from Helichrysum in 1991. However, a Russian botanist had placed it in the new genus Xerochrysum the previous year, and this name now prevails under international rules. The similar X. palustre is also flowering now in the high elevation swamps. Owing to taxonomic uncertainty it was previously included in X. subundulatum, but is now recognised a a distinct species and has been listed as threatened. |
