Family: Dennstaedtiaceae
Contain ferns.
Contains 10 genera and 240 species.
Large much divided leaves.
Genus: Pterdium: Bracken.
Contains 10 species.
Large highly divided leaves.
Location whole world except Antarctica.
No seeds or fruit.
Underground roots lead to new fronds. Can be 1m away.
Toxic to most animals.
Pioneer plant. Colonise vacant land. Can increase its range by 3 % a year.
Slow to colonise health biodiverse vegetation.
A threat to biodiversity.
It inhibits other plants.
Species: Pteridium Esculentum: Bracken Fern
Occurs in areas which have been previously cleared.
Fronds are 1 to 3m long on slender green/brown stems.
Location: all states except NT. New Zealand Pacific Islands.
Quick to colonise disturbed areas.
? weed.
Creates a favourable environment for many insects.
The Maori ate the rhizomes.
The fronds contain toxins or carcinogens.
Contain ferns.
Contains 10 genera and 240 species.
Large much divided leaves.
Genus: Pterdium: Bracken.
Contains 10 species.
Large highly divided leaves.
Location whole world except Antarctica.
No seeds or fruit.
Underground roots lead to new fronds. Can be 1m away.
Toxic to most animals.
Pioneer plant. Colonise vacant land. Can increase its range by 3 % a year.
Slow to colonise health biodiverse vegetation.
A threat to biodiversity.
It inhibits other plants.
Species: Pteridium Esculentum: Bracken Fern
Occurs in areas which have been previously cleared.
Fronds are 1 to 3m long on slender green/brown stems.
Location: all states except NT. New Zealand Pacific Islands.
Quick to colonise disturbed areas.
? weed.
Creates a favourable environment for many insects.
The Maori ate the rhizomes.
The fronds contain toxins or carcinogens.
Family: Asphodelaceae
Genus: Dianella: Flax lilies.
41 species in the genera.
Location: Japan to India, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific islands.
All species of Dianella share many features.
Underground rhizome
Long strappy leaves. 1m long. Pale green to dark green.
Blue flowers in spring. 3 petals. 3 sepals. Prominent yellow stamens.
Shiny blue/purple berries. Elongated. 1.5 cm diameter. Contains shiny black seeds.
Mythical story. Dianna, a Roman goddess of hunting was involved in a race. Her competitor threw some golden berries. Dianna bent down to pick up the berries and lost the race.
Species: Dianella Tasmanica: Tasmania Flax Lily
Dianella revoluta and Dianella tasmanica. Very similar plants. Dianella revoluta tends to clump more. Dianella tasmanica tends to spread more. Revoluta means margins of leaves have in-rolled margins.
Leaves: length 1m. 1 to 2 cm wide.
Spreads by underground rhizome.
Yellow blue flowers on long stems. Flowers on a stalk. Three blue /purple petals, yellow stamens.
Fruit is a blue/ purple berry 1 to 2 cm long.
Shiny purple/blue berries.
Full sun or part shade.
It is a very popular plant for cultivation in urban areas. Most plants grown in urban settings are hybrids of various species.
Genus: Dianella: Flax lilies.
41 species in the genera.
Location: Japan to India, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific islands.
All species of Dianella share many features.
Underground rhizome
Long strappy leaves. 1m long. Pale green to dark green.
Blue flowers in spring. 3 petals. 3 sepals. Prominent yellow stamens.
Shiny blue/purple berries. Elongated. 1.5 cm diameter. Contains shiny black seeds.
Mythical story. Dianna, a Roman goddess of hunting was involved in a race. Her competitor threw some golden berries. Dianna bent down to pick up the berries and lost the race.
Species: Dianella Tasmanica: Tasmania Flax Lily
Dianella revoluta and Dianella tasmanica. Very similar plants. Dianella revoluta tends to clump more. Dianella tasmanica tends to spread more. Revoluta means margins of leaves have in-rolled margins.
Leaves: length 1m. 1 to 2 cm wide.
Spreads by underground rhizome.
Yellow blue flowers on long stems. Flowers on a stalk. Three blue /purple petals, yellow stamens.
Fruit is a blue/ purple berry 1 to 2 cm long.
Shiny purple/blue berries.
Full sun or part shade.
It is a very popular plant for cultivation in urban areas. Most plants grown in urban settings are hybrids of various species.
Family: Iridaceae
66 genera
2244 species.
Perennial plants with a rhizome or corm.
Leaves are straight like grass.
Genus: Diplarrena
Name: Ancient Greek: diploos means double. Arren means male.
Diplarrena: all members of genus have two stamens.
Diplarrena contains two species both endemic to Australia.
Perennial herbs with short rhizomes.
Leaves are linear, flat non-deciduous.
Flowers are not symmetrical.
Six white tepals. 2cm wide. Inner tepals blue tinge.
One style with two stamens.
Species: Diplarrena Moraea: White Flag Iris
Height 1m
Location: Tasmania, Victoria and NSW.
Leaves: length 1 m. 1cm wide flat tufts. Two rows.
Flowers 6cm wide white purple or yellow patches. 3 to 5 cm wide.
66 genera
2244 species.
Perennial plants with a rhizome or corm.
Leaves are straight like grass.
Genus: Diplarrena
Name: Ancient Greek: diploos means double. Arren means male.
Diplarrena: all members of genus have two stamens.
Diplarrena contains two species both endemic to Australia.
Perennial herbs with short rhizomes.
Leaves are linear, flat non-deciduous.
Flowers are not symmetrical.
Six white tepals. 2cm wide. Inner tepals blue tinge.
One style with two stamens.
Species: Diplarrena Moraea: White Flag Iris
Height 1m
Location: Tasmania, Victoria and NSW.
Leaves: length 1 m. 1cm wide flat tufts. Two rows.
Flowers 6cm wide white purple or yellow patches. 3 to 5 cm wide.
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Themeda
Contains about 20 species of grass native to Africa, Australia, and Asia.
Members are cereals, bamboos, lawn grasses.
Provides majority of world’s food.
Building materials. Bamboo thatch, straw.
Hollow stems.
Narrow alternative leaves.
Species: Themeda Triandra: Kangaroo Grass
Perennial tussock forming grass.
Location: Australia, Asia, the Pacific and Africa.
Height 1.5m Leaves up to 1 m long. Flowers spike above the leaves.
Width 0.5m
Flowers: red/brown spikes on branched stems in summer.
Birds love the seeds.
Genus: Themeda
Contains about 20 species of grass native to Africa, Australia, and Asia.
Members are cereals, bamboos, lawn grasses.
Provides majority of world’s food.
Building materials. Bamboo thatch, straw.
Hollow stems.
Narrow alternative leaves.
Species: Themeda Triandra: Kangaroo Grass
Perennial tussock forming grass.
Location: Australia, Asia, the Pacific and Africa.
Height 1.5m Leaves up to 1 m long. Flowers spike above the leaves.
Width 0.5m
Flowers: red/brown spikes on branched stems in summer.
Birds love the seeds.
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Poa
The genus contains 500 species of grass. Both annual and perennial. Most have both male and female parts.
Leaves are narrow, flat, thick basal sheath, blunt apex.
Species: Poa Labillardieri: Common Tussock Grass
endemic to Australia.
Species: Poa Rodwayi: Velvet Tussock Grass
Height 60 cm.
Grey green leaves. Soft leaves.
Flowers spike to 70 cm.
Distribution: Victoria, SA, Tasmania.
Species: Poa Labillardierei: Silver Tussock Grass
Distribution: Queensland, NDSW, SA, Victoria, Tasmania
Height 0.5 to 1.2m.
Width 1.5m
Flowers: pale purple flower spike in spring above the leaves.
Hardy. Tolerates frost and dry. Prefers moist.
Genus: Poa
The genus contains 500 species of grass. Both annual and perennial. Most have both male and female parts.
Leaves are narrow, flat, thick basal sheath, blunt apex.
Species: Poa Labillardieri: Common Tussock Grass
endemic to Australia.
Species: Poa Rodwayi: Velvet Tussock Grass
Height 60 cm.
Grey green leaves. Soft leaves.
Flowers spike to 70 cm.
Distribution: Victoria, SA, Tasmania.
Species: Poa Labillardierei: Silver Tussock Grass
Distribution: Queensland, NDSW, SA, Victoria, Tasmania
Height 0.5 to 1.2m.
Width 1.5m
Flowers: pale purple flower spike in spring above the leaves.
Hardy. Tolerates frost and dry. Prefers moist.
Family: Asparagaceae
Contains 114 genera and 2900 species.
Most known member is asparagus.
Genus: Lomandra: mat rushes
51 species of perennial herbs.
Location. All in Australia. A few also occur in PNG and New Caledonia.
Most are deciduous perennials, long narrow blades, rhizomes
Species: Lomandrea Longifolia: Sagg
Dense tussock. Bright green leaves. Erect flat leaves.
Height 0.5 to 1m. Width up to 1m.
Flowers are cream, brown spikes in spring. Stems 50cm.
Fruit is golden brown.
Very hardy. Tolerates dry.
Distribution. Queensland, NSW, Victoria, SA, NZ
Contains 114 genera and 2900 species.
Most known member is asparagus.
Genus: Lomandra: mat rushes
51 species of perennial herbs.
Location. All in Australia. A few also occur in PNG and New Caledonia.
Most are deciduous perennials, long narrow blades, rhizomes
Species: Lomandrea Longifolia: Sagg
Dense tussock. Bright green leaves. Erect flat leaves.
Height 0.5 to 1m. Width up to 1m.
Flowers are cream, brown spikes in spring. Stems 50cm.
Fruit is golden brown.
Very hardy. Tolerates dry.
Distribution. Queensland, NSW, Victoria, SA, NZ
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Austrodanthonia
Species: Austrodanthonia Caespitosa: Common Wallaby-Grass
A tufted perennial grass up to 90cm high.
Flowers are purple or green. Spring or summer.
Panicle of 10 to 30 spikelets which consist of 4 to 9 flowers.
Wetter, cool Southern Australia.
Genus: Austrodanthonia
Species: Austrodanthonia Caespitosa: Common Wallaby-Grass
A tufted perennial grass up to 90cm high.
Flowers are purple or green. Spring or summer.
Panicle of 10 to 30 spikelets which consist of 4 to 9 flowers.
Wetter, cool Southern Australia.
Weeping Grass: Microlaena Stipoides
Other native grasses form tussocks. Weeping grass tends to form a lawn when grassed by animals. Spring and summer flowers followed by bent over seed heads.
Other native grasses form tussocks. Weeping grass tends to form a lawn when grassed by animals. Spring and summer flowers followed by bent over seed heads.