This here’s the wattle, the emblem of our land.
You can stick it in a bottle.
You can hold it in your hand.
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Mimosoideae
Genus: Acacia
981 members of the species.
971 species are native to Australia.
There are plants in Africa commonly called acacias. Botanists have put these plants into a different genus.
Wattle comes from old Teutonic meaning to weave. Branches were used in making of houses.
Wattles are fire resistant and tolerate dry spells. They have spread over whole continent. Occur in alpine areas, rainforests, sclerophyll forest, coastal dunes and deserts.
Aboriginal peoples traditionally have ground the seeds into flour. Seeds are full of protein.
The bark of some wattles has been used in tanning. There were industries involved in exporting the wattle bark to Europe.
There are many different types of wattle on the Domain.
To identify and know the name of every wattle you need specialist botanical information.
You can stick it in a bottle.
You can hold it in your hand.
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Mimosoideae
Genus: Acacia
981 members of the species.
971 species are native to Australia.
There are plants in Africa commonly called acacias. Botanists have put these plants into a different genus.
Wattle comes from old Teutonic meaning to weave. Branches were used in making of houses.
Wattles are fire resistant and tolerate dry spells. They have spread over whole continent. Occur in alpine areas, rainforests, sclerophyll forest, coastal dunes and deserts.
Aboriginal peoples traditionally have ground the seeds into flour. Seeds are full of protein.
The bark of some wattles has been used in tanning. There were industries involved in exporting the wattle bark to Europe.
There are many different types of wattle on the Domain.
To identify and know the name of every wattle you need specialist botanical information.
- Acacia dealbata: Silver Wattle
- Acacia mearnsii: Black Wattle
- Acacia melanoxylon: Blackwood
- Acacia verticillate: Prickly Moses
- Acacia genistifolia: Spreading Wattle
- Acacia gunnii: Ploughshare Wattle
- Acacia leprosa: Varnish Wattle
- Acacia myrtifolia: Myrtle Wattle
- Acacia stricta: Hop wattle
- Acacia dealbata: Silver Wattle
Plant family: Proteaceae
Genus: Banksia
170 species of banksia.
Distinctive flowers and seed cones.
Mainly found in sclerophyll forest and shrubland.
Big producers of nectar. Important food for birds, animals and insects.
Important to nurseries as a cut flower.
Normally a woody shrub. Can be a tree or a prostrate species.
Leaves: normally large and serrated.
Flowers: a flower spike contains hundreds of single flowers. A few will develop fruit which is part of the cone.
A follicle contains the seeds. Most follicles open after bushfire and release a spinning papery seed.
Sir Joseph Banks was a naturalist with Captain Cook in 1770. Banks collected thousands of plants which were taken back to England.
All banksia are endemic to Australia. Except one.
Very popular garden plant due to shrub size and showy flowers.
1918: May Gibbs wrote a series of books called “Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.” Big bad Banksia men were the arch enemy and trouble makers in the books.
Species: Banksia Marginata: Silver Banksia: Honeysuckle
Only one banksia is native to this area. Unmistakable appearance.
Height from 1-10m.
Width up to 5m.
Beautiful large cylindrical yellow flowers from summer to autumn. Full of nectar.
Location: coastal, sub-alpine and grasslands.
Size: from prostrate shrub to 5-10 m. tree.
Leaves: white underneath. The leaves are 5/6 cm long, 1 cm wide, wedge shaped with a broad wide end.
Cones: 10 cm long and 5 cm wide.
Genus: Banksia
170 species of banksia.
Distinctive flowers and seed cones.
Mainly found in sclerophyll forest and shrubland.
Big producers of nectar. Important food for birds, animals and insects.
Important to nurseries as a cut flower.
Normally a woody shrub. Can be a tree or a prostrate species.
Leaves: normally large and serrated.
Flowers: a flower spike contains hundreds of single flowers. A few will develop fruit which is part of the cone.
A follicle contains the seeds. Most follicles open after bushfire and release a spinning papery seed.
Sir Joseph Banks was a naturalist with Captain Cook in 1770. Banks collected thousands of plants which were taken back to England.
All banksia are endemic to Australia. Except one.
Very popular garden plant due to shrub size and showy flowers.
1918: May Gibbs wrote a series of books called “Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.” Big bad Banksia men were the arch enemy and trouble makers in the books.
Species: Banksia Marginata: Silver Banksia: Honeysuckle
Only one banksia is native to this area. Unmistakable appearance.
Height from 1-10m.
Width up to 5m.
Beautiful large cylindrical yellow flowers from summer to autumn. Full of nectar.
Location: coastal, sub-alpine and grasslands.
Size: from prostrate shrub to 5-10 m. tree.
Leaves: white underneath. The leaves are 5/6 cm long, 1 cm wide, wedge shaped with a broad wide end.
Cones: 10 cm long and 5 cm wide.
Family: lamiaceae
Genus: Prostanthera: Mint bush.
90 species within the genus.
Species: Prostanthera Lasianthos: Christmas Bush
Distribution: Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Widespread and common in Tasmania.
Prefers wet sclerophyll forests or riparian areas.
Leaves: aromatic. Serrated.
Height: up to 10 m.
Terminal flowers clusters. 2 cm long. White with purple, pink throat. December.
Leaves: pale underneath. 4 to 12 cm long. 1 to 3 cm wide. Pairs on the stem.
Genus: Prostanthera: Mint bush.
90 species within the genus.
Species: Prostanthera Lasianthos: Christmas Bush
Distribution: Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Widespread and common in Tasmania.
Prefers wet sclerophyll forests or riparian areas.
Leaves: aromatic. Serrated.
Height: up to 10 m.
Terminal flowers clusters. 2 cm long. White with purple, pink throat. December.
Leaves: pale underneath. 4 to 12 cm long. 1 to 3 cm wide. Pairs on the stem.
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Hakea.
150 species of Hakea.
All species endemic to Australia. Species found in all states.
Shrubs.
Flowers: clusters.
Fruit: woody. The sepals and petals form a tube which splits open. A style longer than the tepal tube.
Leaves: flat or needle like.
Fruit: woody. Fire or death leads to fruit opening and releasing winged seeds.
Species: Hakea Teretifolia: Dagger Hakea
A reasonably common shrub that grows in coastal heaths and sometimes in other sandy heaths.
Distribution: NSW, Victoria, SA and Tasmania.
The dagger-shaped fruit is distinctive.
Genus: Hakea.
150 species of Hakea.
All species endemic to Australia. Species found in all states.
Shrubs.
Flowers: clusters.
Fruit: woody. The sepals and petals form a tube which splits open. A style longer than the tepal tube.
Leaves: flat or needle like.
Fruit: woody. Fire or death leads to fruit opening and releasing winged seeds.
Species: Hakea Teretifolia: Dagger Hakea
A reasonably common shrub that grows in coastal heaths and sometimes in other sandy heaths.
Distribution: NSW, Victoria, SA and Tasmania.
The dagger-shaped fruit is distinctive.
Family: Solanum
Genus: Solanum
A diverse genus of flowering plants. Tomato; potato; eggplant; night shades; horse nettles.
Species: Solanum Laciniatum: Kangaroo Apple
Soft wooded shrub
Distribution: Victoria, Tasmania, WA, SA, NSW, New Zealand, Pacific Islands
Leaves: large 20 to 30 cm. green lobed
Flowers: purple January to February.
Fruit: yellow
Height: 3 to 4 m.
Genus: Solanum
A diverse genus of flowering plants. Tomato; potato; eggplant; night shades; horse nettles.
Species: Solanum Laciniatum: Kangaroo Apple
Soft wooded shrub
Distribution: Victoria, Tasmania, WA, SA, NSW, New Zealand, Pacific Islands
Leaves: large 20 to 30 cm. green lobed
Flowers: purple January to February.
Fruit: yellow
Height: 3 to 4 m.
Family: Ericaceae: heath
Large family with 124 genera. Cranberry, blueberry, rhododendron.
Genus: leucopogon: Beard-heath.
150-160 species of flowering plants.
Native to Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Pacific Islands.
Name: Greek leucopogon means white beard.
Species: Leucopogon Virgatus: Twiggy Beard Heath
Common in dry sclerophyll. Heath or woodlands.
Leaves: concave.
Height: 50 cm
Flowers: many in Spring
Large family with 124 genera. Cranberry, blueberry, rhododendron.
Genus: leucopogon: Beard-heath.
150-160 species of flowering plants.
Native to Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Pacific Islands.
Name: Greek leucopogon means white beard.
Species: Leucopogon Virgatus: Twiggy Beard Heath
Common in dry sclerophyll. Heath or woodlands.
Leaves: concave.
Height: 50 cm
Flowers: many in Spring
Family: Sapindaceae.
A family of flowering plants. Horse chestnut. Maple. Lychee.
138 genera in family.
Genus: Hopbush.
Species: Dodonaea Viscosa: Native Hopbush
Distribution: East Timor, PNG, all Australian Sates, NZ, Pacific Islands.
Location: widespread and common in Tasmania. Wet, dry and coastal forests.
Leaves: sticky on both surfaces. Wide near the tip. 5 cm long. 1 cm wide.
Flowers: December.
Height: 1 to 3 m tall.
Leaves: 4 to 7 cm long. 1.5 cm wide. Ovate. Tough.
Flowers: clusters. 2.5 cm long.
Fruit: broad brown, red capsule with 2/4 wings.
Wood: very tough. Mauri used it for weapons. Often used for building.
A very hardy widely distributed plant. Female plants have red seed capsules in Spring.
A family of flowering plants. Horse chestnut. Maple. Lychee.
138 genera in family.
Genus: Hopbush.
Species: Dodonaea Viscosa: Native Hopbush
Distribution: East Timor, PNG, all Australian Sates, NZ, Pacific Islands.
Location: widespread and common in Tasmania. Wet, dry and coastal forests.
Leaves: sticky on both surfaces. Wide near the tip. 5 cm long. 1 cm wide.
Flowers: December.
Height: 1 to 3 m tall.
Leaves: 4 to 7 cm long. 1.5 cm wide. Ovate. Tough.
Flowers: clusters. 2.5 cm long.
Fruit: broad brown, red capsule with 2/4 wings.
Wood: very tough. Mauri used it for weapons. Often used for building.
A very hardy widely distributed plant. Female plants have red seed capsules in Spring.
Family: Pittosporaceae
Genus: Bursaria
Name: Latin word bursa means purse. Purse refers to shape of seed capsules.
Species: Bursaria Spinosa: Prickly Box
Smooth branches with thorns.
Height: up to 10 m.
Distribution: All Australian states. Not NT. NZ.
Grasslands.
Flowers: White. Summer. Fragrant. Pyramidal panicles.
Leaves: clusters of three. 4 cm long. 1 cm wide. Round apex.
Genus: Bursaria
Name: Latin word bursa means purse. Purse refers to shape of seed capsules.
Species: Bursaria Spinosa: Prickly Box
Smooth branches with thorns.
Height: up to 10 m.
Distribution: All Australian states. Not NT. NZ.
Grasslands.
Flowers: White. Summer. Fragrant. Pyramidal panicles.
Leaves: clusters of three. 4 cm long. 1 cm wide. Round apex.
Family: Rhamnaceae
Genus: Spyridium
30/40 species found in southern Australia.
Species: Spyridium vexilliferum: winged spyridium: propeller plant
Distribution: SA, Victoria, NSW, Tasmania.
Height: 0.5 to 1m.
Flowers small white. Spring, summer.
Species: Spyridium ulicinum: arching beauty
Distribution: Tasmania
Dense shrub
Height: 3m.
Fine foliage.
Flowers: masses of creamy yellow flowers.
Species: Spyridium obovatum: Velvet Dusty Miller
Distribution: NSW, Tasmania
Height 2.5 m
Flowers: yellow. Spring
Leaves: soft velvety
Genus: Spyridium
30/40 species found in southern Australia.
Species: Spyridium vexilliferum: winged spyridium: propeller plant
Distribution: SA, Victoria, NSW, Tasmania.
Height: 0.5 to 1m.
Flowers small white. Spring, summer.
Species: Spyridium ulicinum: arching beauty
Distribution: Tasmania
Dense shrub
Height: 3m.
Fine foliage.
Flowers: masses of creamy yellow flowers.
Species: Spyridium obovatum: Velvet Dusty Miller
Distribution: NSW, Tasmania
Height 2.5 m
Flowers: yellow. Spring
Leaves: soft velvety
Family: Lamiaceae: Labiatae: Mint
Latin: Labia means lip. Flowers have petals fused into a lower lip and an upper lip.
Flowers have 5 united petals and 5 united sepals.
236 genera in the family.
Many are aromatic.
Genus: Westringia
33 species of shrub in the genera.
Upper petal/lip is two united lobes.
Four stamens. Upper two are fertile. Lower two are not.
Leaves in whorls of 3 or 4.
Species: Westringia brevifolia: coast westringia
Dense bush
Height 1.5m
Width 1.5m
White flowers in summer.
Latin: Labia means lip. Flowers have petals fused into a lower lip and an upper lip.
Flowers have 5 united petals and 5 united sepals.
236 genera in the family.
Many are aromatic.
Genus: Westringia
33 species of shrub in the genera.
Upper petal/lip is two united lobes.
Four stamens. Upper two are fertile. Lower two are not.
Leaves in whorls of 3 or 4.
Species: Westringia brevifolia: coast westringia
Dense bush
Height 1.5m
Width 1.5m
White flowers in summer.
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Leptospermum.
Most species are endemic to Australia. Not all. Some New Zealand and Pacific Islands.
All have five conspicuous petals, five groups of stamens. Single style in centre of flower. Fruit is a five walled woody fruit that remain on bush for years.
Seeds are often released when plant dies.
Grows in most well drained soils. Often used in regeneration projects. Often in cleared areas the first recoloniser. Prefer moist low nutrient soils.
Very good garden plants. Frost tolerant. Most soils. Can be pruned to shape.
The common name because early settlers made herbal tea from the leaves.
Species in Australia and New Zealand are evolving in different ways.
Species : Leptospermum scoparium: common teatree.
In New Zealand it is called manuka.
Shrubs: Height up to 4m. Width up to 2m.
Leaves are thick. 2cm long with sharp tip.
Flowers are white. Can be pink or red. 2cm in diameter.
Fibrous flaky bark.
The nectar is harvested by bees to produce Manuka honey.
Distribution: widespread and common in Tasmania in dry sclerophyll forest.
Species: Leptospermum lanigerum: woolly tea tree.
Distribution: NSW, Victoria, SA and Tasmania.
Widespread in Tasmania. Prefers waterlogged wet areas.
Leaves: hairy, broad in middle, blunt end.
Seed capsules: woolly.
Genus: Leptospermum.
Most species are endemic to Australia. Not all. Some New Zealand and Pacific Islands.
All have five conspicuous petals, five groups of stamens. Single style in centre of flower. Fruit is a five walled woody fruit that remain on bush for years.
Seeds are often released when plant dies.
Grows in most well drained soils. Often used in regeneration projects. Often in cleared areas the first recoloniser. Prefer moist low nutrient soils.
Very good garden plants. Frost tolerant. Most soils. Can be pruned to shape.
The common name because early settlers made herbal tea from the leaves.
Species in Australia and New Zealand are evolving in different ways.
Species : Leptospermum scoparium: common teatree.
In New Zealand it is called manuka.
Shrubs: Height up to 4m. Width up to 2m.
Leaves are thick. 2cm long with sharp tip.
Flowers are white. Can be pink or red. 2cm in diameter.
Fibrous flaky bark.
The nectar is harvested by bees to produce Manuka honey.
Distribution: widespread and common in Tasmania in dry sclerophyll forest.
Species: Leptospermum lanigerum: woolly tea tree.
Distribution: NSW, Victoria, SA and Tasmania.
Widespread in Tasmania. Prefers waterlogged wet areas.
Leaves: hairy, broad in middle, blunt end.
Seed capsules: woolly.