With over 1,100 species, the Pea Flower family is one of the largest in Australia.

There are about 1,000 species of Orchids in Australia and as many as 35,000 species worldwide - making it the world's largest flower family.

* Most of the Australian species in the Liliaceae Family have recently been reclassified into a dozen or so other botanical families.

The Iris family is represented throughout the world by freesias, gladiolis and irises - and in Australia by the Genus Patersonia.

Index to our collection -

Pea Flowers Broad-leaf Wedge Pea Broom Bossiaea Common Hovea Dainty Wedge-pea Dusky Coral Pea Fine-leaf Bush Pea Golden Spray Graceful Bush-pea Hairy Bush Pea Handsome Flat-Pea Heath Phyllota Heathy Parrot Pea Large-leaf Bush Pea Large Wedge Pea Leafless Globe-pea Love Creeper Pointed Leaf Hovea Purple Coral Pea Rough Parrot Pea Rusty Pods Spiny Bossiaea Variable Bossiaea

Orchids Copper Beard Orchid Dusky Fingers Golden Donkey Orchid Hooded Orchid Large Duck Orchid Large Tongue Orchid Nodding Greenhood Pink Fingers Pixie Orchid Purplish Beard Orchid Red Beardie Rosy Hyacinth Orchid Sharp Greenhood Small Waxlip Orchid Splotched Hyacinth Orchid Spotted Sun Orchid Tall Greenhood Tall Leek Orchid Tiger Orchid White Fingers

Lilies Blue Flax Lily Christmas Bells Milkmaids Rush Fringe Lily Pale Grass-lily Yellow Rush Lily Irises Leafy Purple Flag Silky Purple Flag

The Eastern Water Dragon is one of sixteen kinds of snakes and lizards that live in the Park.

Other lizards include the Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko and the Copper-tailed and Eastern Water Skinks.

The Eastern Water Dragon to the right appears a little skinny - this is because it is early October, and she has only recently emerged from hibernation.

[I have assumed it is a "she" as the males are red on their chests - like Spike.]

Eastern Water Dragons are found along the coastal watercourses of Eastern Australia.

To escape a threat, they will plunge into the water. So if you hear a splash while walking near a creek in the Park, it may be an Eastern Water Dragon.

Pea flowers have five petals -

• the standard or banner
• two wings
• two petals that are usually fused together and referred to as the keel.

Bossiaea genus

Dillwynia genus

Hovea genus

Pultenaea genus - Bush Peas

Gompholobium genus - Golden Glory Peas

Other Pea Flower Genera

Although Orchids vary greatly in form, colour and size, their flowers are composed of 6 segments.

The outer 3 segments are the sepals; and inner three segments are the petals.

The third petal becoming a lip or labellum.

Pterostylis genus (Greenhoods)

Calochilus genus (Beard Orchids)

Caladenia genus (Fairy Orchids, Lady's Fingers and Spider Orchids)

As far as I can ascertain -

• C. carnea's labellum lobe doesn't protrude, its labellum tip is yellow and it tends to be pinker.
• C. fuscata's labellum lobe protrudes and its labellum tip is white, and it is smaller.
• C. catenata's labellum is far more vertical before it slopes forward.

Cryptostylis genus (Tongue Orchids)

There are 5 species of the Cryptostylis genus in Australia - two of which can be found in the Park.

They can be identified when not in flower by a single leaf protruding from the ground.

Most of the Australian species in the Liliaceae Family have recently been reclassified into a dozen or so other botanical families. Their new family is included in the their description.