(click images to see larger ones)
Blue Mountains Wildflowers
Smaller Floral Families
Pink Flannel Flower
This set of wildflowers is "simply" those that belong to smaller floral families - of which there are over 100 families with over 800 species in the Blue Mountains.
The largest family is the grasses - Family Poaceae - with 130 species. However, this website doesn't cover this family - yet.
Index to our collection -
* Introduced species (weed)
Family Goodeniaceae
Snake Flower
Scaevola ramosissima
Small summer flowering climber with distinctive flowers and leaves.
Also known as the Purple Fan-flower.
Also known as the Purple Fan-flower.
Blue Dampiera
Dampiera stricta
Distinctive, mainly due to its colour. Also identified by its diamond shaped leaves. Flowering most of the year, but best in spring.
Also see our Blue Dampiera web page.
Here's an image of a white variant.
Also see our Blue Dampiera web page.
Here's an image of a white variant.
Purple Dampiera
Dampiera purpurea
Although its flowers are very similar to the Blue Dampiera in shape, their purple colour is a give away.
Its oval leaves are also very different.
Its oval leaves are also very different.
Daisy-leaved Goodenia
Goodenia bellidifolia
Summer flowering, usually with single flowers along the stem with several at the "crown". Flowers are 10mm across.
Family Apiaceae
Besides Flannel Flowers and Pennyworts, this family includes carrots and celery and a host of herbs such as parsley, coriander and fennel. Also see our Flannel Flowers web page.
Pink Flannel Flower
Actinotus forsythii
Also known as the Ridge Flannel Flower, this endangered flower only appears in the season following bush fires.
The flowers are 20mm in diameter.
The flowers are 20mm in diameter.
Sydney Flannel Flower
Actinotus helianthi
Its felt like petals tipped in the softest pale green make this a favourite of many.
The leaves are also a feature of this plant.
The flowers are 50mm in diameter.
The leaves are also a feature of this plant.
The flowers are 50mm in diameter.
Lesser Flannel Flower
Actinotus minor
A small plant with flowers up to 12mm across. Like its siblings, it doesn't have petals, the petal-like part are bracts.
It seems to always be in flower.
It seems to always be in flower.
Carrot Tops
Platysace linearifolia
Flowering in Autumn, Carrot Tops is best identified by the bouquet of tiny (3mm across) flowers at the end of a long and oblique stalk.
Native Parsnip
Platysace lanceolata
This is the mountain heath form whose leaves are broad. A variety found in the Lane Cove National Park has lance like leaves.
Woolly Xanthosia
Xanthosia pilosa
This small plant is recognised by its hairy variable leaves and tiny yellow flowers.
The leaves are sometimes lobed; sometimes diamond shaped; and, of course, sometimes neither. The latter two are shown on the specimen found in the Lane Cove National Park.
It flowers for much of the year, but mainly in Summer.
The leaves are sometimes lobed; sometimes diamond shaped; and, of course, sometimes neither. The latter two are shown on the specimen found in the Lane Cove National Park.
It flowers for much of the year, but mainly in Summer.
Family Apocynaceae
Bearded Tylophora
Tylophora barbata
A climbing vine recognised by its distinct brown hairy flowers which are 8mm across.
The NSW Flora Online shows three Marsdenia species in the Central Tablelands region. As far as I can ascertain -
M. flavescens has smaller (3mm wide) yellow flowers and its vine stems are thinner and pubescent (covered in short weak hairs).
M. rostrata has larger (10mm wide) pale yellow flowers and ovate (oval-ish) leaves and fruit.
Greater Periwinkle
Vinca major
Introduced species (weed)
A native of the Mediterranean, its blue five petal fan-like flowers identifies it.
It is also known as Blue Periwinkle and Vinca.
Family Araliaceae
Broad-leaf Star Hair
Astrotricha latifolia
A tall leggy shrub, that has a baffling appearance when young - see this image. This image was taken a full year before the flowering image.
Its broad leaves can be 20cm long and 8cm wide. The flowers are 4mm wide.
Its light green petals distinguish it from A. longifolia whose petals are whitish.
Its broad leaves can be 20cm long and 8cm wide. The flowers are 4mm wide.
Its light green petals distinguish it from A. longifolia whose petals are whitish.
Family Asteraceae
Calliopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Introduced species (weed)
Prolific and spreading - best describes this plant. It's a native of North America and flowers in late spring and into summer. It's found along railway lines and roadsides.
Family Cunoniaceae
Family Elaeocarpaceae
Genera Tetratheca - Black-eyed Susans
Genera Tetratheca formerly belonged to the Tremandraceae family. This family has now been absorbed into the Elaeocarpaceae family.
The NSW Flora Online describes some 14 species that occur in New South Wales. The species are collectively called Black-eyed Susans, and their similarity to each other provides a real challenge in identifying them.
Black-eyed Susan
Tetratheca ericifolia
Identified by its recurved, slightly hairy leaves with tubercles (bumps) on the edges and tapered at the end. The leaf is not that dissimilar to that of Banksia ericifolia (except for the tapering at the end).
Black-eyed Susan
Tetratheca rupicola
Similar to Tetratheca ericifolia but without the hairs and tubercles. Interestingly, its red branchlets are not mentioned in references.
There are 10 species in NSW; 3 in the Blue Mountains. Although they all have "blueberry" in their common name, they are not part of the blueberry family. Blueberries are members of the Heath family.
Family Euphorbiaceae
Broom Spurge
Amperea xiphoclada
A small broom-like shrub with characteristic square-ish branches. The inflorescence is about 5mm across.
Family Phyllanthaceae
Family Phyllanthaceae was formerly part of the Euphorbiaceae family - see NSW Flora Online for more details.
Thyme Spurge
Phyllanthus hirtellus
A small shrub whose shiny and hairy leaves are about 6mm long, and are often bent at the tip. The variety that has red male flowers (shown here) only occurs in the Sydney region.
Heath-leaved Poranthera
Poranthera ericifolia
A small plant to about 30cm high. Its recurved shiny leaves are about 12-15mm in length.
The flower-heads are held at the end of long branching stems and contain both male and female flowers.
The female flowers have red styles - only 3 styles, but they are bifid (divided in two).
The male flowers are shown more clearly on the Lane Cove National Park specimen.
The flower-heads are held at the end of long branching stems and contain both male and female flowers.
The female flowers have red styles - only 3 styles, but they are bifid (divided in two).
The male flowers are shown more clearly on the Lane Cove National Park specimen.
Family Picrodendraceae
Family Picrodendraceae was formerly part of the Euphorbiaceae family - see NSW Flora Online for more details.
Rice-flower Pseudanthus
Pseudanthus pimeleoides
At first glance it looks like a white Dahlia.
(The Dahlia is Mexico's national flower.)
Flowering in Spring, the flower head contains multiple flowers. The name Rice-flower Pseudanthus is not widely used.
(The Dahlia is Mexico's national flower.)
Flowering in Spring, the flower head contains multiple flowers. The name Rice-flower Pseudanthus is not widely used.
Family Lobeliaceae
White Root
Pratia purpurascens
A delightful little plant with a self explanatory name. The undersides of its leaves are purplish. Its 10mm flowers appear in the warmer months.
Angel Sword
Lobelia dentata
This delicate little flower appears in spring and summer. It can have a vibrant electric blue colour, that I have (as yet) been unable to capture.
Family Loganiaceae
The orange flower bud is shaped like a bishop's hat - which is called a mitre - thus its name.
Missing from the gallery below are M. alsinoides, M. paludosa and M. pilosa.
Thyme Mitrewort
Mitrasacme serpyllifolia
The easiest of the Mitrewort siblings to identify - due to its negligible pedicel (stalk).
[The botanical word for this is "sessile".]
Its flowers are 6mm wide; its leaves are 6mm long and 2mm wide.
[The botanical word for this is "sessile".]
Its flowers are 6mm wide; its leaves are 6mm long and 2mm wide.
Varied Mitrewort
Mitrasacme polymorpha
Identified by its multiple flowers, it is also leggier (at 25cm) than its siblings.
It has very hairy branches and leaves.
This image shows the multiple flowers.
It has very hairy branches and leaves.
This image shows the multiple flowers.
Narrow-leaf Logania
Logania albiflora
Its bell-like 2-3mm long sweet smelling flowers identifies it.
Here's another image.
Here's another image.
Family Lomandraceae
Fish Bones
Lomandra obliqua
The easiest member of the Lomandra genus to identify due to its 'fish bone" like leaves. It flowers in spring.
Spiny-headed Mat-rush
Lomandra longifolia
Also known as Honey Reed, both its thorns and leaves can inflict pain. Very hardy and flowers in spring.
Many-flowered Mat-rush
Lomandra multiflora
subsp. multiflora
Its striking floral display easily identifies this Lomandra.
Here's a close-up of its inflorescence - which is 3cm across.
Here's another image of the plant.
Here's a close-up of its inflorescence - which is 3cm across.
Here's another image of the plant.
Family Pittosporaceae
Apple Berry
Billardiera scandens
Flowering in spring, its 20mm flowers become purple edible fruit. This climber is also known as Dumplings.
Sweet Pittosporum
Pittosporum undulatum
A tree to about 8 metres in height, it has scores of white flowers in spring which progress to orange coloured berries by autumn.
Also see our Sweet Pittosporum web-page.
Also see our Sweet Pittosporum web-page.
White Marianth
Rhytidosporum procumbens
Also known as Mary's Flower, it is a small plant whose flowers are only 8mm wide.
Bursaria longisepala
Identified by its thorns and rosettes of dark green leaves, this small shrub is restricted to the Blue Mountains region.
Flowering in summer, its flowers are 8mm across.
Here's another image.
Flowering in summer, its flowers are 8mm across.
Here's another image.
Tarata
Pittosporum eugenioides
Introduced species (weed)
A native of New Zealand.
Also known as Lemonwood due to the lemon fragrance of its crushed leaves.
Here's another image.
Family Polygalaceae
There are six species of this family in the Blue Mountains. One species is Polygala japonica, the other 5 belong to the Comesperma genus - of which C. retusum and C. volubile have so far alluded me.
Matchheads
Comesperma ericinum
A tall leggy shrub over a metre high. Its mauve flowers appear in spring. Also known as Pyramid Flower, Pink Matchheads and Heath Milkwort.
Fairies' Wings
Comesperma defoliatum
Also known as Leafless Milkwort, C. defoliatum is about half the size of C. sphaerocarpum and they look very similar.
Broom Milkwort
Comesperma sphaerocarpum
Its wing sepals are 6mm across - compared to that of Fairies' Wings which are 2-3mm across.
Family Rhamnaceae
Andromeda Pomaderris
Pomaderris andromedifolia
Pomaderris plants are in bud for months before they bloom, and are also hard to distinguish from each other. I have deduced that the above specimen is Pomaderris andromedifolia, as its flowers are yellow and have
petals. Its
leaves are 30mm long, 10 mm wide, hairless above, but very felty below.
The name Andromeda Pomaderris is not widely used.
The name Andromeda Pomaderris is not widely used.
Bitter Cryptandra
Cryptandra amara var. amara
A tiny plant - its aged-looking branches making it look like a bonsai.
Its spine-like branches help identify it.
Its 3mm long flowers start out white, and then become pink, and eventually are a dusky pink with a "red centre".
Its spine-like branches help identify it.
Its 3mm long flowers start out white, and then become pink, and eventually are a dusky pink with a "red centre".
Bitter Cryptandra
Cryptandra amara var. amara
Its leaves are 3mm long and 1 mm wide.
There are three varieties -
◊ amara - shown here
◊ floribunda - doesn't have spiny branches
◊ longiflora - has flowers up to 6mm.
There are three varieties -
◊ amara - shown here
◊ floribunda - doesn't have spiny branches
◊ longiflora - has flowers up to 6mm.
Family Santalaceae
The family includes the Native Cherry (Exocarpos cupressiformis), the Australian Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) and Quandong (Santalum acuminatum ). Here's an informative treatment of the Santalum genus.
White Sour Bush
Choretrum candollei
A blaze of tiny white flowers - barely 2mm wide - in late winter through to summer.
Here's an image of the bush.
Here's an image of the bush.
Blunt Sandalwood
Santalum obtusifolium
Identified by its discolourous* and recurved leaves it is the only species of this genus in the Blue Mountains.
The images captured here are between flowering in November and maturing of the fruit in late summer. The flowers are white and the mature fruit is purple.
The images captured here are between flowering in November and maturing of the fruit in late summer. The flowers are white and the mature fruit is purple.
[* discolourous: coloured differently on the two surfaces.]
Family Scrophulariaceae
The NSW NPWS says in its brochure on the Euphrasia bowdeniae, that "Plants of the genus Euphrasia are rare, probably due to their parasitic nature".
Euphrasia bowdeniae
Euphrasia bowdeniae only grows in the Upper Blue Mountains, and is classed as vulnerable.
It can be distinguished from other members of the genus by its leaves which have one set of "teeth", and its upper leaves are toothless.
It can be distinguished from other members of the genus by its leaves which have one set of "teeth", and its upper leaves are toothless.
Purple Eyebright
Euphrasia collina ssp. paludosa
The Purple Eyebright is identified by its 3 pairs of "teeth" on its decussate* leaves.
[* decussate: pairs of opposite leaves that are 90o from the next pair.]
Purple Eyebright
Euphrasia collina ssp. paludosa
Here is a white variant of the "Purple" Eyebright. It was growing with its more colourful siblings.
Family Stackhousiaceae
There are two species of this family in the Blue Mountains.
Creamy Candles
Stackhousia monogyna
Its white tubular 5 petal flowers identify it. The tube is 5mm in length and the flowers appear singly along the stem.
Slender Stackhousia
Stackhousia viminea
Its distinctive reddy-pale green tubular flowers identifies it. The tube is less than 5mm in length and the flowers appear singly or in small groups along the stem.
Here's another image.
Here's another image.
Family Stylidiaceae
The hammer-like trigger (column) is used to pollinate any insect that lands on the flower. There are four species in the Stylidium genus that are found in the Upper Blue Mountains.
Grass Triggerplant
Stylidium graminifolium
Identified by its leggy leaved
rosette whose leaves are over 50mm long and up to 250mm, and whose leaves are 5mm wide.
Triggerplant
Stylidium productum
Identified by its sets of
leaves along its aerial branches. Younger plants are hard to distinguish from the Grass Triggerplant.
The image shows a flower that has two triggers.
The image shows a flower that has two triggers.
Tree Triggerplant
Stylidium laricifolium
Identified by the
leaves along its stems.
The colour of the flower varies from nearly white to pink.
The colour of the flower varies from nearly white to pink.
Family Violaceae
The Violet Family includes 900 species of violets and pansies worldwide.
Native Violet
Viola hederacea
Found in sheltered and damp areas, it is a fairly common groundcover.
Its leaves are variable, and it is best identified by its white and purple flowers - which are 15mm wide.
Here's another image.
Its leaves are variable, and it is best identified by its white and purple flowers - which are 15mm wide.
Here's another image.
Common Dog-violet
Viola riviniana
Introduced species (weed)
Its pink colours helps to identify it - plus its "clumpy" leaves.
Slender Violet-bush
Hybanthus monopetalus
The genus is called Spade Flowers.
This species is also known as Lady's Slipper, and its multiple flowers on each stem, distinguishes it from H. vernonii.
This species is also known as Lady's Slipper, and its multiple flowers on each stem, distinguishes it from H. vernonii.
Other families
Mistletoe
Amyema pendulum
[Family LORANTHACEAE]
Clinging to its Eucalyptus host, with its pendulous Eucalyptus like leaves.
Forked Comb Fern
Schizaea bifida
[Family SCHIZAEACEAE]
The fronds of this unusual fern appear in winter and are 15mm wide.
Native Sarsaparilla
Smilax glyciphylla
[Family SMILACACEAE]
Also known as Sweet Sarsaparilla, this climber is identified by the three veins on its leaves. Its tiny flowers become black berries that are about 7mm
across.
Slender Rice Flower
Pimelea linifolia ssp. linoides
[Family THYMELAEACEAE]
Its 3cm wide flowers are glorious in close up. The linoides subspecies is a leggy plant and can be well over two 2 metres in height - and this can help identify it.
It is also known as Granny's Bonnet.
It is also known as Granny's Bonnet.
Olax
Olax stricta
[Family OLACACEAE]
This easily identified plant is a uniform dull light green in colour. Its leaves are in two rows on opposite sides of the branch. Its small flowers are about 5mm across.
Forked Sundew
Drosera binata
[Family DROSERACEAE]
A member of the Droseraceae family that includes the Venus Fly Trap, the Forked Sundew has 2, 4 or 8 "branches" that have glandular hairs that trap insects.
It bears white 10mm wide flowers in summer - whose long stems could be mistaken for belonging to another plant.
It bears white 10mm wide flowers in summer - whose long stems could be mistaken for belonging to another plant.
Black Sassafras
Atherosperma moschatum
[Family MONIMIACEAE]
Also known as the Southern Sassafras, this winter flowering tree is found near water in sheltered gullies.
It is the only species in this genus.
Here's another image.
It is the only species in this genus.
Here's another image.
Single Bladderwort
Utricularia uniflora
[Family LENTIBULARIACEAE]
Bladderworts are carnivorous plants that take in and digest small organisms through their leaves. This species flower is 14mm wide and 9 mm deep. U. dichotoma is similar but has two flowers.
Small St. John's Wort
Hypericum Gramineum
[Family CLUSIACEAE]
A sibling of the herb St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum).
The flowers are about 1cm across and the leaves near the flowers are appressed.
The flowers are about 1cm across and the leaves near the flowers are appressed.
Old Man's Beard
Caustis flexuosa
[Family CYPERACEAE]
Easily recognised, Old Man's Beard is also known as Curly Wig.
Rusty Velvet-bush
Lasiopetalum ferrugineum
var. ferrugineum
[Family MALVACEAE]
The distinctive flowers identify this genus. Its narrow leaves are about 10mm wide.
L. ferrugineum var. cordatum has ovate leaves that are up to 40mm wide.
Here's another image.
L. ferrugineum var. cordatum has ovate leaves that are up to 40mm wide.
Here's another image.
Headache Vine
Clematis glycinoides
var. glycinoides
[Family RANUNCULACEAE]
A spectacular vine when in full bloom. Its flowers are 40mm across.
Its leaves have few teeth if any and its anther appendage is < 1mm - compared to Clematis aristata whose leaves are more serrated and an anther appendage > 1mm.
Its leaves have few teeth if any and its anther appendage is < 1mm - compared to Clematis aristata whose leaves are more serrated and an anther appendage > 1mm.