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.
Our Collection
Pea Flowers - Family Fabaceae
Pea flowers have five petals -
the standard or banner
two wings
two petals that are usually fused together and referred to as the keel.
A virtually leafless plant with characteristic flat stems. Similar to B. ensata (see our Blue Mountains peaflowers, but B. scolopendria has reddish wings and the flowers are larger.
Flowering in Autumn, this, plus its variable leaves and crimson keel identify it. The leaves vary on the plant and may be ovate or thin, and also vary in size.
Probably the most common peaflower in the Park, and although flowering in winter and spring, there are invariably "spot flowers" throughout the year.
Its twisted perpendicular narrow leaves helps identify it. The leaves aren't hard.
Dillwynias typically have broad standards, and keels that are shorter than the wings.
The Rough Parrot Pea (a name not in common use) is identified by its 15mm long rough leaves with the Dillwynian channel on top.
While the Common Hovea is a small shrub to 50cm in height, Rusty pods is a small tree and can be over 2 metres high. It also has longer, shinier and darker green leaves.
Identified by its green keel and hairy concave leaves. Similar to P. hispidula however P. villosa's leaves if not concolourous (of uniform colour) then the lower surface is darker than the upper surface - vice versa for P. hispidula.
A beautiful rosette of flowers - about 30mm across. Its leaves are 30mm in length. Besides its size, it can also be identified by the crimson "keel" under each flower - see flower on the right.
A 2 metre high shrub with a crown of golden pea flowers. Identified by its 1 cm long stipules (a small leafy growth at the base of a leaf) - see enlarged image.
Spring flowers that are 30mm from top to bottom. Distinguished from similar Wedge Peas by the trifoliate broad flat leaves.
Also known as the Golden Glory Pea.
Its 10mm wide flowers have the most beautiful yellow colour. It is identified by its (usually 5) pinnate leaves and warty stems.
Compared to the trifoliate leaves of G. minus.
Phyllotas can be recognised by their long bracteoles - the leaf-like bract under the flower.
Flowering in Spring, its broader bracteoles distinguishes it from the Summer flowering Phyllota grandiflora.
Differentiated from S. vimineum by its shorter wings that expose its keel, and having only a hint of red on some flowers, and none on most.
The flowers are barely 5mm wide and long.
It is also known as Native Broom - and this describes it well. This leggy leafless shrub grows to several metres, and is spring flowering. It is the only species in the Viminaria genus.
Orchids - Family Orchidaceae
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.
This spring flowering Donkey Orchid is 30mm from the top of its petals to the bottom of its sepals. A key in its identification is the lack of a callus on its labellum.
Resembling a duck in flight, this small orchid's labellum snaps shut against the column trapping the visiting insect and turning it into a pollinator - see the full image.
Also known as the Piano Orchid, this orchid occurs in all other Australian States except the North Territory. It can be identified by its long leaf stem.
Also known as the Blue Sun Orchid, it has dark blue dots on its upper three segments. The flower is 25mm wide, but needs a sunny day to open.
It is best identified by the finger like papillae as not all Spotted Sun Orchids have spots as this image shows.
Summer flowering, its green stem and dotted ovary* differentiates it from the other Hyacinth Orchids found in the Sydney Region - D. punctatum and D. roseum.
[* The ovary is at the top of the stem immediately below where the sepals and petals meet.]
Identified by its purple stem, curled back segment tips and lines on its labellum.
Its ovary is striped.
The orchid is 30mm across.
Here's another image.
Also known as the Pointed Greenhood after its pointed labellum. It flowers in Autumn with a single flower at the end of each stem - the stem has a rosette
of leaves at its base.
A distinctive orchid identified by its drooping crimson tipped curled tongue-like labellum. The labellum, which is 25mm in length, has a dark red bump
on its lower back.
This orchid is all labellum. The other petals and the sepals looking more like leaves.
It is also known as the Bonnet Orchid and the Tartan Tongue Orchid.
Lilies
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.
A truly beautiful lily. Flowers in late spring and summer. The flower is about 4cm long.
It has a green erect three sided seed pod that is around 4cm in length.
This species of the easily recognised fringe lily is identified by its lack of basal leaves and the striate stems. It is about 25mm across and only lasts a day.
Also known as the Branching Fringe Lily.