Small River Buttercup Ranunculus amphitrichus is a prostrate perennial herb with creeping stems, forming a mat. It grows in wet areas such as submerged paddocks at Venus Bay. Small yellowish flowers to 10 mm across occur on emergent stems from October to December. Read more about Small River Buttercup Ranunculus amphitrichus here (PDF)
Continue ReadingSea Celery Apium prostratum
Sea Celery Apium prostratum is a small, trailing perennial herb with celery-like leaves and stems, with white to greenish flowers from December to April, followed by globular fruits. Sea celery is common along the shores of Anderson Inlet at Venus Bay and is widespread throughout southern Australia and New Zealand, mainly in coastal saline locations. The stems and leaves can be used as a celery substitute. Read more about Sea Celery here (PDF)
Continue ReadingPink Fairies Caladenia latifolia
Pink Fairies Caladenia latifolia is one of many dainty terrestrial orchids in the large Caladenia genus. It is distinguished by its single hairy leaf and has 1-4 terminal pink flowers from August to November. It is common on coastal or near coastal sands and is often found forming colonies under tea-tree thickets at Venus Bay. All native orchids are protected in the wild. Read more about Pink Fairies here (PDF)
Continue ReadingWhite Iris Diplarrena moraea
White Iris Diplarrena moraea is a tufted iris with strappy leaves and makes an excellent accent plant in the garden. Its honey-scented flowers only last one day but are produced in profusion, especially in the landscape after fire. Read more about White Iris Diplarrena moraea (PDF)
Continue ReadingTiny star Pauridia glabella
Tiny Star Pauridia glabella is a perennial tufting herb with yellow flowers. The plant is tiny as the common name suggests and is easy to miss as the flowers close up in dull weather. It is not commonly known at Venus Bay but may be underreported due to its cryptic nature. Keep a look-out for the tiny yellow star flowers in moist areas on sunny days after rain. Read more about Tiny Star Pauridia glabella here (PDF)
Continue ReadingClimbing Lignum Muehlenbeckia adpressa
Climbing Lignum Muehlenbeckia adpressa is a moderately vigorous climber with thin red-brown stems growing 3-4 metres long. It occurs in Coast Banksia Woodland and along the coastal dunes from Victoria and Tasmania to Western Australia and is common in most parts of Venus Bay. It tolerates dryness and salt spray, making it a useful climber to cover a fence or retaining wall in coastal regions. Read more about Climbing Lignum Muehlenbeckia adpressa here (PDF)
Continue ReadingAustralian Hound’s-tongue Cynoglossum australe
Australian Hound’s-tongue Cynoglossum australe is a coarsely hairy perennial herb with a basal rosette of wavy, lanceolate to oblong leaves to 20 cm long and sessile stem leaves that decrease in size up the stem. Tiny blue to white flowers occur in spikes on long forked stems from September to February. The prickly fruit is in four ovate segments that are easily transferred to animal fur or clothing. The species is locally endangered in the Melbourne area, although commonly found…
Continue ReadingCommon Spike-rush Eleocharis acuta
Common Spike-rush Eleocharis acuta is a semi-aquatic, rhizomatous perennial sedge with single erect stems to 60 cm high, with a purplish leaf sheath at the base. The hollow rounded stems (culms) are topped by a terminal spikelet 5-30 mm long and 3-7 mm wide, flowering from spring to summer. Common Spike-rush is found in swamps and wet areas. At Venus Bay it is common in wet pasture and along the drainage channel along the Venus Bay to Tarwin bike path….
Continue ReadingPrickly Couch Zoysia macrantha
Prickly Couch Zoysia macrantha is a prostrate, mat-forming grass that is an excellent choice for a native coastal lawn that never needs mowing! Read more about Prickly Couch Zoysia macrantha (PDF)
Continue ReadingCreeping Fan-flower Scaevola hookeri
Scaevola hookeri Creeping Fan-flower Creeping Fan-flower Scaevola hookeri is a prostrate, matting herb that roots at the nodes, with softly hairy stems and leaves. The single fan-shaped, one-sided flowers are white to pale blue with yellow throats from November to March. Coast Fan-flower is found scattered in coastal heathland and woodland but is more commonly found colonising bare moist ground in the alpine areas. At Venus Bay it occurs on the secondary dunes. Creeping Fan-flower is…
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