Black She-oak (female)

Allocasuarina littoralis

  Interesting facts

Indigenous children were told to wait under the casuarina tree if they were lost, as snakes will tend not to slide over the fallen needles. The needles are acidic and therefore keep the other plant species away, leaving an open space, making the kids easier to be found. Kids were also shown how to make bracelets from the nuts and they were shown how to use them to hold and take bad dreams away.

 Blueberry Ash

Elaeocarpus reticulatus

  Interesting facts

The loveliest feature of this plant is the flowers and fruits. They often appear on the plant together and as the fruit often has an extended fruiting period they are often remain on the plant until the next season. The gorgeous flowers are shaped like fringed cups, which are very dainty and often called 'Fairy Petticoats'.  The flowers also have an unusual licquorice scent.

 Box-leaf Wax-flower

Eriostemon buxifolius

  Interesting facts

Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?

 Broad-leaf Geebung

Persoonia levis

  Interesting facts

Geebungs are easily identified by the very black flaky bark that has important medicinal properties. When scratched off there is a very vibrant red colour underneath. In traditional times this soft flaky bark was crushed up and used as padding in 'nappies' for babies. These 'natural' nappies were made from paperbark wrapped around the baby, with this soft bark placed in the bottom for padding and absorption. One could easly declare these were the original 'eco' nappies, 100% natural, 100% biodegradable.

 Cabbage Tree Palm

Livistona australis

  Interesting facts

The growing tip was eaten as 'cabbage' by Aboriginal people, however once this section was cut out the plant would die, so it was an 'only eat if essential' option.

 Cheese Tree

Glochidion ferdinandi

  Interesting facts

The seeds of this tree are a very popular food source for many birds.

 Climbing Guinea Flower

Hibbertia scandens

  Interesting facts

The closer they are to the ocean the hairier they tend to be.

 Clustered Darwinia

Darwinia fascicularis

  Interesting facts

'Fascicularis' refers to the bundle of fowers similar to Roman 'fasces', a bundle of rods with axe in the middle.

 Coastal Tea-tree

Leptospermum laevigatum

  Interesting facts

This is a very pretty coastal dune plant that has attractive, unassuming white flowers.

 Coastal Wattle

Acacia sophorae

  Interesting facts

This particular wattle (Acacia) has flowers that cluster in a finger-like shape (as opposed to little round pom-pom shaped wattle flowers that we often see). An important point to note about the wattle that are finger-shaped is to NOT burn the wood, as it releases a poisonous vapour. If however the wattle (Acacia) have bright green leaves and round pom-pom flowers then the seeds are good to eat and the gum is good to eat. You can mix the gum with bush honey and Lilli Pillis to make a protein rich snack that keeps fresh for weeks. Also, when you burn the wood of this plant it is not poisonous.

 Dusky Coral-pea

Kennedia rubicunda

  Interesting facts

Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?

 Forest Grass Tree

Xanthorrhoea media

  Interesting facts

This is a multi-functional plant. The base of the leaves were eaten, flowers contain nectar that is favoured by animals including the pygmy possum and many birds. The nectar was also used to make a sweet drink by placing the flower head in water and soaked. The flower spikes were used to make spears, however the spears were not ones for adult hunting purposes, they were small, 'soft' spears that were used for 'kids'. The children were given these spears to practice throwing and catching spears as the impact was not signficant, and would not likely injure a child.

 Forest Oak

Allocasuarina torulosa

  Interesting facts

This tree indicates richer soils. The cones are very round.

 Fuchsia Heath

Epacris longiflora

  Interesting facts

This plant has very attractive pink bell-like flowers that hang neatly in rows. The design is often used in decorative arts as it is so pretty.

 Golden Prickly Wattle

Acacia brownii

  Interesting facts

This particular wattle (Acacia) has the little round pom-pom shaped flowers (as opposed to wattle flowers that cluster in a finger-like shape). This wattle (Acacia) as with any wattle that have bright green leaves and round pom-pom flowers -  the seeds are good to eat and the gum is good to eat. You can mix the gum with bush honey and Lilli Pillis to make a protein rich snack that keeps fresh for weeks. Also, when you burn the wood of this plant it is not poisonous. However an important point to note about the wattle that are finger-shaped is to NOT burn the wood, as it releases a poisonous vapour.

 Grey Ironbark

Eucalyptus paniculata

  Interesting facts

These trees indicate rich soils, and have incredibly hard timber. The timber from these trees were often used to make things like shields due to the hard nature of the timber.

 Grey Spider-flower

Grevillea buxifolia

  Interesting facts

This plant mainly flowers Jul-Dec, howver it often has a few flowers at other times of the year also. Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?

 Gymea Lily

Doryanthes excelsa

  Interesting facts

Gymea Lillis grow on really good soils (sandy soils with clay, damp soils). So if you see them you know the soil is good and more fertile. When the tops begin to bud-up it is an indication the whales are migrating north past our eastern shores and when the flowers are in full bloom, it is an indication the whales are migrating south. The spikes were also eaten by Aboriginal people and the roots were also after roasting.

 Hairpin Banksia

Banksia spinulosa

  Interesting facts

Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?

 Heath Banksia

Banksia ericifolia

  Interesting facts

The flowers on this plant produce large quantities of honey-like liquid. It is deliciously sweet and eagerly sought after by honeyeaters and any in-the-know human! Aboriginies also mixed the nectar with water for a deliciously sweet drink.

 Lilly Pilly

Acmena smithii

  Interesting facts

This is a beautiful Australian native fruit. The fruits are small and vary in colour, however they are mostly pink. These fruits were eaten raw by Aboriginies traditionally and can/are eaten by anyone today! The Lilly Pilly fruit is an important food source for many animals including rosellas, bower birds and flying foxes. These are fantastic fruits to experiment with making your own jams and conserves.

 Long-leaf Coneseeds

Conospermum longifolium

  Interesting facts

An unassumingly beautiful little flower on this plant, it is quite a variable species with a number of different leaf forms.

 Myrtle Wattle

Acacia myrtifolia

  Interesting facts

Another beautiful local wattle tree. Do you have anything interesting to tell us about this particular tree?

 Pink Spider-flower

Grevillea sericea

  Interesting facts

Interestingly the 'leaf' shape of this plant varies between those growing in clay to those growing in sand.

 Pink Wax-flower

Eriostemon australasius

  Interesting facts

This is a very common plant, very widespread in the Sydney district and flourishes amongst sandstone. The pink flowers attract insects, which in turn get eaten by small birds, so they are a great habitat plant for your garden, and beautiful.

 Pinnate Boronia

Boronia pinnata

  Interesting facts

This is an attractive little shrub with pink flowers. The leaves are pinnate, meaning they resemble feathers and the pinnate leaves have a strong aroma.

 Prickly Moses

Acacia ulicifolia

  Interesting facts

Another beautiful local Wattle tree, slightly prickly leaves with small lemon coloured pom-pom flowers.

 Red Spider-flower

Grevillea speciosa

  Interesting facts

This is a heath plant only found in sandstone north of Sydney. It is aptly named the Red Spider-flower due to the appearance of its flower.

 River Mangrove

Aegiceras corniculatum

  Interesting facts

As is often the characteristic of mangrove trees, this plant also has breathing tubes in the mud. It also has yellow flowers and rounded fruits.

 Rock Orchid

Dendrobium speciosum

  Interesting facts

This gorgeous little plant is the most spectacular of the local species and is mostly found in moist protected forests.

 Scribbly Gum

Eucalyptus haemastoma

  Interesting facts

The most distinctive feature on this tree is the intricate 'scribbly' design on the bark, which is caused by the larvae of the Scribble Moth.

 Scrub She-oak (female)

Allocasuarina distyla

  Interesting facts

This grows to 3m, so it is distinguishable by its height. The female Scrub She-oak is inconspicuous, the male flowers are more obvious to identify the tree, abundant male flowers that look like rusty dots along the cladodes (needle leaves).Female flowers from Jul-Nov. Male flowers in May.

 Scrub She-oak (male)

Allocasuarina distyla

  Interesting facts

This grows to 3m, so it is distinguishable by its height. Abundant male flowers that look like rusty dots along the cladodes (needle leaves). The female Scrub She-oak is inconspicuous, the male flowers are more obvious to identify the tree. Female flowers from Jul-Nov.

 Silky Needle-bush

Hakea sericea

  Interesting facts

This plant has a medicinal use against warts. Traditionally, this plant was used to reduce and elimiate warts by sticking the needle of the plant into the base of warts.

 Silky Purple-flag, Native Iris

Patersonia Sericea

  Interesting facts

The flowering of this plant is a seasonal indicator that winter has arrived.

 Spike Wattle

Acacia oxycedrus

  Interesting facts

The Spike Wattle is the only Sydney wattle with a combination of pungent phyllodes and flower spikes. A phyllode is flattened leafstalk that resembles and functions as a leaf.

 Swamp Mahogany

Eucalyptus robusta

  Interesting facts

A key species for the birds and flying foxes as it is the only significant flowering tree on the coast. Found in swampy forests near estuaries.

 Swamp Oak (She Oak)

Casuarina glauca

  Interesting facts

This plant is wind pollinated and the fruit is a woody cone.

 Sweet-scented Wattle

Acacia suaveolens

  Interesting facts

Aptly named 'sweet-scented' the flowers of this plant are highly scented.

 Sydney Boronia

Boronia ledifolia

  Interesting facts

This is one of the most well-known and conspicuous wildflowers of the national parks. It has bright pink flowers with 4 spreading petals. When you see these plants, crush a small handful of leaves and smell the lovely strong scent.There are approximately 95 species in the Boronia genus. All but one occur only in Australia.

 Sydney Golden Wattle

Acacia longifolia

  Interesting facts

This particular wattle (Acacia) has flowers that cluster in a finger-like shape (as opposed to little round pom-pom shaped wattle flowers that we often see). An important point to note about the wattle that are finger-shaped is to NOT burn the wood, as it releases a poisonous vapour. If however the wattle (Acacia) have bright green leaves and round pom-pom flowers then the seeds are good to eat and the gum is good to eat. You can mix the gum with bush honey and Lilli Pillis to make a protein rich snack that keeps fresh for weeks. Also, when you burn the wood of this plant it is not poisonous.

 Trim Greenhood, Orchid

Pterostylis concinna

  Interesting facts

Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?

 Wedding Bush

Ricinocarpus pinifolius

  Interesting facts

The common name 'Wedding Bush' is derived from the showy mass of white flowers. In traditional times, Aboriginal people would marry at the time this plant was flowering; if however they did not get along, they were unable to separate until the plant was flowering at the same time the following year.

 White Correa

Correa alba

  Interesting facts

This is a fantastic plant for coastal gardens as it is highly tolerant to salt spray.

 Yellow-top Ash

Eucalyptus luehmanniana

  Interesting facts

This plant is a mallee - and is on the rare species list because of its restricted range and scattered and isolated populations. The fruit of this species appeared on the original five dollar note! It is restricted to sandstone areas of Sydney between Gosford and O'Hares Creek (Darkes Forest).

Updated: 10 Oct 2011