Blue Flax Lily

 Dianella caerulea

  Interesting facts
The Dianella plant has many uses both traditionally and today. The leaves can be split, dried, coloured and used to weave baskets and other items. A skilled weaver can make the most amazing types of different items that, if done well, can be incredibly durable and weather resistant. The blue-purple berries of the Dianella are often in abundance and they can either be eaten raw off the plant or used to prepare jams and conserves or any other ways your imagination can use to cook with them. The carefully prepared berry is also a great dye.

 Blunt Leaf Wattle

 Acacia obtusifolia

  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 poisenous 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 poisenous.

 Bonnet Orchid

 Cryptostylis erecta

  Interesting facts

The Bonnet Orchid is easily identified by its distinctive upright hood. They do not transplant at all, so please leave them in peace if you see them in the natural environment.

 Cheese Tree

 Glochidion ferdinandi

  Interesting facts
The seeds of this tree are a very popular food source for many birds. Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?   

 Christmas Bell

 Blrandfordia nobilis

  Interesting facts
The delicate red bell-like flowers of the species are a delight that bloom around Christmas time. Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?   

 Christmas Bush

 Ceratopetalum gummiferum

  Interesting facts

Oct-Nov - flowers - white flower. Dec-Jan sepals turn red, white flower drops off. A sepal is the hard petal-like section under the flower. Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?   

 Coast Banksia

 Banksia integrifolia

  Interesting facts

The Coast Wattle is one of the more common wattles in the local area. The flowers are a very important source of nectar for birds. This is a great plant to use in your garden to enhance biodiversity habitat and bring birds to your garden.

 Flannel Flowers

 Actinotus helianthi

  Interesting facts
Whilst this plant mainly flowers from Sep - Jan, it can flower all year. It has the most divinely soft, gentle flowers, hence the name 'flannel'. The flowers are subtly pale with green tips. It is said that traditionally, the moisture was collected off these flowers just before sunrise and given to someone who was suffering emotional trauma.

 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.

 Grey Gum

 Eucalyptus punctata

  Interesting facts
SUPER animal food, most Australian fauna love this tree including Koalas and grey-headed fruit bats. These trees indicate rich soils. Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?   

 Grey Mangrove

Avicennia marina

  Interesting facts

This is the most common mangrove in Sydney. Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?   

 Hyacinth Orchid, Blotched

 Dipodium punctatum

  Interesting facts
Myth would have it, if you remove a native orchid from its native place you will lose the ability to enjoy the beautiful things in life. So enjoy them where you find them and leave them in peace.

 Hyacinth Orchid, Rosy

 Dipodium roseum

  Interesting facts
The Hyacinth orchid is a saprophyte, which means it is a leafless plant which obtains nourishment from decaying wood or plant matter, usually in association with a fungus.

 Large-leaf Banksia

Banksia robur

  Interesting facts
This is a very strong plant, hence the name 'robur' which is latin for 'strength'. Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?   

 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.

 Mountain Devil, Honey Flower

 Lambertia formosa

  Interesting facts
This flower produces a delicious, sweet honey-nectar for honeyeaters. Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?   

 Narrow-leaf Geebung

 Persoonia linearis

  Interesting facts
Easily identified by the very black flaky bark that has important medicinal properties. When scratched off there is a very vibrant red colour underneath.

 Narrow-leaf Platysace

 Platysace linearifolia

  Interesting facts
If you crush the leaves of this plant it smells like carrot. The reason being, it belongs to the family which includes the carrot, as well as fennel, parsnip and celery.

 Pig Face

 Carpobrotus glaucescens

  Interesting facts
One of the most pretty little plants by the coast. Strangely named Pig Face, although the daisy like flowers are round and pink! Traditionally, when the flower starts to wane, they were plucked and a sweet succulent juice sucked out the bottom of the plant.

 Red Bloodwood

 Corymbia gummifera

  Interesting facts
The word gummifera means 'sap'. Easily identified by its bell shaped gumnuts.  The sap is eaten by Gliders. Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?   

 Rough-barked Apple

 Angophora floribunda

  Interesting facts
This tree also indicates good soils and attracts insects and honey-eaters. Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?   

 Sandpaper Fig

 Ficus coronata

  Interesting facts
Figs flowers are internal, pollinated by tiny wasps, that enter and exit the fig from the small opening on top of the fruit (opposite to where the stalk is). Indigenous women would use the rough leaves to remove hair from their legs prior to making rope which entailed rubbing bark along their thighs. Also used for sanding wooden weapons.

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

 Snow-in-Summer

 Melaleuca linarifolia

  Interesting facts
This tree is the main source for tea-tree oil. It is not greatly common in this region, but it does exist in this region. Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?