Blue Flax Lily

Dianella caerulea

  Interesting facts

 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 liquorice scent.

 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 Lilly Pilly fruits to make a protein rich snack that keeps fresh for weeks. Also, when you burn the wood of this plant, the Blunt-leaf Wattle, it is not poisonous.

 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.

 Box-leaf Wax-flower

Eriostemon buxifolius

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

 Bracelet Honey-myrtle

 Melaleuca armillaris

  Interesting facts
The Melaleuca armillaris has the conservation status in NSW as an ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY (EEC). When a plant is listed as an EEC it means that it is either endangered or presumed extinct or vulnerable. This plant is a great food source for birds, insects and possums as it produces a great deal of nectar. This is a beautiful plant to put in your garden if you have the space giving the added benefit of enhancing the local bushland and providing essential habitat for our feathered friends and small creatures.

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

 Christmas Bell

 Blandfordia 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.

 Climbing Guinea Flower

 Hibbertia scandens

  Interesting facts
The closer they are to the ocean the hairier they tend to be. Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?

 Common Red Bottlebrush

 Callistemon citrinus

  Interesting facts
The leaves are more than 6mm wide, not to be mistaken for Callistemon rigidus or subulatus. Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?

 Dusky Coral-pea

 Kennedia rubicunda

  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.

 Dwarf Apple

 Angophora hispida

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

 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.

 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 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 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.

 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.

 Hyacinth Orchid, blotched

 Dipodium punctatum

  Interesting facts
There are a number of Australian native orchids and the Blotched Hyacinth Orchid is a real pretty pink flower with purple blotches. Be aware however, as myth would have it, if you remove a native orchid from its natural place in the environment you will lose the ability to enjoy the beautiful things in life. So enjoy them where you find them and leave them in peace.

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

 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.

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

 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. 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?

 Sarsaparilla, Sweet

 Smilax glyciphylla

  Interesting facts
Simply chew the leaves for a refreshing experience (like bush toothpaste) or soak the leaves in boiled water for an aromatic drink.This is an all year round plant - whilst it officially flowers from Oct-Dec, the leaves of this plant are readily functional all year round.

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.

 Silky Purple-flag, Native iris

 Patersonia sericea

  Interesting facts
The flowering of this plant is a seasonal indicator that winter has arrived. Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?

 Smooth-barked Apple

 Angophora costata

  Interesting facts
Known as the tree that is best captures the essence of Sydney bushland. Do you have any interesting facts to share about this plant?

 Snow-in-Summer

 Melaleuca linariifolia

  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?

 Turpentine

 Syncarpia glomulifera

  Interesting facts
Syncarpia refers to 'united fruits' a spaceship shaped fruit (fun for the kids). This tree also signifies rich soils. It is also one of the hardest timbers, termite resistant and used by Indigenous people for carving tools, shields due to its strength.

 Waratah

Telopea speciosissima

  Interesting facts
Floral emblem of NSW. The Botanical name means 'most beautiful species seen from afar'. The flower head is actually made of up to 250 individual flowers.The nectar of this flower was treated respectfully and for specific reasons by the D'harawal People.

 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.

 Woody Pear

 Xylomelum pyriforme

  Interesting facts
Aptly named the Woody Pear this plant produces the most stunning perfectly 'pear' shaped wooden seed pods. One could be mistaken in thinking it was in fact a fruit. The pear-shaped seeds split open to expose a beautiful colour graded wood lining, in which the seed sits.

 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).