Spiny-Headed Mat Rush
Botanical
Name
|
Lomandra
longifolia
|
Common
Name
|
Spiny-headed
Mat-rush
|
Family
Name
|
Xanthorrhoeaceae
|
Description
|
Large
tussock forming plant with strap-like leaves.
|
Habitat
|
Woodland
|
Endangered
|
Common
|
Plant
Type
|
Rush
|
Comments
|
A commonly
used plant in the landscape.
|
Plant
size
|
0.5-1m x
0.5-1.2m
|
Foliage
|
Smooth
tough bright green strap-like leaves to 12 mm in width. Leaf tips have 2 or 3
teeth.
|
Flower
|
Numerous
clusters of sessile, scented yellowish flowers with purpulish bases, arranged
in whorled panicles to 15 cm length. Male and female flowers are on separate
spikes. Flower from September to December.
|
Aboriginal
Use
|
The
leaves were used to weave bags and baskets.
|
Information
Source
|
Flora of
Melbourne
|
Fruit
|
Shiny greenish
brown or brownish-orange capsules that remain on plant for most of the year.
|
Growth
Rate
|
Fast
|
Tolerances
|
Wet Dry
Shade
|
Black Anther Flax-Lily
Botanical Name
|
Dianella revoluta
|
Common Name
|
Black-anther Flax-lily
|
Family Name
|
Liliaceae
|
Description
|
A robust spreading tufted perennial
with strap-like leaves.
|
Habitat
|
Plains Grassland and woodland.
|
Endangered
|
Common
|
Plant Type
|
Lily
|
Comments
|
Widely used in revegetation work,
this plant is a very useful and attractive drought tolerant plant for the
garden.
|
Plant size
|
0.3-1m x 0.5-2.5m
|
Foliage
|
Linear, dark green strap-like
leaves up to 70cm in length. The leaf margins are recurved and finely
serrated.
|
Flower
|
Blue flowers with yellow stamen are
held in a loose to dense panicle on branching stems to 1m in height.
Flowering from August to May.
|
Aboriginal Use
|
The berries were eaten when ripe
and the berries were also used to make a dye. The leaves were made into
string.
|
Information Source
|
Flora of Melbourne
|
Fruit
|
Small, shiny dark blue berries are
produced.
|
Growth Rate
|
Medium
|
Tolerances
|
Wet Dry
Coastal Shade
|
Hop Goodenia
Botanical Name: Goodenia ovata
Family: Goodeniaceae
Size: 1-2.5 × 1-3m
Form & Flowers: Open, sprawling shrub
with shiny, light-green leaves. Bright-yellow asymmetrical flowers appear in
spring and summer.
Situation: Protected position, semi-shade, moist
soils.
Comments: Fast-growing ornamental plant. Hardy,
tolerant of drought, poor drainage, full sun and full shade.
Straggly
growth can be overcome by pruning.
Wildlife: Food plant for insect-eating birds.
Drooping Sheoak
Botanical
Name: Allocasuarina verticillata
Family: Casuarinaceae
Size: 4-11 × 3-6m
Form & Flowers: Erect tree with slender,
weeping, greyish-green foliage. Dense yellow-brown spikes of male flowers and
tiny red female flowers appear in autumn through to spring. Flowers are
followed by oval seed cones.
Situation: Open position; full sun; dry, well-drained soils.
Comments: Fast-growing, ornamental, hardy tree.
Tolerant
of drought, poor drainage and semi-shade.
Attractive
when in flower, and effective in group plantings. A
useful
windbreak tree.
Wildlife: Food plant for seed-eating birds.
Blue Devil
Botanical
Name Eryngium ovinum
Family
Name Apiaceae
Description A stiff prickly perennial herb with ribbed stems
and metallic blue flowers.
Habitat Plains grassland
Endangered Common
Plant
Type Herb
Comments A
hardy and useful plant for its interesting foliage and floral display.
Plant
size 10-60cm x 30-50cm
Foliage Prickly
basal leaves long and finely divided to 10-25cm in length. The stem leaves are
shorter than the basal leaves.
Flower The
flower heads are rather globular in shape to 25mm in width with rigid, sharply
pointed bracts. The flowerheads are metallic blue to purple in colour.
Flowering from August to February.
