Maireana pyramidata, the Black Bluebush or Sago Bush in winter. Fruits are yellow with a raised pyramid shaped centre, drying to black, giving the plant its scientific and common names. Prevalent in chenopod country throughout the Flinders Ranges, this plant provides habitat for birds such as the Variegated Fairy Wren and reptiles such as the Bearded Dragon.
Three-winged Bluebush (Maireana triptera) with red-orange fruit drying to black seed in Arkaroola, in July.
Canonball (Dissocarpus paradoxa) fruit grows in wooly white balls and dries into a formidable spined burr, 10mm in diameter. Also known as Ball Bindyi.
Fruiting Three-spined Poverty Bush, Scleroleana tricupis, thriving in the salty damp banks of Copley Retention Dam.
Some Chenopods in the Flinders Ranges take on a winter blush of pinks, reds and purples.
Various forbs in the Chenopodiaceae family including Maireana and its more prickly cousin Scleroleana, growing radiantly in the clay soaks of the Copley Retention Dam inlet.
The succulent Southern Bluebush, Maireana astrotricha, is one of the many Chenopods of the Flinders Ranges. Chenopods have small flowers without petals, which are wind pollinated, producing colourful winged fruit that may appear to be the flower of the plant. This Maireana grows on the edges of sandy dunes in the plains to the west of Wilpena Pound.
