Coral Gum, Eucalyptus torquata, flowering in the southern Flinders Ranges in September.
Coral Gum
Acacia Victoriae
Acacia victoriae is prolific in the Flinders Ranges, flowering profusely in spring. Also known as the Elegant Acacia or Prickly Wattle, seeds are harvested to make flour and the gum is also edible.
Spider nest in Hakea Ednieana
Golden Wattle: Pichi Richi Pass
Acacia pycnantha, the Golden Wattle, flowering in the Pichi Richi Pass south of Quorn in early Spring.
Flinders Ranges Hakea
Spiny leaves of young and well-watered Hakea ednieana, also known as Corktree, in Brachina Gorge.
Plants of Outback South Australia: new edition
After nearly 15 years out of print, the second, fully revised edition of Plants of Outback South Australia has been published. A collaboration between the State Herbarium of South Australia (Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium) and the Pastoral Unit (Department for Environment and Water), this is a key field guide to South Australia’s arid lands.
Kurrajong Bag Moth shelter
The Kurrajong Bag Moth, or Kurrajong Leaf-tier Moth larvae creates a shelter by binding leaves with silken thread. This moth is associated with Brachychitons which are typically found in Queensland, but also seen as far south as Victoria, and here in the northern Flinders Ranges. For more information, check out One Minute Bugs by Dennis Crawford.
Native Apricot
Although the Pittosporum augustifolium is known as the Native Apricot, it is poisonous to humans. Commonly seen on clay, stony and sandy soils and often around creeks and gullies.
Black Oak leaves
Casuarina pauper is also known as Black Oak, Scrub Sheoak, Bulloak, Belah, and Alku. Casuarinas belong to an ancient family of plants with foliage consisting of segmented waxy photosynthetic branchlets commonly referred to as needles. Tiny leaves form a crown, or teeth-like ring, at the branchlet joints. New growth was observed in mid-summer at Ikara-Wilpena Pound.
Emu scat
The diverse Emu diet includes the seeds of a wide range of plants in the Flinders Ranges including Sandalwood, Quandong, Nitrebush, Eremophilas, Myoporum and Ruby Saltbush. Emus carry seeds in their gut from 3 hours to 10 months (depending on the type of seed) and can walk 13.5 km daily, making them significant agents of seed dispersal.
