Ellura Sanctuary, Swan Reach, SA, 5354
                      
 
Stat'NotesThumbnails: 541.   45 native species (12 introduced) listed, with 33 natives (11 introduced) from Ellura
Plants (Plantae) - Land Plants (Charophyta) - Land Plants (Equisetopsida) - Sunflowers (Asterales) - Daisy (Asteraceae); 57 species, 44 from Ellura
Daisies have compound flowers, made up of tiny flowers (called "Florets") inside a larger cluster. As such, Daisy flowers are often referred to as "Flower Heads".
The petals are often from only one side of the external florets, with internal florets often not having any petals at all. Different species can have different arrangements of petals.
They are respresented on 2 pages here, as they can be tiny (on our Small Plants ... Daisy Page, or Bushes (on our Shrubs page).
Swamp Star
Actinobole uliginosum


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Other Common NamesCamel Dung, Cotton Weed or Flannel Cudweed

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

These are tiny little plants that look more like moss or new seedlings, rather than mature daisies.
They don't seem to have a traditional buds, where the bud comes out then opens. It seems more like the flower grows from within the leaves & pushes out already formed.
On our facebook group, Friends of Ellura, we asked members to come up with a better common name for this beaut little plant.
Ian Gibbins (a strong contributor to our web site) responded with a translation of the latin name:
"actin" means starry or having radiating rays;
"bole" = lump;
"uliginosum" means from the marsh or swamp.
So suggested "Swamp Star". Thank you Ian

While we don't have any swamps on Ellura, we only see this plant when we've had heavy rainfalls in summer & autumn. We also only find them in one spot, in our wettest depression. As such (from both our experience & the latin name), they clearly like wet areas; so we are very lucky to have a patch on Ellura adding to our extensive biodiversity.
Imaged 21(1B,3Fl,1Fr) in Jun(1), Jul(2), Aug(7), Sep(9:1B,3Fl,1Fr), Oct(1) & Nov(1)
Several
Profile
Small patch
Bud
Flowers, ~3mm wide
Gone to Seed
Compared to Stonecrop
Hairy Cup-flower
Angianthus tomentosus


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Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

For years we thought these were Lemon Beauty Heads (Calocephalus citreus).
But they flower at different times of the year.
We suspect, due to the dry conditions, they are much smaller than specimens we've seen elsewhere, hence their flower heads are sometimes round rather than elongated.
Imaged 54(22B,12Fl,4Fr) in Jan(3), Feb(1Fr), May(1), Jun(1), Aug(11:9B), Sep(11:8B,1Fl), Oct(16:4B,6Fl), Nov(5:3Fl) & Dec(5:1B,2Fl,3Fr)
Young Plants Starting to Bud
Starting to Bud
🔍Budding Plants with Golden Sunrays
🔍Plants in Bud
🔍Large Bud
Buds
🔍Tiny Plant in Flower
🔍Medium Plant in Flower
🔍Plants in Flower
🔍Big Patch of Flowering Plants
Multiple Flower Heads per Plant
Tiny Flower Heads
🔍Medium Flower Head
🔍Large Flower Head
In Seed
Plants Seeded
Flower Head Seeded
Capeweed
Arctotheca calendula


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Thank you Dianne Clarke for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 5(1Fl) in Sep(1), Oct(2) & Nov(2:1Fl)
Distressed
Habit, healthy, ~150mm high
Leaf
Bud
Flower, ~50mm wide
Flower, under
Wirewort
Asteridea athrixioides


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Similar Species: Little Button (Leptorhynchos tetrachaetus)
Thank you Margaret Langley for confirming the id of this species for us

Can be confused with Billy Buttons. Instead of the compound flower head being a whole ball, it's half a yellow ball, with a green hairy cup under.
The cup is hard to see from above. The compound flowers show many patterns through their short life, hence the large quantity of photos.
They have hairy succulent green basal leaves.
Kym Nicolson highlighted to us that Billy Buttons have a much thicker peduncle (flower stalk) than either Wireworts or Little Buttons.
We recently photographed Billy Buttons, for the first time, and realised they are massively larger than the other 2 species mentioned.
We found, what we suspect to be, a mutated form of Asteridea athrixioides caused by fungal attack at the roots. One we pulled up to send in to the SA Herbarium was covered in white fungus; and sprintails (which eat fungus). Thanks to Peter Lang for helping with these. We found a couple of specimens last year. This year we've found over 20.
Imaged 82(15B,29Fl,7Fr) in Feb(1Fr), Mar(1), Apr(1), May(1Fl), Jun(1:1B,1Fl), Jul(6:3B,2Fl), Aug(13:7B,2Fl), Sep(25:2B,15Fl), Oct(29:1B,7Fl,3Fr) & Nov(4:1B,1Fl,3Fr)
🔍Mature Plant, profile
Mature Plant, above
Leaf
Bud
🔍Field
🔍Patch
Blooming
🔍Blooming, profile
Blooming
Blooming
Blooming
Blooming
Blooming
Blooming
Blooming
Bloomed
🔍Bloomed, profile
Seeding
Seeding
Seeding
Seeding
Seeds
Dispersed
🔍Mutated S1, Whole
🔍Mutated S1, Flower
🔍Mutated S2, profile
🔍Mutated S2, closer
🔍Mutated S3, above
🔍Mutated S3, profile
🔍Mutated S5, profile
Dwarf Button-flower
Blennospora drummondii


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Other Common NameDwarf Beauty-heads

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli & Margaret Langley for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 4 in Aug(2) & Oct(2)
🔍Patch
🔍Patch
🔍Bud
🔍Florets
🔍Going to Seed
Rayless Fringed Daisy
Brachyscome ciliaris var brachyglossa


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SynonymBrachycome ciliaris var brachyglossa

Thank you Karen Weaving for confirming the id of this species for us

This is a very interesting plant.
In the 2010 survey of the Murray Mallee, it was removed from the project area as "variety will disappear - mutant"
However, more recently in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, vol 28, 2014,1-219, Short noted:
"The combination of highly reduced ray corollas and a distinctive leaf morphology indicate that this is a taxon well-worthy of recognition."
Seeds of SA has it as Rare in our region and yet Atlas doesn't recognise it.
Imaged 7 in Jul(1), Aug(4) & Sep(2)
🔍Habit
🔍Leaves
🔍Flower, above
🔍Flower, profile
Variable Daisy
Brachyscome ciliaris var ciliaris


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Thank you Karen Weaving for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 53(6B,18Fl,7Fr) in Feb(1), Mar(2), Apr(3), May(1Fl), Jun(6), Jul(5:2Fl), Aug(9:1Fl), Sep(16:4B,8Fl,4Fr), Oct(8:4Fl,1Fr) & Nov(2:2B,2Fl,2Fr)
Whole
Structure
Leaf
Bud
Bud
Bud Back
Bud Opening, Profile
Bud Opening, Above
Flower, Above
Flower, Profile
About to Seed
Woolly Variable Daisy
Brachyscome ciliaris var lanuginosa


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SynonymBrachycome ciliaris var lanuginosa

Thank you Dr Manfred Jusaitis for confirming the id of this species for us

Pale lilac flowers with about 40 petals that curl under at the tips. Yellow & pale green centre.
Green leaves are succulent and hairy.
It has a very long stem compared to the bulk of the plant.
Imaged 19(1B,7Fl,1Fr) in May(1), Jun(2), Aug(9:1B,5Fl,1Fr), Sep(4:1Fl) & Oct(3:1Fl)
Leaf
Leaf, bud stem
Flower
Dwarf Daisy
Brachyscome goniocarpa


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SynonymBrachycome goniocarpa

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming and Darren Schmitke for helping with the id of this species for us

Because this plant is so variable it was very difficult to determine.
It seems the smaller they are the less information is available.
Our specimens have very small "petals" of around 1mm, instead of 4-8mm.
Being a daisy, the "flowers" are actually many small flowers (florets) in a bunch (or flower head). The florets on the edge are the only ones with "petals", and are called Ray Florets. The "petals" on these are called Ligules.
To complicate things even further, this plant doesn't have "seeds". It has Achenes; fruit containing one seed which never opens.
We couldn't understand why the achenes (seed) could be different shape. On investigating, we cut a "seed" head in half and saw the arangement of the achenes was the reason for the different shapes. Wedge shaped in the middle (with centred hairy crown) and curved wedges on the edge (with offset hairy crown).
Imaged 16(2B,3Fl,4Fr) in Jan(1), Aug(7:1B,1Fl), Sep(5:1B,2Fl,1Fr) & Nov(3Fr)
Upright, small
Group, upright, small, with Stonecrop
Large, bushy, prostrate, size
In bud & "seed", leaves drying
Dead, "seeds" drying
Structure
Leaves
Leaf
Leaf, size
Bud Heads, size & Flower Head finished
Bud Heads & Flower Head going to seed
Flower Head, top, ~4mm wide
🔍Flower Head & Leafy Stem
Flower Head Finished
Flower Head Going to "Seed"
Achene (seed) Head
Achene Head, cut in half showing achen
Single Achene (seed), size, ~1.5mm long
Hard-headed Daisy
Brachyscome lineariloba


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SynonymBrachycome lineariloba

Other Common NamesDwarf Brachyscome or Dwarf Daisy

Thank you Dr Kym Nicolson for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 26(5B,4Fl,7Fr) in Jul(2:1B,1Fl), Aug(12:4B,3Fl,4Fr), Sep(11:3Fr) & Oct(1)
Large
Whole
New Leaf
Leaf
New Bud
Bud
Bud, back
Bud
Bud, opening
Bud, nearly open
Flower, opening
New Flower
New Flower, profile
Perspective
Flower
🔍Flower, profile
Flower, old
Flower, finishing
Going to Seed
Starting to Seed
Seeding
In Seed
In Seed, profile
Seed Drying
Seed Dispersing
Tiny Daisy
Brachyscome perpusilla


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Thank you Chris Seager for confirming the id of this species for us

Only ~30mm high. Not easy to tell when the flower turns into seed. The little flat blades with hooks on the side are the individual seeds.
Imaged 1(1Fl,1Fr) in Sep
🔍Patch
Flower/Seed
Tangled Burr-daisy
Calotis erinacea


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Thank you Dr Kym Nicolson & Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 15(2B,4Fl,3Fr) in Mar(2), Apr(2), Jul(5:2B,3Fl,2Fr), Aug(1Fr), Sep(3), Oct(1Fl) & Nov(1)
🔍Whole, HUGE
🔍Whole, Typical
🔍Leaf
🔍Flower Opening
🔍Flower
🔍Fruiting
Hairy Burr-daisy
Calotis hispidula


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Other Common NameBogan Flea

Thank you Dr Kym Nicolson for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 27(1B,3Fl,1Fr) in May(1), Jun(1B), Aug(11:1Fl), Sep(9:1Fl) & Oct(5:1Fl,1Fr)
Whole
Patch
Structure
Leaves & Stem
Different Shaped Leaves
Flower
🔍Fruit
Fruit, Back
Saffron Thistle
Carthamus lanatus


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Other Common NamesOWWW THAT HURTS!, Distaff Thistle, False Star Thistle or Woolly Star Thistle

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

A few scattered plants found & removed from Ellura
VERY prickly & stiff plant at all stages. Tall, green with cream/yellow flowers.
Prickles will go straight through leather gloves, weed bags, etc.
Imaged 5 in Apr(1), Jul(1), Oct(1) & Nov(2)
Maltese Cockspur
Centaurea melitensis


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Other Common NamesMaltese Star Thistle, Cockspur Thistle, Malta Thistle, Maltese Centaury, Napa Star Thistle, Saucy Jack, Tocalote Star Thistle, Wild Irishman, Yellow Burr Cockspur or Yellow Star Thistle

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

A spindly thistle with small, spiny flowers and stiff, tall habit
Imaged 6 in Jan(1), Apr(1), May(1), Oct(1), Nov(1) & Dec(1)
Habit
Bud
Flower
Skeleton Weed
Chondrilla juncea


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Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Often looking leafless, these aptly named weeds are noxious flowering in summer.
Yellow flower, with ridged buds, and a smooth stem. The basal leaves often dying off early leaving no trace.
~300mm high, with ~20mm diameter flowers & buds ~10mm long.
Imaged 3 in Jan(1), Mar(1) & Nov(1)
Whole
Flower
Dried Flower, Seed Starting & Bud
Dried Flower Sepals & Seed Starting
Dried Flower Sepals
Everlasting
Chrysocephalum apiculatum


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SynonymHelichrysum apiculatum

Other Common NameYellow Buttons

Thank you Alan Dandie (Alan_Dandie) for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 22(11Fl) in Jul(7:5Fl), Sep(4Fl), Oct(2), Nov(2Fl) & Dec(7)
Whole
Basal Leaves
Stem Leaves
Young Flowers
Flowers, Profile
Flowers, under
🔍Mature Flowers
Hairy Bracts
Clustered Everlasting
Chrysocephalum semipapposum
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Imaged 6(1B,2Fl) in Sep(2), Oct(1B), Nov(2:1Fl) & Dec(1Fl)
Whole
Structure
New Buds & Leaves
Bud Head Opening, Profile
Bud Head Opening, Under
Flower Head
Button Everlasting
Coronidium scorpioides


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SynonymHelichrysum scorpioides

Thank you Karen Weaving for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 3 in Oct
🔍Whole
🔍Young Flower & Stem
🔍Patch, going to seed
🔍Flower, above
🔍Flower, profile
🔍Flower, under
🔍Flower, seeding (right)
Billy Button
Craspedia variabilis


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Thank you Karen Weaving for confirming the id of this species for us

People seem to love the name of this plant. Any round flowering yellow daisy seems to get attributed to this species; but so often it's something else. It's quite a large plant compared to a wirewort. Knee high for this one, compared to angle high for wireworts. Like wireworts, these have one flower per stem. Notice here, from the underneath angle, the flower is a near complete ball.
As you can understand, from their status, not often seen in the Murraylands. Elsewhere in South Australia, they are least concern and seen often.
Imaged 3(2Fl) in Sep(2Fl) & Oct(1)
🔍Flower, profile
🔍Top of Plant, profile
🔍Base of Plant, profile
🔍Top-down view
🔍Under Flower
🔍Seeding
Elachanth
Elachanthus pusillus


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Similar Species: Grass Cushion (Isoetopsis graminifolia)
A small plant with petalless flowers.
It's florets are reminiscent of Grass Cushion, also petalless. While it's sepals look like Hard-headed Daisy.
It has cylindrical leaves. Note in one of the photo's there are lobed leaves showing. This is from a different unrelated plant.
Imaged 2 in Aug(1) & Sep(1)
🔍Whole
🔍Flowering
🔍Going to Seed
Flaxleaf Fleabane
Erigeron bonariensis


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SynonymConyza bonariensis

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Mature plant is ~300mm tall; single stemed with flowers bunching at the top.
The flowers don't have petals.
Imaged 6 in Feb(3), Mar(2) & Apr(1)
Early Budding
Later Budding (+6 days)
Fully in flower (+9 days)
Leaves
Early Buds
Flower, fully open
Flower Head, above
Flower Head, profile
Gazania
Gazania x splendens


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Other Common NameGarden Treasure Flower

Thank you Steven Molteno for identifying and Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

We thought this was Gazania linearis.
Imaged 14 in Jan(3), Feb(2), Mar(1), Apr(2), Aug(2), Sep(1), Oct(1), Nov(1) & Dec(1)
Flower
🔍Weed Art
Satin Everlasting
Helichrysum leucopsideum


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Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Long pale green oblanceolate leaves with acute tips.
Bright white/silver flowers.
Flowers can also be pink.
Imaged 40(2B,10Fl) in Jan(1), Jun(3), Aug(4), Sep(10:1B), Oct(15:1B,5Fl), Nov(5:3Fl) & Dec(2Fl)
Whole
Patch of Seedlings
Leaves & New Bud
Starting to form Buds
Small Patch Budding
Bud Forming
Bud
Bud Starting to Open
Bud Opening
Bud Opening
Flower Opening
🔍Flower Opening
Flower Opening
Flower Opening
Flower Opening
🔍Flower Opening
Flower Open
Flower Open
Flower Open
Flower Open
Flower Open
Flower Open
Flower Open & Drying Stem
Flower Open & Drying Stem
In Seed
Orange Sunray
Hyalosperma semisterile


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Other Common NameEverlasting

Thank you Dr Manfred Jusaitis for confirming the id of this species for us

Small annual with cylindrical, succulent, green leaves with golden yellow flowers.
The overall shape can vary widely, from a tiny single flower stem, thru wiry & spreading to upright and bushy.
The leaves become hairy/sparsely woolly as they grow.
The buds can be yellow thru burnt orange.
Generally it has one flower at the end of each stem from the base. Often the stem will divide to throw another flower head.
The stems go red from the base with age.
We originally thought these were Golden Sunrays (Hyalosperma glutinosum ssp glutinosum). They are very difficult to differentiate. It's possible some of these photo's still are. But we never see them have the same long thin hairless stems nor conical shaped flower heads that can be seen with Golden Sunrays.
Both have petaless flowers, with the petal looking appendages actually being bracts. So when the books say the outer bracts are brown and the inner bracts are yellow; the inner bracts are the ones that look like petals.
It's also why they are called everlasting; petals can't be dried, but bracts can.
At a guess the name comes from the burnt orange look of the buds and outer bracts. The outer bracts on Golden Sunrays are semi-transparent, tinted brown.
Imaged 76(3B,58Fl,2Fr) in Feb(2), May(1Fl), Jul(3), Aug(19:2B,13Fl), Sep(34:30Fl), Oct(16:1B,14Fl,1Fr) & Nov(1Fr)
Seedling
Short & Thin
Tall & Thin
Small & Upright
🔍Bushy, In Flower
Small, Drying & Going to Seed
Sprawling, Drying
Small, Stems going Red
Bushy, Seeding
Strange, see notes
Perspective with Wireworts
A Patch
Structure
Leaves
New Bud
Bud Growing
Bud Starting to Open
Bud Starting to Open
Bud Opening
Compound Flower Opening
Compound Flower Opening, Above
Compound Flower Opening
Internal Flowers Opening
Flower Open, Above
Flower Open, Profile
Flowers Going to Seed
Seeded
Grass Cushion
Isoetopsis graminifolia


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Other Common NameGrass Buttons

Similar Species: Elachanth (Elachanthus pusillus)
Thank you Dr Kym Nicolson & Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

As the name suggests, looks like tufts of lawn grass.
On closer inspection you can see the cylindrical, succulent, green leaves. Almost flat and wide at the base, quickly turning cylindrical. The sparse hairs start along the flat edges thinning out up the leaf.
The flowers are nearly invisible to the eye when walking past, you have to get down on your hands and knees to see them. Like all flowers in the daisy family, they are compound flowers; tiny flowers (called "Florets") inside a larger cluster.
The florets start off green and turn white with age. Because of the white flowers, we miss-identified some plants as Woolly Heads (Myriocephalus rhizocephalus); but the flowers on these are on stalks.
These are petalless flowers, with large green sepals encapsulating the florets.
The fruits are called "Achenes".
Imaged 30(4B,8Fl,1Fr) in Jun(1), Jul(4), Aug(14:3B,3Fl,1Fr), Sep(8:1B,3Fl) & Oct(3:2Fl)
Patch
Whole
In Flower
Leaf, wide at Base
Leaves
Buds
Buds Opening
Buds Opening
🔍White Florets
Swirling Florets
Green Flower Head
Yellow Florets
Perspective with Thumb
Fruit, showing hairy ends
Fruit, Profile
Little Button
Leptorhynchos tetrachaetus


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Other Common NameBeauty Buttons

Similar Species: Wirewort (Asteridea athrixioides)
Thank you (BaronSamedi ) for confirming the id of this species for us

A small, yellow flowering, annual forb with long, hairy green leaves that flatten out then roll with age. Leaf back is felted.
Starting bushy, they become slender as they flower. Their stems also turn red / copper as they age.
The flowers are identical to wireworts. We have to turn the flower over and look at the back to tell the difference. Wireworts have black, curved, hairy backs (sepals) set in greeny white wool. Little Buttons have appendages (like minute leaves) set in white wool. The appendages are copper coloured in the bud, fading to beige in the flower.
The main difference with the structure is that these have leaves up the flower stem. Whereas wireworts only have basal leaves.
We'd say these flowers are, on average, a bit smaller than wirewort flowers. Individual wireworts can be significantly larger.
Little Buttons are in bud almost from germination making them easy to ID early, unlike wireworts.
Photos concentrate on the significant changes as it grows.
Imaged 21(7B,6Fl,3Fr) in Feb(1Fr), Jul(1B), Aug(7:4B,1Fl), Sep(7:2B,3Fl), Oct(4:2Fl,1Fr) & Dec(1Fr)
Seedling already in Bud
Young
Bushy Stage
Less Dainty
Sprawling Stage
Profile, Becoming Slender
Slender, In Flower
Small Patch in Flower
A Patch in Flower
Structure & Leaves
Seedling Leaves
Mature, Flat Leaf
Felted Leaf Back
Perspective
New Bud Head with Rolled Leaf
New Bud Heads
Bud Head Growing with Stem
Bud Head
Bud Head about to flower
Compound Flower Opening
Compound Flower Opening
True Buds & Flowers
Compound Flower Open
Compound Flower Open, 2 Views
Compound Flower Bloomed
Going to Seed
Going to Seed, profile
Yam Daisy
Microseris walteri


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SynonymMicroseris lanceolata

Other Common NameMurnong

Thank you Byron Golledge for confirming the id of this species for us

Rather than a synonym, a taxon split.
Imaged 9(1B,8Fl) in Jan(1Fl), Sep(4Fl), Oct(1Fl), Nov(2:1Fl) & Dec(1:1B,1Fl)
Structure, Buds & Flower
New Flower, Above
Mature Flower, Profile
🔍Flower
Bow-flower
Millotia muelleri


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Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 15(2Fl) in Jul(1), Aug(8:1Fl), Sep(5) & Oct(1Fl)
Whole
Patch
Flowers
Tiny Bow-flower
Millotia perpusilla


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The plant itself is similar size to M. muelleri, but the stems are prostrate (low to the ground, not standing up), which are described as "limp" or "lax". Each plant is upto 15mm wide.
The flowers are also petaless, ~3mm tip to tip, but much more "cobwebby". Being a daisy it has florets, about 5 in this case, that make up the flower. All the florets curve backwards, except the one on the ground which is held in place point outwards.
We found a couple of large areas near each other, within our Callitris forest, with hundreads of plants in full flower at the begining of August.
Imaged 3 in Aug
🔍A Patch of ~6 Plants
🔍Smaller Patch of 3-4 Plants
🔍Profile
Bud Opening
🔍3 Flowers
🔍Middle Flower
Soft Millotia
Millotia tenuifolia var tenuifolia


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Thank you Alan Dandie (Alan_Dandie) for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 3(1Fl) in Aug(2) & Sep(1Fl)
🔍Profile
🔍Bud
🔍Flower, profile
🔍Flower, just opening
🔍Flower, opened
🔍Seeding
🔍Seed Head
Minnie Daisy
Minuria leptophylla


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Thank you Asimakis Patitsas for confirming the id of this species for us

Small plant with dark green succulent leaves and stem.
Large flowers, compared to plant size, with yellow centres.
Quite variable. Flowers: Pale Purple (lilac) to white. Petals narrow to wide.
Plant: Upright to sprawling (almost runner); bushy to thin/straggly.
Notice also the tips of the backs of flowers (bracts) can be red/brown or green.
Many of these variations could be different sub-species that we don't know about. However, we have seen lilac and white flowers on the same plant, so petal colour is not significant to identification.
As a compound flower, daisy flowers are often referred to as "Flower Heads". The tiny individual flowers inside the flower head are referred to as "Florets".
Notice the mutated flower here. This type of mutation is called "fasciation" and somewhat rare. But we have seen it more than once with Minnie Daisies.
You can see each floret produces one "fruit" which is a seed wrapped in an elaborate mechanism; which allows for wind & animal dispersal. It has "wings" coming from the top that catch the wind, and a leg both of which are covered in barbs to catch onto animal fur.
Imaged 39(7B,16Fl,2Fr) in Mar(1), Jun(1), Jul(4:2B), Aug(12:3B,7Fl), Sep(15:1B,5Fl), Oct(3:1Fl), Nov(2:2Fl,1Fr) & Dec(1:1B,1Fl,1Fr)
Fresh, Sprawling
Fresh, Bushy
Bushy, Above
Profile, Sprawling
Upright
🔍Every Stage at Once
Leaves
Structure
New Bud
Bud Growing
Bud Growing
White Bud Growing
Lilac Bud Growing
Lilac Bud, Petals Thickening
White Bud, One Petal Formed
Lilac Flower Starting to Open
Lilac Flower Opening
White Flower, Thin Petals
White Flower, Wide Petals
Lilac Flower, Thin Petals
Pale Purple/Blue, Wide Petals
Stamen
🔍Mutated Flower Head, Above
Fasciated Flower Head, Profile
Perspective with Thumb
🔍Seeding
Scotch Thistle
Onopordum acanthium
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Other Common NamesCotton Thistle, Giant Thistle, Heraldic Thistle, Silver Thistle or Woolly Thistle

Larger & bushier than Saffron, harsh and prickly.
Purple flowers
Imaged 2 in Jun(1) & Aug(1)
Photograph yet to be loaded.
Stemless Thistle
Onopordum acaulon


iNaturalist
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Other Common NamesFlat thistle, Horse Thistle, Stemless Onopordon or White thistle

Thank you Kai-Philipp Schablewski for confirming the id of this species for us

Scattered seedlings have been found & removed. All clear at this stage.
Seedlings are soft and easy to handle. Mature plants are very prickly & large, making removal difficult. Slow growing and easy to find seedlings with regular inspections.
Silver grey in colour and has no discernible stem
Imaged 6 in Sep(2), Oct(3) & Nov(1)
Seedling
🔍In Bud
Seeding
Wiry Podolepis
Podolepis capillaris


iNaturalist
LC
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SynonymSiemssenia capillaris

Other Common NameInvisible Plant

Thank you Byron Golledge for confirming the id of this species for us

It's hard to believe the immature plant is the same species. But Darren Schmitke has monitored the growth of one to see it go from this stage to adult, where all the leaves wither and flower stems go wiry.
With the intermediate plant shots (green plant in the background is a different species) the focus of the photos an attempt to show the species in mid-cycle; from all leaves to no leaves.
Imaged 6(1B,1Fl) in Jul(2:1B,1Fl) & Sep(4)
🔍Immature/Leafy Plant
🔍Intermediate Plant in profile
🔍Intermediate Plant from above
🔍Mature Plant
🔍Flower Bud
🔍Flower
🔍Flower Calyx
Pleated Copper-wire Daisy
Podolepis rugata var rugata


iNaturalist
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Other Common NamePleated Podolepis

A single bright yellow flower on top of copper coloured wiry stems.
We have one plant (type2) that looks identical to all the other's except for the flowers. It's quite distinct, being larger, with longer petals (in relation to size) that are "untidy". The usual one (type1) is very neat with it's petals arranged very symmetrically.
It's possible Type 2 is a different variety that we haven't identified yet.
The plant base bulks up over winter and then thins out while flowering; looking half dead. The flower heads stay on the plant 'till the next season; well after they've seeded and shrivelled to black, only pushing them out when the new buds form.
Imaged 40(7B,15Fl,4Fr) in Jan(1Fr), Apr(2:1Fr), Jun(1), Jul(3), Aug(6:2B,1Fr), Sep(6:3B), Oct(19:2B,14Fl), Nov(1Fl) & Dec(1Fr)
🔍Bulked up
🔍New Buds
New Buds Green Stems
Plant Fully Budding
🔍Bud
Plant Flowering
Type 1 Flower
🔍Type 1 vs Type 2
Leaves & Copper Stem
Plant Finished Flowering
Finished Flowering Pre Seeding
🔍About to Seed
🔍Seed Head
🔍Back of Seed Head
🔍Several Seed Heads
🔍Seeds Falling
Almost Seeded
Seeded
🔍Seed Heads Dried
Delicate Copper-wire Daisy
Podolepis tepperi


iNaturalist
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SynonymHelichrysum tepperi

Other Common NameDelicate everlasting

Thank you Margaret Langley for confirming the id of this species for us

A very small Podolepis; normally associated with plants that are over knee high, these are barely higher than our fingers.
The flowers are petaless, showing only the anther & stigma over the top of the sepals.
The stems have distinctive cauline leaves at the stem junctions/branches which are "cobwebby".
Basal leaves form a rosette which are very hairy.
Plants in the patch we found were up to 50mm high (to flower tips) and 10 to 20 mm wide at the basal leaves.
Being so small they are easily overlooked. Very abundant in the same area as Swamp Stars and Bow-flowers.
Imaged 9 in Jul(1), Aug(6) & Sep(2)
🔍Patch
🔍Hairy Plants
🔍Basal Leaves
🔍Cauline Leaves - Top
🔍Cauline Leaves - Under
🔍Flower - profile
Flower - above
Stiff Cup-flower
Pogonolepis muelleriana


iNaturalist
LC
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SynonymAngianthus strictus

Other Common NameStiff Angianthus

A tiny plant that you could confuse with Moss.
Has pointed leaves that quickly die as it buds and flowers.
Has white hairy buds that turn into yellow flower heads (compound flowers).
The outer bracts (backs of flowers) look just like the young leaves. Perhaps they are? They get red/brown tips as they age.
The inner bracts are flat, smooth & pearl coloured with white hairy edges (margins). Very difficult to see, even in the photo's.
Generally has a sprawling habit, but the flower heads always point upwards.
Imaged 24(3B,6Fl) in Jul(2), Aug(5:1B), Sep(12:2B,4Fl) & Oct(5:2Fl)
Seedling Patch
Seedling, Pale Stem
Seedling, Red Stem
Seedling Structure
Seedling Spines
Budding, Loosing Leaves
Small, In Bud
Large, In Bud
Large, Flowering
Profile, Large, In Flower
Medium, In Flower
Drying Leaves
New Bud
Bud
Bud almost Flowering
New Flower
🔍Full Flower
Flower showing Florets & Bracts
Flower starting to Dry
Poached-egg Daisy
Polycalymma stuartii


iNaturalist
LC
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SynonymMyriocephalus stuartii

Other Common NamesPoached Eggs or Dead Paper Daisy

Thank you Karen Weaving for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 6 in Apr(1), Sep(3) & Oct(2)
🔍Whole, profile
Field, with Podolepis & Pigface
Structure
Leaves
Flower, under
Flower, profile
🔍Flower, above
Cud-daisy
Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum


iNaturalist
LC
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SynonymHelichrysum luteoalbum

Other Common NameJersey Cudweed

Thank you A O'Brien for confirming the id of this species for us

~170mm tall.
Unusually for this species we just found one specimen, in a very heavy rainfall year. Often they'd blanket an area. This gave us the opportunity to get the full plant characterised without others interfering.
In wetter areas the leaves look smoother & juicier, but are still actually quite thin.
Imaged 9(4B,6Fl,1Fr) in May(3:1B,1Fl,1Fr), Oct(1Fl), Nov(2:2B,2Fl) & Dec(3:1B,2Fl)
🔍S8, Whole, profile
🔍S8, Whole, above
🔍S8, Bud, Flower, Seeded
🔍S8, Stem Leaf
🔍S3, Patch
🔍S4, Leaf in Moist Area
False Sowthistle
Reichardia tingitana


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Thank you Alan Dandie (Alan_Dandie) for confirming the id of this species for us

In South Australia the maroon centre is diagnostic for this species.
Shown here are examples to show variation, you through struggling to thriving. Notice the young flowers have less maroon than the older ones.
Notice the unusual habit of stamen coming from behind the inner petals.
No full seed shot as we never let them get that far if we can help it. They are victim, fortunately
, to grazing, so sometimes tall and sometimes quite short.
They love our heat and can withstand the low rainfall, but then in years like this (2022) where we've had 411mm to the end of Nov, they are flourishing. They are all coming out of the woodwork, but fortunately stand out in the crowd so easy to spot to remove. We thought they had gone, but no, clearly a long lived seed bank survives.
Imaged 17(3B,5Fl,1Fr) in Jan(1), May(1), Aug(1), Sep(1), Oct(6:1B,2Fl), Nov(6:2B,2Fl) & Dec(1:1Fl,1Fr)
In bud
🔍In flower
🔍Small, in flower
Leaf
🔍Bud
🔍Young Flower, profile
🔍Mature Flower, profile
🔍Flower, profile
🔍Young Flower, above
🔍Struggling Flower, above
🔍Healthy Mature Flower, above
Seeded
Pygmy Daisy
Rhodanthe pygmaea


iNaturalist
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SynonymHelipterum pygmaeum

Other Common NamesPygmy Paper Daisy or Pigmy Sunray

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli & Darren Fielder for confirming the id of this species for us

What a strange little plant. Most of the joys of this species came when analysing the photo's. It's too small to appreciate on the ground.
Normally the base of a daisy flower, the involucre, is inconspicuous. But, like with Senecio flowers, the involucre here is the most prominent part of the flower. The normal display parts (petals, etc) are tiny. When fertilisation is complete, the tips of the seed head (wings) protrude out the middle of the flower. Then the involucre spits open showing a dazzling white display of the seed head.
Further, the upright stems are not single plants, but many come from one plant. The red stems spread out along the ground and then bend upwards.
The leaves are felted on the back.
Imaged 12(1B,2Fl,2Fr) in Jul(2:1B,1Fl), Aug(6:1Fl,1Fr) & Sep(4:1Fr)
Plant
Spreading Habit
Spreading Habit, Profile
A Dense Patch
A Patch going to Seed
Basal Leaves
Head Leaves & Buds
Bud & Flower, Profile
Bud & Flower, Above
Flowers, Leaves & Bud, Above
About to Seed, Above
About to Seed, Profile
The Involucre Splitting Open
🔍Seed Head
Creeping Groundsel
Senecio angulatus


iNaturalist
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Thank you (InsideRelic) for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 2 in Jun(1) & Jul(1)
🔍Habit & Flower
Annual Groundsel
Senecio glossanthus


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Other Common NameSlender Groundsel

Thank you Alan Dandie (Alan_Dandie) for confirming the id of this species for us

This is a tall thin annual. The stem, which is finely hairy, starts off being green and turns red with age.
Has the typical small yellow flower and large involucre (back of flower) of senecios, that then throws large seed balls.
Leaves are stalked down the middle, dark green, heavily toothed (pointy edged) and sometimes deeply lobed (edges where a small leaflet grows from the main one).
Imaged 14(1B,7Fl,4Fr) in Jul(1Fl), Aug(9:1B,3Fl,1Fr) & Sep(4:3Fl,3Fr)
Whole
Drying
A Patch in Flower
Structure
Stem & New Bud Stalk
Lobed & Toothed Leaves
Heavily Toothed Leaf, almost lobed
Back of Leaf & New Buds
Buds, Opening & Flowers
New Flower, Profile
🔍Mature Flowers
Perspective
Starting to Seed
Seed Head
Seed size comparison
Seed Dispersing
Seed Dispersed
Scented Groundsel
Senecio odoratus


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Thank you Alan Dandie (Alan_Dandie) for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 2 in Nov
🔍Whole, in Flower
Cotton Groundsel
Senecio quadridentatus


iNaturalist
LC
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Other Common NameCotton Fireweed

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 10(7B,8Fl,5Fr) in Jan(1:1B,1Fl,1Fr), Apr(1:1Fl,1Fr), Sep(5:5B,4Fl,1Fr), Oct(1Fr) & Nov(2:1B,2Fl,1Fr)
🔍Whole
Buds, Flowers & Structure
🔍Bud & Flower
🔍Flower, profile
🔍Flower, above
Flowers Seeding & Dispersed
Flowers & Seeding
Seed Head
Variable Groundsel
Senecio spanomerus


iNaturalist
LC
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SynonymSenecio lautus

Thank you Alan Dandie (Alan_Dandie) for confirming the id of this species for us

A luscious green bush with bright yellow flowers.
Succulent, green leaves.
Generally the leaves lower leaves can be entire and hairy, with higher leaves becoming more lobed and hairless.
Imaged 33(1B,4Fl,1Fr) in Jan(2), May(1), Jun(2), Jul(5), Aug(10:3Fl), Sep(9:1B,1Fl) & Oct(4:1Fr)
Plant in bud
🔍Plant in flower
Upper Leaf
Bud & leaf
Buds
Flower
Prickly Sow Thistle
Sonchus asper


iNaturalist
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Thank you Alan Dandie (Alan_Dandie) for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 4 in Oct(1) & Nov(3)
Upper leaf, heavy rainfall
Flower, above
Flower, profile
Above
Profile
Basal Leaf
Upper Leaves
Bud
Flower
Sow Thistle
Sonchus oleraceus
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Other Common NamesCommon sow thistle or Milk Thistle

Imaged 9(2B,4Fl) in Aug(4:1Fl), Sep(1), Nov(3:2B,2Fl) & Dec(1Fl)
Photograph yet to be loaded.
Woolly Yellow-heads
Trichanthodium skirrophorum


iNaturalist
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SynonymsAngianthus codonopappus, Gnephosis codonopappa, Gnephosis codonopappus or Gnephosis skirrophora

Other Common NameWoolly Gnephosis

Thank you Stephen Fricker for confirming the id of this species for us

We've searched for a decade to identify this plant, and finally found it.
Young seedlings are easy to confuse with Hairy Cup Flower, until the buds start to show. The Hairy Cup Flower then has a lime green bud, compared with this brown & white bud.
It is a very unique plant with it's defining characteristic being it's bud, which is how it spends most of it's short life. We use the phrase "Mace Bud" to describe it. (after the medieval weapon)
Once in flower it again blends in with the Hairy Cup Flowers, Wireworts & Little Buttons.
Imaged 19(9B,2Fl,2Fr) in Aug(1B), Sep(10:6B) & Oct(8:2B,2Fl,2Fr)
Seedling
Small
Medium
Large
Profile in Flower
🔍Above in Flower
A Small Patch, in early Bud
Early Leaf
Older Leaf & Stem
Leaf & Stem Near the End, In Flower
Earliest Bud
Bud Head, Showing 1st signs of Mace
Bud Growing
Bud Head, with White Wool now Visible
Buds in the Head now turning Green
🔍Final Bud Head
Partial Bud Head showing Wool
Buds Opening
Flower Head in Bloom
Flower Finishing
Flower Nearly Finished
Going to Seed
Sticky New Holland Daisy
Vittadinia australasica var australasica
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Other Common NameAustral Vittadiniia

Imaged 2(1B,1Fl,1Fr) in Aug(1:1B,1Fl) & Oct(1Fr)
Whole
Bud
🔍Old Flower
Seed Head
Narrow-leaf New Holland Daisy
Vittadinia blackii


iNaturalist
NT
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Thank you Alan Dandie (Alan_Dandie) for confirming the id of this species for us

The plant ~100mm high, flowers ~10mm across.
Typical vittadinia flowers (small lilac petals on top of a large sepal cup).
Unlike our others, this plant is dark green, with very little hairy on the the leaves or stem. This makes it look like a different genus until if flowers.
We've seen it flower in Mar, Apr, May, Sept, Oct & Nov, so it seems an Autumn & Spring flowering plant.
Imaged 12(2B,5Fl,3Fr) in Mar(1), Apr(1), May(1), Sep(1Fl), Oct(3:1Fl) & Nov(5:2B,3Fl,3Fr)
🔍Whole
🔍Flower, in profile
🔍Flower, from abvoe
Fuzzy New Holland Daisy
Vittadinia cuneata var cuneata


iNaturalist
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Other Common NameWedge Vittadinia

Imaged 8(2Fl,2Fr) in Jan(1), Jul(1), Sep(2), Oct(3:2Fl,2Fr) & Dec(1)
🔍Young Plant
Mature Plant
Bud, Leaves & Structure
Old Flower
In Seed
Dissected New Holland Daisy
Vittadinia dissecta var hirta


iNaturalist
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Thank you Alan Dandie (Alan_Dandie) & Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 28(1B,5Fl,2Fr) in Jan(3:1Fl,1Fr), Feb(3), Mar(2), Apr(1), May(1), Jun(1), Jul(2:1Fr), Aug(3), Sep(4:1B,1Fl), Oct(6:3Fl) & Nov(2)
With Zygophyllum & Velleia
In Flower
In Seed
🔍Structure, with Buds & Flowers
New Leaves
Bud Opening
Flower
Finished Flowering
In Seed
Seed Dispersing
Finished Seeding
Woolly New Holland Daisy
Vittadinia gracilis


iNaturalist
LC
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SynonymVittadinia triloba var lanuginosa

Other Common NameFuzzweed

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

A grey looking small bush.
The flowers, on the end of stems, have Lilac petals with yellow centre.
When it seeds the seed head is a brilliant white, with seeds being carried away in the wind.
Imaged 5(1Fl,1Fr) in Mar(1), Oct(3:1Fl,1Fr) & Nov(1)
Whole
Seeding
In Seed
Field
Leaves
Flower
Petals Dried
🔍Seed Heads
Seeds / Fruits
Giant-headed New Holland Daisy
Vittadinia megacephala


iNaturalist
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Other Common NamesBig-head New Holland Daisy, Giant New Holland Daisy or Large-head New Holland Daisy

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

The common name derives from the species name; "mega" which means very large, big or giant & "cephala" meaning 'of the head'.
Thanks to Ian Gibbins for informing us that the genus name of Vittadinia is in honour of "Carlo Vittadini, (1800-1865), an Italian doctor and mycologist, author of several important works on Italian mushroom species. The name was given by French botanist Achille Richard in 1832 to a species he collected in New Zealand."
We seemed to have missed measuring this genera; we will rectify this at the earliest opportunity.
Imaged 8(2B,3Fl,1Fr) in Aug(2:1B), Sep(4:1B,3Fl) & Oct(2:1Fr)
Seedling
🔍In Flower
Finished Flowering
In Seed
🔍Leaves
Seedling Bud
Bud About to Flower
Flower Opening
Flower Opening Further
Flower, Above
🔍Flower, Profile
Flower, Aging
Flower, Finishing
🔍Seed Head
Golden Everlasting
Xerochrysum bracteatum


iNaturalist
NT
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Other Common NameStrawflower

Thank you Darren Schmitke for identifying and Matt Endacott for confirming the id of this species for us

These are large flowers for the Mallee region, opening to ~50mm across.
Imaged 2(1B,1Fl) in Sep
Flowering, from above
Flowering, in profile
🔍Bud
Flower, above
Flower, in profile
Calyx (flower cup)

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