Travels around Victoria, Australia

[Whwoz]

To start off, a local p\bushland reserve, less than 5 Km from here called Uralla. Mainly gum/stringbark canopy eucalyptus, with a mixed understory of shrubs, with ground covers, native orchids and ferns in the wetter gullies. Photos to follow as I identify plants or as they flower where appropiate.

[Whwoz]

To start off, one of the native orchids, Acianthus caudatus or Mayfly orchid in advanced bud, should be fully open in less than a week, with a seperate leaf shot.

Acianthus caudatus (9).JPG

Acianthus caudatus (1).JPG

[Whwoz]

Next up some Greenhood orchids, these are amongst our more common orchids, often occurring in colonies numbering in the hundreds, if not thousands of plants for some species. The Pterstylis alpina shown below tends to be more restricted in range than the other two species shown..

Pterostylis alpina (9).JPG

Pterostylis alpina (8).JPG

Pterostylis nutans or Nodding greenhood, showing non-flowering rosete, followed by flowering plant

Pterostylis nutans (8).JPG

Pterostylis nutans (9).JPG

Pterostylis pedunculata or Maroonhood, non-flowering rosete and flowering plant

Pterostylis pedunculata (12).JPG

Pterostylis pedunculata (9).JPG

These are pollinated by fungus gnats, mosquitos and similar sized insects

[Whwoz]

We have our own millipede, not that I expect to find it in a hurry, being 15mm (0.6 inch) long and living in amongst rotting vegetation as it does. Not the greatest day for taking photos when we were there last

Trafalgar millipede sign.JPG

[Whwoz]

Mosses flower for those not aware, makes it a bit easier to id them, this one is fairly common in the south east of Oz

Dawsonia superba var pulchra (4).JPG

[Whwoz]

Ferns can be a bit more challenging to id, especially as some are very similar in general appearance but differ quite marked in one or two significant characteristics, sometimes one just needs to take ones books with you it id them.

Pteris tremula and comans are two such ferns, I will need a book and tape measure for when we go back next time.

Pteris tremula or comans (2).JPG

[PlainJane]

Thanks for the glimpse of DownUnder!

[MissS]

Those are beautiful plants. The flora and fauna you have there is absolutely amazing. I have got to get myself over there someday. I would be like a kid with a candy jar running from here to there.

[Whwoz]

There is more to come, now that I know this reserve is lees than maximum permitted distance from home I can get to it during lockdowns no problems, looks like the last set of images did not post either, will rectify that, then start on the school holiday photos. Just glad people are enjoying them.

[Whwoz]

There are a number of Blechnum species present in the reserve, these tend to be a bit more distinctive than the Pteris spp present, only managed to get two photographed before the rain.

Blechnum cartilagineum, tends to be fairly course with similar fertile and non-fertile fronds and relatively large fronds compard to most other Blechnums.

Blechnum cartilagineum (4).JPG

Blechnum patersonii is fairly distinctive in appearance, with differing fertile and non-fertile fronds and divided fronds appearing on older plants

Blechnum patersonii (1).JPG

[Whwoz]

Some of the other ferns present include Pellaea falcata, which on a quick glance could be mistaken for a Blechnum

Pellaea falcata (3).JPG

What I believe to be Hypolepis glandulifera. How a fern frond opens can be a useful characteristic in species identification if spore is not present

Hypolepis glandulifera (3).JPG

Hypolepis glandulifera (2).JPG

And one of the filmy ferns, Hymenophyllum cupressiforme. These are only one cell layer thick and you can see through them.

Hymenophyllum cypressiforme (2).JPG

[Whwoz]

It is early days here for the native shrubs to be flowering, but a few can generally be found in flower most of the year

Epacris impressa is our state floral emblem

Epacris impressa (3).JPG

Clematis aristata is a climber more often seen in the tops of gums than flowering at ground level. Common name of "Old Mans Beard", when full out a large plant is well named.

Clematis sp. prob aristata (1).JPG

Pimela axiflora is our local Pimela sp, compared to some from WA, it is not very pretty, but still a beauty in its own right

Pimeala axiflora (5).JPG

One of our wattle spp. I have not attempted to id this one yet.

IMG_9601.JPG

[GoDawgs]

I'm surprised you were able to get out and about as I though you all are in lock down.

[Growing Coastal]

So many different ferns!
Is it the beginning of spring there yet?

[MissS]

[mention]Whwoz[/mention] do you happen to know what growing zone you are in?

[Whwoz]

Looks like we would be in 9b [mention]MissS[/mention]

[Whwoz]

I'm surprised you were able to get out and about as I though you all are in lock down.

[mention]GoDawgs[/mention], we are in lockdown, but we are allowed to exercise within 5 KM from our homes, as this reserve is about 4 KM by shortest route, it is within allowed distance and therefore fair game. The reserve actually sits about 1 Km from Trafalgar itself, we are half way between Trafalgar and Yarragon but still within the Trafalgar Locality as against town, so if anyone asks we say we live in Trafalgar, covered nicely. People fairly relaxed about covid locally, we are fortunate that what few cases we about earlier in Lockdown 2 came from travellers who did the right thing and isolated properly and it has never got going locally. Most lockdowns for regional Victoria have really been aimed at preventing Covid from leaving Melbourne rather than controlling actual cases.

[Whwoz]

So many different ferns!
Is it the beginning of spring there yet?

[mention]Growing Coastal[/mention] we have around 118 species of ferns here in Victoria, although some of them may be doubtful after the big fires 18 months ago, a lot of fern gullies and rainforest types that do not normally burn went up in flame and it would be too early to assess the full damage done to some populations, assuming people could get in to check some areas out.

Technically spring starts on the First of September, but weather started to swing to spring pattern a couple of weeks ago.

[Whwoz]

Loch Sport: Black Swans

This is a small holiday town set on the Gippsland Lakes, between Lakes Victoria and Reeve. The later is often summer dry and is crossed by a causeway to the dunes which form the 90 mile beach. Currently Lake Reeve is as full as it gets but is probably only 6 inches deep for most of it. As such it makes a great breeding ground for our Black Swans, with over 30 visible easily, as in within 50 m, from the causeway. The Black Swan Cygnets are currently grey fluff balls. What is also visible is one of the mounds of rotting vegetation that the Swans pile together as a nest.

Black Swan Nest.JPG

These are birds that while they see traffic over the causeway and are used to it, stopping or someone walking on the causeway makes them nervous, so they tend to move away

A Swan Family.JPG

Sometimes one gets lucky and is able to sneak up without parent birds knowing.

Cygnets with parent.JPG

8 Cygnets.JPG

[Whwoz]

Loch Sport: Possums

This general area if full of possums, both Ringtails and Brushtails. Have not seen any ringtails so far, but at the back of the house we are stopping in is a family of Brushtails

Males are probably a bit more protective and prepared to sit out a bit more when their partner has a baby on her back

Daddy Brushtail.JPG

The female never came out into the open as much as her mate did, baby is visible on back by eyes and as a darker stripe along her top. One just had to be in the right spot at the right time to get a good look, Kids were, I was not unfortunately.

a Mummy and Baby Brushtail.JPG

One can tell males and females apart by the size of the chest scent glands on these possums

Daddy's Scent Gland.JPG

Very happy with these photos take by torch light!