Arid Plants  2021  

Photographs and commentary: copyright Jonathan C Nevill,  2021, unless otherwise credited. Camera: Samsung Galaxy S7. 

I left Perth (Western Australia) on September 14, in my Hyundai campervan. 

Springtime is a good time for flowers in southern Australia. 

Western Australia has some amazing plants, like prostrate banksias, not found in other States.

I arrived home in Hobart, via the trans-Tasman ferry, on October 1. Unfortunately I was unable to visit my Victorian friends on account of covid.

This photo-essay is devoted to the plants and flowers I saw on the trip.

At Fernhook Falls

Grasstrees at Fernhook Falls. Note the tall one in the background; a plant of this size would be hundreds of years old.

Waychinup

One-sided bottlebrush

Waychinup

Waychinup

Waychinup coastal healthland. Unfortunately photographed on a cloudy morning.

Cape Arid

Cape Arid

Cape Le Grande

Cape Le Grande. Prostate banksia (plan view).

Cape Le Grande

Leaving Cape Le Grande. In some places the roadside turned purple....

Near the town of Norseman.

Spinifex in flower. Arid Plants Botanic Garden, Port Augusta, South Australia.

This is a world-class botanic garden. Highly recommended.

Typical spinifex growth habit: 'dead' stems in the centre, and a ring of green growth on the outside. Can anyone tell me the evolutionary or ecological significance of this habit?

Book-leaf Mallee

Needle-leaf wattle

I love these purple circular seed-pods.

Red Mallee

Xanthorrhoea thorntonii

Gilja Mallee

These seed pods are over 25mm in diameter! Striking! Apparently some visitors to the botanic garden come here SOLELY to see this plant!

Victoria Spring Mallee