SWEET APPLE-BERRY

 (Billardiera cymosa)

(Photos: http://biocache.ala.org.au/biocache-media/dr691/17395/a2d533e4-9a34-41f1-bffe-844e149635f7/Billardiera_cymosa_ssp._pseudocymosa_flowers_&_leaves_501386_311011_DW.jpg; http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5052/5488696358_7dd031dc28_o.jpg)

Named after Jacques de Labillardiere, a French botanist who visited Australia, this plant can be seen twining its way through low growing bushes on the coastal reserve at Cape Jervis. It’s not a very tall or invasive climber, and would look pretty in a home garden, maybe on a trellis.  The leaves are fairly narrow, and the flowers are bell-shaped, with five purple petals. These occur in groups of about 7 at the end of the branches. The mature fruit are edible; their tiny black seeds have an aniseed flavour, with over-ripe ones being sweet to some palates. Ripe ones that fell to the ground used to form part of Indigenous bush tucker. Edible fruit and easy propagation are two more reasons for growing them in your coastal garden!

CRANBERRY HEATH, (Astroloma humifusum)

PLANT OF THE MONTH may_web

MUNTRIES

Kunzea pomifera

Images from C. Schultz, http://malleenativeplants.com.au/more-on-kunzea-pomifera-muntries/;
http://www.yallaroo.com.au/Kunzea_pomifera.htm; E. Cousins, Sketch from It’s Blue with 5 Petals, KI Field Guide

You should see this native plant fruiting now, in the area between Fleurieu Ave and the coast. Look for small, dark red berries, on a prostrate woody shrub that can spread for more than 5 metres. The leaves are small and shiny, and the spring flowers are white and fluffy. The edible berries were enjoyed by Indigenous Australians and are now part of the native food industry. In fact, the word pomifera reflects the fact that the fruit look like miniature apples, and some taste like spicy apples.

RUNNING POSTMAN

 Kennedia prostrata

(Leaves; seed pods; flower. Photos E. Cousins)

Running Postman is a common, sun-loving ground cover around Cape Jervis. They like sandy soil, and are drought tolerant plants, so look for them off Flinders Drive, towards the Ferry Terminal. The wiry stems spread along the ground for up to 1.5 metres. Leaves occur in threes, and have wavy edges. The lovely red flowers occur singly or in pairs, in spring.  Note the yellow spot at the centre. The seed pods are like long pea pods, but are dark red. They can be up to 5 cm long.

Follow link to download the flyer  PLANT OF THE MONTH february_kennedia

Satin Everlasting or Coast Everlasting

(Helichrysum leucopsideum)

One of our own! This native of South Australia is a perennial, growing about knee-high. Most perennial plants grow all year, but this one may die back to root stock in summer at Cape Jervis and other really dry places.

The flower heads appear in late spring to early summer, and like all everlastings, the flowers stay bright for quite a long time. The petal-like white bracts on the flowers have a satiny texture, hence its common name. These bracts spread out and bend backwards as the flowers age. The leaves are dark green on top, woolly underneath.

They like sandy or gravelly soils, dry places…and our coast. Look out for this one in the neighbourhood.

image. C. Schultz

Silver Goodenia (Goodenia willisiana)

Although this is classed as rare in the Southern Lofty region, you’ll be able to find this little beauty between the Cape Jervis township and the ferry terminal, if you look carefully.

It’s a small perennial, with soft, hairy leaves and pretty yellow flowers. The leaves are narrow (up to 1 cm), but can be quite long (to 9 cm). The yellow flowers have 5 petals, and are held up on thin stalks.

Photo Source: Australian National Botanic Gardens, http://www.anbg.gov.au/photo/apii/id/dig/551, downloaded Nov 1 2012. Photographer: M. Fagg