A Wildflower "Season"

In the Seven Hills Bushland Reserve, wildflowers have recently emerged after a mild Brisbane “winter”. According to such euro-centric thinking, we are supposed to be in that cold dormant season, but flowering native plants, awakening reptiles, breeding birds and warmer temperatures suggest otherwise. The three native species pictured all belong to the Fabaceae family (commonly called legumes or peas). All are endemic to Australia.

At the top is the Purple Pea Bush (Hovea acutifolia), a small shrub to about 2m found in wetter areas (near Keralgerie/Perrin Creek). Here it typically grows at the edge of the narrow riparian rainforest that borders the creek.

In the middle is the Hairy Pea Bush (Pultenaea villosa) found in dryer, higher elevations (eg. Lossock Ridge). It is a small bush with small alternate leaves and lots of flowers.

At the bottom is the Native Sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia violacea). I like its indigenous name Waraburra, from the Kattang language near Gadigal/Sydney). It can be found on even higher elevations in the reserve, near Ridge Peak. It is twining vine that creeps along the ground or over small shrubs.