Silvery towers: Cladonia species of lichen
Winter in retrospect…
When the temperatures dropped, varieties of lichen like the ones above echoed the morning frost found in open spaces when the nights were clear.
Whites do stand out against the more subdued colours of winter here – there was plenty to see and enjoy including flowers, fungi, lichen and the odd slime mould or two.
The hakea has been flowering for a while, now, into spring, with its characteristic upright and columnar habit and prickly foliage. The scent is subtle and has an anise-like undertone. The flowers glow against the red stems of the branches – especially when the light is just right in the morning and late afternoon.
Fragrant white flowering Hakea decurrens, Bushy Needlewood
Found from April onward, the fungi in the Reserve have been less prolific this year but perhaps present in more variety. (See Angela Barrow’s additions to the Reserve’s FaceBook site for some fabulous fungi images.)
Subtle colouring in apricot and lavender – Cortinarius sp.
Bright white leathery shelf fungi
Translucent white Tremella species
Pale earth star, Geastrum triplex
Ice yellow of Ramaria species, prolific in the Reserve this year
Looking a little like the the Starship Enterprise, the white underside of a leathery bracket fungi
White underside of Little Ping Pong Bats, fungi which live on wood
And slime moulds are fascinating: you can see their shift in position over time.
Slime mould on wood and moss
One of the slime moulds of the season
The common heath has been found for some time, coming into its own during the winter months and enjoying another spurt of flowering now.
White heath, Epacris impressa
The sundew is one of the most beautiful seasonal flowers.
Pale flower of Drosera Aberrans, Scented sundew
Scented Sundew, Drosera aberrans
Edward Hunter Heritage Bush Reserve 