Native Plants – 16 Dec 2017
After the heavy rains we received this morning i took the opportunity to go and look for plants including Orchids at Cape Pembroke, Duson’s Moonwort at Yorke Bay Pond and finished with a visit to Gypsy Cove. All of the images were captured using Canon Mark IV and 100mm Canon Macro Lens f2.8L. There was quite a bit of wind so conditions were challenging.
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Pale Yellow Orchid – Gavilea australis
Plant wise this was find of the day. Photographs are taken on Cape Pembroke. This is a rare, native orchid that grows up to 30cm in height. It has long pointed leaves that vary in colour from grey-green to bright yellow-green. The flowers cluster around the top of the stem and open in sequence from the bottom. The petals are marked with green veins, streaks and spots and surround a pale yellow centre. In flower December to January and likes damp sandy coastal areas and diddle-dee heathland. I found 6 orchids in the area.
Gaudichaud’s Orchid – Chloraea gaudichaudii
Photographs are also taken on Cape Pembroke. This orchid is also native and whilst not as rare as the Pale Yellow Orchid can be difficult to find. I did find the orchid in 5 different areas, the biggest population i counted was 28 plants, although there would have been plenty more smaller plants. This orchid flowers in November to December, I will need to return to the locations to look for the flowers to open.The flower is an unusual pale green, almost white. Two or three flowers appear at the top of the broad stem. Generally found amongst damp areas of diddle-dee heathland and whitegrass. All 5 locations were damp areas.
Duson’s Moonwort
Photographs taken at Yorke Bay Pond. There is little i can say about this species as it doesn’t feature in Ali Lidlde’s book!
Vanilla Daisy – Leucheria suaveolens
Photographs are of one plant at Gypsy Cove. There was a lot of plants by the pond behind Surf Bay, however, it was too exposed to get any good images. This species is one of the Falkland Islands ENDEMIC species. It is also one of my favourites. The strong and distinctive vanilla scent gives the flower its name. The Vanilla Daisy is in flower November to January and likes coastal heathland amongst whitegrass, diddle-dee and fern beds.
Fachine – Chiliotrichum diffusum
Photographs of a plant behind Surf Bay. This is a native species that flowers from December to February. It is widespread and favours land that is not grazed heavily by livestock. The preference is for sheltered valleys and damp heathland areas. This shrub is one of the largest native plants and can grow to a height of 2 metres.
Falkland Lavender – Perezia recurvata
Photographs of a plant behind Surf Bay. This native plant is not related to other lavenders and has no distinctive lavender scent. It was apparently named because of its colour alone. It is a low growing shrub that likes dry coastal areas and heathland. The Falkland Lavender flowers between December and January.
Falkland Woolly Ragwort – Senecio lilloralis
Photographed at Gypsy Cove. This is another species ENDEMIC to the Falkland Islands. It produces this bright attractive yellow flower between November and January. It favours both coastal and inland areas amongst diddle-dee heath and fern beds.
Prickly Burr – Acaena magellanica
Photographed behind Surf Bay. Locally known as the ‘sticky burr’. Flowers between November and February and likes coastal greens and whitegrass near ponds and streams.