Not All Thistles

Lraq6ley usr^uoJS PUD rfueq5;e; 6er9 lq

'aro.rpuo 6uqsaralut epnb aro luour r PUDsalsrql a^llou a.ro oJeql Po)nPo4uralo saFs!$ o lou 1a a/v\oH 'osruraPJraql ol ^ al^ o $!,\ salslql Pro6or l11orcua6lteBouotu Puollsnq Puo Esorsnq{ua.lor'o|,Plr/\ 'sJauro,lsow T n.ttive rhi.rle I n WcstelrrAtrttrrlir. I rp.cicsr.rrrge lrout corrrrt)onto very rare. Sotrte may have been an important food sor,rrcefor Aboriginal people and may contain valuable genetic material for future crops. Thisrles:rre rttetrtbers of rhe dlrsies (Asteraceae),the largest fanily of florvering pllnts (more than 1100 genera and 25,000 species)in the world. Thistles are a huge group with around 130 genem,mostly found iIt the northern hemisphere.They all haveinflotescences with soft ray florets clustcred into r head (giving the 'flowet') appe.nnce of a single and differ uarkedly from the Australian d:risies,in which the ray florets form a ring of'petals':rround the head.'Spiny' thistles (C:rrdueae)generally have thistles(Cyaara species), scotch thistles group also contains econonrically purple or rvhite flowers without (Ouopordunspecies) and variegated significantplants such as salsi$',lettuce petrl.. rvhere.rsrlte'soft' clricorics thistles(Si//lrr species).AGw species, and chicory.However, there are at least (Lrctuceae) generllly lack spinesand such as artichokes,lte cornmonly 18 chicory thistlesnative to Australia, have a milky sap,yellow flowers and cultivated. of which one was a major food source ligules (petals)spread through the Chicory thistles tell a different for Aboriginal people. Of the 11 itflorescence. story, with both native lnd weed chicories native to WA, five are There are rro narive spiny thistles. speciesin Australia.Well-known weeds endernic lnd three of these are In WA. tlresethi'rles .rre highly-invasive include skeleton weed (C/rorrdril/a presumedextinct! exotic weeds such ls'tnte' thistles flanveeds(H1porlracris species), -Trrrrrea), Sow thistles (Cardrrri-rspecies), saffron rhistle hawkesbeards (Crcpk species), (Carthaturs larahts), cockspurs hawksbits (LcorttLtdonspecies), false Sow thistles,a group of about (Ccntaurca species), spear thistles hawkbit (Urorpclaunt pkroidcs) lld 55 species in eight genera, have (Cirsirrrrrspecies), cardoon or artichoke prickly lettuce (I-arrrrraspecies). The their celtre of diversity in the Mediterranean.There are five specres in Australia,two natives-dune chistle V (Actitcs uegalourpa) and native sow thistle (Soadrrr-r/rldropliii rrs)-and the ''-! at weeds prickly sow thistle (Sd,r./,trr J"f - asprr),common sow thistle (Sot,.lrls ?i ,t's oleracers)and claurmy sow thistle { (Sondnrstcnerrinus).

Previouspage Main The nativenarrow-leaved hawkweedlPicris angustifol,asubsp. angustifolia)after fire in karriforest in PorongurupNational Park. lnset Nativeyam daisy(Mrbroseris specres).

AbovePlants of nativesow thistle \Sonchushydrophilus) after fire at Lake Cooloongup,Rockingham Lakes Regional Park,showing clumped habit.

Left A dunethistle (Actitesmegalocarpa) at Eyre,in NultslandNature Reserve.

50 LANDScoPE L9rdocscNv'r

sttlrqtrl tlcltrllo^tJ rrr 'lfotstoor srrorJCIlt r uro:j liurrds qrr:r g g ol dn scqrtlrl .llsnlt pJli,\\og -,no11ad stlcsap .rql 3urpt,ttrr Lra^a'V1y\LrJaaltnos 5t[,lror5ar'sJri.t IrJa.\as .ro-1 s]srs.rcd eli:e1 srql prrtlqsnq lrrd rrr pt::ds:pr,r Jrlr ursv rrrrlst,lr pot paas nro{ dlsta s,torii ellsrql PIo€[eq] ur .:{!1 Iaurrc ruog P.tsrl sn\\ 'rtAJA\oH prrr rdorng nrog spnrnm asrql peddrr ,\\OSJ rttrr slr]trs ParnPortlrr S96l Inurl pourtu X11,.ruro3torr tnq '6fl]l arrrds ra.lau aru lrrll sa.,rualpaqol ,{.q trclue sr l pu! pra;dsapr,n ur puo([rrn-r(I Iq pr]orr srrl.cls 'rr ':llsrql lsg6io -,{1,Srrorts rqt J^ljtl Jl]srqt ,ros drurrrcl-r lotl sl lrllqlq stl ,,'ros dlfr:d ar4-sn11tylotp,h1s,r//rr()S u.q,r ! P(rr altsrqt ,\\os uollmroJ sPre^\ qtr^\ s.srPrrqlq 1r sB Isrr auros lr altl aql lDun va\ or rr,\\orrloll J(rtfrq 'spuul 'os Jql p(rtlqsnq ur s,to,r5 .{1uu-r Illts sl tr Y1Y\rtr rta^a sJtrts -ratsr:) uaqt altsrql .^\osalrtuu .{lsrlorJrlJ .{rp prru drutp jo prurr::rd p.:,,rry-rroqs eqt rrr prrr.::rru:dsg ot rrrrqlu) ruor; .POOJ '.llsrql e ^\os .{1ryrr4 aruarsarogur sra.rr pa8;!opatu,lr-,{lluuosu.s ru pLlloJ sB s.ltsrqt Jo esn prrr8r:oqy paprora.r .!r:r1 troqs t pltt qt.ot dleqs dr.rp uooq rtruls seq tr tnq tl se^\ eltsrql s:eroldxedpua sno.lelunupur 'tilll rpr^\ srlral d11:r-rd p:rq $q tltsrqt ,{\os ,lros Jlrteu ttqt rqiinoqr tsrg sB,,rrtl ur suourrr 5 pn:9yg1 ur,{e-r5:8roei1 .{1yrrd sr:arcq,,n'aJrrarsaioUarrssaBual 'sarrr:rrtseSurtrur3 pur uu,lr5 ,{q p:tsq se^\-ryr-rp-rlx,\\-rltsnll llu e puu ql.r.t ^\olFrls rpr^\ s.^ril uos erp ptn: dnr-unl.1e4ypue dn8uooloo3 ,lros lo; pro,llr rriuoo.{11 r'os1y iirrol sr:q :1tsnp A\os a rtlu :qsrnn^uqsrp s.Ir-I Jo surFrrur cqt sr qrns rr i r)lrr)s 'rq8raq . or ,{sec .{1:rr'3 arr ,{arp sra.rr paltpunur-,{11!rros!cs srloJlrJlef iLF rnoclt lruoxr l()tlrlr r(rD 't::t rn rtplrrs .::t slrrrld qtoq q8noql ur s,ro:$ lr uttrlodo:t:ru qleal srrlr n ;ir.)q rlJrrl r.).rr,rt e ior.\ori 'sPrrrltr^\ rtrol-l P. oruer Prrr .FsRll lp u1 rte,( arlt tnoqino-rqt re,tog Irrclcl r.urj I t r: rFsrqtn\os r^uro (1ryud ,lros ro1 LrelltsrLLr u.Uo llus r[ prtlloj aq n:r s1ur1dlncl'ra(Krrns F:.r l irn:) .^\ u.q.\\ r,1\oo:lo'1 :rtr'li) ',(logtrn11.ro-;rrn sl Jltsnlt A\os c,N1tu sr :rnrrl Suua.uog 4Jd llrt sJlt*rr srrl\ llrlsry :Fq st rq sr ui^r ,irrlllo:) It) r)^rr Ir )^frt .)^\ f.\.r$ r,,,\()',", rsottr r\r ,\\oo sr q-)rq^\ (r,r.,ru'.,1,' ',r/.ra,,S) .,lr!(lr \\,'\ rFrlliu3 .'rl I

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Thc lcrvcs oi .tll sou thisrlcs rrc rich irr vitlrrrin (1. :rrrd u,crc rrscclrtr conrbl! scr.rnr'. Ntrrotrglu PcoPlc lnil\' r',cll hlvc cltcrt rr:rti\'osr)\\' rlrisrlc Wc lulc cetcrrslr.rll lurorrnts oilll spccics l)Lrnc thistlc lcitr'cs .r:c rotrgh. .r.trir){crt .rr,l rl,rtrr.lr trrrp'1.'t.'l'. Y

Top left An inflorescence of Rottnest lsland daisy (Olearia rudis), showin* ligulateflowers confined to edgeswith 'petal-less'flowers in the centre,giving an effecr of a 'ing of peras aroJnd a singe flower.This is a typicaldaisy flower Photo - Bronwen l

Centre left Variegatedthistle (sl/ybum narianum).Note its uniformpale purple flowerswithout ligu es {petals)spread throughoutthe head, in contrastwith the photo at eft. a chicorythistle, and photo at top left, a 'normal'Australian dalsy.

Left A native sow thistle at Came Lake, Bold Park.

52r,,\ ^-r)scot,t.l e9:l.loJSarN\-r

(lirLl 'srr:r..cls,Lt.,rrl rrotrrtrr()-) sI .l.QtIt)l \irtlul'.r-) l\ VA\ rrr pipi()ri1.r totl i1.\t1ruqtl\\ JtJdru()-),itt(l u,ri,\\tJLl lso(ll ]nq tl1 plrl::r-rttt.trclsgot slrll rrorliIuu[r :r.rt]tN slrt:rds .rn-u. .Ttlr sp:rrrrrsrrp prrr:,rrh() po| t1t.)tltitIttttl,)lI -risl:ll aqt prn:lrrr prrr \llrn\)\ i-rnPo-rd.).rlllo{l lrlllr.llsllV sp$\\ pilrlii .ilrs()1.)i(F tltr.\\fr\nllrol r:-rr:iiuo11uro.rq s,rroti_ t1 pr:rrrls.rpr-t prl: u()Mlrror :rr1tsr (t,4rrlitsrriirItlsqns u.rJtsri -lo sur.rLr.rordly rtloq 0r//r/r'lslrr, Jq uu-r Jll)r./ .1i,\i.\\oH lr(llllsl.frllr ts()lo '/.) (rlt:lrrnotlr l,rlrr/jrsr,)irIrr r)r(l) pri.\\ir\\rq uorliprn P i(ll l)(lr ()r P :Ll sr sPii\\).\\l'rl -lo \s()l frrrr Pi.\rrl 'srrlrcls r^q Jqt (rtlrtrttr),{r ttttrtt, r tlr,1_) ttotlrpttt:ir r.rllftr i.)rn:i)rrn(I' ol irrrlri[) \lLIf urlf.r]s11v .rror:r:rr VA\ -l() ' \t lor)l (rl vA\ trro.rlf.r(lt r.)\rf ro s\().I-rftl()(lllr().)rnl,(lN.r:rrrr;_ .r,rt s.rrI.1s ooor:t:riir.r'prq,IltlsrpuntraIo J-\Itr:rrtlI '.r.T.rr.rro1 .rs:rr11 p:rtttrrs:rrcl :\uollrPOuPr \ufu ()\\1 \uq l:IIu-Il\nv .r.\rtlrLrrtlt .ir:pot 1 r1.1or,.1 rn-r:ro11r: srr-r:rcls ;l:rruxr vA\ tr.lilllno\trr Paa\\ tlolllltl()r .(r1 po

'prlllsuiinb pur \rll'a\ q11oq .\\rlN l:I.lol-rln ulll:.usnv Illll(.\ rll I'rrlr,'l('.ll .l ll rll:lfl 'le!pl!lsnFue (rfllrrrlsLrv tur.lr) irlt ol ilsllrrlrrluN 'dsqns eIolllsnFue s/-/J/d)paoM)jMeq rrfi:1; rrro.rluolulo()J sr tnq sJtrrr,\-ri') pa^ealMoreu lo acuocsarolul lqFlu su LItiou.lul \lr .1r1.).)osi()[) tr tliinorlt 'olfl(l 'qlnouxl llrlsu():) rrr.\\q rql u() i.rlrl sr ]e \esoluaLu.teseeeunel ) altslqtaunp lecdorl lo ]etrq9He^oqv Left An inflorescenceof nativeyam daisy lMicraseris spec es) at Lake Grace.whiLl^ hd,l:BLl"le \ello\e llowe'- spreadevenly throughout the head.

Below left Troplcaldune thistle \Launaeasarnrentasa) at Exmouth.

P Norrcnun. It s.rr plob,rbh uscd br \ltri,i ' '11', ,'1 1,. rlr' ,r':lr tltct. ttt rccor'.1rto corfllnr tlrit. WA hrrsrcr-r rlistirrctire tirlrrrr rrf thc qrrlu\ tlr.l! ,,rlurLrlc coul.l Potcnti.rllr pror itlc gcnctia rrr.rl(ri,ll tirr l illirrc .rrl:rPtcrl fixrtl crcp Tropicaldune thistle Tlo;'ie.rl rltrrc thistlc (L,rrrrr,rrir i,rrlIr'//I()\ir)ii tiruntl ort [rc.tchesrrlounrl thc Irrtli,rrr()cc.rrr .rrrJ tLxrcls tirr rrrosr of_rhcre.rr Ir WA.lt grrlrr iiorrr(lorll Native yam daisy (Micrcse sl ll,rr rolrlrr.utL..rnrl,rrr oiiilrolc isl.rn.lt \1i r|r'r'rrr'is l rlcrrrrs()t 11 spccrer cr\t n) thr MontcbclLr Islurrl: Ilrc di\rributc(l ir Nor th Irrrl Soutlr rlriling stcrns()f tlris arcclirrc lcfclrrri.rl Ar r,r'...'. N, rr /,.r1.'rr,l.'rrJ An.rr'..1r., herb root rr htn thcr .rle brrricd. Ir ALrsl.rliir.thclc is :r crlnplcx oi tirtrr' pr-odrrcint tutis oi tlc'hr lcltlrclr to six sperics.irll clrtlcntlv urrrlcr the leurcsIt tilnrs 1.rrgcpl,trrtr Lrf t(r rllrct rr,rr]lc-\lir,1,sdis l, rtrrr/,rt,r(ir T.Ntrr.rtriutr lllctrc\ .lar()\srlrlt Irintl thc loore s.rrrd spccicr) All utc ltrbctotrsIctctttti,tl ot thc be.rrhcs ,rn.l firrcdLrncs hcrbs th.rt prixlLrec.rb'rsll rtrtt trilc.ncs Tlrough thc cltir',rrr thlrrlcslrlt e:rchrrirrrct. tlorcl irt rprrrr*thcrr,iic h.rd rrorc Lh.rn.l .cntur\ ()t lr.rrlIrrtsr. -, off in :lrrttrtrcr | ::.'rrrrjrlrlt r t, rl,, .r ln. ,,1 In nrlinlurrrl c.l\terrr Au\rlilli.r.rhrrc .rr'.I..rr'rI',.'Ir' rr'.''ttt,t,r tcri.,.I' .tlc.rt ]cll\l thrcc \pccie: rtot vct tr.rnrc.l: .lrrr'.,r,.rrrrirtrlr.rr l.'r rrr.rrr'Iu' i.. ,,rrrAll .rrr'\l\, r(...,\\,,,' ll.rr, l 'l !! i(' rhisis urrlc:crrctl.Lct\ hopc rhrt tl,.' .rn,:1trtrc rlrr t rrorrq Mrttrtrorr{ :tppc.rtr '' rr rr.l'r,r\(tl'cir ' r'.'.- .rr,l r., . ir. to h,lc bccn thc rrr:rjortirod roulcc of rceoqritirrn,rsintclcstinq :rrtLl r.tlu,rLrlc thc l{oolic pcoplcof Vitori.r Millions rrlti\ c fl.ll)t\l ., .,11'l rrrr. -ri rr '.r llir rr'l) Lrr rl. 'l nestcrrr Vlcrolil. u hcre tlter rrcrc hlrr-rcstcrl .rrrri consrrnrcrl ol storctl lirl s intcr. Follouiu!t Errrofre.tn \cttlcrrcr)t-thc Plrrins\crc irriti.rllr uscd tirr shcc1. qr.rzirrq.Thc shccp gr':rzer1tlrc fl.lnt\ rrrd crsih fullcrl rtp GregKeillre y isa Seno Pr ncipal l)r urnrr,lr,,l iir'\t .ollcctc(l it jrt l fi l l thcillrlllon rrrtrcrr. clcflcting thc ResearchSclentrsi,"\'Lth CALM. Over t re past30 years he has I nclertakerl rtrrncrrhclc rrc.rr(l.rpc ll.iehc In WA. ll)lurl()ng popul.rtiorrsuitirirr .t fi'rr ll o og cal surveystrou!houi nrostof thir spceicsis plesLrrrtctlc\tir).t. thor.rglr rc.r: Ihe dcnriscoi lnulrrror)rl\\ils Westen Austra a He caf be coltacted it lr.r:,rlso bccn tcerltlcrl irt co.trt,rl conrplctcd uhcrt its lr:rlrit.rtrrls clc.ttcrl on (08)94055142 ucstcln Victori.t ,tntl rhc Lllsr Str'.right tirr iilnring- It is rron .r rJrc ll,ln!. B onwef Keghery is a bolanistafd lsl.rrtrlsqrorrirrt in rh.rlkxr r,rils orcr' -\lrrl,stris is lcsr cotrrtrrotritr \X,,'. memberol the W ldflowe Societyof linrcstorrc..rrrJtlrlrcrirrq tiorrr ()ctoLrcr u hcrc thclc .rppc.rlto bc trr o rrrrrt:trrrctl Westerr ALrstal a who worksat the Departm€ftoi Envrorr|renta to I)cccrrrbcr'-Thc rPccic. ir lirtctl .rs rpccics ()uc is firrrnd.rroLrnd rhc cdgcs Proteclon S re can be cortacteclof '|l(,1\\ lllr ( \llIl, li, fi ir) ,ri n.rrlrr',rllls:rlinc l.rkcs rrr tlrc r'.,r'.rr,.l tlrri.,r lal) 92221428 Victori.r I l)e WA .nil Vr.t(JIi.ur pl.urts Whc.rttrclt bcrs ccn W.rgin :rrrrl A photosby G-e! Keg rery except rlli-li'rin rcc.l ch.rr:rrtcrs,trr.l trr.tr ncll Sc.r.l.lcr Thc othcr i\ .l\socirltcd\\irh w-rereindicaled l.c tlitlir crrr sPccic'- tllr:'rrrrt,..'lrlr" lr'.r..r l{ rrt:.r r.r,'i

54 r..\Nl)scol,t.l I AdO3SCNV'l

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