Westent Wildlife Vol 5, No. l

ISTLETOES! Maybe we ofyearsafter a fire (ChristmasTrees shouldbegin with theseplants, also respond to fire, sometimes typically summer-flowering,and showing no foliage astheir blazing traditionally associatedwith flowers cover the tree). Summer Christmas,though less so herethan SUMMER Dryandra (Dryandra ves/iA, seen in Britainwhere the mistletoe atthat on the northern kwongan and lime.the deprh of winler.is in fruir. WILDFLOWERSthrough the central wheatbelt,has During oursummer,look into watties ratherhidden golden flowers but rs suchas the Jam Tree and you will OF SOUTHERN equally attractive for its whorls of spotthe Wireleaf Mistletoe (A mlema twistedleaves separated by bract preissil clinging firmly to the WESTERN coveredstems. Around Eneabba branches, with bright red flowers and northwardsCaramel among the narrow leaves. Around AUSTRALIA (Grevillea polybotrya) is showy Perththey have'invadedthe b1 Aler Gec,rge during December and January, its invaders'by adaptingto non-native creamy, heavily-scentedflowers speciessuch as the Queensland attracting a wide array of insects. Silver Wattle. In the Wheatbelt, An equally showy specieswith look into gums suchas York Gum massesofcream flowers in summer and Wandoo and you will see a is Grevil/ea nematop,4ylla, atree of different species,I nyetna n;ique/i i, inland districts between the its leavesmimicking those of its GascoyneRiver, the Goldfields and host.Maybe mistletoes have evolved NullarborPIain. Another small trec o to flower at this seasonbecause they is the Sandplain Pear (Xylomelam can provide food for the birds that angas Jtb/iam) which also bears pollinatethem. Drf,uing on rheir clustersof cream flowers; its grey host trees for moisture and woody fruit remain on the tree sustenance,the summer drought does awaiting a fire to openthem and are not affect them. an interestingfeature at any season. Not always thought of as a are prominent in mistletoebut belongingto thesame summerand autumn. lndeed, more family is the Western species are in flower at these Australian Christmas Tree, almost seasonsthan in spring. Acorn uniqueamong these semi-parasitic (8. prionotes) is a plantsin beinga largetree. It is atits widespread orange-fl owered flamboyant best in early summer species,found between Wagin and (and this year is out earlier than SharkBay, with a long flowering usual).but alongthe soulh coilst it periodthrough summerand winter. will flowerwell into summer.Most Its close relative B. btrdettii is a mistletoeflowers areunscented, but seen between Eneabbaand the Christmas Tree has a strong Mucheabut floweringonly during honeyperfume. Towardsthe endof Februurland March. In Kalbrri summer the strangethree-winged National Park there are further fruit develop,yellow-green at first, spectacularspecies flowering in ripening to a mid-brown asthey dry summer. First is t sceptram,with and fall for the winter rains. large golden spikes during It is commonly held that our Decemberand January,followed nativeplants flower only in spring, veryhigh. Someare so delicate that in February by the Woolly Orange but this is an old wives' tale, it is a wonder that they avoid Banksia (-d. victr.triae)and clear originating perhaps from the fact shrivelling and carry through yellow Porcupine Banksia (8. thrt mostma55ed di5pla)s ma) be pollinationand seedset. Here I /ind/eyana). seenat that seasonwhich is also a havespace to mentiononly a few of Along the south coast from the goodtime for travelling.Apartfrom theseplants. Stirling Rangeto the Oldfield River very few habitats,there is, in fact, The nolthernkwonganhas many Bank;ia baxterl can makc somethingto be seenat any season, summerflowers, especially in the spectaculardisplays at this season. and some summer, autumn and banksia and myrtle families. It is anotherspecies with attractive winterflowers are just ascolourful Summer Smokebush ( Caza- featuresbesides the flowers, both andintriguing as those ofthe spring. JP(rntu/ntnt.f rlncn ium\appearstn theyoung foliage and new fruitbeing Jndeer.l.summer flouels rre quite largedriftson sandyareas, itsfunnel- attractiveshades of brown and red. amazingin theircapaci.ty to appear like flower head wzrvingatop a In February,sharp-eyed visitors to at a time whentemperatures can be slenderstem. Itis atits best a couple the westernparts of the Stirling

t,ttttinueJ uu page 9 0/ aSod t/o pahtlltttoJ '(Dpumnt" p ods oluo|noag sUrlnc!toJsnlapLtdoC g) ee:|].ew?un^ Pu? (xuo3o4a1 7 se u,tioul ,{1:eur:o; 'odtototnaJd ?) {3€ralleJ pa^?el '(Di?ulrun -enlq eqt ?) eellslN po^Prl-looH' 1opq1o snd,(1osnE\ oel[€hl J?01-0lIqla epnl3ul tsalA-qtnoSoqryo saalpru 3uue,'irog -lJruuns punorS:qtuo ua11e1uaqt ?urees,{q,{1uo s:e,trog aqlJo eJe,l.re eruoJaq,{?ueuo (ttlDluap|JJo'a,) etel drus,4^seql saop se 'sqluolu 1oqaq1Suunp sra,nol]QoloJl 2'1Ip 'pacllou ?) ure) ,{1a:u:are srxossolqrueo.rc Ipu.rs s1r qBnoql 'pa:n1d1ncs,{[e3ue:]s osF a:e :alel dole,repleql stnurunAe^lssuru eqJ ala)Jos Dlouo ed 'suauruls .a,ro11s,{;o sJelsnl3 osodxa ot IIq rBql sdec lal:ecs pernldlncs qlr,^Aspnq e8rel eql ,{q Paua^llue sr rujoJ SurTSSerlsslI ',I.Ileqle) puofeq qtrou uerjnf uro{ ,{ll?Jnl?u Surrrro:g'QttotottllnQa'g) er.rJ?.{l SnorJnJeql Jo SulJe,{\ou aqleJs osle uunlne pue lJu uns 'olqeldoccB 'lurod sr oueu.rarltralnq srql uo suorurdoJraql ur p6plAIpeJE SUedXg 'otqtu,Qo3 uaqt 11erpue srd,(1e:ne ,anJl,rrro{ Irurlsrp snueSe sesunS esaqlasp?oceJ ,{eur nof qsta,rno,{ JI sasJl l€crdoJl a]3 spoo^\poolq 1so141 p:rdor1 se,t\ alelxllJ oql ueq,^aurl e SurJnpurSr.Io peurnsa:d slr o1 ,{c3q,\\oJql,SullsaleluI ',{lenuB[ snqluoaltd) sdnJreddoJ rarxrxns peureu ,{lluecer Et pue osotonbs us ur llal leql uml .{^Baq oqlol osuodseJBuoaq e^eq ol suess esuac puardsapr,r,reql eJ?quad Jo DlUo/nDag er? saqsnlqollloq retlel aqJ eunyfzll uI Jeqlou? quou u?3uo^\I eqlJos3lu.{ru iqSuq per tqSrJq 3urlr:1s o,trl '!./2q2!s puB Jauluns olel ur euo aJou o,.Al Jeuurns 3l3l ol pllx z Ieulou s1r's?urra,,itog:oleru o,lal p€q rxeIAtr woJJ$]qs[ W sr QrasDrj[ru .DJ) Jo sra,.Aol]lurd eql qlr.^ lnJrnoloc6q searefueul ur.ree.{srql 'sredeeleeq altrfur-eBut.rg reurrun5 qurd ,{uruecue;adsg puu,(uzqyy uae,ttleq 'r. .roJs3JnOSer qtIJ e sJe^\ou ellq,4^ rqSr:q aqt Qlsatzuaul Jo lsrg eql uuAuo,^AIoql UI suorsse.rdep'reuums '1l3ql€3q,1A fwean stt'(oyttldoJot t::B1lt{aql pue D,lonualtDDrsluDg sJe^\oa elel uI uelsee-qlnospu" ?) Jo 0^qeloJ-Jeeuslr sr uoruluoc eJoul ls?l aql seasraruuns ereq/n)lseoc IeJluei arft u zpnun/ 7 lurd tq8uq 'EqqPeuA pa/ua&to qJntr ts"o req PJ ^ll?uolse33o lsa,. arf JEouspuelpoo,{ fpues uI oqt pue teau l pue rsau qlnos ':euruns rr^lrs pue :qt 'sBur.rd5 elodleiA lssoc lnoqBnorql Z lurd 'lelrqeq pe.re,rou aqt uo pll Ap3l3l.Ilse.I sll uI sanurluoJ pue SuIJds alEI uI aoJql reeu D?|q|D /1 -Jtrq,^\ ueas eq ,{eru (n|o/tcEl"snld{ptnj,) suPls ?urJe,{\old 'sauo ,!\olle,{ s€q 0ql JpnlJUrslJ,rouleqle{ ujnc ?urJe,rou-p3d Jo sluossolq per ralxuns .reqlo uolplPJeD pu? ,{luoruruoclr s.re.,t\ou saplseg lal.reJsaql ,{ren:qeg pue ,{.renue1 ',{\ou eJ.mSur8peguoe,4 taq uosBes,{ue aJaql peJeeddesrpe^eq ,{Bru uJ 'JauJuns ur uroolq sld,{pcna tpre,^AouUIuaas aq KEUI(s1pau3)1) lnq ulullxBl pu€ sllrH ue3uo16le lsou Jno srrjos re,{\ouJeqleadlalJPJS luocs InJJnoloJ Jo pueFr papJoJe.ruaaq seqlr :rueqp) .plalrr 'sJe,rouuaploS loq, snorJnJe eABq s.ra,^Aousu puo,{eqquou lrrJtsrp BqqBaugeql asualur qlr,4Aropnn 'g Kqqntqs 'qued q ou spuBlpoo,{\ul$lueq uro4 uaasqruqs Ja8.r?l " sr(,.reuruns Jo ?rus aql "{renuel pue Jequrereo ,{eJlseq sJe,4^oueSuero luPllluq Jo, sueau eueu seoads aq1)zt rusao ur ueSuor'r1eql ur 'aes ,(eurssor3 s se seaJl sBrrrlsrJqJqlr,t set^ oryotnoag qJ:eI tr pue .{renrqed u:aq1no5 1sua,{errrqSrqaq1 Suop 'Eqq"eug (su2/1uDlpJ oJru all J3'!\OUJeqlee{ ;o ur ,{lur?ru 8ur:a,tlo1; ) srelle^eJJ'er$lwq.{ue;otseSrel eqt uosrrroJ 0q1 JequoJec uI ol quou oSued reqsrqla eql uro4 l SuoLre:rPslln4 sU eBEtlojfllJud sedols [pu?s pue sleu Bur,{y-,,no1 ,{ra,turqlr,r sarydsSur8ueq ,uo11e,{ ur uouuroc ^Ip.ol'quqs ll€ruse sr pue peJ str seprq qcrqr'^ 2Jt2r13D JeurJ.oJeql'o uszo rr'o^pelaresolJ 6/ snorJns eql lods ,{?III e8u?u I aSDdao.{paftuuaoJ auaqxsa[llptt[ 1olp1wl aWlo ra alsaaN Westem Wildlife Vol5, No. I

T hasalways been exciting Lo do The only small bird seen was the f 'birding' Ia aroundthe big salt Singing Honeyeater. Why the lakes and salt channels in the paucity of bird life? Although the Murchison - sightofan OrangeChat eucalyptswere not producing nectar at Lake Austen or on the Lyndon SMATLIAND BIRDSIN there should have been plenty of River being a prize. SALTAFFECTED AREAS lnsects. However, in the salt-affected IN THENORTHEASTERN The fourth area was a hive of areasof the northeasternwheatbelt activity, with Red-cappedRobin, the scenevaries greatly. There are WHEATBELT White-fronted Chat and Splendid (< lesssmall 20 cm) landbirds in the bv Marv Bremner Fairy-wren. There was possibly a samphireimmediately su rrounding lot of other small animal life, as the salt lakes and channels. At the Nankeen Kestrels and a Black- end of August 2000, four siteswere shouldered Kite were circling surveyed for the Bird Atlas. Two overhead. Perhapsit was the fact receivedfresh run-off from a large that it was the junction of four granite rock, one in woodland just habitatsthat madethis areaso good behind the low sand dune for birds? surroundinga large salt lake andthe The Salinity Action Plan 'early' fourth was in an samphrre commenced in l99l . Are we 'birdos' area surroundedby degradedcrops taking enough'interestrn on two sides, elsewhereby low Bronze-cuckoo. One of the sites thesesaline areas?How important shrubsgrading into woodlands. had many Native Plum bushes aretheyor, with revegetation,could The sites with run-off from ( Psydraxsp.)covered in greenlru it. they become? granitehills yieldedmany small birds The woodlandsite had large old in the fringing (up to 2 m SalmonGums and York Gumswith Dr Mary Bremner is a medical high) including: WesternGerygone, numerousnesting hollows and fallen professional, orclta rdist, and keen 'birdo'. Grey Fantail, Singing Honeyeater, logs, but no young trees and little She can be conlacted r.tn White-eared Honeyeater (at its undergrowth except for some 9321 4594. northern-mostrange) and Horsfields fl oweringDaisy-bush (O lea ria sp.).

Summer Flowers conlinaedj+om page I fltfolias) and Superb Starflower forestssouth from Perththe Slipper An unexpected sight in many (Calytrix superba), the latter Orchid (Crypros4t/is ovata) canb,e parts of the south-west- from the confined to the Eneabba district. a surprisingfind. It is pollinatedby forest to the desert fringe - is the Through the central wheatbelt one malewasps that try to matewith the climber Bi/lardiera bicolor. canbe surprisedtosee thedeeppink flowers, and flowers right through Inconspicuousfor most ofthe year, flowers of Large Myrtle to au mn. in summer it produces clusters of (Hypo calymma p an i ceum). Most people are familiar with creamflowerswith finepurplelines, Worth a look at any time ln the Albany Pitcher Plant opening widely like a hand. summer are the swamps of the far ( Cephalo t usfo / / ic ala ri s), at least its On coastalsanddunes andalittle south-west and south coast. Soil modified leaves that trap minute way inland, from Perth to Albany, moistu-rekeeps a numberofspecies animals and decomposethem to is the Tangle Daisy \Ozothamnus flowering, and some are at therr providenutrients for theplant. Few, cordatas). A perennial herb, it peakduringthe hot season.Among however, know the plant's tiny producesits new stemsand foliage the most spectacularis the Swamp flowers. Theseappear in summer, duringwinter. then the leavesdie B ottlebrxsh (B eo afo r I i a spa rsa), at on long stalks. They havea strong, away as the flowers develop in its bestin February.The purewhite- sweetscent.Always associatedwith clusters on many fine woolly flowered Swamp Paper-heath the pitcher plant is the unusual branches. Picked and dried, these (Sphenotoma gracile) is v ery Spindle Heath (Cosmelia rubra), will last indefinitely in dried common on sandy flats between with narrow red flowers borneon a arTangements. Augustaand Albany. A few orchids slenderstem that waves above the I do not have spaceto discuss may be seenwell into January.in dense swamp vegetation. These many other summerflowers of our particular the tall Christmas Leek swamps,and other lowJying parts, bushland. Go out yourselvesand Orchid (Prasophyl/um browni), are also home to the climbing look (but maybe choose a cool seen at its best the seasonafter a triggerplant (Stylidiun scandens) change to do so); you may be bushfire, the ChestnutSun Orchid which clings to other by its pleasantlysurprised. (Theb,mitra fascolatea), and the encircling leaf tips and produces Club-lipped Spider Orchid clusters of bright pink flowers Ale.r George is aiheelance bolanist ( CaI ade n i a c ory n eph ora). In shady throughoutsumrner. and editor (phone 08 9337 1655)