Kings Park Bushland Nature Trail
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Did you know that there are more orchid species in Kings Park than in the whole of Europe? ORCHIDS WEEDS Donkey Orchids Duris spp. Many plants of Mediterranean and South African origin have become A widespread and common plant with yellow and naturalised throughout much of the Park, representing a serious threat to brown donkey-faced flowers, the two lateral petals biodiversity. One of the most invasive is Veldt Grass Ehrharta calycina, its KINGS PARK BUSHLAND are elongated like ears. Donkey orchids often grow in pink to rusty red flower spikes arising from a thick clump form a conspicuous large clumps. part of the understorey during late spring. Aug – Oct NATURE TRAIL Banded Greenhood Pterostylis vittata Pink Gladiolus Gladiolus caryophyllaceus This is one of the earliest orchids to flower. The striped Described as nice but naughty, this aggressive green hood is comprised of two petals and the back introduced weed from South Africa displays strongly A Botanical Guide sepal. The bloated seed capsules appear in late scented bright pink flowers. winter or early spring. to the Kings Park Bushland May – Sep Freesia Freesia leichtlinii Jug Orchid Pterostylis recurva This herb is another attractive introduced plant and This plant produces several rather squat green is popular in gardens for its fragrant creamy white and white banded flowers on each stalk. As in all flowers with a bright yellow throat. It has poisonous Pterostylis species, the lip or labellum is sensitive to tubers. Its vigorous growth takes over from the more touch and traps pollinating gnats and mosquitoes. delicate native species. Aug – Oct Capeweed Arctotheca calendula Spider Orchid Caladenia arenicola Another introduction from South Africa, this member This orchid has red-green spider-like flowers on of the daisy family is a very troublesome weed in the 25–40cm tall stalks. The lip of the flower is wheatbelt as well as in parks. The yellow flower has a decoratively fringed by long rigid hairs. Some spider deep black centre. orchids are sweetly scented. The stalk arises from a single hairy leaf. Several similar species occur in Aug – Oct Recommended reading: Perth Plants by Russell Barrett Kings Park. and Eng Pin Tay (avaiable at Aspects of Kings Park Gallery Shop). Cowslip Orchid Caladenia flava This is a very widespread orchid in the south-west of Western Australia. Yellow flowers vary in the amount N 100m of red spotting. Eucalyptus Carpark Dve May SCALE Jul – Dec Bushland Nature Trail Wadjuk Wadjuk Way Pink Fairy Orchid Caladenia latifolia Entry Car Park Lovekin Dve Another common orchid of the south-west although it Forrest Dve does not penetrate so far inland as the Cowslip. The Botanic Garden dainty pink flowers grow in small clumps. The leaves Botanic Garden Carpark i bear fine silky hairs. Forrest State War Aug – Oct Carpark Memorial CREEPERS & CLIMBERS Running Postman Kennedia prostrata Also know as Red Runner. The scarlet flowers are produced at the ends of long, trailing, prostrate stems. As with many other plants in the Pea Family, the hard seeds need special treatment in order to germinate; Apr – Nov in nature this is done by fire. Native Wisteria Hardenbergia comptoniana Fraser Avenue, West Perth, Western Australia 6005 One of the climbers native to Kings Park. It has Tel: (08) 9480 3600 • Fax: (08) 9322 5064 attractive Wisteria-like clusters of deep purple pea Email: [email protected] • Internet: www.bgpa.wa.gov.au RO21216:0313 flowers in spring. Look for its two green eyes! Jul – Oct THE BANKSIA WOODLAND As you wander and explore the Bushland Nature Trail, you will SHRUBS see unique Western Australia trees including Tuart, Jarrah and Stinkwood Jacksonia sternbergiana Marri scattered throughout the bushland. Banksias, sheoaks Blueboy Stirling latifolia Long angular branches bear red and orange pea This strange shrub has buff blue leaves and erect and other small trees and tall shrubs make up a middle storey flowers. When cut or burnt the wood gives off an with a diversity of low, beautifully flowering plants forming the brown to orange flower heads. The common name unpleasant odour. Jacksonia sericea is a silky grey reflects the fact that plaster made from sand where understorey. There are plants in flower all year round, with Jan – Dec leafless plant growing as a tangle of prostrate branches this grew developed a blue stain. Aug – Oct the peak between July and October. and with yellow pea flowers. Key: Flowering months Balga or Grasstree Xanthorrhoea preissii Parrot Bush Banksia sessilis The outside of the trunk consists of tightly packed TREES This tall shrub has prickly grey-green leaves. The leaf-bases often blackened by fire. The spear-like Marri Corymbia calophylla attractive creamy-yellow blossoms are a favourite flowering spikes bear hundreds of small white flowers. Jul – Oct The nectar-rich white blossom occurs from with bees and honeyeaters. Plants can live for over 200 years. Aboriginal people had numerous uses for the various plant parts. Jan – Nov summer to autumn, and is a haven for bird Pixie Mops Petrophile linearis and insect life. The bark is fibrous and This low shrub with grey-green foliage has mop-like Sandplain Zamia Macrozamia fraseri ‘tessellated’. The large gum-nuts (honkey nuts) pale pink, hairy flowers. Stems arise from a woody This palm-like plant belongs to an ancient group are often scarred by the beaks of parrots. rootstock or lignotuber; the taproots sink deep into called Cycads. The male and female plants are Aug – Dec Dec – May the soil. separate. Distinctive male and female cones are produced and a weevil carries pollen between Native Buttercup Hibbertia hypericoides Jarrah Eucalyptus marginata them. Sep – Oct This tree provides Western Australia’s most A common low shrub with bright yellow flowers. famous structural and cabinet hard-wood. Woody rootstock enables this species to resprout HERBS It flowers in summer. The reddish brown bark quickly after fire. Milkmaids Burchardia congesta is in long stringy sections. Apr – Dec Attractive white flowers are borne in heads on tall Prickly Moses Acacia pulchella slender stems. During summer the leaves die down Jun – Jan A small prickly wattle with many small yellow flowers to tubers. Aug – Oct in spherical heads. It grows from seed after hot Tuart Eucalyptus gomphocephala bushfires forming dense thickets which provide cover Purple Tassels Sowerbaea laxiflora This tall tree has distinctive buds and fruit. The pendulous purple flowers retain their colour for small nesting birds. May – Oct The bark is grey in small rough sections. for long periods. Its habit is very similar to that of Tuarts provide shelter and homes for many Swan River Myrtle Hypocalymma robustum Milkmaids, dying back during the hot dry summer birds and insects. Tuarts are sometimes This low shrub bears many lightly scented pink/mauve months. attracted by several wood rotting fungi and flowers along its branches in spring. Each flower has Aug – Nov boring insects. Jan – Apr five petals and more than sixty stamens. Mangles Kangaroo Paw Anigozanthos manglesii Jun – Nov The State Floral Emblem is one of the most Sheoak Allocasuarina fraseriana spectacular plants with its vivid red and green Three Flowered Pea Daviesia triflora Male and female flowers are produced on coloured flowers. Honeyeaters are often seen separate trees. The male trees’ rust-coloured A many-stemmed, rush-like shrub bearing orange, collecting nectar and so pollinating the flowers. foliage is evident in winter and spring. The yellow and reddish brown pea flowers in groups of Aug – Nov cones can be seen on the female trees all the three along the leafless stems. The bushland has three year round. The fine branches look like pine other Daviesias, each with similar coloured flowers. May – Sep Yellow Autumn Lily Tricoryne elatior needles but are segmented branchlets with Pearl Flower Conostephium pendulum A small perennial herb common in the bushland. tiny leaf scales. The vibrant yellow flowers can be spotted throughout A low plant with long white and reddish-purple May – Oct the year. scented flowers. These hang down on long, curved Banksia Banksia menziesii stalks. Jan – Dec This tree has silky-red two-toned flower heads and coarsely toothed leaves. The flower Mar – Oct Cow Kick Triggerplant Stylidium schoenoides and fruit of this banksia are featured on the Wild Violet Hybanthus calycinus The large white flowers of this trigger plant need entry mosaic of the Nature Trail. Three other The charming blue-violet flowers are easily recognised only the slightest touch by an insect to release the banksias can be found along the trail: by one broadly prominent petal. It is a member of the trigger which is used in pollination, helping to ensure B. grandis, B. attenuata and B. sessilis. violet family. cross-fertilisation. Feb – Oct Jul – Oct Aug – Nov.