Plant Group

In an informal and friendly environment, members share and develop their knowledge of plants through discussion, observations, guest speakers, and field trips. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month, and visitors are most welcome.

Members undertake plant surveys for bodies such as D.O.S.E. and provide assistance to councils, schools and other community groups. The main club excursions feature a plant species list which is compiled by a member of the Plant Group.

SOME PLACES WH Geelong's Top Plant PlacesN ENJOY OUR WILDFLOWERS

Grass Trigger-plant - © C. Totterdell - ANBG Anglesea
Unique and varied, Anglesea offers heathland, coastal scrub, deep gully and wetland flora, more than 700 species, and all just 40 km south of Geelong. Great roadside displays in spring, with something of interest in every season.
Map Ref: E:2525 / N:57435

Bannockburn Area
Rare and threatened Western Plains grasslands, Yellow-gum grasslands, roadsides and railway reserves. Bannockburn bush and Inverleigh Common can be outstanding. Also worth a look is Mt. Mercer Rd, near Shelford. Best in September / October. Take the Hamilton Highway to Inverleigh or the Midland Highway to the Bannockburn turnoff. Melway Ref: 511 - D6

Brisbane Ranges Brisbane Ranges Grevillea - © M. Fagg - ANBG
A diverse range of wildflowers, some 619 species make the Brisbane Ranges a wonderful place to go walking. There is always something flowering, with the peak months September - November. Try the Stony Creek Picnic ground and surrounds for a great introduction. From Anakie take the Ballan rod for about 5 km then turn right into Switch Road.
Melway Ref: 511 - D3

Edwards Point State Reserve
On the shores of Swan Bay, and Port Phillip, Edwards Point offers diverse coastal vegetation, including salt marshes, coastal tea-tree, wirilda wattle and wire-leaf mistletoe. Park at the end of Beach Road, St. Leonards. A great place for birds, especially waders.
Map Ref: E:2993 / N:57699

In a Spin:
To be resupinate or not to be resupinate that is the question. Well, that must have been the problem facing orchids as they evolved.
You know I said sun orchids (did you find some?), were resupinate. This means if you compare an orchid flower with another flower, such as the Early Nancy, the orchid flower appears to be upside down. In fact in its development the orchid flower turns through 180 degrees.
But then you get the Leek Orchid which is non-resupinate which appears to be upside down but is really the right way up. It has left out the 180 degree bit.
Having written all of that I am thoroughly confused and no doubt you are too.
Leek Orchids are common enough but don't grow in great numbers except after summer bush fires. They seem to prefer moist habitats so keep that in mind when looking.
We found two Austral Leek Orchids (to be confirmed) close to Butchers Road in the Brisbane Ranges, with flowers made special by their crystalline white labellums.
Look for a tall orchid with a flower stem of up to 90 cm. emerging from a single rounded leaf like that of a leak or onion.
There are at least six species of Leek Orchids found around Anglesea or the Brisbane Ranges. To the untrained eyes, yours and mine, they all look the same.

Page last modified 09/10/2004