Plant of the Day: Ulva Intestinalis a.k.a Gutweed
This algae is very common in rockpools high up the shore, even managing to survive in the splash zone, out with the regular tidal range. Be careful as gutweed often thrives where enriched water reaches the shore – and by enriched, I mean with agricultural run-off or sewage! Gutweed is not so good to eat […]
Plant of the Day: Hormosira Banksii, ‘Neptunes Necklace, Neptunes Pearls’
banksii, also known as Neptune’s necklace, Neptune’s pearls, sea grapes, or bubbleweed) Hormosira is native to southeastern Australia (including Tasmania, lord howe island and norfolk island) and New Zealand. This seaweed as with many others is packed full of iodine, which aids in a healthy metabolism and healthy thyroid. It can drastically improve energy levels […]
Plant of the day: Bramble/blackberry
A popular bramble fruit, blackberries are often picked in late summer to autumn to make jams, jellies and pies. Herbalists have recommended blackberry jelly, cordial or wine for its potent restorative powers. While Culpeper, who himself needs no introduction, praised the plant as a remedy for almost all ailments from wounds and ulcers to fevers […]
Plant of the day: hypochaeris radicata, cats ear
Hypochaeris radicata – also known as catsear, flatweed, cat’s-ear, hairy cat’s ear, or false dandelion – is a perennial, low-lying edible herb often found in lawns. The plant is native to Europe, but has also been introduced to the Americas, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, where it can be an invasive weed. Suprisingly, the whole […]
Plant of the day: Brachychiton populneus, Kurrajong Tree.
The Kurrajong or Bottle tree as it is known in the United States (Brachychiton) is a tree which is native to eastern Australia. Its distribution ranges from Townsville in northern Queensland through to the north-east of Victoria. The tree’s name comes from languages found along the New South Wales south coast and the Sydney basin. […]
Plant of the day: cardamine hirsuta, hairy bittercress.
As winter warms to spring, a favorite weed of foragers starts to emerge in rather cute clumps—it’s hairy bittercress! It has actually been lurking near the surface all winter, having germinated in the fall and waited out the cold temperatures before sending up flowers and seeds. Hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) leafs out in a basal […]
Plant of the day: Allium Triquetrum, onion weed/three cornered garlic.
The three-cornered garlic is a plant that you can normally smell before you can see it. It also really loves wet areas and can often be found along creek edges. This is an upright herbaceous perennial plant. It grows from a bulb under the soil and can be seen in the Autumn and Winter months […]
Plant of the day: Bulbine bulbosa
Bulbine bulbosa, commonly known as bulbine lily, native leek, golden lily, or native onion, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a perennial herb with thick roots, channelled leaves, and yellow flowers with hairy stamen filaments. Bulbine bulbosa is found in all Australian states and […]
Plant of the day: Purple Coral Pea or Happy Wanderer
Coral pea is a flowering plant species belonging to the pea family Fabaceae. It is native to Australia from Queensland to Tasmania. The plant is a vigorous evergreen climber growing as subshrub bearing typical pea like flowers usually violet, pink and white. Leaves are hard, dark green and leathery with prominent venation. It is a […]
Plant of the day: Lomandra Longifolia (basket grass)
This plant is mainly referred to as ‘vital bush’ tucker. This spiky-headed mat-rush, known as Lomandra Longifolia is among the essential bush tucker herbs which were also used by the Aboriginal community thousands of years ago. However, it is only very few passersby can notice the plant. Lomandra is identified by its long, flat and […]