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Climate data update

May 23, 2015Uncategorizedadmin

The sea level, rainfall and temperature climate pages have been updated with the latest data from the BOM. As per usual temperature and rainfall are almost up to date but sea level is more than a year behind with the latest reading from December 2013. Why is this?

Always interesting to see how the most recent weather extremes stack up against the last century or so of readings. This most recent summer that felt so hot was nothing special if you look back only 15 years or so, but the longer term trend is clear for sea level and temperature. But not rainfall.

What Plant is This?

September 5, 2011Plantsintroducedadmin

Jess and I went for a walk to the Middle Harbour Creek stepping stone crossing at the intersection of Bungaroo and Govenor Phillip tracks. This plant was sprouting up all over the place by the side of the river.

It doesn’t look like a native but who knows, I’ll update this page when I find out what it is.

[[update]] It’s a ~~Tobacco Bush~~ Flannel leaf

Pouched Coral Fern

September 5, 2011PlantsGleichenia, Gleichenia dicarpa, Native, Pouched Coral Fernadmin

Gleichenia dicarpa

“A scrambling fern forming dense entanglements in sunny sites” – NPOS p. 313

The pouched coral fern has small delicate fronds on branchletts that sprout from a central stalk. On some plants the colour of the frinds lightens as they move furthar allong the branchlets. I’m not sure why this is, could it be new growth?

On the underside of the fronds are tiny pouches that contain the spores. The pouches are a diagnostic feature that set the it apart from other coral ferns, and of course the origin of the common name. The pouches really are small, I had to look at them through a hand lens the first time properly visualize them. Now I know what to look for they seem visible to the naked eye.

Golden Guinea Flower

September 5, 2011PlantsGolden Guinea Flower, Hibbertia, Hibbertia scandens, Nativeadmin

Hibbertia scandens

“A vigorous scrambler with dense foliage” – NPOS p.332

There are beds of this outside the office building where I work, I’ve not seen it in the wild.

from http://www.friendsoflanecovenationalpark.org.au/Flowering/Flowers/Hibbertia_scandens.htm

Hibbertia scandens is a vigorous climber commonly found on sandy coastal areas through to inland forests. It prefers sunny positions on good soil. It has thick fleshy stems trailing 3m up tree trunks or along the ground, often twining around each other. The name “scandens” refers to its climbing habit.

The leaves of Hibbertia scandens are alternate, large, up to 8 cm long, shiny above and hairy beneath. Some are toothed.

The flowers are larger than Hibbertia dentata, to 9cm across. The seeds are bright red and shiny, clustering on the old sepals.

Hibbertia scandens mainly flowers in Spring and Summer.

In Garigal

Observations in Garigal National Park