Brush Turkey

Animals, , , , ,

Alectura lathami

Like the Swamp Wallaby the Brush Turkey is another animal that I never saw around here growing up, but has recently come back to the area. Brush Tukeys were once common around Sydney but were more or less wiped out during the depression when people found them to be an easy to catch dinner. It’s only been in the last 10 years or so that they are making a come back.

The Brush Turkey is a large black bird with a red bald head and a yellow ring around it’s neck. They can fly when they want to but they usually get around by walking.

Brush Turkey
Brush Turkey making a quick getaway
Brush Turkey Chick
Brush Turkey Chick in the front yard. Brush Turkey chicks hatch fully feathered and can fly within a few hours.

 

more info

Sweet Pittosporum

Plants, , , , ,

Pittosporum undulatum

“Originally a scattered inhabitant of shady, rainforest gullies, it is highly opportunistic and now aggressively colonises almost any moist, shady location..” – NPOS p.196

Like the Fishbone Fern the sweet Pittosporum is a native plant that is now often considered a weed in urban bushland. Although the Sweet Pittosporum is different in that it’s also naturally found in the Sydney area.

We have a few of these in the front and back yard. It’s a small tree, the leaves are vivid green, shiny and have wavy margins, which is where is scientific name undulatum comes from. It’s meant to have a strong sweet smell when in flower. I’ve had a blocked nose for the week though and have not noticed it. The seeds are edible and were ground for food by Aboriginies.

Sweet Pittosporum
Sweet Pittosporum in the back yard next to the washing line. It's doing well considering it's growing on top of a large rock outcrop.
Sweet Pittosporum Flowers
Sweet Pittosporum Flowers - check out the two small green bugs

more info:

Pitted Crassula

Plants, , , ,

Crassula multicava

Another breakout that has colonized large parts of the front garden. The Pitted Crassula,  also know as Cape Province Pygmy Weed is originally from South Africa and is considered by some to be a weed over here. It’s a small ground hugging plant with light green thick succulent leaves. The leaves are covered in small pitts or divots, flowers are white to light pink and look like a 4 pronged star.

Nothing much more to say except this plant’s days in the yard are numberd, on reflection of the time I spend gardening those numbers could be in the 1000’s, but they are still numbered.

Pitted Crassula
Pitted Crassula in the garden. There's a shoot of Lavender Scallop poking up in the center top of the picture, that's scheduled for termination too.

more info:

Coral Fern ( G. rupestris )

Plants, , , , ,

Gleichenia rupestris

NPOS p.314 

This coral fern was helpfully marked on the Mueller track in the wildflower gardens. It was growing on sandstone near the base of a small cliff. The species wasn’t indicated, but from the description in NPOS I think it’s Gleichenia rupestris. The fronds are flat on the underside and are larger and flatter than the pouched coral fern, the stalks are hairless.

Coral Fern
Coral Fern - no pouches here
Coral Fern
close up of fronds and hairless stalks of the Coral Fern

more info:

http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Gleichenia%20rupestris