Mueller Track at the Wildflower Garden

Jess, Will and I went on another trip to the wildflower gardens. Kelly stayed at home with Tom to rest and recover from a cold. The rest of us had the worst of it yesterday.

We went in via the playground then on to explore the Mueller track for the first time. It was the first hot day of the season, was meant to be 28 and it did feel like it. Only a few meters out of the carpark we came across a large red bellied black snake by the side of the track enjoying the heat. We got a good close look, it didn’t seem too worried by us.

Just into the Mueller track the was a big nest of Jack Jumpers. Man I hate those things. Will was in the backpack and I carried Jess over. Just past the nest we came across another family coming the other way, I told them to look out for the ants. The mum jumped over, then the two daughters got scared and froze just in front of the ants nest and started screaming, then the mum started screaming “dont stand there! move move move!” quite a sight. It must have left an impression on Jess, the rest of the walk she was worried we might come across some more “bitey ants”

We came back up to the Solander trail at the hairpin and walked back to the playground for lunch. It was a good walk, Jess a Will seemed to like it, although they’d had enough by the end.

Red Bellied Black Snake
Red Bellied Black Snake by the side of the track
Will and the Snake
Will didn't pay much attention to the snake
Drink Stop
A short drink stop on the Mueller track

Black Wattle

Callicoma serratifolia

“A large spreading shrub ( usually about 4-5m high but can be 10-15m high ) with wattle like flowers” – NPOS p.157

Black wattle is not an Acacia so it’s not a true wattle. It got the name because it’s flowers are similar to the flowers common to wattle trees. The first wattle and daub houses in the colony of NSW were made from the branches and timber of the black wattle.

Black Wattle
Black Wattle

 

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Leech

Gnatbobdellida libbata

When it’s been raining we get leeches. Jess spotted this one stuck to the underside of her table. From the description on the Australian Museum Leech page this Leech is classified as a “jawed leech” being in the Gnatbobdellida group:

“The jawed leeches or Gnatbobdellida have jaws armed with teeth with which they bite the host. The blood is prevented from clotting by production of a non-enzymatic secretion called hirudin. The land leech commonly encountered by bushwalkers is included in this group.”

The most common species in this group is the Gnatbobdellida libbata, with my 15 minutes of leech identification expertise I reckon that’s what this fella is.

Leech - Gnatbobdellida libbata
Leech - Gnatbobdellida libbata
Leech - Gnatbobdellida libbata
Leech - Gnatbobdellida libbata - it left hungry.

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Fishbone Fern

Nephrolepis cordifolia

“A fern with narrow erect fronds, often spreading over large areas.” NPOS p.310

Everyone except me ( neighbors, mum ) seemed to know all about the fishbone fern. Even though it’s a native to Australia where it naturally occurs in Queensland and Northern NSW, it’s considered a weed in Sydney. It does tend to take over parts of the garden, especially places I’ve cleared of other weeds.

The plant sketches in NPOS are usually very good, but for the Fishbone Fern I didn’t think it looked like the plant I saw. I checked a few other sources to make sure I had the right plant.

I’ll be cutting this back in the garden.

Fishbone Fern
Fishbone Fern in the back garden, scheduled for termination
Fishbone Fern frond detail
Fishbone Fern frond detail
Fishbone Fern frond closeup
Fishbone Fern frond closeup

 

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