4 Flora & Fauna

TARDUN FLORA & FAUNA

Part 4

WATER ON THE PROPERTY

In this undulating land with broad valleys and low, gently sloping hills, we have some claypans and just outside our property also salt-lakes were the water birds breed, and some water plant grow.

The claypans and salt-lakes start to fill in May or June. If the rain is good the claypans may be one metre deep in the deepest part. In years of little rain it may fill up only 50 centimetres or less.

There is no permanent surface water on the property and nearby land. There are only two places near by were there were small soaks in the 1940’s, Urawah Spring between our property and the Railway line and Mindage Spring North of us.

Only the Claypans has brackish water and have some plants growing in the water. The salt-lakes have no plants growing in the water and are generally not very deep.

FLORA AROUND THE SALT-LAKE.

Cut leaf goodenia (Family GOODENIACEAE, Goodenia pinnatifida)

This ephemeral has a basal rosette of pinnatifid leaves 3-10cm long. You can see the flower growing in a group and in a close-up. The cut leaf goodenia is not common on the property, but very common around the salt lake. It flowers in September and October.

Everlastings (Family COMPOSITAE ASTERACEAE, Helipterum roseum)

A broad drift of Helipterum roseum on the ridge around the salt lake here in Tardun. This display of everlastings reaches its peak by August.

Everlastings (Family COMPOSITAE ASTERACEAE, Hylosperma glutinosum subsp. Vennstum)

On the other side of the salt lake you can find this daisy flower growing in a drift of yellow colours. The Hyalosperma glutinosum subsp. Vennstum only grows in small pockets of bush.

Wild apricot (Family PITTODPORACEAE, Pittosporum phylliraeoides)

This is a very graceful looking tree. It is now very rare here in Tardun. Only one I have seen growing around the salt lake. The fruit is of apricot colour. That is why it has the name ‘Wild apricot’, but it is far too bitter to eat. However some Aborigines of the interior are reported to have pounded them to make flour.

Hibiscus (Family BOMBACACEAE or MALVACEAE, Alyogyne huegelli)

The hibiscus grows around the salt lake and flowers from October to November. This species is a ‘tomentose’ (a covering of dense hairs) shrub of 1-2m. The Alygyne is also known as "red-centred hibiscus" and lilac hibiscus.

FAUNA AROUND THE SALT-LAKE.

Banded plover (Family CHARADRIIDAE, Vanellus tricolor)

The Aboriginal name of the Banded plover is wilujawujawu. At the first opening of the rain season the Banded Plovers begin nesting.

You can see a plover in flight and a young plover.

Red-capped dotterel (Family CHARADRIIDAE, Charadrius ruficapillus)

When you are at the salt lake, you can see the red-capped dotterel patrolling the edge of the water. The photo shows a nest of the red-capped dotterel with the nestling in it.

FLORA AROUND THE CLAYPAN.

Aquatic plant (Family ?, Lepilaena sp.)

This aquatic plant is common in the water of the claypan. It grows submerged in still and brackish water at a shallow depth. It is one of the few plants that grows here in the claypan.

Fringed lily (Family LILIACEAE, Thysanotus speckii)

The fringed lily is flowering near the claypan and seems common in this area. One has to appreciate the appeal, which these most attractive little flowers can exert.

Groundsel (Family COMPOSITAE ASTERACEAE, Senecio lautus)

The groundsel is only common around the claypan. The plants do not form a carpet of flowers. Senecio is a very large genus of more than 1000 species, found all over the world, mostly with conspicuous yellow heads of flowers.

Swan river daisy (Family COMPOSITAE ASTERACEAE, Brachycome iberidifolia)

The flower heads are 1.5 cm across with blue ray florets up to 1 cm long. It is very common around the claypan. In a good season they carpet the ground around the claypan.

Rosy-cheeked donkey orchid (Family ORCHIDACEAE, Diuris porrifolia)

You can see this Orchid all over the property from June up to September.

The rosy-cheeked donkey orchids are only one of the orchids that grow near the claypan.

[ Up ]

*Wild apricot (Family PITTODPORACEAE, Pittosporum phylliraeoides)*
This is a very graceful looking tree. It is now very rare here in Tardun. Only one I have seen growing around the salt lake. The fruit is of apricot colour. That is why it has the name ‘Wild apricot’, but it is far too bitter to eat. However some Aborigines of the interior are reported to have pounded them to make flour.

*Hibiscus (Family BOMBACACEAE or MALVACEAE, Alyogyne huegelli)*
		The hibiscus grows around the salt lake and flowers from October to November. This species is a ‘tomentose’ (a covering of dense hairs) shrub of 1-2m. The Alygyne is also known as "red-centred hibiscus" and lilac hibiscus.

*Red-capped dotterel (Family CHARADRIIDAE, Charadrius ruficapillus)*
When you are at the salt lake, you can see the red-capped dotterel patrolling the edge of the water. The photo shows a nest of the red-capped dotterel with the nestling in it.

*Aquatic plant (Family ?, Lepilaena sp.)*
		This aquatic plant is common in the water of the claypan. It grows submerged in still and brackish water at a shallow depth. It is one of the few plants that grows here in the claypan.

*Fringed lily (Family LILIACEAE, Thysanotus speckii)*
The fringed lily is flowering near the claypan and seems common in this area. One has to appreciate the appeal, which these most attractive little flowers can exert.

*Groundsel (Family COMPOSITAE ASTERACEAE, Senecio lautus)*
		The groundsel is only common around the claypan. The plants do not form a carpet of flowers. Senecio is a very large genus of more than 1000 species, found all over the world, mostly with conspicuous yellow heads of flowers.