Category: Plant Life

Great Mullein

The Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a mullein species that is native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. It has also been introduced into Australia and the Americas. It was first described by Carolus Linnaeus in Species Plantarum which was published in 1753. However, before this it was actually a herb called thaspus used by

Mica Cap

Also known as the glistening inky cap or the shiny cap, the mica cap is a commonly found species of fungus that has be found in cosmopolitan areas. These mushrooms are small and thin, but they are rather bountiful and usually grow in dense clusters. The mica cap is edible, but only immediately after plucking

Round-fruit Banksia

Also known as the Fox Banksia, the Round-fruit Banksia is a tree or shrub species that belongs to the genus Banksia. It is found in the south-west of Western Australia in sandy soil. It was first described by Robert Brown in 1810. The Round-fruit Banksia with blue-grey foliage The Round-fruit Banksia varies in flower, leaf,

Coast Banksia

Also known as the Honeysuckle Oak, White Honeysuckle, White Bottlebrush, White Banksia, Honeysuckle, or Coastal Banksia, the Coast Banksia is a tree species that grows on the east coast of Australia. It was one of the 4 original Banksia that was collected in 1770 by Sir Joseph Banks. It was also published as part of

Banksia epica

The Banksia epica is a shrub that grows along the south coast of Western Australia. It is thought to have been first seen by Edward John Eyre in 1841, however this species was not collected until 1973. Even then, this was only recognised as a distinctive species in 1988. Since then, very little research has

Matchstick Banksia

Also known as the Quairading Banksia, the Matchstick Banksia is an endangered species that is endemic to south-west Western Australia. It is a subgenus of 3 related Banksia species that have dome-shaped inflorescences. The Matchstick Banksia in Gnangarra The Matchstick Banksia was first collected before 1880. However, it was not until 1981 that the Australian

Porcino Mushroom

Also known as a penny bun or cep, the porcino mushroom is a type of fungus belonging to the genus, Boletus. It was first scientifically described by the French Botanist, Pierre Bulliard, in 1782. It is found all across the Northern Hemisphere, and does not occur naturally in the Southern Hemisphere. However, it was introduced

Burma Road Banksia

The Burma Road Banksia is a woody shrub found in the genus Banksia. It is one of several species that have shrubs with oval or small round inflorescences (flower spikes). They were first discovered in 1966 in Walkway, near the Western Australian major regional town of Geraldton. It was first thought to be another form

Bitter Oyster

Also known as the luminescent panellus, stiptic fungus, or the astringent panus, the bitter oyster is a type of fungus. It was first scientifically describe by Jean Bulliard in 1783, who originally called it the Agaricus stypicus. It was only in 1879 that it was given its current scientific name, Panellus stipticus. The Bitter Oyster

Four-footed Earthstar

An unusual and inedible mushrooms species is the Four-footed Earthstar. It is also known as the rayed earthstar or earthstar fungi. It was first scientifically described in 1794 by Christian Hendrik Persoon. This mushroom is an uncommon cosmopolitan mushroom species which can be found in Australasia, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. The four-footed earthstar

King Sundew

The king sundew is a carnivorous plant that is endemic to only one South African valley. It was first scientifically described by Edith Layard Stephens in 1926 who was a South African Botanist. Stephens named it the the king sundew because it had a striking appearance. The king sundew can only be found in 1

Brown’s Banskia

Also known as the Feather-leaved Banksia, Brown’s Banskia is a shrub which is native to the south-western region of Western Australia. This species was first collected in 1829 and published the following year by William Baxter. The Brown's Banksia shrub This shrub is found between the Stirling Range and Albany, near forests and plains. The

Wallum banksia

The wallum banksia, also known as Banksia aemula, is a shrub that is found in Australia. It was first scientifically described by Robert Brown in the early 19th century. This plant is commonly found in gardens. The Wallum Banksia is native to Australia Wallum banksia usually are found as a gnarled shrub or small tree

Australian honey fungus

The Australian honey fungus is a mushroom that is found in the Physalacriaceae family. It is found all over southern Australia, and is responsible for Armillaria root rot. This root rot is the primary cause of forest dieback and Eucalyptus tree death. Unfortunately, it is also known as the most pathogenic and widespread out of

Armillaria gallica

The Armillaria gallica is a honey mushroom species that belongs to the family Physalacriaceae. It is a common and ecologically important type of wood-decay fungi that can live as an opportunistic parasite which weakens its tree host and causes butt or root rot. Sprouting from a cut tree stump This fungus can be found worlwide.