DICOTYLEDONS

LAURACEAE - Laurel Family

A family of about 2500 species, mostly tropical trees and shrubs. In Western Australia, two native species and one naturalised. Cinnamomum camphora (camphor laurel) is a large evergreen tree that has escaped from gardens and is increasing along creeklines on the Darling Scarp. It is a serious environmental weed in New South Wales and Queensland.

LINACEAE - Flax Family

A family of some 200 species, mostly temperate zone herbs. There are three species in Western Australia, one native and two naturalised. Linum (flax) is a genus of annuals or short-lived perennials with alternate narrow leaves and branched inflorescences. The flax of commerce is L. usitatissimum,an erect herb to 1m, the inflorescence branching repeatedly to hold aloft the 2cm wide, sky-blue flowers. It has long been cultivated in Europe and Asia for the fibre obtained from its stems, which makes linen, or its seeds, that yield linseed oil. An industry based on the cultivation of flax was based at Boyup Brook, but did not prove economic. Nevertheless, occasional plants can still be found on roadsides and wasteland in the south-west.

Linum usitatissimum, PH

The native L. marginale, widespread in the south-west, is a more slender, usually unbranched, annual or short-lived perennial, with smaller, paler blue flowers. It is best distinguished by the fact that its styles are joined together, whereas in L. usitatissimum they are free. L. trigynum (French flax) is a slender annual, often branching from the base. The small (about 6mm) flowers are such a brilliant yellow that they call attention to the plant, even though the wispy stems and small leaves are rather inconspicuous. Grows best in disturbed soil along tracks and firebreaks and favours sites that retain moisture into summer. Flowers from late spring well into summer. Probably native to Europe.

L. trigynum , PH

LOBELIACEAE - Lobelia Family

A family of some 1100 annuals or perennial herbs, mostly found in temperate regions. There are 15 species native to Western Australia and possibly two naturalised. Grammatotheca bergiana is a prostrate annual with thread-like leaves and blue flowers up to 1cm long. It grows on river banks in the Darling Scarp, near Peel Inlet and on the south coast between the Scott River and Northcliffe. It may be native, but could also have been introduced from South Africa.

Grammatotheca bergiana , GK

Monopsis debilis (was M. simplex) is a slender, sprawling annual with linear, toothed leaves. Often the whole plant has a purplish tinge. The flowers, that are produced from late spring into summer, are 0.5cm across and are a deep velvety purple. It is found on disturbed winter-wet soils, including among horticultural crops, from Northampton to Albany. It is native to South Africa.

Monopsis debilis , RR

LYTHRACEAE - Loosestrife Family
 

A family containing about 500 species of herbs, shrubs or trees, cosmopolitan, but best developed in tropical America. In Western Australia, there are 10 native species and up to three naturalised ones. Ammannia auriculata is a smooth, erect annual with linear leaves and tiny purple flowers in stalked axilliary clusters. Naturalised in shallow water on the edges of streams in the eastern Kimberley. Pantropical, possibly introduced into Australia. Lythrum hyssopifolia (lesser loosestrife) is a sprawling annual with angular, ribbed stems. The pink flowers are about 5mm across and are produced from late spring to summer. They are tubular at the base and grow singly in the axils of the upper leaves. It grows on disturbed, winter-wet soils throughout the south-west, especially on irrigated summer-cropped land such as vineyards and orchards. It is native to southern Europe. In Western Australia it occupies only disturbed habitats and is considered to be introduced, though it may be native to eastern Australia.

Lythrum hyssopifolia , RR

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