DICOTYLEDONS
PORTULACACEAE - Pigweed Family
A widespread family of some 500 species of mostly succulent herbs. There are 43 species native to Western Australia and four probably naturalised ones. Calandrinia (parakeelyas). There are about 30 native species of parakeelyas in Western Australia, mostly in arid areas. They are all succulent, and many have showy magenta flowers. One species, C. menziesii,has become naturalised in wetlands in Perth and at Muresk and Narrogin. It is a small, sprawling annual with linear leaves to 2cm long. The flowers are about 1cm across with purple petals. Native to North America. Consult a specialist text for exact identification. Portulaca oleracea(pigweed) is a prostrate, succulent annual. Under water stress the whole plant becomes reddish. The shiny leaves are spoon-shaped and have yellow flowers in their axils. Pigweed grows and flowers in summer and is a common and widespread weed of horticulture, paddocks and gardens. It is considered a native in most of the State but is probably introduced to the south-west. |
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P. pilosa is a similar prostrate annual but it has linear leaves and pink petals. It is found in sandy disturbed sites in the Kimberley and Pilbara, flowering in summer. A pan-tropical weed. |
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Talinum paniculatumis a perennial to 40cm high, with fleshy, almost ovate leaves and pink flowers in tall sprays held above the leaves. Flowers in summer. A garden escape found on roadsides and granite slopes near Perth. Native to America. |
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PRIMULACEAE - Primrose Family
A family with about 1000 species of annuals or perennials and the occasional woody shrub. It has worldwide distribution but is centred on the temperate Northern Hemisphere. In Western Australia there are four native and four naturalised species. Anagallis arvensis(pimpernel) is a hairless, spreading annual, with more or less square stems, and opposite, ovate, stalkless leaves. The flowers are produced in spring and are about 1cm across, held on stalks above the leaves. |
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There are two
varieties: arvensishas scarlet flowers and caerulea has blue flowers and is usually a more robust plant. Both are
occasional weeds of horticulture, crops and pastures and
widespread weeds of gardens, paddocks, granite rocks and
disturbed bushland throughout the south-west. Both are
native to Europe. |
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Asterolinon linum-stellatum is an inconspicuous tiny, branching annual with minute (0.5-2mm) star-shaped white flowers in spring. Naturalised on Garden Island and perhaps elsewhere, but may have been overlooked. Native to the Mediterranean and the Middle East. |
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Samolus valerandi(brookweed) is a short, creeping perennial with erect stems to 20cm. The spoon-shaped leaves are in a basal rosette and arranged alternately up the stem, with the white flowers in terminal spikes. It is a weed of seepages, wetlands and creeks from Yallingup to Augusta. Native to Europe. |
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PROTEACEAE - Banksia Family
Many banksias, hakeas, grevilleas and other members of this family are planted as ornamentals or as part of rehabilitation schemes. If a plant appears to be growing outside its normal range, and there is a rehabilitation area nearby, suspect an introduction. As more species from this family, including some from outside Western Australia, are widely planted, it is likely that more will naturalise. In South Africa three species of Hakea, introduced as ornamentals, have become serious weeds of bushland. Grevillea robusta (silky oak) has become naturalised in many parts of the tropics. This suggests that many potential weeds could lurk in species of Banksia, Grevillea and Hakea from eastern and Western Australia, that regenerate prolifically from seed after fires but which have not yet been widely grown in Western Australia. Species currently known to naturalise from plantings include Banksia caleyi, Hakea costata, H. francisiana and H. pycnoneura. Identify these using specialist texts. |
RANUNCULACEAE - Buttercup Family
A family of some 2000 species, mainly perennial herbs, sometimes climbers. Worldwide in distribution, but concentrated in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Many are planted as ornamentals, for example anemone and delphinium. In Western Australia there are eight native and five naturalised species. Adonis microcarpa (pheasant's-eye) is an annual herb with feathery, pinnately-dissected leaves and brilliant scarlet flowers in spring followed by a tapering, cylindrical fruiting head. A garden escape and paddock weed, widespread in the south-west. Native to the Mediterranean. Myosurus minimus (mousetail)is a very small, slightly fleshy annual, with linear leaves in a basal rosette. The flowers grow on long stalks and are tiny, solitary and pale yellow. They are succeeded by slender 'mousetail-like' fruiting spikes. Found in damp places on the Nullarbor and in the eastern Goldfields. Native to the Mediterranean and North America. Authorities differ on whether it is introduced or native, and distinct from the Northern Hemisphere M. minus. |
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Ranunculus(buttercups)
are herbs with solitary, shiny, usually yellow flowers.
There are five native buttercups in Western Australia, and
two introduced ones. The native species are more or less
hairy plants, and are likely to be found in undisturbed
bushland. The introduced ones are smooth and hairless. |
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