DICOTYLEDONS

STERCULIACEAE - Kurrajong Family

A family containing about 1000 species, mainly trees and shrubs but also some herbs and climbers. Mostly tropical and subtropical, but also found in South Africa and southern Australia. Western Australia has 108 native and two naturalised species. Brachychiton populneus(kurrajong)is a stout deciduous tree growing to 20m with a tapering trunk and a dense crown. The ovate leaves have long narrow tips and are a glossy, bright green in colour. The bell-shaped flowers are cream with brown spots and are produced during spring. The black, boat-shaped fruits open along one side to release the edible seeds. It is often planted in gardens or as a street tree, and is naturalised in urban bushland in Perth. A native of eastern Australia.

Brachychiton populneus, GK

Melochia pyramidata is a sprawling woody shrub to 1m with narrowly ovate leaves. The small purplish-mauve flowers are produced from April to October in clusters in the leaf axils or at the end of the branches. The fruit is a small, winged triangular capsule. A weed of rivers, creeks and irrigated crops in the Kimberley and Pilbara. A native of tropical America.

Melochia pyramidata, RR

TAMARICACEAE - Tamarisk Family

A family of trees or shrubs with scale-like leaves, mostly found in coastal or sandy areas in temperate or sub-tropical regions. About 120 species worldwide, at least one is naturalised in Western Australia. Tamarix aphylla(Athel pine, tamarisk)is a dense, spreading evergreen tree to 10m, often creating dense thickets by suckering. It has a stout trunk, fine, greyish-green linear leaves and spikes of tiny pink flowers in summer. Much planted as a shade tree in arid areas, it requires a good supply of water. It can spread from the plantings when broken branches take root and if the trees are fertile, masses of seedlings are also produced. Athel pine is a potentially serious weed of arid zone watercourses, causing alteration of flow and salinisation of the water and seedlings are currently being removed from the Gascoyne River mouth at Carnarvon. It has also recently been noted to be reproducing from seed in the south-west agricultural area. A native of North Africa. A shrub with bright pink flowers, probably T. pentaphylla, has been subject to control programs along the Avon River and other Tamarix species may also be naturalised in Western Australia but the species are extremely difficult to separate and collections are inadequate.

Tamarix aphylla, GK

TILIACEAE - Lime Family

A family with about 450 species of trees, shrubs and rarely herbs, mostly in tropical and sub-tropical regions, but a few grow in temperate climates. Western Australia has 28 native and one naturalised species. Corchorus olitorius(jute)is a stiff, erect shrub to 1.5m tall, with alternate, narrowly-ovate leaves having a very hairy undersurface. Small, inconspicuous flowers from January to May in umbels are followed by a linear capsule. It differs from all other Corchorus species in having transverse partitions between the seeds along each cell of the fruit. Introduced for trials as a possible fibre crop, it is now naturalised on wasteland, ditches, creeklines and riverine vine thickets in the Kimberley. A native of tropical Africa and Asia.

Corchorus olitorius, RR

Triumfetta pentandra is a sparsely hairy, woody herb or shrub to 1m high. It has elliptic leaves with serrate margins with the leaves broadening in size and becoming ovate down the stem. It produces small green flowers during April-May, in clusters opposite the upper leaves; these are followed by bristly, egg-shaped fruits. Occasional in disturbed areas, especially near habitation, in the Kimberley. Native to Africa. There are numerous native Triumfetta species, consult a specialist text for exact identification.

Triumfetta pentandra , RR

TROPAEOLACEAE - Nasturtium Family

A small family of about 90 species from Central and South America, all scrambling herbs. One naturalised in Western Australia. Tropaeolum majus(nasturtium)is an annual, or sometimes a short-lived perennial, with sprawling fleshy stems and circular leaves held aloft on long stalks like parasols. The striking, spurred, trumpet-shaped flowers are all shades of red, orange and yellow, produced in spring. A garden escape, it occurs on wasteland and along creeklines from Perth to Albany. T. majus is a hybrid between T. ferreyrae and T. minor, both native to Ecuador and Peru, and is not known from the wild.

Tropaeolum majus,RR

TURNERACEAE - Turnera Family

A tropical and sub-tropical family with about 120 species of herbs, shrubs and trees. No native species in Western Australia, but one naturalised.Turnera ulmifolia is an open, erect shrub to 1m. Dark green lanceolate leaves with serrate margins and delicate, brilliant yellow flowers in spring and summer. A garden escape naturalised on Koolan Island. Native of tropical America.

Turnera ulmifolia, GK

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