Sicilian Sea Lavender (Limonium hyblaeum), a cushion-forming endemic to Sicily’s rocky south-east coasts, only described as a separate species in 1980, by which time it … Read the full post
Common Ice-plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum)
Common Ice-plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum), a dew-spangled exotic relative of Australia’s friendly native pigfaces. The name ‘Ice-plant’ refers to the prominent bladder cells which store water … Read the full post
Hairy Pink (Petrorhagia dubia)
Hairy Pink (Petrorhagia dubia), one of a pair of Western Mediterranean species of the genus that were introduced to Victoria in contaminated seed. It can … Read the full post
Common Catchfly (Silene gallica)
Common Catchfly (Silene gallica), a species of southern European origin distributed around the world as a contaminant in imported crop seed. Common Catchfly was recorded … Read the full post
North African Catchfly or Mountain Carnation (Silene pseudoatocion)
North African Catchfly or Mountain Carnation (Silene pseudoatocion), an obscure member of the genus, originating in Spain and Algeria, which has been distributed around the … Read the full post
Rambling Dock (Acetosa sagittata)
Rambling Dock (Acetosa sagittata), a long-lived perennial creeper from Southern Africa, naturalised in Australia and NZ. Rambling Dock was recorded in NSW from 1896, where … Read the full post
Inkweed (Phytolacca octandra)
Inkweed (Phytolacca octandra), a toxic Central American colonist of disturbed and low-nutrient sites. Similar to the American pokeweed that was popular as a medicinal tincture, … Read the full post
Wireweed or Hogweed (Polygonum aviculare)
Wireweed or Hogweed (Polygonum aviculare), a European annual weed of roadsides, disturbed and trampled ground, and tilled fields. Usually presenting as a mostly prostrate clump, … Read the full post
Common Chickweed (Stellaria media)
Common Chickweed (Stellaria media), an annual Eurasian microgreen, herbal remedy and fresh chickenfeed. Stellarias can be distinguished from the related Cerastiums—the Mouse-eared Chickweeds—by the shape … Read the full post
Ruby Saltbush (Enchylaena tomentosa)
Ruby Saltbush (Enchylaena tomentosa), a native perennial groundcover growing as a pavement weed in outer Northcote. Ruby Saltbush is a drought and salt-tolerant, mat-forming groundcover … Read the full post
Clammy Goosefoot (Dysphania pumilio or Chenopodium pumilio)
Clammy Goosefoot (Dysphania pumilio or Chenopodium pumilio), a native Australian turned into cosmopolitan export now found throughout the world’s temperate regions. In its original range … Read the full post
Heart-leaf Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia)
Heart-leaf Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia), a succulent vine and South American native, the common name being the result of early Portuguese networks of colonial exchange. … Read the full post
Love-lies-bleeding, Tassel Flower, Grain Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus)
Love-lies-bleeding, Tassel Flower, Grain Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus), a pseudocereal food crop, favoured ornamental of Victorian England, and rare infestation of historical and contemporary Victoria. Domesticated … Read the full post
Purslane, Pigweed (Portulaca oleracea complex)
Purslane, Pigweed (Portulaca oleracea complex), the patchwork succulent carpet of Melbourne’s ruinous pavements. A globally distributed species complex, P. oleracea was once treated as a … Read the full post
Four o’clock flower (Mirabilis jalapa)
Four o’clock flower (Mirabilis jalapa), a cultivated pre-contact plant of Central America that became a minor pan-tropical weed and garden escape worldwide following its adoption … Read the full post
Coastal Galenia, Blanket Weed, Carpet Weed (Galenia pubescens)
Coastal Galenia, Blanket Weed, Carpet Weed (Galenia pubescens). A South African blanketing groundcover, this relative of native and non-native pig faces and ice plants in … Read the full post
Heartleaf Iceplant (Aptenia cordifolia)
Heartleaf Iceplant (Aptenia cordifolia), a South African relative of Australia’s native pigfaces. Marketed by Melbourne nurseries since at least 1876 (thanks G. Brunning), this species … Read the full post
Nodding Saltbush (Einadia nutans ssp. nutans)
Nodding Saltbush (Einadia nutans ssp. nutans), an indigenous Australian specialist of rocky and otherwise obstructed environments, and a surprising urban colonist. There is a repeated … Read the full post
Sandspurry (Spergularia rubra)
Sandspurry (Spergularia rubra), a European annual that made the jump to cosmopolitan weed status in North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. This cryptic microgreen … Read the full post
Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris)
Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris), in alkaline coastal scrub along the back beach of the Mornington Peninsula. A European perennial flower and occasional harvested cooking green, … Read the full post
Cape Fig or Sour Fig (Carpobrotus edulis)
Cape Fig or Sour Fig (Carpobrotus edulis), part of the palette of the metropolitan’s fluorescent coast, and another South African import that has transformed urban … Read the full post
Dew Flower (Drosanthemum candens)
Dew Flower (Drosanthemum candens) seen here in a coastal setting. Even though it was past its flowering peak, this incredible colony behind a lifesaving station … Read the full post
Sticky Mouse-eared Chickweed (Cerastium glomeratum)
Sticky Mouse-eared Chickweed (Cerastium glomeratum). Featured previously on this channel, today’s post shows the detail of the plant’s flowers in full bloom. The plant is … Read the full post
Dew Flower (Drosanthemum candens)
Dew Flower (Drosanthemum candens), a South African member of the ice plant family that has sparsely established around Port Phillip Bay as well as on … Read the full post
Four-leaved Allseed (Polycarpon tetraphyllum)
Four-leaved Allseed (Polycarpon tetraphyllum), in various growth forms and densities, another European microherb with colonies around the world. A ubiquitous weed of Melbourne’s urban margins … Read the full post
Mouse-eared Chickweed (Cerastium glomeratum)
Mouse-eared Chickweed (Cerastium glomeratum), one of Melbourne’s’s ubiquitous weed microherbs, which gush from every cracked surface and unconquered margin before anything larger can take over. … Read the full post
Silene (Silene pseudoatocion)
Silene (Silene pseudoatocion) possibly referred to in its home range as Mountain Carnation. This is a plant which has naturalised sparingly under ideal conditions in … Read the full post