False Strawberry (Potentilla indica), one of a number of species in a Rose-family genus adopted into herbal medicine and ornamental use. Native to monsoon Asia, … Read the full post
Cut-leaved Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata)
Cut-leaved Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata), an annual or short-lived perennial from the sand prairies of the eastern United States. Introduced in 1770 to English cultivation … Read the full post
Lesser Swine’s Cress (Lepidium didymum)
Lesser Swine’s Cress (Lepidium didymum), a South American member of the mustard family introduced to Europe by early colonial transfers, and from there to Australia … Read the full post
Hairy Willow-herb (Epilobium hirtigerum)
Hairy Willow-herb (Epilobium hirtigerum), an ephemeral Australian native plant whose lifeways flit between areas of disturbance. Hairy Willow-herb is adapted to exploit sites of short-lived … Read the full post
Sea Spurge (Euphorbia paralias)
Sea Spurge (Euphorbia paralias), a Mediterranean spurge introduced to Australian coasts and now actively transforming dune environments around the continent’s southern perimeter. Sea Spurge alters … Read the full post
Sweet Briar (Rosa rubiginosa)
Sweet Briar (Rosa rubiginosa), brought to Australia as grafting stock, a sometimes hedge and a domestic source of rose hip tea. Spread by birds and … Read the full post
Caper Spurge (Euphorbia lathyris)
Caper Spurge (Euphorbia lathyris), another latex-exuding Southern European ornamental selection, now naturalised in riparian woodlands throughout Southern Australia. Caper Spurge combined excellent vertical structure, drought-hardy … Read the full post
Myrtle-leaf Milkwort (Polygala myrtifolia)
Myrtle-leaf Milkwort (Polygala myrtifolia), a South African ornamental shrub and one of several dominant weeds in residential scrub around Port Phillip Bay, and on Mornington … Read the full post
Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba)
Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba), a Eurasian mustard globalised in the 1800s in contaminated seed and ship ballast. The first Australian infestation reportedly occurred at the … Read the full post
Tree Mallow (Malva arborea)
Tree Mallow (Malva arborea), a Mediterranean coastal shrub. Described in 1859 as very common in Australian gardens, the plant offered instant vertical colour; an 1886 … Read the full post
Hairy Abutilon (Abutilon grandifolium)
Hairy Abutilon (Abutilon grandifolium), a South American plant similar in appearance to various South Asian Abutilons, hence another common name ‘Hairy Indian Mallow’. Although there … Read the full post
Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera)
Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera), a stone fruit native to the Balkans and to Western Asia, adopted and selected for its ornamental qualities (as well as … Read the full post
Geraldton Carnation Weed (Euphorbia terracina)
Geraldton Carnation Weed (Euphorbia terracina), a Mediterranean perennial established across southern Australia as a weed of pasture, roadsides and bushland. Also called False Caper Spurge … Read the full post
Oval Heron’s-bill (Erodium malacoides)
Oval Heron’s-bill (Erodium malacoides), a ‘mallow-leafed’ geranium native to the Mediterranean basin but spread to similar climates around the world as a contaminant of seed … Read the full post
Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill (Geranium molle)
Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill (Geranium molle), a Eurasian annual introduced to 19th century Australia as a contaminant of grain and fodder seed. This geranium has been noted … Read the full post
Large-flower wood-sorrel (Oxalis purpurea)
Large-flower wood-sorrel (Oxalis purpurea), a South African perennial bulb adopted as a garden ornamental. Typically flowering a bright magenta as seen here, white and pale-pink … Read the full post
Large Mediterranean Spurge (Euphorbia characias)
Large Mediterranean Spurge (Euphorbia characias), another beloved Eurasian garden filler with gloriously alien inflorescences and caustic latex sap. Tolerant of drought and high salinity levels, … Read the full post
Cape Wattle (Paraserianthes lophantha)
Cape Wattle (Paraserianthes lophantha), a Western Australian relative of Acacia that has been distributed in European cultivation across the rest of the continent. Widely purported … Read the full post
Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica)
Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica), a slow-growing, evergreen horticultural shrub from eastern Asia (and notably not from India). Tolerant of saline environments and disturbed soils, this … Read the full post
Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
Gorse (Ulex europaeus), brilliant with golden spangles, Western European nitrogen-fixer and destroyer of worlds. Furnishing a fresh fodder for stock (palatable once milled of its … Read the full post
Bowie’s wood-sorrel (Oxalis bowiei)
Bowie’s wood-sorrel (Oxalis bowiei), a South African species named for a long-dead Kew Gardens collector, and a covert and rarely collected weed of Melbourne and … Read the full post
Great Willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum)
Great Willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum), growing as a local infestation on the riparian edge of a pool on Skeleton Creek, just above where the Werribee railway … Read the full post
Soursob (Oxalis pes-caprae)
Soursob (Oxalis pes-caprae), blooming very early in a sheltered position at the Werribee River crossing of the Main Outfall Sewer. This alien wood sorrel poses … Read the full post
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis)
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis), revisited in environmental positions on Merri Creek and Kororoit Creek. This channel has already covered this East African species’ urban … Read the full post
Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium)
Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium), a Spanish-origin, pan-Mediterranean poisonous weed likely distributed to Australia with imports of Merino sheep. The plant is appropriately named—as a relative … Read the full post
Blue Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea)
Blue Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea), a Brazilian perennial vine and close relation to Passionfruit. Producing unpalatable (though edible) fruit, Blue Passionflower is a popular grafting choice … Read the full post
Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata)
Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata), a relatively common nursery distribution originating in Greece, which has naturalised in California, Britain and the low countries, and here in … Read the full post
Spotted Spurge (Euphorbia maculata)
Spotted Spurge (Euphorbia maculata), a North American spurge (also known as ‘Eyebane’) that is a pioneer species and common lawn weed in its native setting, … Read the full post
Great Willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum)
Great Willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum), the spontaneous offering of a rootbound tree-cut in the footpath of Nicholson Street, Fitzroy this weekend. Great Willow-herb is native to … Read the full post
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis)
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis), a shrub or minor tree native to Eastern Africa. The species has been distributed throughout the global tropics and warm … Read the full post