Sunday, June 20, 2010

Stringybarks

There are two stringybarks in this patch of scrub.

Eucalyptus baxteri is known locally as the Grey Stringybark and occurs on shallow soils.
It is the tall grey stringy barked tree featured in this photo.


Not so evident here (looking out from the kitchen sink window :)) is the Messmate Stringybar, Eucalyptus obliqua, which is low growing and straggly , at least it is here.

As I drive around the area I am seeing many dead Greys, which locals say is a result of the dry conditions of the last few years.





This year is shaping up well for rain at least, so let's hope they hold their own and even make a few gains, for a while.


These tall trees are flowering right now and the canopy is alive with birds that I am hearing clearly, seeing often, but having lots of trouble photographing.
There are small birds ... silvereyes, thornbills, a range of honey eaters and pardalotes.


























The treecreepers spend their time on the trunks, poking around under the bark.
There are larger birds as well; magpies, lorikeets, rosellas, cockatoos, currawongs and kookaburras.

The "hill" really is alive with music and colour
:)


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Saturday, June 19, 2010

A native grass; not just new to ME.

"The tall native grass growing along the bank on your block has been identified in Melbourne as Dichelachne hirtella, not even recorded for South Australia... so cherish that one... RB"

More here,

http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apx?taxon_id=64957

and here, which map does seem to have a record of it on the Flerieu Peninsula, hmmmm.
http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/map/winmap?taxon_id=64957

http://tropicos.org/name/25557811

http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Dichelachne~hirtella


... still looking ... oh!

GOLD!

http://www.kew.org/data/grasses-db/www/imp02783.htm

Coral Fungi

Here are three photos of the Coral Fungus I have here.
One photo was taken last year, so it is good to know it is back again.

I believe it is a Ramaria sp, but more than that I do not know ... yet.

Once again, any offers of further help with identifying these gorgeous things would be appreciated.



Frilltop Fungus

Beautiful, eh?
even without proper names.
:)



Hydnellum peckii in Australia?


Three weeks ago, while lying flat and trying to photograph this group of fungi, I noticed something bright a little distance away to the upper right.



It was small, only about 1" or 5cm across, but a clear, bright red; very striking.



I have been doing my best to photograph it well, and this is my best effort so far. :)

I love it BUT have not been able to find any references to it in Australia.

The hunt continues.
Any clues would be gratefully received.

Red Cap Fungus, a second one

While walking home from school the other day Master H and I found three new fungi.
This is one of them.
I believe it is a Russula species.



The other two were NOT redcapped.
The *other* red capped one will be the subject of my next entry IF this works.
:)

Can you tell that I am still experimenting?
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Saturday, June 12, 2010

More Fungi

This is going to be a dog's breakfast of (what's the word for "setting things out"?) formatting!

I have another blog for the grandkids* and have just discovered that Flickr posts pictures directly to it, very nicely, but won't to this one
:(

Oh well ... learn as I go.

A friend has suggested that this fungus is a Cortinarius, but neither of us knows more than that.

If anyone else can help with a closer ID I would be grateful.































* http://nanajudesjournal.blogspot.com/

Friday, June 4, 2010

Another Fungus

and another experiment at posting.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4664724029_8ef2bf84ef.jpg



http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4665331810_842fde3418.jpg





Description: a toadstool like form (woody looking stem arising from dead hakea trunk) cap is 7cm across, roundish, dark brown and with a significant depression or "bowl" in the centre. No gills but surface looked a little bit spngey.
Ought I cut it down the centre to have a close look at the inside structures?

One friend has said,

"I'm thinking a form of Polyporus, but not sure from then on in."

Anyone?

Wednesday, June 2, 2010