Our guide has been prepared with seasonal blooms in Oatley Park. The park protects important examples of the natural environment which occurred throughout the area before the spread of suburbs. Within its boundaries are numerous micro-habitats giving protection to a variety of native plants and to animals which rely on those plants for food, shelter and nesting.
River Mangrove – Aegiceras corniculatum Shrub or small tree. Leaves rounded, light green. Flowers white, in umbels. Fruit like a cylindrical horn. Found along saline mudflats of Lime Kiln Bay associated with larger Grey Mangrove but growing on the landward side of that species. Flowers from May to November.
Pale Grass Lily – Caesia parviflora Small tufted herb, with narrow leaves and 5-petalled white flowers arranged along stem; finished flower twisted. Occasional plant on dry plateau.
Golden Cassinia – Cassinia auronitens Erect shrub. Flowers bright yellow in dense terminal heads. Uncommon in Park; scattered in open woodland and slopes.
NSW Christmas Bush – Ceratopetalum gummiferum Small tree. Leaves in 3s, serrated. Flowers white in clusters, turning pink and followed by red sepals around Christmas time; these sepals are often mistaken as flowers. Sheltered slopes, e.g., around Headland Track.
Hairy Clerodendrum – Clerodendrum tomentosum Small hairy-leaved tree. Flowers white with a long corolla tube and protruding stamens. Uncommon in shaded sites below cliff line.
Blue Dampiera – Dampiera stricta Low scrambling plant. Leaves narrow-elliptic, mostly lobed or toothed. Flowers blue with 3 spreading and 2 erect lobes. Back of flowers and buds have conspicuous brown hairs. Uncommon in Park, in open forest.
Blue Flax Lily – Dianella caerulea Tufted plant. Leaves flat, to 70cm long, strongly veined and with serrated margins. Flowers blue on branched stems exceeding leaves. Stamens with yellow or yellow-brown anthers. Variety producta has the base of the stems elongated and leafless. Common and widespread
Shining Guinea Flower – Hibbertia nitida Erect shrub with glossy green leaves and yellow flowers. An uncommon species listed in ROTAP. A few plants in shades areas along Headland Track.
Tick Bush – Kunzea ambigua Spreading shrub with small leaves. Flowers white and abundant along ends of branchlets. Stamens numerous and exceeding the petals. Very common in Park, esp. along roadsides.
Yellow Tea Tree – Leptospermum polygalifolium Medium shrub with hard bark (not flaky). Leaves narrow-elliptic to 20mm long. Flowers five-petalled , white. Fruit woody. Widespread in Park.
White Dogwood – Ozothamnus diosmifolius Erect plant to 1.5m tall with small narrow leaves and a dense white flower head to 7cm across. Widespread. Common around baths parking area.
Broad-leaf Geebung – Persoonia levis Tall shrub with flaky bark which is red underneath. Leaves broad and light green. Flowers intermittent between May and December. Fruit a green drupe. Widespread and common
Fan Flower – Scaevola ramosissima Low spreading plant. Branches covered with stiff hairs. Flowers purple with 5 spreading petals. Scattered but not common on grassy headland.
Toothed Xanthosia – Xanthosia tridentata Small diffuse plant to 20cm tall. Stems sprinkled with hairs. Leaves wedge-shaped with 3 teeth at the apex. Flowers insignificant, cream-green. Common on plateau and slopes but often overlooked. Same family (Apiaceae) as Flannel Flower
For More information on the Flora of Oatley Park and Sydney Region check out the publications below:
- Native Plants of Oatley Park, A Photographic Guide Published by Oatley Flora and Fauna Conservation Society
- Native Plants of Oatley Park Compiled by Alan Fairley, copies available at Oatley Flora and Fauna monthly meetings.
- Native Plants of the Sydney District an identification guide, by Alan Fairley & Philip Moore, available in book shops.
- D’harawal Seasons and Climatic Cycles, Compiled by Frances Bodkin & Illustrated by Lorraine Robertson 2008