Ellura Sanctuary, Swan Reach, SA, 5354
                      
Rules of Thumb: If it's attacked by insects, it's probably a native. If it's got minute flowers, it's probably a native.
Stat'NotesThumbnails: 442.   107 introduced species listed, with 63 on Ellura
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Spiders, Scorpions, Mites & Ticks (Arachnida) - Introduced Species
Spiders
Araneae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Daddy Long Legs
Pholcidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Long-bodied Daddy Long-legs
Pholcus cf phalangioides
If
e m
Other Common NamesDaddy Long Legs, Daddy Longlegs or Daddy-long-legs
 
Female, dorsal
Female, Eye Arrangement
Female, Body Patterns
Female, Chelicerae
Female, Hairy Legs
Female, Ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Daddy Long Legs
Pholcidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Daddy Long-legs
Smeringopus cf natalensis
If
e m
Other Common NamesDaddy Long Legs, Daddy Longlegs or Daddy-long-legs

Thank you Mark Newton for identifying this species for us

~5-7mm.
Very difficult to be certain of species, with out proper examination (as with many of the spiders here).
This genus is unusual for a spider in that the male & female are the same size.
Male, dorsal
Male, Body, close up
Male, Eye arrangement
Male, Body, ventral
Male, Head, ventral
Female, Palps, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Comb-footed Spider
Theridiidae
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Redback
Latrodectus hasseltii


iNaturalist
Ir
e m a
SynonymLatrodectus hasselti

Thank you Anthony Paul for confirming the id of this species for us

A poisonous spider that can be lethal, but very, very rarely.
Poisoning usually occurs due to picking up material off the ground without gloves. They love corrugated iron.
They are generally black with a dark red diamond shaped stripe on their abdomen which extends from the top all the way round underneath.
The stripe goes bright red when threatened.
Diagnostically only the red hour glass underneath is relevant. As such, they can be missing the red stripe on top, are often brown not black, and also often have white stripes.
These originated in the North-western Deserts of South Australia. They have become cosmopolitan (ie travel with humans) to other locations outside their native range.
Male, dorsal
Male, profile
Male, palps
Male, ventral + size
Female, posterior
Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Comb-footed Spider
Theridiidae
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Cupboard Spider
Steatoda cf grossa
If
a
Other Common NameBrown House Spider

These will make you sick for a few days if bitten. It's related to the redback, so it's quite understandable.
It's possibly a different species (as with the case with all our inverts), but S. grossa originated in Canada.
Dorsal
Mites
Trombidiformes
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Earth Mite
Penthaleidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Red-legged Earth Mite
Halotydeus destructor


iNaturalist
If
e m a
Other Common NamesRLEM or Redlegged Earth Mite

~1mm long
6-8 on Capeweed

Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Introduced Species
Flies
Diptera
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Bush Fly
Muscidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Common House Fly
Musca domestica


iNaturalist
If
e m r
Thank you Tony Daley & Sarah-Jayne Hucks for confirming the id of this species for us

~6mm long.
Very annoying little flies that keep pestering; trying to fly into your eyes, ears, mouth, etc.
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
Wing Venation
Plumose Arista
Ventral
Flies
Diptera
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Bot Fly
Oestridae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Sheep Nasal Bot Fly
Oestrus ovis


iNaturalist
If
e m
Thank you Dr Chris Lambkin for confirming the id of this species for us
 
Dorsal
Anterior
Flies
Diptera
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Hover Fly
Syrphidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Wasp-mimicking Hover Fly
Ceriana ornata ssp ornata


iNaturalist
Ir
e m
Thank you Reiner Richter for confirming the id of this species for us

This is primarily a Qld species that invades bee hives. As we have no native bee hives in SA, we suspect they've travelled south using/breeding/surviving thru European bee hives. Andras Szito (WA DPIRD) said "I believe your suspicion is well founded. I am aware of (sometimes large scale) movement of used bee hives between the states. If some brought in some used, uncleaned hives with some dead combs in them from Qld where Ceriana is quite common then there is a high likelihood that there were viable Ceriana in it. I guess it is well adapted to European bee hives that contains a lot greater amount of honey than native bees." Thanks for your thoughts Andras


ergo It is also introduced.
Near Bee Hive
Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
Wing Venation
Ventral
Ant Bee Wasps
Hymenoptera
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Long-tongued Bee
Bee: Apidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera


iNaturalist
If
e m a c
Other Common NameCommercial Honey Bee

Thank you Dr John Ascher, Frank Prinz, Terra Occ & HowardDC for confirming the id of this species for us

Most people think of these insects in a positive light, but like all introduced species are an environmental headache and should be eradicated where possible. Please don't allow bee keepers to use your bush block for bees. Would you allow someone to plough your native vegetation to grow crops? European Bees are just as devastating, but the damage is hidden (eg using up precious hollows used by our birds and reptiles), spreading over many kilometres to neighbouring properties & reserves. Our native bees are also less aggressive and solitary (in SA).
If you thought all European Bees don't look alike, you'd be right. Peri Coleman said
"There are three main races of bees in Australia, and a very few of two other races. Main races used by bee keepers:
1. Italian (yellow banded): have 5 yellow bands, but the Ligurian sub-race has less than 5 yellow bands & have a yellow queen. The Ligurian bees of Kangaroo Island are a sub-race of Italian bees, and the early settlement bees were blackish coloured "Black Germans", but I don't know if any of these are still cultivated
2. Caucasian (bigger, grey): are dark grey, hardly banded at all, and have a long body
3. Carniolan (smallest): have creamy light bands which gives them a greyish look, and are smaller than Italians. They have a dark queen.
Quarantine in North Queensland keeps a close eye out for Asian honeybees as they are likely to bring in Nosema disease.
It is considered they are most likely to get here via shipping to a northern port or by island hopping from New Guinea."
Female worker
New Colony
New Colony
Ant Bee Wasps
Hymenoptera
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Potter Wasp
Wasp: Vespidae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
European Wasp
Vespula germanica


iNaturalist
If
a
Other Common NameYellowjacket

Thank you Mark Hura & Dave Holland for confirming the id of this species for us

There are two very similar introduced wasps in South Australia. This one & the much less common English Wasp (Vespula vulgaris). You probably couldn't tell the difference between them with the naked eye. But with photo's the difference becomes evident. This one has a solid yellow band behind the eye; V. vulgaris has a black patch in the band behind the eye. This one has a thin vertical black line on the face with a black dot either side in the yellow; V. vulgaris has a fat vertical black line on the face with no dots.
The queen looks the same as the worker, with the only reliable differentiation being size. The queen ~20mm long; while the worker is ~14mm long.
The big surprise for us after photographing one was realising how hairy they are. The look very smooth and hairless with the naked eye.
They are one of the most aggressive wasps in Australia; attacking just because you are too close to YOUR picnic lunch. Probably second only to the European Honeybee.
Thank you to Dave Holland for pointing out that males have long antenna and 7 terga of abdomen rather than 6; and are stingless.
S3, Worker, dorsal
S1, dorsal
S3, Worker, profile
S3, Worker, Face
S4, Queen, ventral
Cockroaches
Blattodea
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Cockroach
Blattidae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Oriental Cockroach
Blatta orientalis
If
a
 
Beetles
Coleoptera
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Ladybird
Coccinellidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Variegated Ladybird
Hippodamia variegata
If
e m
As it's name suggests, a very variable species. Usually with white stripes on it's pronotum, but sometimes not.
Introduced from Europe and used as a biological control of cotton aphids in crops, it is now wide spread and an environmental pest.
Our apologies for the moth scales interfering with these photo's. They were shed in the container by the previous occupant, not part of this species.
Dorsal
Profile
Beetles
Coleoptera
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
True Weevil
Curculionoidea: Curculionidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Sitona Weevil
Sitona discoideus
If
e m
 
Dorsal, ~5mm
Profile
Beetles
Coleoptera
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Skin Beetle
Dermestidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Varied Carpet Beetle
Anthrenus verbasci


iNaturalist
If
e m a
Similar Species: Brown Globular Springtail (Symphypleona sp ES01)
Thank you Lila (fairypossum) for confirming the id of this species for us

A small beetle, ~3mm long, that has cost millions to protect against severely damaging the world's museum specimens.
Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
Antennae
Ventral
Beetles
Coleoptera
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Scarab Beetle
Scarabaeidae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Sandy Dung Beetle
Euoniticellus fulvus
If
a
 
🔍Dorsal, ~9mm
Beetles
Coleoptera
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Darkling Beetle
Tenebrionidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Egyptian Beetle
Blaps polychresta


iNaturalist
If
e m c
Other Common NameGiant Darkling Beetle

Thank you Dr Chris Lambkin & Mark Hura for confirming the id of this species for us

Large black beetle, approximately 35mm (40mm including elytra extension) long, with a projection out the rear end of the elytra.
Imaged 3 in Feb & Mar.
S1, dorsal
🔍S3, dorsal
🔍S3, profile
🔍S3, Antenna
🔍S3, posterior
🔍S3, ventral
Beetles
Coleoptera
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Darkling Beetle
Tenebrionidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Little Sardinian Beetle
Cheirodes sardous


iNaturalist
If
e m
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

~5mm long.
We suspected they were introduced as we found them in the kitchen and assumed they had transported in from flowers or veggies. But the records showing distribution seem higher in Southern Australia than the rest of the world; indicating they originated here.
Mark said "Introduced here from Nthn Africa/Mediterranean. The first records of it here are from WA in the 1920's and they have been recorded here in SA since the 1960's"
We also found a couple of records from Victoria in 1943. This implies it's been in SA longer than we thought. We'd expect them to travel thru SA from WA toward Victoria; unless it was a separate introduction.
Interestingly these seem rare in their countries of origin ... perhaps we can catch them & ship them back

Imaged 8 in Sep.
S1, dorsal
S1, Antenna & Face (to the right)
🔍S1, Legs
🔍S1, Legs
🔍S1, ventral
True Bugs
Hemiptera
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Leafhopper
Hopper: Membracoidea, Cicadellidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Tamarix Leafhopper
Opsius stactogalus


iNaturalist
If
e m
Thank you Solomon Hendrix for identifying this species for us

Here's an Australian gov' site: NSW DPI
The antennae are quite long and thin with these (you have to look closely at the 1st photo to see it). There are slight differences with above link and our photo's but this could be due to head tilt & dead vs alive specimens.
Dorsal
Profile
Butterflies & Moths
Lepidoptera
  (8 species
    5 from Ellura)
Oecophorid Moth
:Gelechioidea Oecophoridae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Brown House Moth
Hofmannophila pseudospretella


iNaturalist
If
a
Thank you Prof Victor W Fazio III† for confirming the id of this species for us
 
Dorsal, natural colour
Dorsal, sharper
Profile, ~8mm
Ventral, wingspan ~20mm
Butterflies & Moths
Lepidoptera
  (8 species
    5 from Ellura)
Leaf Miner
:Gracillarioidea Gracillariidae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Echium Leaf Miner
Dialectica scalariella


iNaturalist
If
a
Thank you Leon Crang for confirming the id of this species for us
 
Butterflies & Moths
Lepidoptera
  (8 species
    5 from Ellura)
Plume Moth
:Pterophorioidea Pterophoridae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Horehound Plume Moth
Wheeleria spilodactylus


iNaturalist
If
e m
Thank you Donald Hobern for confirming the id of this species for us

~9mm long, ~17mm natural wingspan.
It has striped legs and striped wings.
🔍Adult, dorsal
🔍Adult, anterior
🔍Adult, Wings
🔍Adult, Wing
🔍Adult, Body
🔍Larva, Dorsal
🔍Larva, Profile
Larva, Eyes
🔍Larva, Leaf Damage
Butterflies & Moths
Lepidoptera
  (8 species
    5 from Ellura)
Grass Moth
:Pyraloidea Pyralidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Greater Wax Moth
Galleria mellonella


iNaturalist
If
e m
Thank you Prof Victor W Fazio III† for confirming the id of this species for us

~14mm long, ~33mm wingspan.
Imaged 1 in Nov.
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Anterior
Hindwing
Upper Abdomen
🔍Ventral
Butterflies & Moths
Lepidoptera
  (8 species
    5 from Ellura)
Grass Moth
:Pyraloidea Pyralidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Indian Meal Moth
Plodia interpunctella


iNaturalist
If
e m
Other Common NamesIndianmeal Moth or Indian-meal Moth

Thank you Prof Victor W Fazio III† for confirming the id of this species for us

~7mm long, ~17mm wingspan
Imaged 1 in Dec.
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Ventral
Butterflies & Moths
Lepidoptera
  (8 species
    5 from Ellura)
Diamondback Moth
:Yponomeutoid Plutellidae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Cabbage Moth
Plutella cf xylostella
If
a
SynonymPlutella xylostella-australiana

Other Common NameDiamondback Moth

Thank you Alan Melville for confirming the id of this species for us

This introduced species is highly variable in it's colours. The antennae always have banding, however, and point forward.
Profile
Butterflies & Moths
Lepidoptera
  (8 species
    5 from Ellura)
Brown Butterfly
Papilionoidea: Nymphalidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Foreign Wanderer
Danaus plexippus


iNaturalist
If
e m a
Other Common NamesMonarch or Wanderer

Thank you Alan Melville for confirming the id of this species for us

While this butterfly comes from the Americas. It's only food source is the introduced Milkweed.
There is some discussion if it arrives under it's own steam to the Eastcoast of Australia. Even so, it wouldn't be able to propogate without the weed. Regardless, it's not native to SA.
Male, dorsal
Male, underwing
Male, Sex Marks
Male, Head
Female, dorsal
Female, underwings
Butterflies & Moths
Lepidoptera
  (8 species
    5 from Ellura)
White & Yellow Butterfly
Papilionoidea: Pieridae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Small Cabbage White
Pieris rapae


iNaturalist
If
e m a
Other Common NameCabbage White

Thank you Matt Endacott, Karen Weaving & Leon Crang for confirming the id of this species for us

Males have one black spot per forewing, while females have 2. They both have one spot on each hindwing.
This is not obvious and it's easy to confuse the male's forewing spot and hindwing spot as 2 spots on one wing; looking like a female.
Larvae are green, with a pale yellow/green line along it's back. Yellow spotting around it's spiricles and 4 tiny ocelli (eyes) per side.
🔍Female, topside Wings
Male, topside Wings
Underside Wings
🔍Larvae, profile, Legs
🔍Larvae, dorsal
🔍Larvae, Eyes
🔍Larvae, Stripe
🔍Chrysalis, dorsal
🔍Chrysalis, profile
🔍Chrysalis, posterior
Earwigs
Dermaptera
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Earwig
Forficulidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
European Earwig
Forficula auricularia


iNaturalist
If
e m a p
Thank you David Muirhead for confirming the id of this species for us

~14mm long plus pincers are a further ~7mm.
Found in the kitchen, so most likely came from produce (fresh vegetables).
Male, dorsal
Juvenile Female, dorsal
Male, profile
Male, Pincers
Male, Head
Male, Abdomen Segment Hairs
Male, ventral

Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Crustaceans (Malacostraca) - Introduced Species
Peracarid Crustaceans
Isopoda
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Terrestrial Crustacean
Armadillidiidae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Pill Bug
Armadillidium vulgare


iNaturalist
If
a
Other Common NamesPill-bug, Pillbug, Roly-poly, Slater or Woodlouse

Thank you Grant Schiermeyer for confirming the id of this species for us

Interestingly, Atlas only has 2 species described in this family and they are both introduced.
Notice the trapezoidal telson of this family mentioned by Grant above.
We think the colour variation is due to the specimen #4 recently moulting. Specimen #7 is the colour of an older specimen.
S7, dorsal
S4, dorsal
S7, profile
S4, pill
S4, ventral
Peracarid Crustaceans
Isopoda
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Terrestrial Crustacean
Porcellionidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Common Rough Woodlouse
Porcellio scaber


iNaturalist
If
e m
Thank you Matt Campbell for confirming the id of this species for us

~10mm long
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
Anterior
🔍Ventral

Animals (Animalia) - Chordates (Chordata) - Ray-finned Fish (Actinopterygii) - Introduced Species
Minnows
Cypriniformes
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Carp
Cyprinidae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
European Carp
Cyprinus carpio


iNaturalist
If
r
Thank you nj852 for confirming the id of this species for us

This one was 4kg, a large fish.
These fish have destroyed the Murray River. Once a clear watered river, it's now murky as these fish filter thru the silt on the river bed looking for food, constantly stirring up the silt.
Profile
Toothcarps
Cyprinodontiformes
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Livebearer
Poeciliidae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Eastern Mosquitofish
Gambusia holbrooki


iNaturalist
If
m
Thank you meta4 for identifying and Fubberpish for confirming the id of this species for us

fubberpish said "Yep, bloody things are everywhere, they're a massive problem. they're super hardy fish, produce massive amounts of young very quickly and only take a few months to reach breeding age, so they are able to multiply extremely rapidly and survive in just about any body of fresh water. they were deliberately introduced to eat mosquito larvae - except native Australian fish like the Empire Gudgeon are actually better at mosquito control than the Mosquitofish!"
🔍Dorsal, smaller
Profile, larger

Animals (Animalia) - Chordates (Chordata) - Birds (Aves) - Introduced Species
Doves and Pigeons
Columbiformes
  (2 species
    0 from Ellura)
Dove and Pigeon
Columbidae
  (2 species
    0 from Ellura)
Spotted Turtle-dove
Streptopelia chinensis


iNaturalist
If
c
Thank you Thomas Mesaglio for confirming the id of this species for us
 
Doves and Pigeons
Columbiformes
  (2 species
    0 from Ellura)
Dove and Pigeon
Columbidae
  (2 species
    0 from Ellura)
Laughing Dove
Streptopelia senegalensis


iNaturalist
If
SynonymSpilopelia senegalensis

Other Common NameStreptopelia

Thank you Thomas Mesaglio for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Anterior
Perching Birds
Passeriformes
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Weaver-finch
Estrildidae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Chestnut-Breasted Mannikin
Lonchura castaneothorax


iNaturalist
Ir
a
Thank you Brendan Duggan for confirming the id of this species for us

The 2 reasons for adding this, primarily Queensland, species are that
  1. It is a quite beautiful finch
  2. It was photographed free in the Adelaide Hills.
We eventually determined it was an "Escapee" (ie held locally in captivity & then escaped). As such, we wanted to highlight that even though the books give you a locality range, it's quite possible to spot a species well outside of it's normal area (but unusual). This individual stayed around for 2 or 3 years, living happily with a flock of Red-browed Firetails.
🔍Profile
Front
Back
Perching Birds
Passeriformes
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Sparrow
Passeridae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus


iNaturalist
If
e m a c
Thank you George Seagull for confirming the id of this species for us
 
Female

Animals (Animalia) - Chordates (Chordata) - Mammals (Mammalia) - Introduced Species
Even-toed Ungulates
Artiodactyla
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Cloven-hoofed Mammal
Bovidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Feral Goat
Capra hircus


iNaturalist
If
e m
Other Common NameGoat

Thank you Antoni Camozzato for confirming the id of this species for us
 
Footprint
🔍Herd, Trip or Tribe
Mother & Kid
Placental mammals
Carnivora
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Canine
Canidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes


iNaturalist
If
e m a
Other Common NameDAMN Fox

Thank you Geoffrey Cox for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Approaching
🔍Who's that?
🔍Better get outta here
Placental mammals
Carnivora
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Cat
Felidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Feral Cat
Felis catus
If
e m a r c
 
Profile
Kangaroos & Wombats
Diprotodontia
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Koala
Phascolarctidae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Koala
Phascolarctos cinereus ssp victor


iNaturalist
Ir
a
Thank you Terra Occ for confirming the id of this species for us

While considered cute and cuddly, wild animals should not be approached. Animals that people hold in zoo's are tame. As with any large wild animal, they can inflict severe injuries if cornered. Having said that, they are not openly aggressive.
A male's mating call is a loud, deep, sickening sound. It's a much bigger sound than their size suggests. This is on purpose; the ladies like their boys to be big, so the boys oblige

They love stringy bark gum trees.
We also often see them walking on the roads through the Adelaide Hills.

You may think we've made a mistake ... of course Koala's aren't introduced! Well, yes they were; locally at least. Introduced to the Adelaide Hills in the middle of last century. So while an Australian native, not a native where these photo's were taken.
This can be related to Cootamundra Wattle. A NSW native, now an "introduced" weed species in the Adelaide Hills.
Similarly, can you image the destruction this species has caused to the local native environs. It's not their fault of course, should never have been located there in the first place. But Tourism is a powerful motivator in our Society.
Male, about to fall
🔍Male, saved himself
🔍Male, retreating
I love my tree
Morning sleepy head
My, what sharp claws you have
These hands are made for climbing
Mum & Bubs
🔍Hello little one
Hares & Rabbits
Lagomorpha
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Hare & Rabbit
Leporidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
European Hare
Lepus europaeus


iNaturalist
If
e m a
Other Common NamesJack Rabbit or Hare

Thank you Sea-Kangaroo for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Profile
Hiding
Going
Gone
Hares & Rabbits
Lagomorpha
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Hare & Rabbit
Leporidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Feral European Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus


iNaturalist
If
e m a
Other Common NameBLOODY Rabbit

Thank you Josh Magro for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Anterior
Profile
🔍Flash Artifact in the Eyes
🔍Posterior
Rodents
Rodentia
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Murid
Muridae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Western European House Mouse
Mus musculus ssp domesticus


iNaturalist
If
e m a
Thank you Antoni Camozzato for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Profile
Rodents
Rodentia
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Murid
Muridae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Black Rat
Rattus rattus


iNaturalist
If
e m
Thank you JosefNR for confirming the id of this species for us

~150mm long.
It seems their tail is diagnostic.
We are amazed we get such large, introduced animals out here in near desert Australia.
🔍Profile
🔍Tail

Animals (Animalia) - Molluscs (Mollusca) - Gastropods, Slugs, And Snails (Gastropoda) - Introduced Species
Land Snails & Slugs
Stylommatophora
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Typical Snail
Helicidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Garden Snail
Cornu aspersum


iNaturalist
If
e m a
Thank you Thomas Mesaglio & Dr Kevin Bonham AM for confirming the id of this species for us

The shell was ~28mm long & ~23mm high. 4 eye stalks. They don't seem to have an obvious umbilicus (centre hole).
They are very variable in colour & pattern making id difficult.
We normally mirror some images to always have the head point to the left. Kevin said "As snails and slugs are not symmetrical it is best not to reverse photos of them as genuinely reversed specimens are very rare natural freaks." As such, we have now put them all in there natural orientation.
Imaged 3 in Apr & Dec.
Dorsal
Profile
Eyes
Ventral, retracted
Ventral, "foot"
Land Snails & Slugs
Stylommatophora
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Small Land Snail
Hygromiidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Common White Snail
Cernuella virgata


iNaturalist
If
e m
Other Common NamesCommon Garden Snail, Maritime Gardensnail or Vineyard snail

Thank you Mike Burrell, Kevin Huang & Dr Kevin Bonham AM for confirming the id of this species for us

These are easily confused with another introduced snail, the White Italian Snail (Theba pisana). The centre hole (the umbilicus) is covered, or nearly covered, with T. pisana. So a photo of the umbilicus is requred for definate identification. It was how we were able to id these specimens.
Matt Parr from iNaturalist says that T. pisana has a flatter top/spire and more inflated shell than Cernuella virgata. Thanks Matt
Umbilicus
Shell ~6mm diameter
Dead, Umbilicus
Dead
Land Snails & Slugs
Stylommatophora
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Keelback Slug
Limacidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Threeband Slug
Ambigolimax sp


iNaturalist
If
e m
Thank you Dr Kevin Bonham AM for confirming the id of this species for us

It's not possible to separate these into species with dissection.
We asked Kevin if this might be native. He said "All Ambigolimax in Australia, and anything else that looks like them, are introduced."
When we querried the hole in it's side he said "That hole is the pneumostome or breathing pore. Normal feature."
It's so weird that it's only on one side!
Imaged 1 in May.

On another obs, when comparing Limax sp to these, Kevin said "Limax often have well-defined stripes on the tail end but typically not on the mantle. There are a few here and there where the spotting on the mantle forms into irregular stripe-like markings, generally broader than on Ambigolimax. Some other differences include that the end of the tail in Limax tends to be sharply keeled and also the tubercles (ridges) on the tail end of Limax tend to be serrated-looking."
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Pneumostome

Fungi (Fungi) - Basidio (Basidiomycota) - Mushroom-forming Fungi (Agaricomycetes) - Introduced Species
Gilled Fungi
Agaricales
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Mushroom
Amanitaceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Fly Agaric
Amanita muscaria


iNaturalist
If
a
Similar Species: Vermilion Grisette (Amanita xanthocephala)
Thank you CesDaMess & Konan Farrelly-Horsfall for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Profile

Fungi (Fungi) - Chytridio (Chytridiomycota) - Rust Fungi (Chytridiomycetes) - Introduced Species
Rusts
Chytridiales
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Crowfoot Rust
Synchytriaceae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Common Crowfoot Rust
Synchytrium papillatum


iNaturalist
If
e m
Other Common NameStork's-bill Chytrid

Thank you Sofia Zvolanek for confirming the id of this species for us

This rust is growing on Common Crowfoot (Erodium cicutarium) which is an introduced species.
We believe each species of this type of fungus evolves to only grow on one plant species.
As such, this species of fungus must also be introduced?

Plants (Plantae) - Land Plants (Charophyta) - Land Plants (Equisetopsida) - Introduced Species
Sunflowers
Asterales
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Daisy
Asteraceae
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Capeweed
Arctotheca calendula


iNaturalist
If
e m a
Thank you Dianne Clarke for confirming the id of this species for us
 
Distressed
Habit, healthy, ~150mm high
Leaf
Bud
Flower, ~50mm wide
Flower, under
Sunflowers
Asterales
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Daisy
Asteraceae
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Saffron Thistle
Carthamus lanatus


iNaturalist
If
e m
Other Common NamesOWWW THAT HURTS!, Distaff Thistle, False Star Thistle or Woolly Star Thistle

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

A few scattered plants found & removed from Ellura
VERY prickly & stiff plant at all stages. Tall, green with cream/yellow flowers.
Prickles will go straight through leather gloves, weed bags, etc.
Sunflowers
Asterales
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Daisy
Asteraceae
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Maltese Cockspur
Centaurea melitensis


iNaturalist
If
e m
Other Common NamesMaltese Star Thistle, Cockspur Thistle, Malta Thistle, Maltese Centaury, Napa Star Thistle, Saucy Jack, Tocalote Star Thistle, Wild Irishman, Yellow Burr Cockspur or Yellow Star Thistle

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

A spindly thistle with small, spiny flowers and stiff, tall habit
Habit
Bud
Flower
Sunflowers
Asterales
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Daisy
Asteraceae
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Skeleton Weed
Chondrilla juncea


iNaturalist
If
e m
Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Often looking leafless, these aptly named weeds are noxious flowering in summer.
Yellow flower, with ridged buds, and a smooth stem. The basal leaves often dying off early leaving no trace.
~300mm high, with ~20mm diameter flowers & buds ~10mm long.
Whole
Flower
Dried Flower, Seed Starting & Bud
Dried Flower Sepals & Seed Starting
Dried Flower Sepals
Sunflowers
Asterales
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Daisy
Asteraceae
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Flaxleaf Fleabane
Erigeron bonariensis


iNaturalist
If
e m
SynonymConyza bonariensis

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Mature plant is ~300mm tall; single stemed with flowers bunching at the top.
The flowers don't have petals.
Early Budding
Later Budding (+6 days)
Fully in flower (+9 days)
Leaves
Early Buds
Flower, fully open
Flower Head, above
Flower Head, profile
Sunflowers
Asterales
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Daisy
Asteraceae
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Gazania
Gazania x splendens


iNaturalist
If
e m a
Other Common NameGarden Treasure Flower

Thank you Steven Molteno for identifying and Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Weed Art
Sunflowers
Asterales
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Daisy
Asteraceae
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Scotch Thistle
Onopordum acanthium
If
e m
Other Common NamesCotton Thistle, Giant Thistle, Heraldic Thistle, Silver Thistle or Woolly Thistle

Larger & bushier than Saffron, harsh and prickly.
Purple flowers
Photograph yet to be loaded.
Sunflowers
Asterales
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Daisy
Asteraceae
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Stemless Thistle
Onopordum acaulon


iNaturalist
If
e m
Other Common NamesFlat thistle, Horse Thistle, Stemless Onopordon or White thistle

Thank you Kai-Philipp Schablewski for confirming the id of this species for us

Scattered seedlings have been found & removed. All clear at this stage.
Seedlings are soft and easy to handle. Mature plants are very prickly & large, making removal difficult. Slow growing and easy to find seedlings with regular inspections.
Silver grey in colour and has no discernible stem
Seedling
🔍In Bud
Seeding
Sunflowers
Asterales
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Daisy
Asteraceae
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
False Sowthistle
Reichardia tingitana


iNaturalist
If
e m
Thank you Alan Dandie for confirming the id of this species for us

In South Australia the maroon centre is diagnostic for this species.
Shown here are examples to show variation, you through struggling to thriving. Notice the young flowers have less maroon than the older ones.
Notice the unusual habit of stamen coming from behind the inner petals.
No full seed shot as we never let them get that far if we can help it. They are victim, fortunately
, to grazing, so sometimes tall and sometimes quite short.
They love our heat and can withstand the low rainfall, but then in years like this (2022) where we've had 411mm to the end of Nov, they are flourishing. They are all coming out of the woodwork, but fortunately stand out in the crowd so easy to spot to remove. We thought they had gone, but no, clearly a long lived seed bank survives.
In bud
🔍In flower
🔍Small, in flower
Leaf
🔍Bud
🔍Young Flower, profile
🔍Mature Flower, profile
🔍Flower, profile
🔍Young Flower, above
🔍Struggling Flower, above
🔍Healthy Mature Flower, above
Seeded
Sunflowers
Asterales
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Daisy
Asteraceae
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Creeping Groundsel
Senecio angulatus


iNaturalist
If
a
Thank you InsideRelic for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Habit & Flower
Sunflowers
Asterales
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Daisy
Asteraceae
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Prickly Sow Thistle
Sonchus asper


iNaturalist
If
e m a
Thank you Alan Dandie for confirming the id of this species for us
 
Upper leaf, heavy rainfall
Flower, above
Flower, profile
Above
Profile
Basal Leaf
Upper Leaves
Bud
Flower
Sunflowers
Asterales
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Daisy
Asteraceae
  (12 species
    11 from Ellura)
Sow Thistle
Sonchus oleraceus
If
e m
Other Common NamesCommon sow thistle or Milk Thistle
 
Photograph yet to be loaded.
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (6 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
African Orchid
Disa bracteata
If
a
SynonymMonadenia Bracteata

A very invasive weed that's difficult to eradicate. Partly because they ALWAYS have two tubers. The first one comes up with the plant fairly easily, the second not so much. The second bulb will continue the plants life if not removed. Once the flower head has seeded it's very difficult to extract the plant without spreading seed further. The only way we know is to very genlty tilt the plant into a plastic bag (without any sudden movement) to catch anything that falls off and then dig it up. It's quite possible that cut & spray will work, but we haven't tried that.
In flower
Eaten
Seedling
In Bud & Flowering
Flower Head
Flower
Going to seed
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (6 species
    2 from Ellura)
Asphodels
Asphodelaceae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Onion Weed
Asphodelus fistulosus


iNaturalist
If
e m
Other Common NamesNOT MORE ONION WEED ! Onion-leafed Asphodel or Pink Asphodel

Thank you Alan Dandie for confirming the id of this species for us

#1 Enemy: Loves 250mm/yr rainfall. We have erradicated it. We still see new seedlings in "good" years, but in new locations, so brought in from neighbouring areas by wildlife.
Will decimate an area, regardless of grazing, killing saltbush, zygophylum, etc, as it goes.
Vigorous; will germinate, flower and seed within 3 weeks in spring. ~90% of seed germinates in first year in our area.
Resilient: never leave removed plants on the ground. They will flower & seed (out of the ground)! Hard to poison. Needs good wetting agent.
We're convinced Onion Weeds are Allelopathic; ie exude Allelochemicals to inhibit further germination of it's own seed. We found when we pulled all our large plants from Ellura in one season, they were then replaced the following season with millions of seedlings. Thanks to David Armstrong for letting us know about this phenomenon. We recognised it existed with onion weed, but didn't realise it was a recognised phenomenon; let alone had a name.

We've written a discussion paper on this to help you control your outbreak.
Click here to download (it's about 2.7mb) Updated 11 AM, 06 April 2014
The photo's here are explained in more detail in the discussion paper. You can see Brush Cutting (not on Ellura) only stopped it seeding, but grew over a hot dry summer. The Before & After photo's of our worst 3 acre patch on Ellura, after 12m of hard work. With the experiment of a seedling patch, you can see poisoning had the best results, after 2 months.
Whole, Flowering
Flower Buds
🔍Buds & Flowers (Front & Back)
🔍Flower Back
Green Fruit, Seed Pod
🔍Maturing Fruit, Seed Pods
🔍Seed Pod, Full with 6 Seeds
🔍1 Seed Left in Pod, 5 empty
Seed, profile
Seed, above
🔍Removed, Small
🔍Removed, Medium
🔍Removed, Large
🔍Brush Cut
🔍3.5 Months after Brush Cut
🔍Digging up
🔍Before
🔍After
🔍Neighbours Left | Ellura Right
🔍Poisoned|Cut|Hoed Day 1
🔍Poisoned|Cut|Hoed 2m Later
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (6 species
    2 from Ellura)
Iris
Iridaceae
  (4 species
    1 from Ellura)
Thread Iris
Moraea setifolia


iNaturalist
If
e m
Other Common NamesPaper Glasstulp or Two-leaved Cape Tulip

Thank you Alan Dandie & Karen Weaving for confirming the id of this species for us

Invasive throughout the region. Difficult to eradicate due to their thin leaf.
Wombats like the bulbs and plough the soil searching for the them. This is not natural behaviour for them and is very destructive to the soil crust and natural order of things.
Competes with native grasses.
Has a single pale purple flower and two grass-like leaves (often one dries early leaving only one leaf).
While it looks nothing like it many people think it's nut grass. Probably because the bulbs are like nuts and the few leaves are very grass like.
The flower is a dead give away it's not grass.
Kangaroos eat the dried leaves in summer. Possibly because other food is more scarce; or because it's weaker & easier to chew once it's died. It's leaves are incredibly strong & thin. When trying to pull out other weeds if you accidentally grab a Thread Iris leaf as well, you'll have no chance of getting either out.
The green leaf is toxic to stock. Consumption of 1kg of green leaves will kill a cow within 24 hours. Wombats don't seem to be able to digest it very easily, so fill up on it and can starve to death if native grass food sources are not available.
Flowering
Bulbs
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (6 species
    2 from Ellura)
Iris
Iridaceae
  (4 species
    1 from Ellura)
Guildford Iris
Romulea rosea var australis
If
a
Other Common NamesGuildford Grass or Onion Grass

NB: It's an iris, not a grass, so the old common name is very misleading
Whole
Flower, above
Flower, profile
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (6 species
    2 from Ellura)
Iris
Iridaceae
  (4 species
    1 from Ellura)
Guildford Iris
Romulea rosea var communis
If
m a
Other Common NamesGuildford Grass or Onion Grass
 
Whole
Flower, above
Flower, under
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (6 species
    2 from Ellura)
Iris
Iridaceae
  (4 species
    1 from Ellura)
Guildford Iris
Romulea rosea var reflexa
If
a
Other Common NamesGuildford Grass or Onion Grass
 
Whole
Flower, above
Flower, profile
Carrots
Apiales
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Carrot
Apiaceae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Grey Hare's Ear
Bupleurum semicompositum


iNaturalist
If
e m
Thank you Darren Schmitke for identifying and Karen Weaving for confirming the id of this species for us

A simple thank you just isn't enough. We didn't even know where to start with this species and Darren spent many evenings investigating it. After we had given up, and Darren almost had, he found it. We were elated and disappointed at the same time. Elated the puzzle was solved, but disappointed that after all that work it turned out to be an introduced species. Here's hoping that by being on this web site it helps others know they can remove it; and Darren's work will be put to good use.
It occurs primarily in disturbed locations on Ellura and may be useful to reduce erosion while natives reclaim their ground. It's heaviest where we've removed heavy investations of onion weed, but doesn't have anywhere near the destructive properties of onion weed. As such, it's weak and natives are stronger. It is classed as "Naturalised" (a term we despise) and an "Environmental Weed" (ie it doesn't impact farmers crops).
The flowers are tiny; and go against the rule of thumb of small flowers being native. They are petalless (petals 0). The apparant petals are actually 5 sepals which start green and turn red with age. The flower has 5 stamen. The 5 bracts (leaf like structures) are toothed and form a cup holding up to about 8 flowers.
The flower heads are on varying length stalks (0 to ~10mm). A flower head can throw 5 stalks with more flower heads; in fact it'll even throw another "branch".
The plant is almost grass like, with the base of each leaf curving round the stem at least at each branch. The branches are hexegon.
The structure tends to create a ceme of flowers (ie one branch is a flower head, the other goes higher until another fork or terminates in a flowerhead).
The flowers are on top of the fruit, which splits in 2 when it dries; and goes a pale lilac colour.
While trying to describe this plant one realises why there are so many botanical terms to describe the huge array of features a plant can exhibit; in a succinct way, unlike this novel
Bushy, ~150mm tall
Small, Thin
Small, Stocky
Finishing
Patch, green, above
Patch, drying, profile
Structure
Leaf
New Flower Head Forming, with buds
Buds, ~0.5mm wide each
Bud Opening (right)
Flower Head throwing 5 more
Flower Head Stalks, profile
Flower Head throwing a Branch
Flower Open (centre)
Fruits, Flowers Finished
Toothed Bracts
Fruits , ~1mm wide each
Fruits, profile, on stalks
Fruits Splitting in 2
Fruit Dried
Carrots
Apiales
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Pittosporum
Pittosporaceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Sweet Pittosporum
Pittosporum undulatum


iNaturalist
If
a
Thank you John Tann for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Leaves
Mustards & Allies
Brassicales
  (6 species
    4 from Ellura)
Mustard
Brassicaceae or Cruciferae
  (5 species
    4 from Ellura)
Flax-leaf Alyssum
Alyssum linifolium


iNaturalist
If
e m
SynonymsAlyssum linifolia or Meniocus linifolius

Thank you Renate and Glenys for identifying this species for us

A very strange plant with brown, circular, flat, disk fruits.
These discs dry to a paper thin shell, then drop the two seeds contained within.
Also has strange tufted short hairs growing from it's leaves & stem.
Profile
Above
Patch, Dropping Seed
Leaf
Bud, Flower & Fruit - Above
Flower - Profile
Fruit
Fruit Stem
Seed in Pod
Mustards & Allies
Brassicales
  (6 species
    4 from Ellura)
Mustard
Brassicaceae or Cruciferae
  (5 species
    4 from Ellura)
Wild Turnip
Brassica tournefortii


iNaturalist
If
e m r
Other Common NamesAfrican Mustard, Asian Mustard, Long fruited Wild Turnip, Mediterranean Turnip, Sahara Mustard or Tournefort's Birdrape

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Not a major problem at Ellura. Removed when found.
One of the few plants than can grow under Mallee.
Small yellow flower, long green seed pods. Tall, straggly, hairy stems with lobed leaves staying near the ground.
Mustards & Allies
Brassicales
  (6 species
    4 from Ellura)
Mustard
Brassicaceae or Cruciferae
  (5 species
    4 from Ellura)
Wards Weed
Carrichtera annua
If
e m
Invasive throughout the region. Difficult to eradicate as it's in such hugh numbers. The areas we have weeded have shown a big return of native forbs.
Seedlings are purple before turning luscious green.
Grazed by wombats & roos.
Replaces native grass.
Purple Seedling
Small Flower, ~5mm wide
Dried Seed
Mustards & Allies
Brassicales
  (6 species
    4 from Ellura)
Mustard
Brassicaceae or Cruciferae
  (5 species
    4 from Ellura)
Sweet Alyssum
Lobularia maritima


iNaturalist
If
a
Thank you Jeanie Shelton for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍
Mustards & Allies
Brassicales
  (6 species
    4 from Ellura)
Mustard
Brassicaceae or Cruciferae
  (5 species
    4 from Ellura)
Smooth Mustard
Sisymbrium erysimoides
If
e m
Other Common NamesFrench rocket or Mediterranean rocket
 
Whole
Whole
Small Patch
Large Patch
Leaves
Compressed Leaf
Buds & Flowers
Buds & Flowers
Flower, Above
Flowers, Profile
Flowers & Seed Pods
Mustards & Allies
Brassicales
  (6 species
    4 from Ellura)
Mignonette
Resedaceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Cut-leaf Mignonette
Reseda luteola
If
m
Other Common NamesDyer's Mignonette, Dyer's Rocket, Dyer's Weed, Mignonette, Weld, Wild Mignonette or Yellow Weed

Forms a large round rosette, then shoots tall seed heads.
Very deep roots which easily break near the rosette to later recover.
Manual removal requires as much root as possible to be removed.
We remove at least 100mm.
Rosette
In Seed
Betalains
Caryophyllales
  (5 species
    2 from Ellura)
Carnation
Caryophyllaceae
  (4 species
    2 from Ellura)
Mouse-ear Chickweed
Cerastium glomeratum
If
e m a
A hairy leaved weed. A white flower that has 5 petals which are deeply lobed and can look like 10 petals.
On Ellura it is more prostrate than in the Adelaide Hills.
Prostrate
Upright
New Flower + Bud
Flower, fully open
Fruit
Betalains
Caryophyllales
  (5 species
    2 from Ellura)
Carnation
Caryophyllaceae
  (4 species
    2 from Ellura)
Hairypink
Petrorhagia dubia


iNaturalist
If
c
Other Common NamesVelvet Pink or Wild Pink

Thank you BMCGoolie for confirming the id of this species for us

In these photo's the flowers have a blue hue to them. This wasn't visible to the naked eye, so a camera artifact; not real.
🔍Whole
🔍Basal Leaves
🔍Cauline Leaves
🔍Flower, profile
🔍Flower, above
Betalains
Caryophyllales
  (5 species
    2 from Ellura)
Carnation
Caryophyllaceae
  (4 species
    2 from Ellura)
Mallee Catchfly
Silene apetala
If
e m
Other Common NameSand Catchfly

Tall straggly weed with tiny flowers.
Basal Leaves Seed Pod & Stem
Top Leaves & Seed Pod
Stalk & Leaves
Top Pods & Seeds
Flower & Bud
Betalains
Caryophyllales
  (5 species
    2 from Ellura)
Carnation
Caryophyllaceae
  (4 species
    2 from Ellura)
French Catchfly
Silene gallica var gallica


iNaturalist
If
c
Other Common NameCommon Small Catchfly

Thank you Alan Dandie for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Whole
🔍Leaf
🔍Calyx
🔍New Flower
🔍Older Flowers
Betalains
Caryophyllales
  (5 species
    2 from Ellura)
Ice Plant
Aizoaceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Galenia
Galenia secunda


iNaturalist
If
m
SynonymAizoon secundum

Thank you Ernst Weiher for confirming the id of this species for us

Has white or pink flowers. It's much hairier than it's relation, Aizoon pubescens, which is also introduced in Australia and seems more common.
🔍Patch
🔍Pink Flower
🔍White Flower
Heathers & Allies
Ericales
  (2 species
    0 from Ellura)
Primrose
Primulaceae
  (2 species
    0 from Ellura)
Scarlet Pimpernel
Lysimachia arvensis var arvensis


iNaturalist
If
a
Thank you Jennifer Rycenga for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Flower
Heathers & Allies
Ericales
  (2 species
    0 from Ellura)
Primrose
Primulaceae
  (2 species
    0 from Ellura)
Blue Scarlet Pimpernel
Lysimachia loeflingii


iNaturalist
If
m
SynonymLysimachia arvensis var caerulea

Thank you Ernst Weiher for confirming the id of this species for us

This is very difficult/nearly impossible to differentiate from Lysimachia foemina, except the latter hasn't been found in SA ... yet.
🔍Flower
Legumes
Fabales
  (5 species
    2 from Ellura)
Legume
Fabaceae or Leguminosae
  (5 species
    2 from Ellura)
Cape Broom
Genista monspessulana


iNaturalist
If
a
Thank you Alan Dandie for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍
Legumes
Fabales
  (5 species
    2 from Ellura)
Legume
Fabaceae or Leguminosae
  (5 species
    2 from Ellura)
Burr Medic
Medicago polymorpha
If
e m
Other Common NamesCreeping Burr, Medic Clover, Rough Medic, Toothed Medic, Burr Clover, Toothed Burr Clover or Trefoil
 
Whole
Leaf & Old Flower
Flower, front
Flower, profile
Legumes
Fabales
  (5 species
    2 from Ellura)
Legume
Fabaceae or Leguminosae
  (5 species
    2 from Ellura)
Small-leaf Burr Medic
Medicago praecox


iNaturalist
If
e m
Other Common NamesPlain Trefoil or Small-leaved Burr Medic

Thanks to Norbert Sauberer's assistance, this may be Medicago truncatula. Norbert said "The leaves of Medicago praecox are nearly glabrous."
Several
Leaf
Seed
Legumes
Fabales
  (5 species
    2 from Ellura)
Legume
Fabaceae or Leguminosae
  (5 species
    2 from Ellura)
Subterraneum Clover
Trifolium subterraneum
If
a
Other Common NameSubterranean Trefoil
 
Patch in flower
Habit
Leaf, ~15mm wide
Leaf, under
Flower, ~5x3mm wide
Flower, profile
Legumes
Fabales
  (5 species
    2 from Ellura)
Legume
Fabaceae or Leguminosae
  (5 species
    2 from Ellura)
Bridal Veil Broom
Retama monosperma


iNaturalist
If
m
Thank you Ralph Foster for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Whole
🔍Structure
🔍Flowers
Centauries
Gentianales
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Gentian
Gentianaceae
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Red Centaury
Centaurium erythraea
If
a
Similar Species: Branched Centaury (Centaurium tenuiflorum)
You can see here that Red Centaury's habit is quite different to both Branched Centaury & Spike Centaury, but the flowers look identical from above.
The basal leaves stay green during flowering while the other two dry up quickly.
This species is also larger and more lucious than the other two.
Habit
Seedling
Basal Leaves
Flowers
Flower, Buds + Sepals
Centauries
Gentianales
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Gentian
Gentianaceae
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Branched Centaury
Centaurium tenuiflorum
If
e m a
Similar Species: Spike Centaury (Schenkia australis) : Red Centaury (Centaurium erythraea)
Can be difficult to distinguish from Spike Centaury on habit alone; particularly for small plants withonly one stem and one flower. However, the comparison of the sepals of the 3 similar plants here shows how unique Branched Centaury is from the other two with no distance between the tip of the sepals and the separation/bend of the petals.
🔍Whole
Habit + Buds
Basal Leaves
🔍Flower
Flower + Sepals
Geraniums
Geraniales
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Geranium
Geraniaceae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Common Crowfoot
Erodium cicutarium
If
e m a
Other Common NameStork's-bill
 
Large
In Flower
Small, in Flower
With Red Growth
Leaf
Buds
Flower
Seed
Mints
Lamiales
  (7 species
    5 from Ellura)
Forget-me-not
Boraginaceae
  (3 species
    2 from Ellura)
Corn Gromwell
Buglossoides arvensis


iNaturalist
If
m
Other Common NameSheepweed

Thank you Santiago Morales PP for confirming the id of this species for us

A small slender, hairy plant that stands at ~200mm high.
Flowers have 5 white petals and tiny at ~5mm across
🔍Whole, in Flower
Mints
Lamiales
  (7 species
    5 from Ellura)
Forget-me-not
Boraginaceae
  (3 species
    2 from Ellura)
Purple Peril
Echium plantagineum
If
e m a
Other Common NamesSalvation Jane, Purple Viper's Bugloss, Blueweed, Lady Campbell Weed, Riverina Bluebell or Paterson's Curse
 
Seedling Rosettes
Small Flowering
Medium Flowering
Mints
Lamiales
  (7 species
    5 from Ellura)
Forget-me-not
Boraginaceae
  (3 species
    2 from Ellura)
Hairy Sheepweed
Neatostema apulum
If
e m
Other Common NameBlackweed
 
~250mm tall
Leaves
Flower & Bud, above
Flower & Bud, under
Mints
Lamiales
  (7 species
    5 from Ellura)
Mint
Lamiaceae
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Horehound
Marrubium vulgare


iNaturalist
If
e m
Other Common NamesHound's Bane, Marrube, Marvel, White Horehound or Woolly Horehound

Thank you Alan Dandie for confirming the id of this species for us

#3 Enemy: Bush with green grey foliage, very hard to spot in saltbush. Hides well.
Seeds last decades in the soil, so long term monitoring of an infected area is required to ensure it doesn't become re-established.
Has little hooks on the seed pods that get stuck to animal fur (and socks!) which spreads the seed very effectively.
With the recent flooding (2022) we found the first horehound, about to seed, for many years from an old seed bank.
Seedling
🔍Green Patch (with wild sage in seed)
🔍Leaf, Bud, Flower
🔍Under Leaf, Bud, Flower
🔍Finished Flowering, B4 Seeding
🔍Seed Pod Hooks
🔍In Seed
🔍Seed Head
Mints
Lamiales
  (7 species
    5 from Ellura)
Mint
Lamiaceae
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Wild Sage
Salvia verbenaca var verbenaca


iNaturalist
If
e m
Thank you Mark (Vandalsen) for confirming the id of this species for us

We found one of these on Ellura and took forever to work it out. In worldwide, it is considered a synonym of Salvia verbanaca.
However it's different. It's leaves are not as lobed and wider. It doesn't smell when crushed. It has red tints throughout the stems & leaves. Unfortunately the flower stem was eaten before we could get a photo of the flowers; only managing to photo buds.
It is certainly a strong relationship, and a sub-species makes sense to us. But being a synonym doesn't.
In the past they have been called "Type A" & "Type B". Now they have names.
This sub-species is recognised on the Australian national ANBG/APNI web sites.
Above, ~80mm wide
Profile
Seedling
Stems
Basal Leaf
Stem Leaves
Bud stem, ~5mm bud length
Bud stem, profile
Mints
Lamiales
  (7 species
    5 from Ellura)
Mint
Lamiaceae
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Wild Sage
Salvia verbenaca var vernalis


iNaturalist
If
e m
Other Common NamesClary Sage, Salvia, Verbena Sage, Vervain Sage, Vervain Salvia or Wild clary

Thank you Mark (Vandalsen) for confirming the id of this species for us

#2 Enemy: Called "Sage" due to its strong smell.
Will decimate an area over time if allowed. Likes depressions. Currently invasive throughout Ellura.
A staged approach will be used to eradicate:
1 Spray with Glyphosate on tracks (car, wombat & roo) to stop spread
2 Spray open & infested areas to stop volume seed generation
3 Manual removal from under natives (primarily saltbush)
4 Monitor infested areas for 10 years to finalise.
Small
Large
Several Large
Removal
Mints
Lamiales
  (7 species
    5 from Ellura)
Plantain
Plantaginaceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Hairy Plantain
Plantago bellardii


iNaturalist
If
c
Thank you Alan Dandie for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Patch
🔍Flower
🔍Flowers Finished
Grasses & Sedges
Poales
  (3 species
    0 from Ellura)
Grass
Poaceae
  (3 species
    0 from Ellura)
Blowfly Grass
Briza maxima


iNaturalist
If
a c
Other Common NameGreater Quaking Grass

Thank you Alan Dandie for confirming the id of this species for us

One or 2 larger seed heads coming from the plant with a gentle curved stemmed, hanging down.
🔍Patch In Seed
🔍Close Up of Patch
🔍Seed Head
Grasses & Sedges
Poales
  (3 species
    0 from Ellura)
Grass
Poaceae
  (3 species
    0 from Ellura)
Little Quaking Grass
Briza minor


iNaturalist
If
a
Thank you Alan Dandie for confirming the id of this species for us

Very similar to B. major. Here you see many seed heads coming/branching from the one plant
🔍Seed Heads Emerging
Grasses & Sedges
Poales
  (3 species
    0 from Ellura)
Grass
Poaceae
  (3 species
    0 from Ellura)
Hare's-tail Grass
Lagurus ovatus


iNaturalist
If
c
Thank you Alan Dandie for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Flower
Buttercups
Ranunculales
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Poppy
Papaveraceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Round Pricklyhead Poppy
Papaver hybridum


iNaturalist
If
m
Other Common NameRough Poppy

Thank you Karen Weaving for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Whole
🔍Flower, above
🔍Flower, profile
🔍Fruit
Potatoes
Solanales
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Nightshade
Solanaceae
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Silverleaf Nightshade
Solanum elaeagnifolium
If
m
Other Common NameTomato Weed

Similar Species: Silver Goodenia (Goodenia willisiana)
Thank you Andrew Allanson for identifying this species for us
 
Whole
Leaf, above
Spikes, stem & leaf back
Wilted flower
Potatoes
Solanales
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Nightshade
Solanaceae
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
African Boxthorn
Lycium ferocissimum


iNaturalist
If
e m
Thank you Andrew Allanson for identifying and Alan Dandie for confirming the id of this species for us

These are a declared noxious weed.
Ooops. We thought we had the native. Our specimens generally looked very sparse and easy to mistake with the native (Lycium australe)
As soon as we realised (yesterday, 5 March 2014), we cut & swabbed them.
This situation highlights the need for web sites like ours: To help land owners & conservationists identify introduced species & eradicate them; giving natives more resources (nutrients/water/space) to grow. Which in turn gives native animals better things to eat & places to live in. Notice how natives always seem to be attacked by insects but introduced species aren't? Native insects depend on native plants to survive as they don't recognise introduced plants as useful. Birds & lizards thrive on insects. Ergo; less weeds = more birds & lizards. We've heard that if all the insects died today, man-kind would be extinct in 6 months!
We've had one growing for some 10 years, but it never flowered. We thought it might be Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa ssp spinosa), waiting for it to flower, but it never did. Finally in April 2022 it flowered, nearly 10 years after we discovered it and it was a typical African Boxthorn flower. It's now been removed.
Bush
Structure
New Leaves
Leaves & structure
New Bud
Bud
Bud, perspective
Base of Flower; Long Stamen
Flower
Flower
Dried Flower
Dried Flower, Fruit Forming
Fruit Further Developing
Fruit, Still Green
Green Fruit, Perspective with Structure
Ripe Red Fruit
Thought was Sweet Bursaria
Guinea-flowers
Dilleniales
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Dillenia
Dilleniaceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Climbing Guinea-flower
Hibbertia scandens


iNaturalist
Ir
a
Thank you Ralph Foster & Dr Timothy Hammer for identifying this species for us

We thought this was Australian Buttercup (Ranunculus lappaceus)
Timothy said this is "Likely a garden escapee"
🔍Flower
Grevilleas
Proteales
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Protea
Proteaceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Pincushion Hakea
Hakea laurina


iNaturalist
Ir
c
Thank you David Muirhead for confirming the id of this species for us

Regionally Introduced from Western Australia
🔍Habit
Flower
Vines
Cucurbitales
  (2 species
    0 from Ellura)
Gourd
Cucurbitaceae
  (2 species
    0 from Ellura)
Paddymelon
Citrullus colocynthis
If
m
Other Common NamePaddy Melon

These can grow much larger than shown here. But this is a good comparision between the smooth and prickly paddymelons, as well as a mallee leaf
Fruit
Fruit, compared with large glove
Vines
Cucurbitales
  (2 species
    0 from Ellura)
Gourd
Cucurbitaceae
  (2 species
    0 from Ellura)
Prickly Paddymelon
Cucumis myriocarpus ssp myriocarpus
If
m
Other Common NamesGooseberry Cucumber or Paddy Melon
 
Fruit

Plants (Plantae) - Liverworts (Marchantiophyta) - Liverworts (Marchantiopsida) - Introduced Species
Crescent Liverworts
Lunulariales
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Crescent Liverwort
Lunulariaceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Crescent-cup Liverwort
Lunularia cruciata


iNaturalist
If
a
Thank you Dr Guido Brusa for confirming the id of this species for us

The Gemma here look like spores capsules in other life forms, with the cups looking like fruiting bodies.
However, the Gemma are actually parts of the plant that disperse (similarly to seed & spores) and take root. Instead of being wind blown, these are dispersed by raindrops hitting the cup.
The big difference is these are not produce sexually, but more a broken off part of the plant. Thinking of it as a plant that has suckered from roots. The new plant becomes independant of the original, but is a clone of the original.
🔍Whole
Gemma
Whole
Gemma

Copyright © 1996-2024 Brett & Marie Smith. All Rights Reserved.
End of Page