Native garden

Without the need to sow or prune or feed, native plants appear, thrive and flower on my yard, where and as they choose.

One of the most common and obvious flowering plants is the Twining Guinea Flower (Hibbertia scandens), whose bright clear yellow blooms are easy to spot. I have been told it is also called Snake Bush because, when not climbing, apparently its broad leaves make a good hiding place for snakes.

A better climber that takes advantage of any stalk or stem is the daintier Wombat Berry (Eustrephus latifolius var. angustifolius) to the left, with narrow leaves and clusters of pale pink flowers that develop into bright orange berries. Don’t ask me what wombats have to do with it!

On looking closer at this little pocket of my self-sown garden, I saw it had an inhabitant – a green and pink and hairy caterpillar, which I cannot identify.

2 thoughts on “Native garden”

  1. Hi Denis,
    Thanks, as always, for your input. However, having looked at your links, my book, and my plant again, I don’t think it is the Scrambling Lily because my leaves are the same bright green both sides and there is no raised midrib vein on top. My book (Hodgson & Paine) has the Scrambling Lily and the two forms of Wombat Berry or Vine on the same page; it is the narrow-leaf form (var.angustifolius) of the latter that I think I have. According to the local flora survey I have (from an old EIS), the Scrambling Lily is found up here, so will keep an eye for it too!
    But how about the caterpillar?

  2. Hi Sharyn
    Good to see someone posting about the lesser regarded plants like the Snake Vine. I have been meaning to write about the local ones, but have not got around to it, muself. They have had a good season here, this year.
    I think your pink flowers and fine leaves belong to the Scrambling Lily, Geitonoplesium cymosum.
    The Wombat Berry has oval leaves, which are a lighter green.
    Both are common vines in the rainforest here. Not high impact plants, except when the Wombat Berry is fruiting.
    As you comment, the reason for its common name is not clear.
    Have a good Christmas.
    Cheers
    Denis

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