Maggie
Senior Member
Registered: 10/27/06
Posts: 11,872
|
|
|
| #1 |
Drumsticks & Conesticks belong to the Proteaceae family - which also includes Grevilleas, Waratahs and Banksias. Plus the Macadamia, Geebung and the Mountain Devil.
The Proteaceae family has nearly 1,800 species worldwide - with 1,100 found in Australia.
Both Drumsticks (Isopogon genus) and Conesticks (Petrophile genus) have about 35 and 50 species respectively - and all are only found in Australia.
Drumsticks (Isopogon genus)
Drumsticks, as with many Australian native plants, are mainly found in Western Australia.
The Royal Botanic Gardens Trust's website - New South Wales Flora Online lists seven Drumsticks found in New South Wales. These are -Isopogon anemonifolius (Broad-leaf Drumsticks)
Isopogon anethifolius (Narrow-leaf Drumsticks)
Isopogon dawsonii (Nepean Conebush)
Isopogon fletcheri (endangered)
Isopogon mnoraifolius
Isopogon petiolaris
Isopogon prostratus (Prostrate Cone-bush)
The Broad-leaf Drumsticks (Isopogon anemonifolius) is readily identified by its flat fork like leaves.
Its younger leaves become red in the cooler months, and this gives each flower a sensational red and green surround.
Conesticks (Petrophile genus)
As with Drumsticks, Conesticks are mainly found in Western Australia.
The female Gang-gang cockatoo was really getting stuck into this Conestick. Its mate was watching.
The Royal Botanic Gardens Trust's website - New South Wales Flora Online lists four Conesticks found in New South Wales. These are -
Petrophile canescens
Petrophile pedunculata (Stalked Conesticks)
Petrophile pulchella (Conesticks)
Petrophile sessilis (Prickly Conesticks)
The 15mm wide flowers appear in spring and summer, and can be found along the New South Wales coast and adjacent
ranges.
The lizard sun-bathing is a Mountain Dragon.
These photos were taken in the upper Blue Mountains.
The Narrow-leaf Drumsticks (Isopogon anethifolius) has a similar, but slightly larger flower to the Broad-leaf Drumsticks
However, its radial needle shape leaves distinguish it from its sibling.
Flowering in spring, the Narrow-leaf Drumsticks can be found on the coast and ranges from Sydney south to Batemans Bay.
Its flower is up to 25mm wide, and the plant is up to 3 metres high and is "leggy". |
| |
