Monthly Archives: March 2011

Cyperus metzii (Cyperaceae)

Posted on March 27, 2011 by

A very ignored naturalised plant of grassy waysides. This rather diminutive sedge (scarcely 10cm high) has very unique spikelets arranged in a neat head. Up close, the seed can be observed through the glumes (the bracts enclosing the seed), which … Continue reading →

Posted in Cyperaceae (Sedge family), Habitat - Urban Areas, Lifeform - Lilies and grass-like plants, Non-Natives | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Rhynchospora rubra (Cyperaceae)

Posted on March 27, 2011 by

A sedge in wet places in savanna. I found this plant in the savannas near Irvinebank and thought it looked like the non-native Cyperus aromaticus but the head was a little larger, with more conspicuous spikelets. A quick check brought … Continue reading →

Posted in Cyperaceae (Sedge family), Habitat - Savanna, Lifeform - Lilies and grass-like plants | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Belvisia mucronata var. mucronata (Polypodiaceae)

Posted on March 27, 2011 by

Resembling the common Pyrrosia which grow on wayside trees, this fern is one of the most unmistakable for the long extended point (mucro), which is inrolled and clutching all the spores in the narrow channel that results. It is typically … Continue reading →

Posted in Habitat - Rain forest, Lifeform - Ferns, Polypodiaceae (Polypody Fern family) | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Melinis repens (Red Natal Grass) (Poaceae)

Posted on March 27, 2011 by

A particularly attractive non-native grass from Africa, the Red Natal grass graces the canefields and waysides of FNQ throughout the year, additing colour and texture to what may be appreciated as a non-native ‘meadow’. The hairy florets, which are variously … Continue reading →

Posted in Habitat - Grassland, Habitat - Savanna, Habitat - Urban Areas, Lifeform - Lilies and grass-like plants, Non-Natives, Poaceae (Grass family) | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Lastreopsis munita (Dryopteridaceae)

Posted on March 27, 2011 by

At a cursory glance, this fern resembles the hare-fooot fern (Davallia denticulata), particularly in the glossy green appearance and the sharply toothed pinnules. The spore arrangement however is very suggestive of those of the Wood Fern family. In Davallia, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dryopteridaceae (Wood Fern family), Habitat - Rain forest, Lifeform - Ferns | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Tectaria confluens (Dryopteridaceae)

Posted on March 27, 2011 by

Everyone should know this common and large terrestrial fern of rainforest. The ornamental value of this fern doesn’t seem to have been exploited much. The fronds have a distinctive look and although there are other species of Tectaria in FNQ, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dryopteridaceae (Wood Fern family), Habitat - Rain forest, Lifeform - Ferns | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Landoltia punctata (Dotted Duckweed) (Araceae)

Posted on March 24, 2011 by

Lemna at the bottom for size comparison. Previously called Spirodela punctata but recent morphological, biochemical and molecular data shows this species to be taxonomically distinct from other duckweeds (Les and Crawford 1999). Landoltia punctata is more closely related to Lemna … Continue reading →

Posted in Araceae (Aroid family), Habitat - Wetlands, Lifeform - Aquatics | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment