Dampiera flowers have three ‘petals’ (corolla lobes to the initiated) that are joined at the base and another two above that have a distinctive fold (called auricle = ear) where they touch? See the arrows; quite obvious if you use a hand lens. Inside the auricles is a specialised cup-like structure at the apex of the style known as an indusium, which collects pollen as it pushes past the stamens in bud and functions as a pollen-presenter.
Dampieras belong to Goodeniaceae family. Dampiera flowers have three ‘petals’ (corolla lobes to the initiated) that are joined at the base and another two above that have a distinctive fold (called auricle = ear) where they touch? See the arrows; quite obvious if you use a hand lens. Inside the auricles is a specialised cup-like structure at the apex of the style known as an indusium, which collects pollen as it pushes past the stamens in bud and functions as a pollen-presenter. There are seven species in Foxes Lair. Many occur in dense mats or clumps because they are root suckering plants with clones spreading out from the expanding roots of an original seedling. Dampiera sacculata is a stunning plant with weeping stems that are coated with flowers and a distinctive bulge (sac, pouch) at the base of the flower from August to October. a great place to see them is the Banksia trail near the water tank. If you park your car in the car park next to the water tank gate you can see plants with flowers ranging from dark blue to white. Dampiera eriocephala provides a great show on stony gravel soil near the bench on the Breakaway Walk.
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![]() Greetings fellow Foxies, The Australian Shelduck nests in tree hollows in Foxes Lair. Every June pairs of adults can be seen circling around honking loudly and competing with other pairs on the few suitable large dead marris. To take the ducklings to a brooding area, the female calls to them from the ground to jump. No mean feat as the landing is pretty hard. Dr Alan Kerrigan captured these amazing images below that I have to share with you. Alternatively they fly ducklings to water on their back, often relentlessly pursued by ravens. Very sad but inevitable. I often find duckling down on bushes under these trees, which I suspect was a raven's meal. |
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