Greetings fellow Foxies,
Astrolomas and leucopogons have are some of the earliest plants to flower in the growing season.
Most astrolomas have been reclassified to genus Styphelia. They are low shrubs or ground covers with long tubular flowers, which produce fleshy berries called drupes. I used to think that the flowers were pulled out by animals but discovered that developing drupes gradually push out the flowers as they develop. The five species in Foxes Lair are shown below
Astrolomas and leucopogons have are some of the earliest plants to flower in the growing season.
Most astrolomas have been reclassified to genus Styphelia. They are low shrubs or ground covers with long tubular flowers, which produce fleshy berries called drupes. I used to think that the flowers were pulled out by animals but discovered that developing drupes gradually push out the flowers as they develop. The five species in Foxes Lair are shown below
 Astroloma sp. Narrogin berry |  Flower-strewn Astroloma sp. Narrogin |
 Styphelia compacta May-June |  Styphelia discolor Candle Cranberry May-June |
Astrolomas/ styphelias are bush tucker plants. Recently I met a Noongar family that showed me how to find the berries amongst the kick bush (Styphelia acervata) prickly leaves. The name comes from early settlers kicking the prostrate bushes over to see if ripe berries were underneath. Ripe berries are pale with sweet slightly gluey flesh. The green berry below is not quite ripe but still slightly sweet. Bobtail skinks and bronzewing pigeons love them! Styphelia pallida is a very similar plant with more erect straggly growth.
 Styphelia acervata kick Bush |  Styphelia pallida is more upright |  Slightly immature kick bush berry |
Astroloma serratifolium occurs on Yilliminning gravels
 Styphelia serratifolia flowers |  Styphelia serratifolia drupe |
There are 3 Leucopogons in Foxes Lair, each with tiny short tubular flowers with feathery ends. Leucopogon fimbriatus flowers from July to September on the flats near the claypit. Styphelia (ex Leucopogon) conostephoides on gravelly soils is easy to miss because the flowers are so tiny. Styphelia (ex Leucopogon propinqua) is a lovely green low shrub that grows on deep sandy granitic soils near the Granite Walk.
 Styphelia conostephoides March-April |  Leucopogon fimbriatus July-Sept |  Styphelia propinqua Feb-April |  Styphelia propuinqua drupe |
Megachile bee sleeping on Styphelia propinqua flower