Greetings fellow Foxies,
Visitors to Foxes Lair each summer could be forgiven for thinking that many understorey plants have died, but each winter they burst into life again.
There are many plant strategies for coping with our seasonal droughts.
Each November, the marri trees drop some leaves to reduce their water use, and orchids survive as twin underground bulbs (‘orchis’ is the Greek word for testicle).
True specialists are resurrection plants that completely dry out but, become green and active within days of rain. Examples are lichens (OK not plants) and Borya species “Pincushion plants’ on granite rocks (see Borya sphaerocephala on left).
Visitors to Foxes Lair each summer could be forgiven for thinking that many understorey plants have died, but each winter they burst into life again.
There are many plant strategies for coping with our seasonal droughts.
Each November, the marri trees drop some leaves to reduce their water use, and orchids survive as twin underground bulbs (‘orchis’ is the Greek word for testicle).
True specialists are resurrection plants that completely dry out but, become green and active within days of rain. Examples are lichens (OK not plants) and Borya species “Pincushion plants’ on granite rocks (see Borya sphaerocephala on left).
Many other plants partially shrivel up and change colour to ultraviolet resistant purple, red, and yellow, but remain alive in most seasons. However it takes days for them to recover after rain, and plants will die in severe droughts.
The compact bush tucker plant Kickbush (Astroloma acervatum) is a common example
The compact bush tucker plant Kickbush (Astroloma acervatum) is a common example
 Kickbush in spring |  Kickbush in summer. Orange part is dead |
Allocasuarinas (sheoaks and tammars) also markedly change colour as shown in the Dwarf Tammar (Allocasuarina humilis) images from near the Claypit. I noticed that there were colour differences within the plant where some branches were more water stressed than others.
Random comment – why do taxonomists use the Latin word humilis for smaller?
As a person of moderate stature, I regard this as heightist bias, and certainly feel no humility towards my larger brethren (poor souls).
Random comment – why do taxonomists use the Latin word humilis for smaller?
As a person of moderate stature, I regard this as heightist bias, and certainly feel no humility towards my larger brethren (poor souls).
 Dwarf Tammar water sufficient |  Dwarf Tammar water stressed |
This interesting extract from a book edited by Professor Hans Lambers is a great read for those wishing to understand more about drought tolerance of our native plants.
Have you ever wondered why Australia has no cacti and few succulents compared to other countries?
Succulent plants rely on salts in their cells to retain large amounts of water. Their evolution has not been favoured on most of our soils which have formed on very leached and weathered materials, except in saline basins where one finds salt tolerant succulents like Bluebush, Pigface, and Samphire.
Have you ever wondered why Australia has no cacti and few succulents compared to other countries?
Succulent plants rely on salts in their cells to retain large amounts of water. Their evolution has not been favoured on most of our soils which have formed on very leached and weathered materials, except in saline basins where one finds salt tolerant succulents like Bluebush, Pigface, and Samphire.
 a flowering samphire |  Samphire and a cotula (Billy Button) |
