Greetings fellow Foxies,
Yilliminning Rock in November wasn't on my visiting list until I heard that the Elbow orchid was flowering, and was really glad that I went back. I went there about 7am which is a great time to see the morning light painting the shrubs and fluffy grass (species?), and to climb the rock when it is cool. The glowing yellow-green shrub patches amongst the salmon gums/wandoos are Leptomeria pauciflora (a native currant), yet another hemiparasite plant in the same family as quandongs. As I learn more about insignificantly flowered plants, I realise how many hemiparasites there are.
Yilliminning Rock in November wasn't on my visiting list until I heard that the Elbow orchid was flowering, and was really glad that I went back. I went there about 7am which is a great time to see the morning light painting the shrubs and fluffy grass (species?), and to climb the rock when it is cool. The glowing yellow-green shrub patches amongst the salmon gums/wandoos are Leptomeria pauciflora (a native currant), yet another hemiparasite plant in the same family as quandongs. As I learn more about insignificantly flowered plants, I realise how many hemiparasites there are.
 Leptomeria pauciflora |  Fluffy grass in the sunlight |
The prickly carpets of Pincushions/Borya sphaerocephala,in rock depressions, also known as resurrection plants have dried off to an attractive orange before they green up again in the next growing season.
 Dormant pincushion bush |  Moss patterns |
In deeper soil areas November-flowering shrubs and herbs that don’t occur off the rock make a wonderful show. The most spectacular is red-flowering Kunzea baxterii with bonsai-looking contorted stems that hangs on to cracks in the rock. Larger soil areas have large Hook-leaved thryptomene/Thryptomene australis shrubs that are a mass of delicate white flowers, and Goodenia helmsii herbs with tiny white flowers.
 Hook leaved thryptomene/ Thryptomene australis |  Kunzea baxterii |  Goodenia Helmsii |
.A highlight was the beautiful but uncommon Pimelea graniticola that only occurs on granite rocks.
On the north and southern slopes where it is too steep for 4WDs (but I expect to see one in a heap there one day), you can still see the shelves and plates of sheet rock that are a feature of large granite domes.
For the geologically minded (as one should be!) these domes called plutons formed hundreds of millions of years ago from molten rock that forced its way up as geological plates were colliding and solidified some kilometres below the soil surface. As the rock above gradually eroded away and sediments were taken to the sea, these domes were exposed. The surface cracked in sheets that themselves split into jointed blocks from removal of the weight above them and weathering (exfoliation). Ice crystals formed from frost affected seepage can cause splits. More information here.
On the north and southern slopes where it is too steep for 4WDs (but I expect to see one in a heap there one day), you can still see the shelves and plates of sheet rock that are a feature of large granite domes.
For the geologically minded (as one should be!) these domes called plutons formed hundreds of millions of years ago from molten rock that forced its way up as geological plates were colliding and solidified some kilometres below the soil surface. As the rock above gradually eroded away and sediments were taken to the sea, these domes were exposed. The surface cracked in sheets that themselves split into jointed blocks from removal of the weight above them and weathering (exfoliation). Ice crystals formed from frost affected seepage can cause splits. More information here.
Rock sheets make a prime habitat for the fascinating Rock Dragon/Ctenophorus ornatus that nod at you before scuttling off. Alas my smartphone couldn’t get a better shot, but check out the great images on the hyperlink above.
Unfortunately the rock sheets are also greatly desired in gardens. I even have one in my garden that was left by the former owner. Keep vehicles off this rock.
Unfortunately the rock sheets are also greatly desired in gardens. I even have one in my garden that was left by the former owner. Keep vehicles off this rock.
Left: Rock Dragon if you can see it Right: weathering granite profile
I became aware of another form of rock 'weathering' after huge wildfire in February 2022. The intense fire caused the equivalent of thousands of years of rock 'weathering' in a single event when flakes up to one centimetre thick fell off to reveal unweathered underlying granite.
