Field Trip to Cathedral Rock National Park
by Pat Urbonas
Six members travelled to Native Dog Rest Area on a fine sunny day for a bush walk in this lovely park. Much of the park was burnt in a wild fire last year but I was surprised at the amount of regrowth, especially the grassy understorey.
As I was on crutches, I was expecting to explore in my own time. However, the members wouldn't leave me so I joined them on a walk of approximately 3 hours just beyond the stringy bark forest. One of my aims was to look for Platysace ericoides that has eluded me for a couple of years. I am still looking for it!!
After morning tea we left the rest area and followed the walking track over a creek and through a stringy bark forest. Around the walk was regeneration of Callistemon sieberi, Epacris microphylla, Geranium solandri, Hakea microcarpa, Stylidium graminifolium and Beackea omissa.
Along the drier track through the Eucalyptus acaciiformis forest, we came across the rare Styphelia perileuca, a small shrub with greyish heath foliage and unusual translucent bell flowers.
It seems that fire kills the plant and it regenerates from seed. We saw several young plants near shrubs that had been killed. Blue bells and Brachyscome were in flower as were Banksia integrifolia and Banksia spinulosa neo anglica.
Some of the other plants we saw were:
- Billardiera
- Derwentia
- Daviesia
- Glycine
- Gompholobium
- Goodenia
- Hardenbergia
- Helichrysum
- Hibbertia
- Isotoma
- Leucopogon
- Lomandra
- Lomatia fraseri
- Melichrus
- Persoonia
- Petrophile
- Pultenaea
- Tetratheca, and
- Plectranthus, amongst granite boulders.
We had lunch at the edge of the forest overlooking an open swamp area. Here we found Xyris (yellow eye), Coral Fern, Drosera, Mirbelia pungens and Platysace lanceolata, but not Platysace ericoides.
Col Mulquiney drew our attention to a small light green pine-like plant that turned out to be Lycopodium, a plant belonging to the primitive clubmoss (Lycopodiaceae) family.
Also found flowering in this area was Utricularia (Fairies aprons)and deep blue Lobelia dentata.
On our way home we stopped to examine a large Olearia covenyi. This shrub was approximately 2.5m x 2.5m and had lovely new growth and large leaves. It would make and attractive background shrub.
Members who enjoyed this great outing were Col and Glenda Mulquiney, Phil and Julia Rose, Graeme 'Stormy' Fairweather and Patrick Urbonas.
APS Armidale gratefully acknowledges the financial support of New England Mutual for this website.
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