Photo and story by Russ Grayson Common name: Midyim berryBotanic name: Austromyrtus dulcis Growth form: Low perennial shrub to around 80cm in width and around 60cm in height with pointed leaves around one to three centimetres in length. New leaf growth can be reddish-pink in colour. Fruit to around a centimeter in diameter. Tolerant of open […]
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Story and photos by Russ Grayson Common name: New Zealand spinach; Warragul greens; Botany Bay spinach. Botanical name: Tetragonia tetragonioides Growth form/conditions: Sprawling perennial groundcover with thick leaves lanceolate in shape. Small yellow flowers. Grows in sandy soils and in full sun or light shade. Commonly found in coastal ecosystems, sand dunes behind beaches and in riverine estuaries […]
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Photos and story by Russ Grayson Lemon myrtle is an indigenous Australian tree for larger community or home gardens unless grown as a pruned specimen. Left to reach its full growth form it would be a suitable tree for urban parks. As an Australian bush food, lemon myrtle could be gleaned where it occurs in […]
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Photos and story by Russ Grayson The little red fruit on the ground was the giveaway. Reddish and around a centimetre in diameter, they suggested something was happening above. Looking up, there it was. The tree was coming into fruit, it’s magenta coloured fruit contrasting vividly with the dark green foliage of the drip-tip leaves. […]
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Story and photos by Russ Grayson Finger lime is a tasty and citrusy small tree for the home and community garden as well as for the commercial orchard. Common name: Finger lime Botanic name: Citrus australasica (previously Microcitrus australasica) Family: Rutaceae Growth form: Centre of diversity: Australia. Natural habitat: subtropical lowland rainforest understorey of SE […]
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Story and photos by Russ Grayson Pig face is a sprawling succulent common on coastal sand dunes. Noticable for its bright magenta or pale yellow-coloured flowers and thick, juicy angular leaves, it is an Australian bush food. Common name: Pigface. Botanic name: Carpobrotus glaucescens. Growth form: Scrambling groundcover with succulent, fleshy, usually green leaves and magenta […]
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Story and photos: Russ Grayson Common name: Saltbush. Botanic name: Family: AmaranthaceaeGenus: AtriplexSpecies: 52 species in Australia. Centre of diversity: Australia and other countries. Natural habitat: Growth form: Useful part: leaf. Uses: Food: Other uses: Reproduction, growing: Notes: stores high levels of salt in the roots and leaves. Indigenous uses, names:
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Story, photo and videos by Russ Grayson, December 2023 It was Jo Dean’s idea to take an early morning walk along the foreshore track. “Good idea,” I said. So shoes and hat on and off we go. The foreshore track is an informal trail along the water’s edge. The tide was out so we set […]
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