Zieria aspalathoides

Zieria aspalathoides

Family - Rutaceae

Common name - Whorled Zieria

Flowers and fruit - 4-petalled flowers are pale to deep pink. Fruit has 4 segments. Flowering period is late winter to early summer.

Leaves and stems - Two groups of 3 leaves are whorled around the stem, with margins revolute (rolled under). When touched, the leaves have a strong smell. Branches are ridged.

Habit and habitat - Zieria aspalathoides is a neat shrub to about 1m, growing in sandy soil, often among rocks, in heath and sclerophyll forest.

The arrangement of leaves of Zieria aspalathoides

The underside of the leaves with downward rolled margins

4-segmented fruit of Zieria aspalathoides

Zieria aspalathoides growing in The Pilliga

Ptilotus semilanatus

Family: Amaranthaceae

Common name: Mulla Mulla

Flowers: The bright pink to purple flowers are clustered in a terminal, broadly conical or semi-circular, woolly head 2.5 to 3cm wide.

Leaves and stem: Narrow green leaves can be up to 6cm long and often have 'crinkled' margins. Plant to 30cm high, single-stemmed or multi-branched.

Habit: A perennial plant appearing in loose groups after rain in spring and summer. A clump of Ptilotus semilanatus is a beautiful sight.

Habitat: In the Pilliga Ptilotus semilanatus grows on sandy soil in open woodland. It also occurs in dry inland areas of Qld and Vic.

Notice the crinkled-edged leaf bottom center of image

Ptilotus semilanatus leaf with 'crinkled' margin

Habit and habitat of Ptilotus semilanatus in the Pilliga Forests

Petalochilus carnea

Petalochilus carnea (previously Caladenia carnea) - Pink Fingers

Name change: Petalochilus carnea has previously been known as Caladenia carnea.

Family: Orchidaceae

Common name: Pink Fingers

Flowers: 1 to 3 flowers, 2 to 3cm across, whitish-pink to pale pink to bright pink. An erect rear sepal and four other segments spreading forwards like the fingers of a hand. The lip has dark red bars and two rows of yellow calli. Flowering period Aug to Oct.

Stem and leaves: 1 dark basal green, erect, hairy leave to 15cm by 0.4cm. Thin wiry scape (stem) to 25cm in height.

Habit: A variable plant which can be locally common. Can occur as a single plant, but more commonly loosely scattered, often occurring with Cyanicula caerulea (Blue Caladenia).

Habitat: In the Pilliga I have found Petalochilus carnea in sandy soil either with or without leaf litter and sparsely scattered grasses. In NSW it grows in a variety of habitats from coastal heath and bushland to schlerophyll forest and woodland, often recolonising cleared areas. Also found in Qld, ACT, Vic, Tas and SA.

Petalochilus carnea - Pink fingers Caladenia

Linear, sparsely hairy leaf of Petalochilus carnea

Note in the last image, the two forward facing sepals are joined near the base. I think this is simply an abnormality rather a separate species. If anyone has any comment to make on this, I'd be pleased to receive an email.

More information: 

Caladenia flower parts 
Taxonomy of Caladenia - information
Orchid flower parts - and identification keys