The Flickr Australianwildflower Image Generatr

Diuris, commonly known as donkey orchids or bee orchids, is a genus of more than sixty species in the orchid family. It is endemic to Australia with one species endemic to Timor. Diuris laxiflora (Bee orchid or Banded bee orchid) is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is about half the size of other Diuris species we had seen frequently earlier in the flowering season. Our latest spring visit to Southwest Australia was a month behind peak orchid season but www.flickr.com/photos/jean_hort/ still knew where to find some we had never seen before. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/1634

Cheiranthera is a genus of ten species of flowering plants, all endemic to Australia. The name comes from Latin, meaning hand-like anthers (Cheir-anthera). The common name of Finger-flower refers to the prominent yellow anthers that are arranged to one side like the fingers of a hand. Cheiranthera brevifolia is a small, sparsely branched shrub occurring here: florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/31769

In trigger plants (Stylidium) pollination is achieved through the use of a sensitive "trigger", which comprises the male and female reproductive organs fused into a floral column that snaps forward quickly in response to touch, harmlessly covering the insect in pollen. Most of the approximately 300 species are only found in Australia. The left and right flowers in the photo are untriggered (trigger bent backwards below the flower plane) while the one in the middle has been triggered by an insect and the floral column has snapped forward. The green tip of the column carries the anthers and stigma. The trigger will reset to the original position within about 15 min. In the right flower I have brightened up the tip of the trigger to show the four pollen parcels which insects get hit with on the back when they land. Stylidium leptocalyx is a rare and beautiful triggerplant with a very limited distribution. Thanks to conservationists and citizen scientists Jean and Fred Hort for showing us these gems in their backyard, Wandoo National Park, where they are still discovering new flower and insect species. They work as volunteers for the Herbarium of Western Australia and quite a few species now carry their name 'hortiorum'. Video demonstrating the trigger action: www.youtube.com/shorts/bWJPV1MsBvw

Isotoma hypocrateriformis is a plant in the bellflower family (Campanulaceae) producing highly variable white-blue-purple-pink flowers. Also known as Woodbridge Poison, it is suspected of being toxic to stock. The flowers are supported on vertical unbranched stems, which have several short narrow upright leaves. It is found in a variety of habitats in Southwest Australia where it grows in sandy soils around granite. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/7396

Cyanostegia angustifolia is a species endemic to Southwest Australia. We saw it frequently along roads of the dryer inland. The terminal floral clusters appear mauve to pale blue, but this coloration is from the large calyces (flower base or cup). The actual flower is the smaller dark purple, five lobed corolla (left and right flower) that sits just above the calyx on a short tube and will promptly drop at maturity (lower centre). Presumably the soon deciduous corolla attracts pollinating insects before they fall. The picture is a handheld in-camera focus stack from 8 photos. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/6747

Drosera stricticaulis is an erect carnivorous plant endemic to Western Australia. It produces small, cup-shaped carnivorous leaves along green, glandular stems that can be 25 cm (10 in) high. There is an insect trapped on a leaf in the lower centre. The photo is an in-camera focus stack.
florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3132

Grevillea, commonly known as spider flowers, is a genus in the family Proteaceae. Most species are endemic to Australia. Grevillea tripartita is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, prickly shrub with divided leaves with 3 lobes, and clusters of red and cream-coloured or reddish-orange and yellow flowers. To lighten up the shadows I used a reflector here which turned out to be more useful than my LED panel which was overpowered by the bright conditions. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/19489

Thelymitra (sun orchids) lack a highly modified labellum and all three petals and sepals are similar in size, shape and colour. The column is, however, highly modified and usually has prominent wings or glands which are helpful in identifying the species. Most sun orchids close their flowers at night, in cloudy or cool weather, giving rise to their common name. Thelymitra crinita is a species of sun orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has brilliant blue flowers with a blue column with the lobe on top of the anther covered with short, finger-like calli. The anatomy of the column is shown here on a similar sun orchid: nossa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/t-juncifolia-diag... florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/1705

Darwinia is an Australian genus of about 70 species of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae. The majority are native to southern Western Australia. Darwinia vestita has heads of white to reddish-pink flowers. The style projects beyond the flower and has a group of hairs near the stigma which appealed to me. I used an LED panel to supplement the fading daylight here. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/5533

I had heard of flannel flowers (Genus Actinotus) but seeing this flower for the first time through my macro lens still took my breath away. Most flannel flowers are endemic to Australia. While not considered threatened, they are not often seen unless specific conditions are met such as fire and smoke, followed by rainfall. This flower was among the first plants to grow after a recent bushfire.\https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/6208

Barrens regelia is a shrub in the myrtle family with velvety leaves and clusters of brilliant red to orange flowers on the ends of its branches. It has a very localised distribution mainly around East Mount Barren in Fitzgerald River National Park on the south coast of Western Australia. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/6016

Two back to back Waitzia acuminata flowers are starting to release seeds. Waitzia is an Australian genus in the Asteraceae family. Each seed has up to twenty long fine bristles which protrude from one of the tapered ends. They act as a "parachute" to catch the wind and carry seeds over long distances. The species is most abundant in the southern half of Western Australia. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/8275

Jacksonia hakeoides is a species in the pea flower family (Fabaceae) and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. According to available information, around 933 described species of the pea flower family are found in Western Australia, with an additional 52 undescribed species recognized. You can imagine that I hesitate to identify pea flowers and often leave it for later. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/4015

Pterostylis barbata, commonly known as the western bearded greenhood or bird orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. The flower leans slightly forward and is shiny, pale translucent green with darker green veins and purple-brown markings at the front. The dorsal sepal and petals are fused, forming a hood or "galea" over the column. It is one of a number of bearded orchids, some of which have yet to be formally described, all of which have a distinctive feather-like labellum.

Trachymene is a genus in the family Araliaceae. The species are native to Australia, Malesia, New Caledonia and Fiji. Trachymene pilosa mainly occurs in the southwest of Western Australia. Sometimes looking through a macro lens makes you feel like being in a different world. These buds looked like something that could be growing on a coral reef. After the colourful buds the small white flowers are a bit of a letdown. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/6280

The photo shows a Reed triggerplant, Stylidium junceum, with all triggers released. The bottom four have their trigger columns all pointing in the same direction reminding me of a choreographed dance move. In triggerplants pollination is achieved through the use of the sensitive "trigger", which comprises the male and female reproductive organs fused into a floral column that snaps forward quickly in response to touch, harmlessly covering the insect in pollen. Because the column comprises the fused male and female reproductive organs of the flower, the stamen and stigma take turns in dominating the function of the column—the anthers develop first and then are pushed aside by the developing stigma. This delayed development of the stigma prevents self-pollination. The trigger response to touch takes as little as 15 milliseconds. After firing, the column resets to its original position in anywhere from a few minutes to a half hour. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/7745

This is a bud stage of the flower spike of Banksia coccinea, a shrub or small tree in the Protea family which grows along the southwest coast of Western Australia. The process of flowering takes 9–12 months with no visible evidence of flower spike development for around five months before the buds actually appear. Paired in columns, the red styles form a neat pattern at this stage. A field study revealed an average count of around 286 individual flowers on each spike. The plant is extremely sensitive to dieback caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi, and is used as an indicator species for the disease. Banksia is an Australian genus of around 170 species easily recognised by their characteristic flower spikes. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/1811

Commersonia is a genus of plants in the mallows family. Plants in this genus occur from Indochina to Australia. They have stems, leaves and flowers covered with star-like hairs. Commersonia craurophylla occurs mainly in the dry Great Western Woodlands of Western Australia. The flower composition is interesting and what initially look to be 5 large white petals are actually the white sepals. The petals are the tiny cream shoehorn looking components, of which each cradles a short stamen. The white points are actually staminodes (infertile stamens) that are positioned between each fertile stamen (those with anthers). The very short stigma can just be seen at the flower centre. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/40923nofollow&quo...

Kunzea is a genus of plants in the myrtle family and is endemic to Australasia. Most kunzeas are endemic to Western Australia but a few occur in eastern Australia and a few are found in New Zealand. The Granite kunzea occurs at granite outcrops of Western Australia. Its preferred place to grow is a narrow fissure in granite. The species may assume a bonsai appearance as it ages. When sufficient rain falls the saltlake in the background becomes a fully functioning aquatic systems with aquatic flora and fauna usually lying dormant as buried seeds and eggs awaiting the right conditions. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/5840

Gastrolobium bilobum is a bushy shrub which is endemic to Southwest Australia. It is probably the most toxic species in the genus Gastrolobium, containing high levels of monofluoroacetic acid, also known as 1080 (ten eighty). Native wildlife has developed tolerance to the toxin which is widely used in Western Australia and New Zealand to target introduced animals which have decimated native wildlife populations. The plant's leaves are wedge shaped, not heart shaped as the common name suggests. florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3891