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Stylidium graminifolium
Strings of small pinkish flowers growing on tubular grass-like stems to about 1 metre high.
In dry schlerophyll eucalyptus forest reserved as state park.
"Stylidium is a genus of about 130 species, most of which occur in Australia with a few being found in Asia. They are known as "trigger plants" because of the unique, irritable flower column which is triggered by insect visitors. The trigger remains cocked until an insect probes the flower and then springs upwards and deposits pollen on the head or back of the insect which then transfers the pollen to another flower" - Australian Native Plants Society (Australia)
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:b...
Spotted on Oct 7, 2013
Submitted on Oct 9, 2013
11 Comments
Thanks Vinny. I've certainly seen occasional (tiny) insects apparently stuck on the hairs. I'll look closer in future.
Great Photo! such detail. I read somewhere that the sticky hairs on trigger plants maybe (not much evidence) used to capture insect in similar way to Sun Dews
Nice one Mark
We have some 'down the back', and will likely see them soon. It's amazing the number of plants here that have moving parts. The greenhood orchids with their 'tongues' being a classic example. Or the sundews, etc.
What an excellent read... thanks again lori. I will certainly be on the look out for more of these.
Ha!! I knew you would know it. It's the first time I've noticed these gorgeous little flowers. There everywhere across the valley at the moment. Thanks heaps for the information. This will be a good read.
How did I miss this? You've got some beautiful shots of the 'triggers' on a trigger plant. http://asgap.org.au/APOL2009/apr09-s3.ht...
Thanks Jopy, Marta, surekha. I hope it doesn't turn out to be a weed.
Nice macro and series, Mark! Pretty flowers!!
Beautiful!
It's beautiful flower, Mark!