'Rare & Threatened Flora of The Hill Shire', Tour.

This tour was organised by The Hills Shire Council - Environmental Workshops, and led by botanist and flora consultant Teresa James.

I am amazed by the knowledge that Teresa has of our Sydney flora and landscape.

** rare and/or threatened species.

Click on photos to enlarge.

1st stop, Porter's Road.

** Tetratheca glandulosa  -  Glandular Pink-bell (Black-eyed Susan).

** Tetratheca glandulosa  -  Glandular Pink-bell (Black-eyed Susan).

Glossodia minor  -  Small Waxlip Orchid.

** Darwinia fascicularis subsp. oligantha.

** Darwinia fascicularis subsp. oligantha.

** Persoonia hirsuta   (wasn't in flower).

** Pomaderris brunnea  -  Rufous Pomaderris.

** Pomaderris brunnea  -  Rufous Pomaderris.

Checking out the ground cover, Shoplands Road.

** Eucalyptus sp. "Cattai".

Leucopogon sp.

Thelymitra ixioides  -   Spotted Sun Orchid .

Not sure of this one in the Fabaceae family.

** Micromyrtus blakelyi ?????

Daviesia corymbosa  -   Narrow-leaf Bitter-pea.

Old Post Office Road.

Bearded Dragon

Diuris sp.  (one of the Donkey Orchids)

Diuris sp.  (one of the Donkey Orchids)

Diuris sp.  (one of the Donkey Orchids)

Diuris sp.  (one of the Donkey Orchids)

** Leucopogon fletcheri subsp. fletcheri  -  Pendant Beard-heath.
Photo downloaded from my Native Plants of Sydney blog.

** Pimelea spicata  - Spiked Rice-flower.

** Kunzea rupestris  ??

Old Post Office Road.

Calandrinia (pickeringii ?) sp.

Calandrinia (pickeringii ?) sp.

Phebalium sp. ??

Not sure of this one in the Ericaceae family.

Mirbelia sp.  (rubifolia ?)

Petalochilus catenatus (formerly Caladenia catenata).
 White Caladenia or White Fingers Orchid.

Philotheca salsolifolia

Philotheca salsolifolia

Getting the right angle.

** Tetratheca glandulosa  -  Glandular Pink-bell (Black-eyed Susan).

Beetle on Boronia sp.

In 1827 the first convict gang, of three gangs, arrived to commence work on the descent to Wiseman's Ferry. 82 men were
stationed here and about half of these were convicts working in leg iron shackles weighing between 6 and 9 lbs (2.5 and 4 kg).
Escapes from the road gangs were common once the strangeness of the Australian bush wore off and stockades as this were laid out according to strict guidelines to minimise escapes.
This plan shows the layout of the oldest part of the stockade. Buildings originally with timber slabs, hearths and ovens surrounded a large central structure. This large building has no fireplace or oven and was probably used to store tools and rations. A second group of buildings were later erected.
Can you imagine living and working here? Try and picture the convicts groaning under the hot sun  (my addition: like today's, predicted,  37.0 °C (98.6 °F) temperature)  and shivering at  night in crude bark huts.

Ruins of convict stockade.

Podolobium ilicifolium - Holly Leafed Pea.

Philotheca sp.  (Wax Flower)

Dodonaea pinnata  -  Pinnate Hop Bush.

Fungi.

Pterostylis sp  -  Greenhood Orchid.

Camera:  Canon PowerShot SX60 HS