Wallum woodlands

Wallum woodlands are infertile areas of widely spaced trees with an understory of heathy shrubs, herbs, grasses and sedges. The track from Teewah to Lake Cootharaba with cypress pines is an example.

Blechnum indicum Bungwall Fern

  • Bungwall is a well-known source of food for aboriginal people, who soaked, roasted and ground the tuberous roots to make a flour to make “johny cakes”.
  • It grows in swampy areas in several vegetation types.
  • These photos come from the edge of the swamp on the Teewah/Lake Cootharaba track, which is regularly slashed.

Caustis recurvata Curly Sedge

Photo Lesley Bradley
  • Curly Sedge occurs in dry heath as well as wallum wetlands.
  • This herb is a dense bush with extremely curled leaves and bronze-coloured flowers in tight bunches.
  • You can find it on the Great Walk near Teewah village.

Dendrophthoe vitellina Apostle Mistletoe

  • This is one of many mistletoes in the area.
  • It was growing on a branch hanging over the big rocks that mark the entrance to the Great Walk (Arthur Harold Nature Refuge), near the second cutting, Beach Road.

Dipodium variegatum Slender Hyacinth orchid

  • A beautiful leafless pink and white orchard found in the wallum woodland.
  • Being leafless, it is classed as a saprophyte, so derives it’s nutrients from underground decaying wood and vegetable matter. 
  • This orchid is very like Dipodium punctatum, which lacks the pink markings on the ovary and pedicel.

Geodorum densiflorum Shepherd’s Crook Orchid

  • This ground orchid is common around Teewah Village, including the areas that are subject to weed eradication.
  • The pink flowers on nodding heads are often seen amongst the Midyim (Austromyrtus dulcis) in disturbed areas.
  • The plants die down in winter.
  • The seed pods are large and ribbed.

Hardenbergia violacea Native sarsaparilla

  • The purple flowers of Hardenbergia violaceae are an important part of the annual spring wildflower show at Teewah.
  • The vines climb and twine over other plants, but are not smothering.
  • Find them where the fire trail meets the Great Walk on Teewah’s western boundary, on the edge of the Paper Bark forest.

Hibiscus diversifolius Swamp Hibiscus

  • This is one of three or four native Hibiscus species in the Teewah area.
  • Yellow with dark centres,the showy flowers are borne on straggly, prickly, untidy plants.
  • They occur in the swampy area of the Teewah-Cootharaba track, amongst the Blue Tongue plants.

Hibbertia vestita Small-leaved Guinea Flower

  • This is one of several Hibbertia in the Teewah area, but this one is a small shrub.
  • It occurs in other vegetation groups, notable wet heath and Eucalypt forests.
  • The main identifying feature, apart from the flowers, is the small leaves.

Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Blue tongue, Native Lassiandra

  • The large, purple-coloured flowers are one of the noticeable features of the woodlands.
  • There are plenty on the track from Teewah to Lake Cootharaba, on the edges of the Paperbark forest, amongst the Swamp Hibiscus, H. diversifolius.

Murdannia graminea Lawn Lily, Slug Herb

  • This is a small scrappy herb that has purple flowers in summer and autumn.
  • As the name suggests it grows in grassy areas.
  • These photos come from the mown track beside the swamp in the Teewah/Lake Cootharaba track.

Phebalium woombye Phebalium, Salt-and-pepper Bush

  • A common shrub around Teewah, found also in dry heath and seacoast.
  • Flowers borne in white clusters, in spring.
  • Leaves have pale under-surface,flecked with tiny brown dots, like salt and pepper.