Australian Natives

Australian flora and fauna are unique.  Everyone knows we have weird animals.  Some who hop and keep their babies in pouches, some who bite and sting, and even a couple of mammals who lay eggs. But our plants are equally unusual. Australia’s ancient soil has been depleted of nutrients over the millennia. Rainfall is extremely low across most of the country, and Australian native plants have had to adapt to harsh, unpredictable conditions.

Many have evolved to conserve water. This can include deep roots and reduced, thin, waxy or hairy leaves. Many are adapted to bushfires. They may have thick protective bark and buds that grow from the trunk after  fire. Others have seed pods that only open after extreme heat.

Contrastingly, we also have the oldest living rainforest on earth, and a range of plants that have adapted to wet, dark conditions. Large, dark green leaves absorb more light. Leaves that point down enabling  water to run off quickly so algae can’t grow. Climbing plants grow up to the canopy, and epiphytes grow on trunks high in the forest.

More Australian natives are pollinated by birds and small mammals than anywhere else in the world.  Our honeyeater birds see red  whilst insects are more attracted to blues and mauves. Hence we have many red native flowers. They also have sturdy stems that can support an animal’s weight, and flower structures that allow larger pollinators to feed on them.

I hope my botanic art helps people to appreciate the unique flora we have, and the need to protect it.