#point peron

[drhoz]

#3579 - Pittosporum ligustrifolium - Coast Pittosporum

A cheesewood found in coastal communities along the south half of the western coastline of Australia. It grows in grey soils, clayey sand, calcrete, sandstone, granite, laterite, and limestone, which is pretty impressive for a plant that otherwise demands ocean views.

Despite their tempting appearence, the fruit is a woody capsule containing dark red, sticky, inedible seeds.

Point Peron, Perth

[sevenrealmsoffearr-blog]

Western Australia sure is beautiful. I’ll have 35mm up next week. 

[drhoz]

#3558 - Chlorops sp.

Type genus of the family, which is large, widespread, and usually black or yellow.

Point Peron, Perth.

[drhoz]

#3664 - Lottia onychitis

A True Limpet found on the coastlines of SW Australia, with a single record near Adelaide that's a bit puzzling.

Lottia alveus used to be found in eelgrass beds from New York to Labrador, but went completely extinct in the 1930s after Eelgrass Wasting Disease, caused by a Slime Net organism in the genus Labyrinthula, wiped out every population of seagrass along that shoreline that wasn't protected by brackish salinity. Since the limpet couldn't tolerate lower salinity, it vanished with the majority of the eelgrass.

Point Peron, Perth.

[drhoz]

#3580 - Arctotis stoechadifolia - White Arctotis

Rare in its home range along South African coastlines, and of course enthusiastically invasive in California, Southern Australia and New Zealand.

Yet again, it was introduced to those areas as a garden ornamental and coastal stabilising plant, and lacking any of its native controls forms large, dense monocultures that smother and displace native species through shading and competition for resources. Highly adaptable, thriving in harsh coastal conditions with hot dry summers, mobile sands, strong winds, salt spray and low winter rainfall. Although around here in Perth, the winters only count as wet in comparison to the bone-dry scorching summers. Like other Arctotis species, the flowers only open during the day.

Point Peron, Perth.

[drhoz]

#3567 - Macroschisma munitum - Ridge-Backed Keyhole Limpet

 Distinguished from true limpets by the breathing hole or slit on top of the shell. Oxygenated water enters under the edge of the shell near the head and passes over large paired gills, then out through the slit along with with waste products.

The family is usually found on or under rocks in the lower intertidal zone, and deeper waters. Most feed on plants and debris, but some prey on sponges, foraminifera, and diatoms.

Point Peron, Perth

[drhoz]

#3566 - Euplica bidentata - Seagrass Dove Shell

A small marine snail endemic to WA coastlines, frequently observed at night on seagrass blades while grazing on diatoms and other microscopic particles.

Dove Shells in general are most common in shallow tropical waters, and are usually carnivorous.

Point Peron, Perth.

[drhoz]

#3557 - Aeolothrips sp.

Predaciously patroling the Pigface at Point Peron.

Aeolothrips prey on arthropods, including other thrips, but supplement their diet with plant protein. Adults and larvae are most often found on flowers, but some hunt ground mites.

Point Peron, Perth.