Plants

Overview

There are about 1,100 plants that are native to the ACT. There are several hundred more native plant species confined to the alpine and subalpine areas of Kosciusko National Park, the Monaro Plains or the sandstones in the Bungonia area. Daises, grasses and orchids are amongst the largest families found in the region.

Well over 10,000 plants have been introduced into our region’s gardens and pastures from overseas and other parts of Australia. Garden plantings are not of interest to Canberra Nature Map, but where plants stray from garden or amenity plantings into our bush they are of interest. Over 600 exotic and non-local natives have established in our Region’s bush.

Canberra Nature Map is particularly trying to locate species rare in the region or new and emerging weeds before they become widespread. People may not be aware what a particular plant is, but they have been good at recognising that a plant is uncommon in an area. In just two years Canberra Nature Map has more than doubled the known location of ACT rare plant records collected over the previous 110 years and has provided the first known ACT record of over a dozen new weed species, which has enabled their eradication. The continued reporting of these sorts of records are particularly encouraged.

We are also seeking species not currently included on the species lists for a particular nature reserve or area of interest, so that the lists provided become increasingly comprehensive. You may also like to establish a record of all plants on your own rural property or favourite piece of bush.

Identifying plant species from photographs can be difficult. To make it easier for moderators, ensure that photographs include as much information on a plant as possible:- a general shot of the whole plant, a close up of leaves (preferably showing both above and below and how the leaves are attached to stems), a close up of flowers (preferably from both above and the side) and a shot of any fruit or seed pod present. ANBG has some more detailed advice on photography techniques.