Another butterfly bush? This one is in a different watercourse which seems a bit strange? I pulled out the other one but might wait and see what this one does?
How do you distinguish between Buddleja and Olearia lirata in young plants without buds or flowers? My first sighting of Olearia lirata had to wait until it flowered possibly because it was considered to be a plant of higher altitude. Olearia lirata now seems common around Canberra unless there has been a massive invasion of Buddleja.
To tell you the truth i'm not sure about this one anymore, I'm going to put it back in unidentified and hope Michael have further inspiration. I know that Buddleja has opposite leaves while O.lirata has alternate, the leaf margins of Buddleja are toothed as well I believe. I know that Olearia lirata occurs cheifly in montane forest in the ACT, but I've seen it growing in dry forest at 700-800m elevation in NSW so I don't see why It couldn't also occur in Canberran reserves.
We did go through a bit getting Michael to identify the other one last time and came to the conclusion that I should pull it out which I did. It is located next to the Japanese honeysuckle and other weeds - a truly weed infested area - so it may very well be butterfly bush. The watercourse isn't directly downhill from the houses - there is an up and over. But there are lots of people who come up the powerline track and this watercourse is just below that track. So, I'll try to convince our park care group to spend some time in this gully but I will wait to pull this specific plant out until it gives a positive indication of its identity.
Ciaran you are right about Buddelia having opposite leaves and those of Olearia being alternate but it is not always possible to tell, but so hint of leaves being opposite in this photo, so pretty sure this one is Olearia.
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