What’s Honey Possum’s Favourite Food? Jug Flower Nectar!

Day 39 Adenanthos Cuneatus, coastal jug flower, Wednesday, 2 December 2020

The red and green of Adenanthos cuneatus was so striking in the reserve this morning, Accidental colour coordination from me, 2 December 2020, on Wednesdays we wear green and red…

We have at least three species of Adenanthos beloved of the honey possums in Lowlands Reserve. Researchers have shown that despite the iconic images of honey possums on large banksia flowers, their favourite is actually Adenanthos! Telltale traces of pollen on the honey possums fur, allow the reseachers to identify which flowers the lil possums have been visiting. Because its new red coloured growth was so noticeable today, I’ve chosen to feature Adenanthos cuneatus, coastal jug flower. And also because, on Wednesdays we wear red and green!

the new growth of Adenanthos cuneatus comes in an attractive pinkish shade , as well as the brighter reddish shade

Adenanthos cuneatus is a very commonly occurring plant in the coastal reserve. It is one of our many plants which is primarily pollinated by mammals, notably honey possums and pygmy possums, who are tiny enough and have long enough noses and tongues to collect the nectar. SW of WA has loads more mammal pollinated species than most other places in the world.

The flowers are tiny and pink and curly, the long stamen is perfect for leaving pollen on the fur of any visiting honey possums or pygmy possums

Adenanthos has been flowering in the Reserve since August, and is still flowering. I saw plenty of seed heads too.

Lil possum in Lowlands Reserve 15 October 2020, curly tail holding a little stick, on 4WD track, thankfully he made back into bush as I watched. Adenanthos curly seeds on 2 December 2020

I only see honey possums and pygmy possums very occasionally, like once every five years. You need to be around at dawn and dusk to spot them sometimes on the Banksia grandis. Last time I saw a lil possum was 15 October 2020. Thankfully, he made to safety after first thinking if he put his head in the sand of the 4WD track he couldnt be seen.

Safely into the bush under an adenanthos

“On Wednesdays we wear..” is a meme made popular by the Mean Girls 2004 movie. I like memes as they do seem to help me remember stuff, its the tinge of irony and absurdity I like and find memorable. The Mean Girls reference might not be familiar to everybody. Gone are the days when everybody watched the same TV show episode at the same time. I remember re-enacting Monty Python sketches with school friends walking to Buckie High School in the north of Scotland in the 1970s. Those scripts, which spawned many of our pre-internet memes and catch phrases, and the places we dramatised the skits are now etched in my memory.

Writing this daily blog featuring a plant a day and walking daily is my fundraising effort for Bush Heritage #groundworkchallenge . To join my team or donate go to https://www.groundworkchallenge.org.au/fundraisers/sheilamurray/2020?fbclid=IwAR2HbNn0YsCCc3tiSK-_lbF5xLsssaD8wjGHaUwVYrRqYxM-kdJkijoj2N0

Lowlands Coastal Reserve is on Menang Boodja — country. I celebrate the strength, resilience and capacity of the Menang Noongar people who are the traditional owners of the land.

Lowlands Coastal Reserve is managed by the local community and the City of Albany. Bush Heritage Australia manage many other wonderful reserves.

Follow me on instagram and twitter @lowlandsbeach . https://www.instagram.com/lowlandsbeach/

https://twitter.com/lowlandsbeach

and on Linked in https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheila-murray-2730491bb/