Triggerplants join the #MeToo movement

Day 14 Stylidium, Flora a Day, Lowlands Reserve 7 November 2020

Stylidium before and after being teased by bad human 7 November 2020. You wouldn’t like being poked with a stick in your reproductive organs, now would you? Bad human.

Day 14 and I’ve resisted the urge until now to feature one of our numerous species of triggerplants (stylidium) from Lowlands Reserve. A couple of reasons, one, I’ve posted lots of photos already of triggerplants on my instagram and facebook feeds, and two, I’m not always 100% sure of the species name (there are hundreds of species) and three, us humans tend to unfairly harass the easily provoked little flowers for our own amusement.

But they are so fascinating, with their quick swipes of their loaded columns depositing and collecting pollen on their insect visitors. They may also be carnivorous, with sticky substances in their flowers which can digest tiny invertebrates.

Lowlands Reserve also extends slightly to the east of Tennessee South Road, where there is a disused limepit with so many trigger plants. I’m not sure of species, but I think this one is the Stylidium fasciculatum.

On Bibbulmun track just east of Tennesse South 7 November 2020

In the abandoned limestone quarry just east of Tennessee South Road

There are wonderful photos of triggerplants at this website GDay from WA http://www.gdaywa.com/wildflowers/triggerplants.php

I think there are many species of triggerplants yet to be named. I hope that any newly named species will honour our First Nations peoples. Taxonomists could seek guidance from our Aboriginal Elders and Traditional Owners to use Aboriginal language words or other names of significance for Aboriginal people when naming new plants.

Stop Press Edit 10 November 2020!!! Yay! New Species named after respected #Noongar Ecologist, Dr Stephen Van Leeuwen, in #NAIDOC week! Leeuwen’s Lily #Arthropodium vanleeuwenii https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/science/nuytsia/963.pdf

My fundraising for Bush Heritage #groundworkchallenge is going well . To join my team or donate go to https://www.groundworkchallenge.org.au/fundraisers/sheilamurray/2020?fbclid=IwAR2HbNn0YsCCc3tiSK-_lbF5xLsssaD8wjGHaUwVYrRqYxM-kdJkijoj2N0

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

https://twitter.com/lowlandsbeach

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

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