Wildflowers of Western Australia

Yellow Wood Sorrel is considered an Old World plant.

Infuse the leaves for a refreshing drink with a tang of lemon, rich in vitamin C.

Romulea rosea (Guildford grass, Onion grass) is a member of the Iris family.

Introduced as a garden plant and eventually infested the Guildford area of Perth hence the local common name.

The tough wiry stems can form fibre balls in the intestine of grazing animals, which can be fatal.

Cape Bluebell is a noxious weed from the Cape Province in South Africa, with no documented cultural or other uses.

Widely naturalised in the south-west of W.A.

All parts of Narrowleaf Cottonbush are toxic to stock.

In South Africa, the roots, leaves, seeds, stems, sap and fruit are dried, powdered, roasted, infused and decocted for a general medicine.

Experienced healers can treat diarrhoea, pain, diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, lumbago and much more.

Rocket (Eruca sativa) is a popular salad vegetable, medicinal plant and aphrodisiac.

Pliny the elder (50 AD): "Rocket seed cures the poisons of scorpions and of the shrew-mouse; it keeps off all the little parasites breeding on the body, and removes spots on the skin of the face when applied with honey, freckles when applied with vinegar...

Virgil (40 BC): "et veneris revocans eruca morantuem"
("the rocket excites the sexual desire of drowsy people").

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Sir Percy is a wealthy Englishman who rescues individuals from the guillotine - a master of disguise, an imaginative planner, a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking escape artist.

With each rescue he taunts his enemies by leaving behind a card showing a small flower — a scarlet pimpernel.

The fragrant lavender oil is extracted from the Lavandula leaves to make perfume and varnish.

Medicinal plant used for aromatherapy, asthma, chest ailments and cramp.

Introduced as a garden plant in 1850 and declared a noxious weed 70 years later.

Blowfly Grass is an invasive weed that reduces species diversity.

It competes with the native orchids in bushland and is controlled in part by kangaroos which eat the flowering heads.

Great for ornamental dried flower arrangements.

Paterson's Curse is a highly fertile, toxic weed that can kill pigs and horses.

Introduced from the Mediterranean as a garden plant.

The source for a high quality, light coloured honey and an alternative to dietary fish oils.

Opium Poppy - Papaver somniferum in Latin refers to the coma inducing properties of the plant extracts.

Papaver means poppy.

somnus (sleep) + fero (to bring).

One-leaf Cape Tulip is toxic to stock and a serious weed of pasture, cereal crops, roadsides and disturbed bushland.

Introduced as an ornamental garden plant.

The ornamental Lantana camara is toxic to livestock and listed a one of the "Worlds Worst Weeds".

12,000 seeds from each plant per year.