Category: Australia (not WA)

Whenever you are walking in a forest, there is one thing you should always remember to do, at least every few minutes:  look up.

I am sure that many who have walked In Deep Creek Conservation Park’s stringybark forest would agree that its grass “trees” are as striking as are its actual trees.

The former are examples of Xanthorrhoea australis, the most commonly seen & widely distributed of Australia’s Xanthorrhoea species.

All members of the “grass tree” genus are endemic to Australia; this one is found across a deal of southern Australia, including Tasmania.

It’s known as the “southern grass tree”.  In South Australia it is commonly called “yakka”/ “yacca”, a word probably borrowed/mangled from its local indigenous name.

As was generally true of Xanthorrhoea species, many non-indigenous people used to call members of this one, “black boys”.

…and ferns.

However – as later posts will reveal – although “the greenery” is lovely, what makes this particular forest’s “floor” so amazing are its non-photosynthesizing, legless, living beings.

…where the walking is easy, and highly rewarding.

Much of the “Adelaide Hills” and Fleurieu Peninsula is “highly picturesque”.

However, only a very tiny portion even remotely resembles its “natural” or “original” state.