Hundreds and Thousands - native (Stylidium inundatum)

Family: Stylidiaceae.

Native.

Occurrence: Uncommon. Grows in seasonally wet places e.g. mud flats. It may be abundant, the massed tiny flowers resembling the "Hundreds and Thousands" confection.

The flowers have a hammer-like knob on a bent arm. When the arm is touched by a visiting insect, it springs forward to attach pollen, or remove pollen, from the insect (and hence "trigger-plant").

Recognise:

• it is a tiny plant to only a few centimetres high
• it has apparently four pink or white petals
the petals are paired horizontally so that the flower is as wide, or wider than high
• it grows in damp places.

Photo 1: Rise and Shine. 2: Kalimna. 3: Kamarooka.

Small Trigger-plant (Stylidium despectum) is another tiny trigger-plant that may also grow in the district. Its petals are paired vertically so that the flowers are taller than wide.