Arid Flora

Arid flora in Australia’s dry regions exhibits some amazing adaptations for survival and  reproduction in a harsh climate.  This page is about showing a snapshot of the biodiversity of plants growing in arid regions of Australia, more information follows the images below.

Atriplex holocarpa, or Pop Saltbush. Sturt National Park, NSW.
Frankenia paucifolia, or Southern Sea-Heath, Cape Bauer Road, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Sclerolaena divaricata, or Pale Poverty Bush. Silverton, NSW.
Atriplex vesicaria, or Bladder Saltbush. Silverton, NSW.
Sclerolaena divaricata, or Poverty Bush. Silverton, NSW.
Senna artemisioides nothossp. stuartii, or Grey Cassia. Sturt National Park, NSW.
Atriplex holocarpa, or Pop Saltbush. Sturt National Park, NSW.
Senna artemisioides nothossp. coriacea, or Desert Cassia. Sturt National Park, NSW.
Swainsona formosa, or Sturt Desert Pea. Northern Territory.
Disphyma crassifolium, Rounded Noon-Flower, a native Pigface, Cape Bauer Road, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
Pycnosorus pleiocephalus, or Soft Billy Buttons. Cape Bauer Road, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
Carpobrotus glaucescens, or Pigface. Sea lake, Victoria.
Solanum sturtianum, or Sturt’s Nightshade. Sturt National Park, NSW.
Carpobrotus glaucescens, or Pigface. Fleurieu Peninsula.
Eremophila mackinlayi, or Desert Pride. Alice Springs, Central Australia.

Arid flora genera such as the emu bushes, (Eremophila), saltbushes and bluebush (Atriplex), the nightshades (Solanum) and the familiar pig face (Carpobrotus) have unique anatomical morphological features to improve their chances of survival and reproduction in a harsh climate. Many species are perennial, ephemeral shrubs of varying heights and ground covers, such as the Sturt Pea (Swainsona formosa).

Sturt pea, Swainsona formosa, Port Augusta botanic garden, South Australia, Australian flora, arid flora, ephemeral plants of Australia,
Sturt peas in the Arid Botanic Garden, Port Augusta, South Australia

The Sturt National Park in the north-west corner of New South Wales is an excellent locality to see a range of arid flora.

The saltbushes are valuable fodder plants for sheep, which means semi-arid areas of saltbush can be used agriculturally subject to the seasons.  In dry times, Atriplex vesicaria also known as bladder saltbush sheds its leaves, in order to conserve moisture, so other sources of food for sheep need to be found.  Atriplex vesicaria and other saltbushes are prevalent on the Nullabor Plain, especially after a good rain.

Atriplex holocarpa or pop saltbush is found widely throughout South Australia, which is Australia’s driest state and exists in other states.  It is a short-lived perennial.

Pigface (Carpobrotus glaucescens) is a familiar plant to many. Its berry fruits were reportedly valued by Aboriginals as a food source.