Only a short distance into this park famous for its sheets of everlasting flowers none of which were obvious this year, there was a mistletoe (Amyema fitzgeraldii I think) hanging from an Acacia tree. I took a few photos of the mistletoe and noticed this small plant in the grass underneath. For some reason it looked like an alien to me but I had little chance of identifying it because I couldn't think which family it might belong to. By chance, looking at images for something else this one came up in Google.

Zaluzianskya divaricata is a plant of South African origin and is a member of the Scrophulariaceae family (Figworts) but this still doesn't seem obvious to me. It is night scented, presumably to attract night flying pollinators like moths. Its unpronounceable name is given in honour of Adam Zaluziansky von Zaluzian (1558-1613) who was actually a physician with an interest in Botany and made the point that Botany should be treated as a separate science from Medicine with which it was always associated in those early days. The genus is now of interest to gardeners and if you Google Zaluzianskya you can see many Phlox or Silene like plants which are available.

It is found from Geraldton to Esperance dotted through the wheatbelt but not in the far south west corner.

Zaluzianskya divaricata Spreading Night Phlox Near Car Park in Coal Seam Park, Near Mullewa, Western Australia 31st August 2012 Previous   Next

Zaluzianskya divaricata Spreading Night Phlox

Near Car Park in Coal Seam Park, Near Mullewa, Western Australia 31st August 2012

Added on 20th January 2013