![The Great Victoria Desert in full Bloom]()
The Great Victoria Desert in full Bloom
Well after countless hours of sifting through my
Wildflowers Books, I hope that I have named accurately the many varieties of
Wildflowers that we encountered during our recent trip out into the
Great Victoria Desert. Being purely an amateur, I have given it my very best and I know that there will be a few that I will need help from the experts out there to set the records straight. It is not until you get
home and start to look at all the different number of flowers, that you get to realise that the desert was in peak condition from good rainfall that had fallen a number of months prior to out trip. The one downside to any Wildflower Book, is that none will give you a complete picture of just what is out there, and it is not possible to just use one book that should portray the area that we travelled through. So with the time it has taken me to go through the flowers, it may
well help future travellers out into the
Great Victoria Desert try to identify the many types of flowers that are out there when you stop to take a greater look at what is really out there, and not just a corrugated track with lots of trees and vegetation on the side of the road.
Ask many people how they classify a desert, and most times they will relate to the barren, large dunes that are portrayed as typically seen in the Dune Systems of North Africa. This is not true with the Desert of Australia, and at times it is hard to believe that you are travelling an actual Desert.
Over the years of travel, there is one Desert that draws us back, time after time and we have been very privileged to see the
Great Victoria Desert showing off its many faces. This years trip over vast tracks of the Desert revealed large areas covered in the most vivid displays of
wildflowers, with other sections having been burnt bare from wildfires that had ravaged large areas of the Desert.
Seeing the
Great Victoria Desert the way that it was only emphasises the point that Australia’s largest desert system is such a special place to visit and it will not be our last trip out there, as there is still so much more to see and explore. Below is a selection of images that were captured when we were away and I know that there would have been many more
Wildflowers out there that we missed.
If you ever have the opportunity to travel through this very special area, make sure that you stop to see and smell “the roses” as they say and you too may be rewarded with some special flowers that will add to your experience of travelling into the remote areas of South Australia and Western Australia.
If I have identified any flowers incorrectly, could I please ask the experts out there to advise me of the correct name.
![Swainsona formosa - Common name Sturts Desert Pea]()
Swainsona formosa - Common name Sturts Desert Pea
![Swainsona formosa - Common name Sturts Desert Pea]()
Swainsona formosa - Common name Sturts Desert Pea
![Swainsona formosa - Common name Sturts Desert Pea]()
Swainsona formosa - Common name Sturts Desert Pea
![Swainsona formosa - Common name Sturts Desert Pea]()
Swainsona formosa - Common name Sturts Desert Pea
![Sturt's Desert Pea on the Anne Beadell Highway near Emu]()
Sturt's Desert Pea on the Anne Beadell Highway near Emu
![The plants covered large areas]()
The plants covered large areas
![Scaevola spinescens - Common name Spiny fanflower]()
Scaevola spinescens - Common name Spiny fanflower
![Scaevola depauperata - Skeleton fanflower]()
Scaevola depauperata - Skeleton fanflower
![Eremophila serrulata - Green Fuchsia Bush]()
Eremophila serrulata - Green Fuchsia Bush
![Eremophila serrulata - Green Fuchsia Bush]()
Eremophila serrulata - Green Fuchsia Bush
![Eremophila glabra - Common Glabra]()
Eremophila glabra - Common Glabra
![Eremophila glabra - Common Glabra]()
Eremophila glabra - Common Glabra
![Eremophila gilesii - Giles Desert Fuchsia]()
Eremophila gilesii - Giles Desert Fuchsia
![Eremophila gilesii - Giles Desert Fuchsia]()
Eremophila gilesii - Giles Desert Fuchsia
![Eremophila scoria - Broom Emubush]()
Eremophila scoria - Broom Emubush
![Eremophila gibsonii - Gibsonss Desert Fuchsia]()
Eremophila gibsonii - Gibsonss Desert Fuchsia
![Eremophila Sp]()
Eremophila Sp
![Eremophila Sp]()
Eremophila Sp
![Trachymene glaucifolia -Wild Parsnip]()
Trachymene glaucifolia -Wild Parsnip
![Trachymene glaucifolia -Wild Parsnip]()
Trachymene glaucifolia -Wild Parsnip
![Senecio gregorii - Annual Yellowtop add colour to the Emu Road]()
Senecio gregorii - Annual Yellowtop add colour to the Emu Road
![Senecio gregorii - Annual Yellowto]()
Senecio gregorii - Annual Yellowto
![Senecio gregorii - Annual Yellowtop]()
Senecio gregorii - Annual Yellowtop
![Ptilotus polystachyus - Long tails]()
Ptilotus polystachyus - Long tails
![Ptilotus polystachyus - Long tails]()
Ptilotus polystachyus - Long tails
![Ptilotus polystachyus - Long tails]()
Ptilotus polystachyus - Long tails
![Lawrencella davenportii - Sticky Everlasting]()
Lawrencella davenportii - Sticky Everlasting
![Ptilotus exaltatus var. exattatus - Mulla Mulla]()
Ptilotus exaltatus var. exattatus - Mulla Mulla
![Ptilotus exaltatus var. exattatus - Mulla Mulla]()
Ptilotus exaltatus var. exattatus - Mulla Mulla
![Ptilotus obovatus - Silver Mulla Mulla]()
Ptilotus obovatus - Silver Mulla Mulla
![Ptilotus obovatus - Silver Mulla Mulla]()
Ptilotus obovatus - Silver Mulla Mulla
![Schoenia cassiniana - Pink Everlasting]()
Schoenia cassiniana - Pink Everlasting
![Schoenia cassiniana - Pink Everlasting]()
Schoenia cassiniana - Pink Everlasting
![Calandrinia polyandra - Parakeelya]()
Calandrinia polyandra - Parakeelya
![Calandrinia polyandry - Parakeelya]()
Calandrinia polyandry - Parakeelya
![Cephalipterum drummondii - Pompom Head]()
Cephalipterum drummondii - Pompom Head
![Cephalipterum drummondii - Pompom Head]()
Cephalipterum drummondii - Pompom Head
![Polycalymma stuartii - Poached Egg Daisy]()
Polycalymma stuartii - Poached Egg Daisy
![Polycalymma stuartii - Poached Egg Daisy]()
Polycalymma stuartii - Poached Egg Daisy
![The Dunes overlooking Forest Lakes were covered in Polycalymma stuartii - Poached Egg Daisy]()
The Dunes overlooking Forest Lakes were covered in Polycalymma stuartii - Poached Egg Daisy
![Eucalyptus youngiana - Ooldea Mallee]()
Eucalyptus youngiana - Ooldea Mallee
![Eucalyptus youngiana - Ooldea Mallee]()
Eucalyptus youngiana - Ooldea Mallee
![Eucalyptus vokesensis - Voakes Hill Mallee]()
Eucalyptus vokesensis - Voakes Hill Mallee
![Alyogyne pinoniana - Sand Hibiscus]()
Alyogyne pinoniana - Sand Hibiscus
![Swainsona canescens -Grey Swainsona]()
Swainsona canescens -Grey Swainsona
![Malva behriana - Native Hollyhock]()
Malva behriana - Native Hollyhock
![Gunniopsis quadrifida - Starbush]()
Gunniopsis quadrifida - Starbush
![Gunniopsis quadrifida - Starbush]()
Gunniopsis quadrifida - Starbush
![Brunonia australis - Blue Pin-cushion]()
Brunonia australis - Blue Pin-cushion
![Brunonia australis- Blue Pin-cushion]()
Brunonia australis- Blue Pin-cushion
![Westringia rigida - Stiff Rosemary]()
Westringia rigida - Stiff Rosemary
![Brunonia australis- Blue Pin-cushion]()
Brunonia australis- Blue Pin-cushion
![Trichodesma zeylanicum - Cattlebush]()
Trichodesma zeylanicum - Cattlebush
![Erodium cygnorum - Blue Storksbill]()
Erodium cygnorum - Blue Storksbill
![Lechenaultia divaricata - Tangled Lechenaultia]()
Lechenaultia divaricata - Tangled Lechenaultia
![Duboisia hopwoodii - Pituri]()
Duboisia hopwoodii - Pituri
![Lomandra leucocephala - Woolly Mar-rush]()
Lomandra leucocephala - Woolly Mar-rush
![Lomandra leucocephala - Woolly Mat-rush]()
Lomandra leucocephala - Woolly Mat-rush
![Isotoma petraea - Rock Isomome]()
Isotoma petraea - Rock Isomome
![Isotoma petraea - Rock Isomome]()
Isotoma petraea - Rock Isomome
![The Desert was transformed from local rain]()
The Desert was transformed from local rain
![Zygophyllum apiculatum - Gallweed]()
Zygophyllum apiculatum - Gallweed
![Nicotiana velutina - Velvet Tobacco]()
Nicotiana velutina - Velvet Tobacco
![Disphyma crassifolium - Round Noon Flower]()
Disphyma crassifolium - Round Noon Flower
![Maireana erioclada - Rosy Bluebush]()
Maireana erioclada - Rosy Bluebush
![Lycium australe- Australian Boxthorn]()
Lycium australe- Australian Boxthorn
![Acacia cyperophylla - Red Mulga]()
Acacia cyperophylla - Red Mulga
![Hakea francisiana - Grass Leaved Hakea]()
Hakea francisiana - Grass Leaved Hakea
![Hakea francisiana - Grass Leaved Hakea]()
Hakea francisiana - Grass Leaved Hakea
![Pittosporum angustifolium - Native Apricot]()
Pittosporum angustifolium - Native Apricot
![Pittosporum angustifolium - Native Apricot]()
Pittosporum angustifolium - Native Apricot
![Goodenia berardiaba]()
Goodenia berardiaba
![Goodenia berardiaba]()
Goodenia berardiaba
![Goodenia affinis - Silver Goodenia]()
Goodenia affinis - Silver Goodenia
![Bossiaea walkeri - Cactus Bossiaea]()
Bossiaea walkeri - Cactus Bossiaea
![Erodiophyllum elderi - Hard-heads]()
Erodiophyllum elderi - Hard-heads
![Erodiophyllum elderi - Hard-heads]()
Erodiophyllum elderi - Hard-heads
![Helipterum charsleyae - Charsley Daisy]()
Helipterum charsleyae - Charsley Daisy
![Rhodanthe citrina]()
Rhodanthe citrina
![Rhodanthe gardner]()
Rhodanthe gardner
![Waltzia suaveolens]()
Waltzia suaveolens
![Pycnosorus pleiocephala - Soft Billybuttons]()
Pycnosorus pleiocephala - Soft Billybuttons
![Grevillea juncifolia - Desert grevillea]()
Grevillea juncifolia - Desert grevillea
![Cheilanthes austrotenufolia - Rockfern]()
Cheilanthes austrotenufolia - Rockfern
![Blennodia canescens - Wild Stock]()
Blennodia canescens - Wild Stock
![Acacia tetragonophylla - Dead Finish]()
Acacia tetragonophylla - Dead Finish
![Crotalaria eremaea - Desert Rattlepod]()
Crotalaria eremaea - Desert Rattlepod
![Brachychiton gregorii - Desert Kurrajong]()
Brachychiton gregorii - Desert Kurrajong
![Brachychiton gregorii - Desert Kurrajong]()
Brachychiton gregorii - Desert Kurrajong
![Kerauchrenia integrifolia - Common Firebush]()
Kerauchrenia integrifolia - Common Firebush
![Solanum quadriloculatum - Wild Tomato]()
Solanum quadriloculatum - Wild Tomato
![Aluta maisonneuvei - Desert Heath Myrtle]()
Aluta maisonneuvei - Desert Heath Myrtle
![Aluta maisonneuvei - Desert Heath Myrtle]()
Aluta maisonneuvei - Desert Heath Myrtle
![Dodonaea stenozyga - Desert Hop-Bush]()
Dodonaea stenozyga - Desert Hop-Bush
![Solanum sp - Wild Tomato]()
Solanum sp - Wild Tomato
![Waitzia acuminata - Orange Immortelle]()
Waitzia acuminata - Orange Immortelle
![Waitzia acuminata - Orange Immortelle]()
Waitzia acuminata - Orange Immortelle
![Santalum acuminatum - Quandong]()
Santalum acuminatum - Quandong
![Senna artemisioides - Silver Cassia]()
Senna artemisioides - Silver Cassia
![Senna helmsii - Blunt leaf Cassia]()
Senna helmsii - Blunt leaf Cassia
![Senna Sp]()
Senna Sp
![Sida calyxhymenia - Tall Sida]()
Sida calyxhymenia - Tall Sida
![Senna Sp]()
Senna Sp
![Daisy Sp]()
Daisy Sp
![Daisy Sp]()
Daisy Sp
![Daisy Sp]()
Daisy Sp
![Daisy Sp]()
Daisy Sp
![Daisy Sp]()
Daisy Sp
![Daisy Sp]()
Daisy Sp
![Daisy Sp]()
Daisy Sp
![Daisy Sp]()
Daisy Sp
![Wildflowers at their very best Great Victoria Desert]()
Wildflowers at their very best Great Victoria Desert
![Bur Daisy and Pea Var growing side by side]()
Bur Daisy and Pea Var growing side by side
![Pea Sp]()
Pea Sp
![Pea Sp]()
Pea Sp
![Pea Sp]()
Pea Sp
![Pea Sp]()
Pea Sp
![Colours along the Caravan Track]()
Colours along the Caravan Track
Stephen Langman
October 2014