Ochna serrulata Mickey Mouse Plant | Mount Gravatt Environment Group

October 16, 2024

Spring in Fox Gully Bushcare Mt Gravatt

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Environment Group, Wildlife, Wildlife of Mt Gravatt Reserve | Tags: Australian Painted Lady Vanessa kershawi, Bearded Dragon Pogona barbata, Corky Passion Vine Passiflora suberosa, Golden Everlasting Daisy Xerochrysum bracteatum, Koala mum and joey, Lophoictinia isura Square-tailed Kite, Mickey Mouse Plant Ochna serrulata, Native Hibiscus Hibiscus heterophyllus, Ochna serrulata Mickey Mouse Plant, Spotted Gum Corymbia citriodora, TreePopper, Vanessa kershawi - Australian Painted Lady |
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By Michael Fox

A beautiful sunny morning and in the sky two beautiful Square-tailed Kites Lophoictinia isura soaring wings spread wide as they do lazy loops above the trees.

The kites have returned for the forth year to their nest in the Spotted Gum and now have two chicks poking their heads up. The kites are top level predator feeding on small birds, insects and lizards so to have a pair breeding in the forest provides some evidence of a healthy habitat providing sufficient food.

Tuesday Bushcare is always an adventure in spotting flora and fauna. Spring breeding season however is special.

Koala Spotter Steph found a Mum and Joey in a tree above where we were working.

We also spotted a handsome Beaded Dragon Pogona barbata hiding in plain sight. Good camouflage.

Butterflies are also thriving. We found this Australian Painted Lady Vanessa kershawi getting a drink from the damp ground. Note the distinctive club antenna.

Plant native daisy species like Golden Everlasting Daisy Xerochrysum bracteatum to attract and feed the Painted Lady caterpillars.

The beautiful Rosella Hibiscus heterophyllus attracts native bees, insect eating birds and is also edible.

Mike Fox using TreePopper to remove Ochna

Spring means the weed Mickey Mouse Plant Ochna serrulata is covered in seed: one bush completely filled a weed tub. Recent rain also softened to ground so we were able to use the TreePopper to remove the weed with minimal disturbance to the soil and no use of herbicide.

Corky Passion Vine – variety of leaf shapes

Most of our work at this season is removing Corky Passion Vine Passiflora suberosa which has spread aggressively in areas where we have cleared other weeds. Corky Passion Vine can have very different leaf shapes so we are careful to follow the vines to the base so we can check for the corky stem and remove the roots to stop re shooting.

October 27, 2020

Tuesday Bushcare after rain

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Fox Gully Bushcare | Tags: Asparagus Fern Asparagus aethiopicus, Fishbone Fern Nephrolepis cordifolia, Ochna serrulata Mickey Mouse Plant, TreePopper, Two Dogs Landscaping |
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By: Michael Fox

More than 50mm of rain this week has created an opportunity to move to Zone 6 and remove Mickey Mouse Plant Ochna serrulata before the flowers set seeds. Ochna has a deep tap root which is very hard to remove unless the ground is soft.

I introduced our newest volunteer Rani Lustosa, of Two Dogs Landscaping, to the TreePopper, an ideal tool for attacking woody weeds like Ochna. The TreePopper design means that the weeds are pulled from the ground vertically minimising the risk of breaking off. At the same time there is minimal disturbance of the soil, the wildlife and fungi living in the soil.

While Rani was having fun with the TreePopper, Regina, Liz and I were clearing Asparagus Fern Asparagus aethiopicus and Fishbone Fern Nephrolepis cordifolia.

September 12, 2016

Griffith Mates Ochna Blitz Challenge

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Fox Gully Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Pollinator Link, Wildlife | Tags: Butterflies, Butterfly, Griffith Mates, Imperial Hairstreak Jalmenus evagoras, National Tree Day, Ochna serrulata Mickey Mouse Plant, Sickle Leaved Wattle Acacia falcata, Small Meat Ant Iridomyrmex sp. |
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Join Griffith Mates for the Ochna Blitz Challenge!

Saturday 24 September 8am to 11am

2016 National Tree Day planting

Location: Junction of Geebung and Federation Tracks (behind green water reservoir)

We will do a walk through the National Tree Day planting and some light weeding then move onto the Mickey Mouse Plant Ochna serrulata.

The planting site is looking great with trees and vines planted in 2015 now flowering and producing seed. A Sickle Leaved Wattle Acacia falcata is already hosting caterpillars of the Imperial Hairstreak Jalmenus evagoras butterfly.

The caterpillar is protected by “Kropotkin” ants – Small Meat Ant Iridomyrmex sp. The ants provide protection in return for sugary fluids secreted by caterpillar. Imperial Hairstreaks will only return to breed where both caterpillar food plants and the ants are present.
Kropotkin is a reference to Russian biologist Peter Kropotkin who proposed a concept of evolution based on “mutual aid” between species helping species from ants to higher mammals survive.

The combination of rain and clearing Creeping Lantana Lantana montevidensis means the Ochna is thriving and it is covered in flowers and seeds. However, the rain also means must easier to pull our either by hand or Treepopper.

September 26, 2012

Expedition to headwaters of Jo’s Creek

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Bushwalks, Mt Gravatt Tracks | Tags: Asparagus Fern Asparagus aethiopicus, Bush soap, Coin-spot Treeferns Cyathea cooperi, Federation Track, Jo's Creek, Lantana Lantana camara, Ochna serrulata Mickey Mouse Plant, Soapy Ash Alphitonia excelsa, Umbrella Trees Schefflera actinophylla |
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By: Michael Fox

From Granby Street take Federation Track to Gertrude Petty Place

I joined Sandra, David and Marshall this morning to explore the headwaters of Jo’s Creek: above the timber bridge on the Federation Track. Our aim was to clear a large infestation of Ochna serrulata Mickey Mouse Plant which is currently flowering and getting ready to set seed.

This upper section of Jo’s Creek where the Federation Track crosses is quite special with Coin-spot Treeferns Cyathea cooperi thriving

Marshall clearing Ochna removed with Treepopper

along the sides of the gully even in the very dry weather. When we have good rain the many rock pools fill up and the gully is alive with birds you don’t find in more open forest areas.

Working together we cleared a large area of Ochna, Umbrella Trees Schefflera actinophylla, Lantana Lantana camara and Asparagus Fern Asparagus aethiopicus. Some larger Umbrella Trees had to be cut and poisoned however most Ochna

Sandra (left) and David

was pulled out roots and all with the Treepopper. The Asparagus Fern was lifted out whole with two-pronged hoes.

Still plenty of weeds to be cleared but a good morning’s work so we head home. On the way I show David how to wash his hands with “bush soap” made from leaves of the Soapy Ash Alphitonia excelsa.

“I’m out in the bush and still have to wash my hands!”