Trigger Plants, Part 2

Now that we have had a thorough look into the intriguing details of the Trigger Plants genus (plant group) I would like to show you how I would go about recreating one of these fascinating plants in metal.

So, I would like to put it to you, my readers, to choose which species of trigger plant that you would to see me recreate in metal.

I would like you to help me chose one of the three different species below.

1. Stylidium Schoenoides/ cow kicks trigger plant(Image to the left)

2. Stylidium graminifolium, Grass trigger plant(image in the centre)

3. Stylidium breviscapum/ Boomerang trigger plant(image to the right)

I look forward to hearing which species you choose…

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So it turns out that Stylidium Schoenoides/ Cow Kicks have one the vote.

Trigger plants Part 1

In this post we will be looking at the intricate yet distinctive qualities of Trigger Plants, Stylidiums, in the language of botany.

Stylidium schoenoides/ Cow Kicks

Stylidium is a genus of small, flowering plants with a most intriguing method of pollination.They have very rightly earned their common name “Trigger Plants”, as every flower contains a central column (trigger), that consists of the stamen and the styles, which hold the pollen sacks. These “triggers” remain in a dormant, bent position until an insect comes along and lands on the flower, at which point the “trigger” will spring forward, dousing the insect in pollen for it to transport to other flowers. I came across these fascinating plants whilst walking in the South Coast of Western Australia last year, and was captivated by their delicate yet bold character.

Stylidium breviscapum/ Boomerang

Stylidium graminifolium/ Little Saphire

There are around 130 different species that exist within the Stylidium genus (plant group), most of which are native to Australia, with a few species from Asia.The most common species found in Australia is Stylidium graminifloium (Grass Triggerplant), see image at top right. As you can see from my photos, each species within this genus produce flowers that vary quite differently in their form and colour. Colours generally include a combination of white, yellow, creme or pink. The petals that make up each flower vary in size, shape and combined structure. Let’s look at S.graminifolium for example. This species produces small(petals are around 10mm in diameter), pale to dark pink “butterfly” shaped flowers that consist of four laterally paired petals. Most species within this genus produces flowers with four petals. Although, there are some rare species that produce two, three, five, even six “predominant” petals.These cleaver plants present their flowers with the petals arranged in the perfect position, so that an insect will land on the correct point every time to launch the “trigger” into action. Whats more, this arrangement ensures that the pollen sacks lands on exactly the same spot of the insect every time (So fascinating isn’t it). Some of these plans can grow up to a metre tall, although, all the species I came across were only several centimetres high and could have easily been missed if I hadn’t been looking carefully.

So next time you decide to go out walking in the Australian bush keep a look out for these fascinating plants. If you do come across one, take a moment to have a good look at the unique details that so define these remarkable plants.

Welcome to my Flower Garden!!!

Hello everyone and welcome to my flower garden. Here you will find out about every interesting and intricate detail of a diverse range of Australia’s flora species and genus that I have come to know and love, with a few that I am not so familiar with.

Whilst learning about these fascinating species I will allow you a peep into my creative processes, revealing how I translate the findings from my research and observations into three dimensional wearable objects.

Garigal National Park, the bushland around my home

To kick start this blog, I thought I would tell you a little bit about how Australia’s native flora came to be such a major influence to my jewellery practice.

I was very lucky to have grown up in the beautiful Northern suburbs of Sydney, Australia. Elanora is one of the rare places still left in Sydney where you can be just an hour away from the hustle and bustle of the city but feel like you are in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by tranquil beauty. The area is surrounded by stunning native bush that contains a vast diversity of distinctive Australian native flora species.This is where it all started for me. I spent much my childhood exploring the bush around my home and collecting any and every natural object that sparked my interest.

A walking track in South Coast of Western Australia

Pink Flannel Flowers (Actinotus Forsythii) in the Blue Mountains

Fast forward several years, I decided it was about time to leave the comfort of my back garden to discover the amazing environment beyond. Looking further afield to explore the natural surroundings of places like the South Coast of WA (one of my latest and one of the most stunning hiking trips I have been on) and, a little closer to home, the Blue Mountains, where, I was lucky enough to view the very rare, pink flannel flowers. Although, the native bush surrounding home will always retain its distinctive charm for me, and with the continually changing seasons bringing different plants into bloom, there is always something to be inspired by.

At the moment my creative practice has been all about flowers, flowers, oh, and more flowers. Whenever I venture into the natural landscape I can’t help but stop and look at almost every plant I pass, looking carefully at each and every detail, and taking way too many photos. I use my observations along with research to construct self-interpretive jewellery pieces that are a representation of what I have seen and learned. Expressing my continual and developing passion for these wondrous beings.

Flannel Flower stud earrings

Fannel Flowers (Actinotus helianthi) in the bush

So, you can see that I have fallen passionately in love with every detail that form these intriguing beings. I hope that by the time you have finished reading my posts you will have fallen in love too.

Stay tuned for my next post

Until then..