Saltbush at Rogers Bushland Reserve Highfields

This beautiful tiny plant (Einadia hastata)  has a variety of common names including Saloop, Saltbush and Berry Saltbush.  Thankfully we have a positive identification of it's scientific name thanks to Trish Gardner.  This beautiful plant is a small native herb that is an important butterfly host plant for caterpillars of the Saltbush Blue Butterfly. The Saltbush has tiny green flowers during December to February and small bright red fruits throughout the year.  This plant which is found in a variety of areas throughout the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland reserve, could easily be missed or stood on due to it's small size, however glimpses of red from the fruits and the leaves do catch your eye if you are on the look-out for it.  There a number of these Saltbush Plants growing at the front entrance of the bushland reserve on Community Court. 

J.G. 

(Information Source: Trish Gardner; Wild Plants of Greater Brisbane & Mangroves to Mountains Field Guide to Native Plants of South-East Queensland)

Saloop Saltbush (Einadia hastata) at Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve, Highfields.

The dark green leaves of the Saltbush  (Einadia hastata) turn red before falling.

Showcasing how small the fruits of the Saloop Saltbush are at the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve 16/05/14.