Plant community No. 14
This ‘low woodland’ is dominated by Southern Cypress Pine (Callitris gracilis) with a sub-storey of Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata), Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata), and Desert Banksia (Banksia ornata). It is found on yellow-brown to yellow-red deep sand deposits on former coastal dunes.
Caterpillar food plants in this community
Grasses
- Blady Grass (Imperata cylindrica)
Shrubs
- Pale Fanflower (Scaevola albida)
Trees
- Box Mistletoe (Amyema miquelli) [on Mallee Box (Eucalyptus porosa)]
- Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha)
- Native Cherry (Exocarpos cupressiformis)
See also
Butterfly nectar plants of the Adelaide region
Plants information
Butterflies of this plant community
Broad-margined Azure
Ogyris olane
Males fly around the tops of the mistletoe host-trees or gather on hilltops. Females fly around the mistletoe.
Common Brown
Heteronympha merope
A very common butterfly found in most areas retaining some native vegetation that includes grasses.
Genoveva Azure
Ogyris genoveva
The iridescent blue upper side is only seen when flying. Caterpillars feed on yellow mistletoe (Amyema spp.).
Meadow Argus
Junonia villida calybe
A common butterfly found in meadows, open reserves or vacant blocks. Caterpillars eat native and introduced herbaceous plants and weeds.
Satin Azure
Ogyris amaryllis meridionalis
The bright metallic blue upper side is usually only seen when flying. Caterpillars feed on mistletoe (only Amyema spp).
Southern Grass-dart
Oxybadistes walkeri
Reasonably common; especially the eastern side of the city, its caterpillars feed on native and introduced grasses.
Tailed Emperor
Polyura sempronius
Not common. This butterfly is a recent (1973) immigrant from the eastern states. Caterpillars feed on eastern states trees such as Kurrajong.
Two-spotted Line-blue
Nacaduba biocellata biocellata
Common in fringe urban areas on the plains; rare in the hills. Has a very small caterpillar that eats Acacia (wattle) buds.
Wattle Blue
Theclinesthes miskini miskini
Usually seen congregating on the tops of hills. Caterpillars eat the leaves of Acacia (wattles).
White-banded Grass-dart
Taractrocera papyria
Now rare and most likely to be seen along grassy creek lines; its caterpillars feed on native and introduced grasses.
Wood White
Delias aganippe
This is a rare butterfly in the Adelaide area, the caterpillars feed on mistletoe (only Amyema spp.) and quandong.
