D. auriculata is very common in Victoria but D. peltata seems much less so.
I have only seen a few peltata plants in the Grampians (they were growing
on an exposed ridge-top in sandy, dry conditions) - I can't seem to not
find auriculata here (they seem to tolerate a wide range of conditions
from wet swampy areas (which do dry out) to more exposed, drier areas).
Probably the easiest way to distinguish peltata from auriculata is from
its hairy sepals (auriculata has smooth sepals). Seed is another method
peltata small roughly spherical, auriculata long and thin.
D. auriculata seems to be quite variable - I've seen plants in the same area
which were stout and tall with red stems and green leaves, and others which
were more evenly red but much smaller and more delicate looking - some don't
have much red at all. Flower colour varies too - most I've seen are pale
pink, but I have seen mid-pink (slightly smaller) flowers. I haven't seen
any white flowers in Victoria.
BFN
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| John Taylor [Catweasel] | Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology |
| rphjt@minyos.xx.rmit.edu.au | Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA |
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