Photo and text by Wendy Peace
In 2025, Djilba and Kambarang saw a profusion of triggerplants (Stylidium) in the bushland. With approximately 150 species of triggerplants endemic to Western Australia, it shouldn’t be too surprising to see them flowering in Jirdarup. However, as most stylidium species are quite small (less than 5 cm tall), it is important to watch your step when out chasing weeds in the bushland! Some varieties do reach almost waist height when in flower, making them a little easier to spot.
Stylidium get their common name of triggerplant from their unique pollination method – when an insect lands on the flower, it triggers the plant’s reproductive organs to quickly snap forward, harmlessly covering the insect in pollen. The flower can take between a few minutes to half an hour to reset and can react multiple times before no longer responding to stimuli.
Widespread in Jirdarup this year has been the book triggerplant (Stylidium calcaratum), occurring in swathes in the more open, sandier areas. More recently, the matted triggerplant (S. Repens) has also started blooming. Their low growing nature makes them easy to overlook at first, but once you see them, they’re quite widespread.
Some of the taller species spotted this year include the little fountain triggerplant (S. tenue), S. neurophyllum and cow kicks (S. schoenoides) – one of the larger stylidium flowers.
