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Trees, shrubs and grasses

Student activities

Task no. 1

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Trees, shrubs and grasses

Drawings and paintings made by early European colonists give us a unique insight into the natural vegetation they saw before them. Those arriving in Australia saw these unique plant species for the first time, all looking very different to those from their home country. Many plants were recorded through drawings and paintings for scientific purposes or simply because they were interested.

Observe the colonial sketches of Australian plants in Sources 2 to 4 then 5 to 14. Group them as tree, shrub or grass in Table 1

Tree
A tall plant with a single woody trunk and having branches growing from the main trunk, such as a gum tree.

Shrub
A plant smaller than a tree with several woody stems growing from the base near the ground, such as many wattles.

Grass or Groundcover
Usually a short plant with soft, flexible stems growing close tot he ground, such as a moss, fern or grass.

 

Gum Tree, Woogaroo , 1852-1854
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Volume 05: Drawings of plants of New South Wales, approximately 259 botanical watercolours ,
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Flax. Akaroa, 1852-1854
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Botanical sketches and drawings, 1893-1897 / Edward William Minchen, 1893-1897, 1915
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Volume 05: Drawings of plants of New South Wales, approximately 259 botanical watercolours [Contents,
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Lepturus cylindricus, 1803 - 1806?
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Botanical sketches and drawings, 1893-1897 / Edward William Minchen ,
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Botanical sketches and drawings, 1893-1897 / Edward William Minchen,
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Botanical sketches and drawings, 1893-1897 / Edward William Minchen,
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Mariscus, 1803 - 1806?
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Hibbertia volubilis [syn. Hibbertia scandens] , 1803 - 1806?
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Xerotes [Lomandra multiflora] , 1803 - 1806?
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Botanical sketches and drawings, 1893-1897 / Edward William Minchen, 1893-1897, 1915
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