Created by biologist Dr Tonia Cochran is a “Jurassic Garden”, Inala, highlighting the Gondwanan connections of a range of plant families. The ancient ancestors of these plants thrived in the Jurassic period, when the Gondwanan super continent started splitting apart, around 183 million years ago, forming the land masses we now know as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South America and New Caledonia.
Across about five acres of former cow paddock, the garden, is served by a wheelchair friendly pathway. In excess of 600 plants, representing some 50 plant families, are grouped according to species. In the proteaceae group are many plants indigenous to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America.
Inala is located on South Bruny Island. Bruny Island is a fifteen minute car ferry trip from Kettering, 36km south of Hobart, the capital of Australia’s island state, Tasmania. The separation of Tasmania from the Australian mainland is believed to have been the last occurrence when Gondwanaland broke up.
Travelling again for Six Word Saturday
Bruny Island, Tasmania, November 2019