There is now a population of 600 or more of these native conifers, not far east of the Surface Point picnic area in the centre of the Enfield State Park.

How did this cypress-like plant come to be growing at Enfield?

It appears to be a relatively recent introduction.

We get the impression that it was not growing there 30 or 40 years ago. 

Why? Because it is very different in appearance from other shrubs and trees in the forest, apart from the cherry ballart (wild cherry). Such a plant is unlikely to be missed.

It is a small tree or a large shrub, seldom reaching more than 6m tall. Its upright, columnar shape and dense foliage are distinctive.

The Oyster Bay pine (Callitris rhomboidea) is said to be a fast grower.

So, it seems reasonable to assume that one or two grew there from seed, starting the present colony.

It is said to sometimes become invasive away from its Grampians range. This is what it appears to be doing at Enfield, starting to take over some rocky slopes.

It is very much a colonial plant, always found in groups rather than as single isolated specimens.

Its Victorian range is odd, with occurrences in the far east, then in the Grampians and westward into South Australia. Its Grampians habitat is rocky slopes.

From eastern Victoria, it extends near-coastally into Queensland.

Cones occur in clusters, each cone having several small points on the outside.

Despite its name, Oyster Bay pine is not a true pine. Although it is a true conifer, one of 40 native species.

There was considerable survey work done on Enfield plants in the mid-1960s, then in the 1980s and 1990s. 

Now, there is renewed interest in this botanically-rich forest, with a few new species being added to the list and searches made for those not seen for many years.

Thistles are invariably unwelcome, so an extra local one is certainly cause for concern.

My first encounter with the Illyrian thistle was last weekend near Newstead.

In its younger stages, this thistle is rather like the common spear thistle but its leaves have wider, greyer segments.

In summer, it sends up a tall erect stem carrying large purple flowerheads, similar in size to those of the variegated thistle.

It is increasing in numbers and extending its range around Newstead and Cairn Curran.

The  Illyrian thistle is a native of both Europe and western Asia.