The Clematis

Summer 2010 Issue No 86

BAIRNSDALE

POSTAGE

Victoria

3875 PAID

Quarterly Newsletter of theBairnsdale & District

Field Naturalists Club Inc A0006074C 24 1 BAIRNSDALE & DIST FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB INC. had built a nest on the end of a broken limb of a eucalypt overhanging the A0006074C track and were sitting on ?eggs or young. List of Office Bearers for 2011 Flowers weren’t as prolific as in previous weeks, but there were still many President: Pat McPherson ph. (03) 5152 2614 [email protected] around. The commonest seemed to be small pale pink Grass Trigger- Vice President: James Turner ph. (03) 5155 1258 [email protected] (Stylidium graminifolium). were the yellow and brown Hop Secretary: Fran Bright ph. (03) 5152 2008 [email protected] Bitter-pea (Daviesia latifolia), whose bitter leaves are prominently net- Treasurer: Margaret Regan ph. (03) 5156 2541 veined; the bright yellow small Grey Guinea-flower (Hibbertia ob- Correspondence to: tusifolia); and the tiny cream shrub Common Rice-flower (Pimelea hu- The Secretary, milis). Herbaceous plants were a tiny blue Lobelia (Lobelia sp.); Blue- P.O. Box 563, bells (Wahlenbergia sp.); orange-yellow Small St John’s Wort BAIRNSDALE 3875 (Hypericum gramineum) with decussate stem-clasping leaves; yellow Web Site: www.eastgippsland.com/bdfnc Button Everlasting (Helichrysum scorpioides); and the gorgeous Blue Pin- cushion (Brunonia australis) whose flowers are clustered in heads, and General meetings take place at: protruding from each flower is a style capped with a yellow indusium Noweyung Centre, 84 Goold Street Bairnsdale (looks like pins in a cushion). Two climbers were Common Apple-berry General meetings take place: as per program at 7.30pm sharp (Billardiera scandens) with pale yellow bell-shaped flowers; and white Mountain Clematis (Clematis aristata) with narrow serrated leaves with a Committee meetings take place: at members homes, at 4.00pm central paler stripe and two very large juvenile leaves. In the same family (see program) Xanthorrhoeaceae as the Small Grass-tree was Wattle Mat-rush Group Co-ordinators: (Lomandra filiformis). Some of the grasses were the brown Kangaroo Botanic Group: James Turner Ph. (03) 5155 1258 Grass (Themeda triandra) which grows in all states of Australia, and also Fauna Survey Group: Jenny Edwards Ph. (03) 5157 5556 in Africa, New Guinea and warmer parts of Asia; a feathery Tussock- Bushwalking Group: Noel Williamson Ph. (03) 5152 1737 grass (Poa sp. ); and a Hedgehog Grass (Echinopogon sp.) with a very Newsletter Editor: Pauline Stewart Ph. (03) 5152 1606 rough flowering stalk and a long pyramidal spike. Lilies with strappy 80 Bengworden Rd. Bairnsdale.3875 leaves and flowers parts in sixes were white Milkmaids (Burchardia um- email: [email protected] bellata); yellow Bulbine Lily (Bulbine bulbosa); small Black-anther Flax- lily (Dianella revoluta) whose yellow fluffy filaments are shorter than the All articles for Spring Clematis must be in by March 1st. black anthers; and Nodding Blue Lily (Stypandra glauca). The only or- chids still flowering were yellow and brown Tiger Orchid (Diuris sulphu- STATEMENT OF PURPOSE rea) and an Onion-orchid (Microtis sp.). There is little shrub layer in this forest. Is this because it is burnt too frequently, being close to human 1. To further the study of natural history in all its branches, promoted by habitation? periodical meetings, field excursions and other activities.

2. To observe and strengthen the laws for the preservation & protection of Thank you, Mandy. indigenous flora and fauna and habitat and important geological features. ☺ 3. To promote the formation and preservation of National and State Parks and Reserves.

2 23 MINI-EXCURSION TO BRUTHEN WALKING RULES TO OBSERVE ON FIELD TRIPS: TRAILS 1. Excursions are cancelled on days of TOTAL FIRE BAN. 2. Participants to keep a visual on the car in front and behind. 13 November 2010 3. When making a turn, give signal, and stay at intersection until by Margaret Regan following car has also turned. 4. If separated from other cars, stop, and stay with your car. Mandy Evans has visited the Bruthen Walking Trails several times this Other members will return to find you. 5. Car pool passengers should offer a donation to the driver for fuel costs. spring, and reported the occurrence of many species flowering after a burn in 2008 and the more recent rain. As I had missed so many excur- sions this year, I was delighted to join her one Sunday morning to catch up with some East Gippsland flora after visiting and SUBSCRIPTION FEES Wilsons Prom also this spring. Family membership $30 There had been good rain overnight and the morning was overcast, but no Single membership $20 longer raining. The air was filled with the sound of bird song. Mid-year fee (new members only) $10 Birds we saw or heard the calls of were: White-throated Gerygone Red Wattlebird Responsibility for the accuracy of information and opinions expressed in this Rufous Whistler newsletter rests with the author of the article. Striated and Spotted Pardalote Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike LIBRARY INFORMATION - Librarian - Dot Prout Phone: 5153 1303 Richard’s Pipit • Books are generally borrowed for one month - however you can write on Olive-backed Oriole the sign-out sheet if you wish to have it longer. Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo • Should any library materials need maintenance, please make me aware of same. Grey Shrike-thrush • If you wish to recommend a book, this can be done by writing a short Superb Fairy-wren recommendation for the Clematis. This information could be from our li- Wonga Pigeon brary books or from other books that you believe our library could look at Kookaburra purchasing. Galah Crimson Rosella CONTENTS Magpie Program January to June 2011 5-6 We saw a baby Grey Butcherbird being fed by a parent. The Small Grass President’s Report 6-10 -tree (Xanthorrhoea minor) was flowering profusely with as many as 20 Western Australian Wildflowers 11-16 flowering stalks coming from one clump of possibly the one . The Mt. Raymond 17-18 trunk of the Small Grass-tree (which may be branching) is all under- Stockdale area 19-21 ground. A Red Wattlebird was collecting the nectar from one plant. On Bruthen Walking Trail 22-23 other flowering stems we saw Portuguese millipedes and some black cat- erpillars which seem to be prevalent this year. Dusky Woodswallows

22 3 CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS and email address’s for meetings numbers of Mountain Greenhood (Pterostylis alpina) which also has a and field trips. single flower where the lateral sepals are swept backwards. These plants were up to 30cm tall and perfect specimens. Nearby were a few quite tall Pat McPherson 5152 2614 [email protected] (to 25cm) Maroonhoods (P. pedunculata) which have a reddish-brown Margaret Regan 5156 2541 hood tip. All in all, this was a fantastic site. After afternoon tea, there Pauline Stewart 5152 1606 [email protected] was a quick browse on the other side of the road into the more heathy dri- James Turner 5155 1258 [email protected] er slopes where Clark‘s Caladenia (Caladenia clarkiae) was seen here and Noel Williamson 5152 1737 [email protected] there. This orchid was named for Ruth Clark who was a past member of the Bairnsdale Field Naturalists and a very keen orchid admirer and stu- dent. Clark’s Caladenia is a very pretty small orchid with up to 4 white to DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY FOR BUSH WALKS pink flowers whose labellums have purple tips, and the other petals and Easy Flat, good firm track. sepals pink tips. Moderately easy Mostly flat, track in good to fair condition Moderate May be undulating, track in good to fair condition Moving on to Freestone Creek Road, we turned south and followed the Mod. difficult May be some steep sections, track may be rough in creek downstream to the back of Briagalong and turned for home. The places Difficult May have long steep sections, track may be non views along the Freestone Creek valley were wonderful. Mauve-flowered existent at times Round-leaf Mint-bush (Prostanthera rotundifolia) and Blackwood Walks vary in distance from 6 to 14 km. ( melanoxylon) were both in flower with many other species, also Contact the leader of the walk for a rating if it’s not included in the program. flowering, spilling from embankments.

Please take note of safety procedures in your Bairnsdale & District Field Many thanks to James Turner and Jen Wilkinson for botanical assistance, Naturalists Club Inc. ‘RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY’ booklet. and Wynne and Lorraine Davies for their enthusiasm and diligence in the field, making the job of note-taking a lot easier. Top day. Thanks to all. ☺

The Clematis is printed and supported by Dept. of Sustainability and Environment, Bairnsdale.

Front Cover: Metallic Sun Orchid photographed at the annual count at Blonde Bay Reserve on 2nd. October 2010. Photo by Fran Bright

4 21 We drove a little further on to a site monitored for the rare and endangered PROGRAM JANUARY TO JUNE 2011

Gaping-leek Orchid (Prasophyllum correctum). Several plants were seen It is your responsibility to contact the co-ordinator of each field in flower hiding amongst the native grasses, sedges and wildflowers. trip to notify them of your intention to participate.

The co-ordinator can then notify you if the trip has to be cancelled due to Going further west we stopped and looked at two sites; the first near Mun- adverse weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. ro was a dry northerly slope that usually would have a few species of or- JANUARY chids, but due to prolonged dryness last winter and early spring, nothing Sat. 15th. Excursion 9.00am Bridge Club, 9.30am at Nowa Nowa. of note was located. We then progressed to the Stockdale Reserve for Orchid survey to Marlo Plains. lunch, and decided that the area was much too dry to warrant a good look Contact: James Turner about, so it was off to the Freestone Creek area for the afternoon. We 28-29-30th Bushwalks at Mt. Hotham. Ski Lodge accommodation. drove up Insolvent Track and onto Winkie Creek Road where beautiful Contact: Noel Williamson sweeps of spring colour were seen on every turn of the road. The white starry Mountain Clematis (Clematis aristata) was very showy; contrasting FEBRUARY Thurs. 10th. Committee meeting 4.00pm at Margaret Regan’s home. with hillsides of Large-leaf Bush-pea (Pultenea daphnoides) with masses Frid. 18th. General meeting 7.30pm. Speaker: Ian Pratt ‘Raymond Island of yellow-orange to red flowers; intermixed with Golden Re-vegetation’. () with oval leaves and golden-brown furry flowers; Sun. 20th. Monthly excursion 9.00am Bridge Club to the Nunniong Plateau Common Heath (Epacris impressa); and Purple Coral-pea (Hardenbergia Contact: James Turner violacea). There were also masses of Heath Pink-bells (Tetratheca bauer- Sun. 27th. No bushwalk (too hot!!!!) ifolia), a small shrub with linear leaves arranged in whorls around the stem, and the flower stalks hairless and longer than the leaves. The pink- MARCH Thurs 10th. Committee meeting 4.00pm at Pauline Stewart’s home. flowered plants were intermixed with a rare white form. The bright purple Hairy Fan-flower (Scaevola ramosissima) was growing along the road- Frid. 18th. General meeting 7.30pm. Speaker: Elden Marshall ‘Trials and sides. Tribulations crossing the Simpson Desert’. Sun. 20th. Monthly excursion 9.00am Bridge Club to the Sale Wetlands. Contact: James Turner Amongst this carpet of wildflowers we looked for spring orchids with Sun 27th. Bushwalk 9.00am Bridge Club to Pettmans Beach. many Wax-lips (Glossodia major) present. There were two species of Contact: Noel Williamson spider-orchid (marvellous flowers), the Mantis Orchid (Caladenia tentac- ulata); and the slightly smaller Brown-clubbed Spider-orchid (C. phaeo- APRIL clavia). Both of these spider-orchids have a labellum with a maroon apex Thurs. 7th. Committee meeting 4.00pm at Pat McPherson’s home. and calli, and a green marginal fringe. The Mantis Orchid has extremely Frid. 15th. General meeting 7.30pm. Speaker: Peter Marriott ‘Australian long lateral sepals (to 80mm) with yellowish glandular tips. The donkey Moths’. orchid Tiger Orchid (Diuris sulphurea) was also plentiful. Sun. 17th. Monthly excursion 9.00am Bridge Club, 9.30am Red Knob to the Buchan area. Contact: James Turner We moved to a shady area beside Winkie Creek where those, brave Sun. 24th. Bushwalk 9.00am Bridge Club to Holey Plains. enough or fit enough, to jump the small running creek, located the threat- Contact: Noel Williamson ened Leafy Greenhood (Pterostylis cucullata). This single-flowered greenhood has a stunning green hood with the petals and lateral sepals a rich brown. It was once abundant along the coast, but is now rare, only secure in a few montane areas for East Gippsland. There were also good continued »

20 5 STOCKDALE AREA - 17 October 2010 MAY Thurs. 12th. Planning/committee meeting 4.00pm at Margaret Regan’s home. by John Saxton Frid. 20th. General meeting 7.30pm. Speaker: Mike Duncan ‘African Trip’. Sun. 22nd. Monthly excursion 9.00am Bridge Club, 9.30am Nowa Nowa for a The Field Nats travelled to the rail reserves on the Gippsland grassy plains fungi trip to Newmerella. west of Bairnsdale. Wildflowers were everywhere after controlled burns Sun. 29th. Bushwalk 9.00am Bridge Club to Old Man Hill area. and rain in these areas. Some plants noted were Spreading Wattle (Acacia Contact: Noel Williamson. genistifolia) which has sharp-pointed phyllodes and 2-4 balls of flowers in

each phyllode axil. Peas were two parrot-peas, both small shrubs with NO COMMITTEE OR GENERAL MEETINGS FROM JUNE TO SEPTEMBER 2011 slender leaves and dense clusters of bright yellow flowers with crimson

JUNE claws; one, the Smooth Parrot-pea (Dillwynia glaberrima) is non-hairy, Sun. 19th. Monthly excursion 9.00am Bridge Club to Mitchell River National while the other, the Grey Parrot-pea (D. cinerascens) has hairs present on Park. the leaves; and Creeping Bossiaea (Bossiaea prostrata) with rounded Contact: James Turner leaves and mostly yellow flowers. Lilies noted were mauve Chocolate Sun. 26th. Bushwalk 9.00am to Blonde Bay. Lily (Arthropodium strictum) which is rare east of Bairnsdale; white Early Contact: Noel Williamson Nancy (Wurmbea dioica) with the purple nectary band on the floral parts; ☺ white Milkmaids (Burchardia umbellata); and yellow Bulbine Lily (Bulbine bulbosa) whose flowering stalks can grow to 50cm and bear many flowers. Daisies were yellow Billy-buttons (Craspedia variabilis) whose flowers have only tubular florets; yellow Button Everlasting ANNUAL REPORT 2010 (Helichrysum scorpioides) whose flower is larger and has bracts surround- ing its tubular florets; Clustered Everlasting (Chrysocephalum semipappo- sum - phew!!) which is tall (to 1m) and has the small yellow flower heads grouped at the end of the grey-foliaged stems. Other small plants were I am pleased to present the Annual report of the Bairnsdale and District cream Common Rice-flower (Pimelea humilis) whose flowers are grouped Field Naturalists Club for 2010. in balls terminally; purple Showy Violet (Viola betonicifolia); a Bluebell (Wahlenbergia sp.); pink Grass Trigger-plant (Stylidium graminifolium); Membership yellow Wattle Mat-rush (Lomandra filiformis); and Kangaroo Grass Current membership of the Club is 71. (Themeda triandra); to name just a few. Orchids seen here were Purple Diuris (Diuris punctata) with subtle variations; Hornet or Tiger Orchid Committee (D. sulphurea) which has yellow flowers with brown spots; and Purple The following committee was elected at the AGM in December 2009: Beard-orchid (Calochilus robertsonii) whose labellum is decorated with  President: Pat McPherson long coloured hairs. More unusual was Cinnamon Bells (Gastrodia sesa-  Vice President: James Turner moides) which is a leafless, epiparasitic orchid with a stem to 50cm with  Secretary: Fran Bright up to 20 small bell-shaped brown flowers which are white inside. Many sun orchids (Thelymitra spp) were seen, but only in bud. Yellow-tailed  Treasurer: Margaret Regan. Black-Cockatoos were feasting in the Black She-oaks (Allocasuarina lit-

toralis) near the rail line, and a pair of Wood Ducks were also feeding, no James Turner was Acting President between September 15th and Decem- doubt enjoying good grass after the recent good rain. ber 2nd during my absence overseas.

6 19 with half open buds. Red Daddy Long-legs has thin red similar-looking Meetings petals and sepals to 70mm. These end in thread-like tails covered with Nine committee meetings, two planning meetings and six general meet- scent-producing glands called osmophores. Others orchids were White ings were held in 2010 with an average attendance of 19 members and Fingers (C. catenata), Brown Beaks (Lyperanthus suaveolens) and Blue- visitors at the latter. beard Orchid (Pheladenia deformis). Blue-beard was once in the genus Caladenia and has a single blue flower with a shaggy labellum with Guest speakers crowded long calli. Presentations were made by the following speakers at the general meet- ings. On the heath-covered hilltops overlooking the Lake Curlip State Game  Jeremy Pickett-Heaps: Nesting birds in East Gippsland Reserve, the group looked for and located more spider-orchids and small  Don Love: Reef Life Survey groupings of Heath Spider-orchid and Genoa Spider-orchid (C. ancylosa).  James Turner: Orchids of East Gippsland Both were beautiful orchids with very subtle differences, which were pre-  Malcolm Calder: Galapagos Islands viously included in the species Southern Spider-orchid (C. australis). Al-  Trevor Caldwell and Nancy McMurray: Birding in the Scottish so in flower was yellow and brown spotted Leopard Orchid (Diuris pardi- Hebrides na), which is very similar to Tiger Orchid (D. sulphurea) but has more  Michelle Adler: The Magic of Madagascar brown blotches, and shorter lateral sepals; and some late Tall Greenhood (Pterostylis melagramma) which grows to 80cm and has up to 20 translu- cent small green flowers. Field excursions Monthly field excursions were once again ably planned and led by James Thank you, once again, to Turner to Marlo, Nunniong Plateau, Red Knob to Wulgulmerang, Ensay James. North area, Sarsfield, Fairy Dell, Lake Tyers, Colquhoun Forest, Metung Bushland Reserve, Nungurner,. Bruthen area, Freestone Creek, Stockdale area and Nowa Nowa to Hospital Creek area.

James also conducted special excursions to survey orchids on the Marlo Aerodrome in January and the Metallic Sun Orchids at Blond Bay in Octo- ber.

Full reports of all excursions were meticulously recorded by Margaret Re- gan and by John Saxton during Margaret’s absence and published in the Clematis. From there these data are incorporated into the DSE Flora Infor- mation System.

James continued to lead members who are keen photographers, on excur- sions to photograph orchids which will illustrate the Club’s proposed Field Guide to Orchids of East Gippsland.

James also re-discovered an unusual daisy in the Cobungra area during the Tetratheca sp Photo by Fran Bright year. With the help of the Herbarium of Victoria, it was identified as Ca- lotis pubescens, which was originally discovered by Baron Von Mueller in

18 7 1854 and not found since in Victoria. To date it has only been found in a MT RAYMOND - 19 September 2010 restricted area in the Snowy Mountains NSW and is considered endan- by John Saxton gered.

Twelve Field Nats travelled to the Mt Raymond area and on Circle Break Bush walks Track were delighted to see Heath Spider-orchid (Caladenia peisleyi) in Bush walks were led by Noel Williamson to Fairy Dell, Echo Bend, Prov- good groupings. It is one of the first spider-orchids to flower locally. idence Ponds, Bruthen to Big Creek and Mt Little Dick area, Holey Plains One specimen had a double labellum which is very unusual. Other or- and Moormung Reserve. chids that were in flower were Pink Fingers (C. carnea); the mauve Wax-

lip Orchid (Glossodia major) which is white at the base of the labellum; Camp outs and a few very late flowering Cobra Greenhood (Pterostylis grandiflora) A successful campout was held at Deddick in March. with their large hoods edged with reddish-brown. Other spring flowering

plants seen were Spreading Wattle (Acacia genistifolia) with phyllodes Fauna survey reduced to spines and 2-4 globular flower heads in each leaf axil; and the There were no fauna surveys undertaken this year. However, the Depart- small shrub Pink-bells (Tetratheca sp.). The name Tetratheca is derived ment of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts advised that the from the Greek tetra (four) and theke (a box or case) referring to the often project funds for the Envirofund Project had been acquitted and the 4-lobed anthers. There was also the creeper Purple Coral-pea Smoky Mouse Search Cobberas Area Project (which our Fauna Survey Co (Hardenbergia violacea) of which the variety Happy Wanderer is often -ordinator, Jenny Edwards conducted last year) was now considered final- grown in gardens; the small lily Early Nancy (Wurmbea dioica) whose ized. white flowers have a purple nectary band near the base; bright yellow

Buttercups (Ranunculus sp.); yellow Button Everlasting (Helichrysum 50th Anniversary of the Club scorpioides) and Wattle Mat-rush (Lomandra filiformis). The Mat-rushes 2010 was an auspicious year for the Club because it was the 50th anniver- are in the same family Xanthorrhoeaceae as the Grass-trees, but the male sary of its founding on the 25th November 1960. This was marked with an and female flowers are on separate plants in the Mat-rushes. They have Anniversary dinner at the Pentagon Restaurant in Bairnsdale with over 50 strappy basal leaves and the Wattle Mat-rush is small with yellow flow- past and present members and guests attending. ers. Jennifer Wilkinson was a splendid MC for the evening and James Turner as Acting President gave an historical and personal account of the Club’s Continuing on we had lunch at the Murrungower picnic area which we fifty years. Guest speaker was David Cameron who is the senior botanist, shared with White-winged Choughs and Little Wattlebirds. White- flora data base curator and threatened species officer at the DSE Arthur winged Choughs are largish black birds with a white patch on the flight Rylah Institute for Environmental Research in Heidelberg. David has been feathers. They have arched black bills and red eyes. They are very social associated with the Club for many years both as a resident in the area and birds that move in family groups of up to 14 when breeding. They feed a keen naturalist. mostly on the ground on small vertebrates, invertebrates and seeds. The David presented a slide show on the rain forests of East Gippsland, a sub- nest is built communally, and is a large mud bowl lined with shredded ject that he has been studying for over 30 years. bark, grass or fur (or human hair as we have seen previously at Mandy Andrew Bould concluded the anniversary celebrations with a presentation Evans’ neighbours). of photographs of the Club’s 50 years with intermittent graphics showing the locations of East Gippsland visited by the Club and a static display of Near Mt Raymond the members saw the shrub (to 2m) Sandfly Zieria newsletters, photographs, awards, newspaper articles and excursion record (Zieria smithii) with small creamy white flowers. Orchids seen here were books. another spider orchid, Red Daddy Long-legs (Caladenia filamentosa)

8 17 On our final day, as we It was a marvelous occasion and my thanks go to the Anniversary Com- travelled back to Perth mittee members for their meticulous planning and running of the celebra- we found a ‘forest’ of tions. Xanthorrhoea pressii, Grass Trees, which pro- B&DFN data base vided a good compari- Scott Leech the Senior Biodiversity Data Curator at DSE with whom we son with the Kingia of have been liaising regarding our excursion data has advised that due to the the previous day. These focus of the DSE Information Services Group has changed due to the Roy- also were very old, al Commission recommendations and higher priority has been placed onto some of them being sev- the development of the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas (VBA). Because of eral metres tall this, the person doing our data entry has had to allocate all of her time to this task. As such the Clematis entry has been suspended until the VBA is released. This is expected to be in November/December 2011. We enjoyed lovely sun- Scott says that he is currently seeking funding to put on an extra data ent- ny days, but it has been erer and if successful will be able to continue to enter our data in time for a dry winter and spring the release of the VBA. in the south west. Eve- rywhere we went we B&DFN calendar were told ‘You should The 2010 calendar although of the very highest standard of photography have been here last year which showcased the best of East Gippsland did not sell well. Nowadays as the wildflowers were the market is flooded with locally produced calendars all of which are much better because we struggling for sales and the production costs of our 2010 edition exceeded had more rain’. How- returns. As a result, the decision was made not to proceed with another ever we were more than publication because we couldn’t justify the risk. The money generated by satisfied with what we the calendar project over the last three years has been earmarked for the saw. proposed Field Guide to Orchids of East Gippsland for which Club mem- Xanthorrhoea pressii bers are currently compiling photographs.

Environmental issues of interest to the Club There were some interesting reptiles, including shinglebacks, monitor liz- The final report of the Hog Deer Management Strategy was released. It ards, skinks and dragons. We also saw a wonderful variety of birds, nota- recommended enhanced data collection to sustain healthy hog deer popu- bly for me the Australian Bustard, Redthroat and Carnaby’s Black Cock- lations and enhance the hunting experience of shooters. We were disap- atoo. pointed that it didn’t address any of the environmental issues raised by the Club (and other like-minded environmental groups) in our submissions to Marine mammals seen were bottle nosed dolphins at Jurien and humpback the Inquiry. However, further research opportunities were mooted and the whales off Kalbarri. Club has the opportunity to have input into that process when it occurs.

My thanks to Margaret, my trusty companion in our various adventures, The final report was released of the Macleod Morass Working Group on and to Coates Wildlife Tours for the trip. which the Club was represented by April Nutter. The main recommenda- ☺

16 9 tion affecting the Club was the establishment of a Community Reference On our way back from Mt. Lesueur to Jurien we came across a ‘forest’ of Group to ensure that the recommendations from this report are completed Kingia australis. and we have membership of this group. There is only one species in the genus Kingia which is within the family Dasypogonaceae. Deaths of Members The Club lost three highly esteemed Life Members during the year. Cyril Bowden in February, Beth Isakson in April and Marie Wade in July. This plant looks very similar to grass trees when not flowering but is not They all made a tremendous contribution to the Club and through this me- closely related. It occurs only in the south west of Australia in heath, dium to the environment of East Gippsland and we are all saddened by woodland and open their passing. forest in near coastal areas. The plant can Life Membership reach several metres The Committee is delighted to bestow Life Membership on Margaret Re- in height, with a gan. Margaret has made a continuous contribution to the Club since join- thick trunk which ing. Margaret’s thoroughly researched reports of our excursions in the may be branched Clematis also serve as a credible and valuable source of data for the DSE and is made up of Flora Information System. In addition, Margaret keeps a close eye on and old leaf bases. prepares meticulous statements regarding Club finances in her role as Treasurer. She is a most worthy recipient of Life Membership of this Club. Like grass trees they grow very slowly Thanks but their flowers are I would like to close this Annual Report by recording my thanks to: quite different, ocur-  All the office bearers and group Co-ordinators and members for ring in globular their support and contribution to the activities of the Club during clusters which are the year. held above the foli-  The Anniversary Organizing Committee in particular. age. The small  The management of Noweyung for the continued use of their greenish yellow to building for our general meetings brown flowers ap-  DSE for photocopying our Clematis newsletter. pear in winter and early spring. I extend to you all, every good wish for a safe and happy Christmas and We saw them in for peace and prosperity in 2011. flower - quite an extraordinary plant. Pat McPherson These were several ☺ metres high, so would have been very old.

Kingia australis

10 15 North of Geraldton we found a great variety of plants, including many WESTERN AUSTRALIAN WILDFLOWERS species of Stylidium, Verticordia, Pimelea, everlasting, Anigozanthos hu- by Mandy Evans milis (Cats Paw), Grevillea, Patersonia, , , Acacia, and some we could not identify! A pink lake near Port Gregory south of Kal- In September this year I went on a wildflower tour in Western Australia. barri was host to flocks of black winged and banded stilts and avocets. The tour, which was comfortably accommodated, left from Perth and was away for ten days. We travelled in a four-wheel drive vehicle which could Kalbarri National Park provided us with many more plants to admire, in- carry fourteen passengers. Luckily our group consisted of a select group cluding Calytrix, , Synaphaea, Hakea, Boronia, Verticordia, of only six participants so we were able to spread out - it would have been Halgania, Drosera, Stylidium, Conostylis, Banksia and our first Anigozan- a bit squashy if the bus had been full. We had two leaders with us, a natu- thos manglesii, Mangles Kangaroo Paw, which was quite spectacular. ralist/driver and a botanist, so we felt quite spoilt. The scenery around the Murchison Gorge was stunning, but it is a very harsh environment. Our first day’s journey took us north east of Perth to Dalwillinu, in the wheat belt, where we spent two nights. We had many stops during the day, From Kalbarri we travelled south, close to the coast, to Jurien where we the highlights being at Wongan Hills where we went for a walk near the spent the last two nights of the tour. We visited Mt. Lesueur National airport and saw several species of orchids, brilliant blue dampiera, fire- Park (highly recommended) where we were again amazed by the variety bush and many others, and Mt. O’Brien Lookout where we had good of the plants and flowers. I think this was the hottest day of the trip and views of the surrounding plains. we did not feel energetic enough to do a long walk but were able find plenty to interest us without venturing too far. Highlights were Verticor- The next day we drove to Petrudor Rocks, an area of granite outcrops. dia picta, which has a very pretty pink feathery flower and Darwinia vi- The Kunzea pulchella, (Granite Kunzea), was just coming into flower - a rescens, a most unusual prostrate plant. beautiful sight.

Verticordia picta

Kunzea pulchella

We also found many other wonderful plants including our first everlastings, some Thelymitra antennifera, (Vanilla Orchid), pretty white flowered sundews, stunning Grevillea

14 11 eriostacha (Flame grevillea), and some gorgeous trees with clean branches the abattoir south of Perth for export to USA and the middle east. The above a ‘stockinged’ trunk . Birds of note included a family of White surrounding country was very interesting and we explored several areas Browed Babblers, several Red Capped Robins at the Rocks and a Brown of granite ‘breakaway’ country. These areas contained a wonderful array Sparrowhawk nesting in a tree in a park in the centre of town. of plants including emu bushes, wattles, hop bushes and purple fire bush- es. On the third day we travelled further north to look for Lechenaultia A new banksia was discovered in 2000 on Kirkalocka station by one of macrantha (Wreath Leschenaultia). We travelled down a gravel road the owners, Ann. It was also found within a radius of about twenty kilo- north of Wubin and discovered these plants flowering on the hard sandy metres. This caused great excitement in the botanical world and the spe- shoulder of the road. Lechenaultia is a genus in the Goodeniaceae family cies was named Banksia rosserae in honour of the well known botanical containing about 30 species, mostly in Western Australia. It is a low artist who had published three volumes of water colour growing spreading plant to about 1 metre in diameter and the flowers are paintings of all the then known . However no one knew what the borne around the circumference of the plant. The flowers, which occur in flower was like as it did not flower until 2006 when heavy rain caused by late winter and spring, have five petals, are about 30mm in diameter, and Cyclone Glenda brought on its flowering. Celia Rosser came to Kirka- are usually deep pink to red with yellow or white centres. This genus was locka to paint it, and Ann is now the proud owner of a large framed photo named after the Frenchman Leschenault de la Tour who was of the flower, which we all admired. The flowers are quite unusual, being chief botanist on Nicolas Baudin’s expedition to Australia between 1800 almost spherical with a creamy yellow colour, and the plant grows as a and 1803. When the genus was first described a spelling mistake was multi-stemmed shrub in dry sandy country. The Celia Rosser Gallery and made, and the ‘s’ in Leschenault’s name was omitted. Banksia Cafe at Fish Creek in South Gippsland features her work.

We then moved on to Geraldton, a long day of travelling, but we had time for stops to admire the many everlastings on the way. One plant of note was Levenhookia leptantha, the trumpet stylewort. It is an ephemeral an- nual and was growing on and in a drying up water body by the roadside. It is endemic to Western Australia and is in the family Stylidiaceae.

Lechenaultia macrantha

We stayed the next two nights at Kirkalocka station, south of Mt Magnet. This used to be a cattle station and later supported . This is very dry marginal mulga country and now only supports feral goats which are rounded up each year. The billies are taken to Levenhookia leptantha

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