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NEWSLETTER No AlAs tV' alia Vl5~steVVJatlc BotaVJ~ Society NEWSLETTER No. 82 MARCH 1995 Davicsia arenaria Crisp Daviesia spirali5 CriS;fJ eremaea Crisp Price.c $5.00 Daviesia no~a-anglica Crisp Registered by Australia Post Print Post Publication Number. PP 545545 • 0005 ISSN 1034·1218 . ~~~v~to. tv{ACK.A.{j3 AUSTRALIAN SYSTEMATIC BOTANY SOCIETY INCORPORATED Office -Bearers President Dr. M.D. Crisp Division ofBotany and Zoology Australian National University GPO Box4 · CANBERRA ACT 2601 Tel. (06) 249 2882 Fax. (06) 249 5573 Email mike.crisp @anu.edu.au Vice President Secretary · Treasurer· Dr. G.P. Guymer . Dr. <;::. Puttock Dr. P.G. Wilson · Queensland Herbarium. Australian National Herbarium National Herbarium of'NSW Meiers Road GPOBox 1600 Mrs, Macquaries Road INDOOROOPILLY QLD4068 CANBERRA ACT 2601 SYDNEY NSW 2000 Tel. (07) 877 9325 Tel. (06) 246 5523 Tel. (02) 231 8158 f'.ax. (07) 870 3276 }<'ax.· (06) 246 5249 Fax. (02) 2517231 · Email [email protected] Email peterwi @rbgsydj~ov.au Councillors Dr. T. Entwisle Mr. J. Clarks~m - National Herbarium of Victoria Queensland Herbarium Birdwood Avenue P.O. Box 1054 SOUTH YARRA VIC 3141 . MAREEBA QLD 4880 . Tel. (03) 655 2313 Tel. (070} 92 1555 · Fax. (03) 655 2350 Fax. (070) 92 3593 Email [email protected] Affiliated Society Papua N~w Guinea Botanical Society Australian Botanical Liaison Offi~er Dr. B.J. Conn Royal Botanic Gardens Kew .. Richmond, Surrey. TW9 3AB. ENGLAND Tel. 44~81-940-1171 Fax. 44-81-332-5278 Email [email protected] Austral. Syst. Bot. Soc. Newsletter 82 (March 1995) 1 EDITORIAL The palaeobotany column in the last Newsletter book review just to show that his greatest fear in has disturbed the executive of the Palaeobotanical not being able to defend himself is unjustified. The and Palynological Association of Australia and review is the unabridged version. their response is published below as a letter to the editor. As editors, we do not believe in this instance "It was a novel experience to open an issue that it is in the interests of our Society to upset ofthe Newsletter, and not to have already read another professional group. Our editorial response it at least three or four times! I quite enjoyed has been to drop the Palaeobotany column as a this feeling of elation, and I look forward to formal feature of the newsletter. many future issues when the same feeling will reappear. .. We were disappointed at the response of the PPAA but acknowledge their views. The few ASBS Anyway, I can't have you and the Treasurer members spoken to all supported the column but we thinking that you can get away with no more have certainly not canvassed the issue widely. We book reviews; and so here is another effort hope that the palaeobotanists will continue to from my pen. Nor can either of you think that submit items for inclusion under our other regular future book reviews will be any shorter than headings. past ones. My only difficulty here is that I'm pretty sure that the editors will cut Readers may (?) be pleased to see that David out the apparently irrelevant bits (such as Morrison has returned from the wilderness - just the first paragraph of the attached review), when we thought we were light on for material. I and that I will no longer be able to defend enclose an excerpt from his covering note with his myself!" LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Greg, palaeobotanists a go", it is just a little condescend­ ing and we don't need that. Palaeobotanists get a very good go already, because they deserve it. We We would like to respond to the editorial and can make our way as part of the mainstream David Greenwood's report on palaeobotany in the without special help. lastASBS newsletter. Since the Palaeobotanical and Consider some recent examples which Palynological Association of Australasia was demonstrate this. In 1993, at the joint Southern specifically mentioned (in a piece from one of our Connection, ASBS and ESA conference in Hobart, members, David Greenwood) we thought we a lot of palaeobotanical papers were presented should at least state the view of the current PPAA alongside other botanical offerings, with no attempt executive on the matter of a special palaeobotany to separate them in any way. In fact Liz Truswell correspondent. presented the Nancy Burbidge memorial lecture, later published in Australian Systematic Botany, While we appreciate the sentiment behind the on a very palaeobotanical theme. The number editorial which suggested that it is time to "give of palaeobotanical offerings at recent ASBS 2 Austral. Syst. Bot. Soc. Newsletter 82 (March 1995) conferences generally also testifies to the health and into the same category. Why not have a cladistics integrated nature of palaeobotany in Australia. correspondent, and maybe one for molecular biology, ecology etc.? Some of these areas are not Anyone reading Australian Systematic Botany covered by a newsletter and thus are much more in will be aware that it has a good proportion of need of publicity than palaeobotany is. palaeobotanical papers in it, and the palaeobotanical research group at the University ofTasmania at least The most important point we would like to make has made a special effort to publish there rather than concerns the credibility of palaeobotany. Only a few in geological journals so that our work would be years ago palaeobotany was not taken very seriously more accessible to the botanical community (for outside the discipline. That changed slowly, better or worse). Bob Hill and Liz Truswell were probably starting with the influence of Isabel invited to coordinate a chapter on palaeobotany in Cookson in the 1950s. Many people have worked the new edition of the Flora of Australia Volume 1 very hard over the years since then to see by Tony Orchard. Finally, it was very pleasing to palaeobotany accepted as a legitimate mainstream see how much palaeobotany featured in the recent part of botanical science in this country. The press releases on the Wollemi Pine and the new examples above indicate the success of this effort. genus of Proteaceae from the Atherton Tableland. It is for this reason that we feel a little sensitive at Not only that, but in the former case the being singled out for special attention. Before palaeobotanical community was extensively this is carried too far we would like to see some canvassed prior to the press release being made. consideration given to all areas of speciality, and a We believe that this demonstrates that all more balanced view taken of the need for special botanists have plenty of opportunity to keep up correspondents. with developments in palaeobotany. If anyone would like to join PPAA please contact It is also important to appreciate the integrity Leonie Scriven at the Department of Plant Science, of the societies involved. PPAA has its own University of Tasmania, GPO Box 252C, Hobart, newsletter, which covers some items of potential Tasmania 7001. The annual fee is $8, for which you interest to ASBS members. These could be made receive a twice yearly newsletter and an occasional available toASBS newsletter editors on a swapping (usually annual) bibliography. of information basis. However, palaeobotany covers much more than systematics, just as systematics covers much more than palaeobotany, The PPAA Executive: so the two areas are not in any way inclusive of one Bob Hill (President), Greg Jordan (Secretary), another. That being the case, it is important to Leonie Scriven (Treasurer), Mike Pole (Editor of consider other "special interest" groups that fall Palaeoaustral- the newsletter of PPAA). FROM THE PRESIDENT NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY COUNCIL very well with three out of ten representatives on The National Biodiversity Council has now come the council: Tim Entwisle, Bob Hill and Judy West. into being. Hopefully it will take the initiative on Feel free to contact them about any burning issue biodiversity issues in this country. ASBS has done you want raised. Austral. Syst. Bot. Soc. Newsletter 82 (March 1995) 3 WOODCHIPPING not afterwards. Meanwhile the precautionary principle should be applied - do not woodchip any There can be no ASBS member who is unaware forests until after they have been assessed thoroughly of all the fuss that has erupted over woodchipping and scientifically, instead of rushing through token in recent weeks. Many of you will have 'green' efforts, as seems to be happening now. By the time sympathies, but I do not doubt that some support you read this I will have written a letter to Mr Keating woodchipping, or at least some sort of logging in saying essentially these things. In the letter I am native forests. However, I hope that all our emphasizing that our society represents the members would agree on one thing: whatever is collective Australian expertise on plant biodiversity, done about the management of our native old and this is reflected in our high representation on growth forests, it should be sustainable, and the NBC. I would like to hear your views on this. decisions should be on a rational scientific basis. Undoubtedly, some forms of logging are CLADISTICS WORKSHOP sustainable and compatible with conservation. However, many sites have unique biodiversity Planning is proceeding for the workshop and values and should be preserved for posterity. It is ASBS general meeting, to be held on 25-29 essential to carry out rigorous scientific studies to September 1995. The first notice (in Newsletter 79 determine which sites should be preserved and which last year) brought 32 responses from all over may be logged with care. This principle seems to Australia, including a good mix of students and have been lost sight of by Cabinet, who were professionals.
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