October 2020 Sutherland Group Newsletter

2020: Recognising 250 years of Joseph Banks and 50 years of Joseph Banks Reserve About Sutherland Group Coming up.. We meet at 8 pm every third Wed, 21 Oct Sutherland Group meeting: Seed and seedling Wednesday from February to studies for conservation of November at Gymea Community This will be a Zoom meeting – see page 3 Centre, 39 Gymea Bay Rd, Gymea. Sun, 1 Oct JB Reserve working bees are back on. Visitors welcome. Thurs, 5 Oct Rules for Covid-19 are in place; more here We support awareness and Wed, 18 Nov Australian Utricularia (bladderworts) and AGM conservation of Australian native . Look out for.. Geijera parviflora (Wilga)

See our website & Facebook http://austplants.com.au/Sutherland

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President Leonie Hogue 75A Wattle St Jannali 2226 [email protected] Ph 0416 286 083

Secretary Rhonda Daniels [email protected] Ph: 9521 8381

Treasurer Anne Webb 9 Connels Rd Cronulla 2230 Ph 9523 6067

Publicity Officer & Speaker Convenor Geijera parviflora (Wilga) in Chatswood Ralph Cartwright (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14626458) [email protected] Ph 9548 1074 This tree is generally found in inland , mostly NSW and 0416 030 872 QLD. This picture shows it growing well in Chatswood. It is a small tree, and is not commonly cultivated. Being of the Rutaceae family, leaves are strongly scented when crushed. Flowering is from winter Newsletter Editor to spring. Learn more about this species at our October meeting. Peter Shelton [email protected] Inside this issue Ph 0411 286 969 For your diary ...... 2 Newsletter Deadline: For the October Zoom Meeting ...... 3 First Wednesday of the month At the September Meeting ...... 3 News and more ...... 5

For your diary Contact John Arney ph 9525 0449, [email protected] Our diary is not very full at the moment as we wait on developments with Covid19 restrictions. Spring Sylvan Grove at Picnic Point, operated by Canterbury Bankstown Council is open on weekends during spring and summer, as well as the usual weekdays. More information: https://resources.austplants.com.au/stories/spring-at-sylvan-grove-picnic-point/ Wed, 21 Oct Sutherland Group meeting Seed and seedling studies for conservation of Geijera parviflora (Wilga) with Ganesha Borala Liyanage from RBGSYD. Read more in For the October Zoom Meeting below. Do send in your photos for our virtual table. From 7.15 pm for 7:30 pm start, on Zoom, see more details below.

G. parviflora (Wilga), in Havilah St, Chatswood Close up of flowers with (Glycyphana stolata) By Poyt448 Peter Woodard - Own work, CC0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14626458 Sun, 1 Nov Joseph Banks Reserve working bees Thurs, 5 Nov Covid 19 restrictions will be observed, but there Is plenty of space to work in. Sat, 14 Nov APS NSW quarterly gathering by Zoom, 3 pm. Details in next enewsletter. Wed, 18 Nov Sutherland Group meeting: Australian Utricularia with Richard Jobson, RBGSYD From 7.15 pm for 7:30 pm start, Zoom meeting as described below. Sun, 13 Dec Sutherland Group end of year gathering at Joseph Banks Reserve. This will be dependent upon the latest Covid-19 restrictions. 24 - 31 Jan 2021 Walking at Charlotte Pass. We now have 23 members from Sutherland and the Menai Wildflower Group booked for our excursion to Pygmy Possum Lodge in January, consisting of 7 couples and 9 singles. Most are returning members from our two groups. Covid19 restrictions has limited the lodge numbers to 32 persons for the lodge. We have had a recent inquiry from some members of the Oatley Flora and Fauna Group (OFF) who are interested in joining us for the week and are currently canvassing other members to determine the Group-wide level of that interest. The Lodge owners naturally seek to make the most of their return on the facility, and therefore to accept bookings to the maximum allowable number of guests. We consider that it is preferable that persons of similar interests make up the difference in the number, and will be happy to have OFF members join us. As the old saying goes:- Better the Lambertia you know!! Contact John Arney on 0418 607 685 or [email protected]

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For the October Zoom Meeting Zoom meetings will most likely be with us for the rest of the year. Please join us. It is free and easy for members to join our Zoom meeting. You can sit at home and enjoy our speaker and native plants, seeing and hearing better than at a meeting. This is how it works. • From 7.15 pm onwards on Wednesday 21 October, click on the Zoom link below. You can use a computer, iPad or mobile phone. Australian Plants Society Sutherland Group Zoom Meeting When Wednesday 21 October, 2020 7:30 pm – 8:30pm Eastern Australia Time – Sydney https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81443432883?pwd=NE0wNG1MdjBQQUl2R05NemR1QzVqQT09 • If you click on the link after 7.30 pm, you can still join the meeting. • If this is your first time for Zoom, when you click on the link, you will be asked to download and launch the Zoom software, so allow more time. We highly recommend you download Zoom at least a day before the meeting and practise with a friend or family member. It is free for you to use. You can watch previous APS NSW Zoom meetings at YouTube here. Our meeting format • At 7.30 pm, the Zoom host will mute everyone to block background noise. The meeting chair will welcome everyone and recap good Zoom practice. • Our chair for the night will introduce our speaker. • Our feature speaker will speak for about 30 minutes, sharing their screen at the same time so you can see their presentation. • After questions, we will have a short plant table segment hosted by Dan Clarke, the APS NSW Conservation officer. If you would like to participate in this segment, please email your plant photo(s) (especially if they are with this month) to Dan before the meeting at: [email protected] • We will finish with 10 minutes of Q&A where you can ask questions by typing a question using Chat or raising your hand. During the meeting • The Zoom host will mute everyone except the chair and the speaker, so we cannot hear any background noise from your place. • If you have any trouble during the meeting, phone or email our tech troubleshooters John Aitken ([email protected]) or Ralph Cartwright (0416 030 872). • If you need to, you can move away from your computer and return to the meeting at any time. You can even turn your camera off so we don’t see you. Past Zoom meetings are available on YouTube here: Rhonda Daniels’ presentation on 50 Years of Joseph Banks Reserve is here Dan Clarke at the virtual plant table, identifying plant photos from Sutherland Group members at meetings in September is here There is a growing archive available on our YouTube Channel Other groups are holding zoom meetings too, so look at the APS NSW calendar for other meeting options. Rhonda Daniels

At the September Meeting 50 years of Joseph Banks Reserve View the presentation on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXnf5sq1j9o&t=1s Also see the Joseph Banks Reserve update later in this newsletter on page 5.

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On the plant table see a replay on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-yUlAVxtCQ&t=3112s The plant table is a great way to see what grows a key ingredient, but once established they grow well in Sutherland Shire and what flowers when. well. While Zoom meetings have replaced face to face meetings, please email some photos instead as plant specimens. You can email by reply to the elatum (Leek orchid, Piano orchid) A newsletter or to Dan Clarke at: herbaceous terrestrial orchid growing to 1.5 m tall. [email protected] It produces long skinny green leaves to 1 m long, and a continuous spike of white orchid flowers Plant steward Phil Keane’s nursery, Ausplants R about 1 cm wide. There can be over 60 flowers on Us, is in Sutherland. Visits by appointment or the spike. check out sale days (often Saturday 12 – 4:30) on https://www.facebook.com/ausplants/` Grows in sandstone woodland, mainly on the coast Ph: 0435 410 857 or [email protected] but also in the Pilliga Scrub. On our Zoom plant Table, Dan Clarke presents a Anyone wishing to grow any of our bushland collection of photos sent in by members. For orchids should check with licenced growers and September members were invited to try sending in see which species can be purchased. videos of features from their gardens. You can Also see story on page 9. watch the full zoom showing of the plant table on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-yUlAVxtCQ Rutaceae We have focused on some of the less common Zieria granulata (Hill zieria) A listed endangered features on the table this month. species, it is being grown by Merilyn House and was shown at the September meeting. It is found Proteaceae on dry rocky ridges in the Kiama area. It grows to 3 Telopea speciossima (Waratah) Obviously, the m tall and has linear trifoliolate leaves with most spectacular species in NSW – it is the holy prominent warts. Produces dainty white flowers in grail for any native plant grower. Locally found in Spring. Can produce many flowers. The leaves are Sutherland on sandstone, it can be very typically odorous. challenging to grow successfully. Plenty of cultivars are now available. Grows to 5 m tall. Very Aizoaceae fussy plant. Needs a well-drained soil and a Carpobrotus glaucescens (Pigface) An position that is just right! Give full sun or part herbaceous easy-to-identify groundcover with its shade. Prune early and after flowering on to succulent leaves and pink radiate flowers, it grows encourage more flowers and prune after flowering. in sand dunes along the entire NSW Coast and Cross your fingers when planting! interstate. It can form dense mats and be used to This month Gwen Versegi was able to provide stabilise sandy slopes and dunes. video evidence of her long performing plant which Can be used to form a dense mat or can spill over she has been sampling for us over the years. With a retaining wall. Grow in sandy soil in full sun. help from her producer, Ralph, we had a good look at this impressive plant. The metallic pink flowers may it very showy. The leaves and fruits can be eaten. Persoonia pinifolia (Pine-leaved Geebung) This is a shrub to about 4 m tall, found mainly on Violaceae sandstone with a restricted distribution on the Viola betonicifolia (wild violet) A nice native violet Central Coast of NSW. Has soft pine-needle with distinctive arrow-shaped leaves on long foliage with sprays of individual yellow 4-tepaled petioles, it is very common in eastern NSW and flowers produced amongst the leaf axils. grows interstate. Can be found on sandstone and Conspicuous green drupes are then produced shale areas, typically in dry and wet sclerophyll which ripen to purple Whilst not overly successful woodlands and . in gardens, more and more effort is going into Persoonia cultivation and this is one of the more Produces typical white and violet Viola flowers reliable species. Can also produce new growth above the foliage. The foliage is usually in a which is strikingly purple. rosette. Plant in a free draining soil. Prune after flowering Can be grown in a pot or used in cottage gardens. to encourage a denser shape. A very beautiful Give reliable moisture and dappled sun. plant that deserves one or two attempts. Lamiaceae Jason Salmon talked briefly about how the Westringia longifolia (Long-leaved Westringia) A council’s propagation methods have been westringia with long linear leaves and white to succeeding with this difficult . Patience was purple flowers, it grows naturally on the coast,

APS Sutherland – October 2020 4 tablelands and western slopes of NSW, mainly stems 40 – 90 cm. They should persist in a garden north of Mittagong into Queensland. Often found in if several root stocks are planted, even coming rocky areas in sandy or loam soils. back after periods of drought. Grows to about 3 metres tall. See story on page 7 Give a well-drained soil and some sunlight. Can be More information can be found at these websites: pruned to make a dense shrub and it can flower www.anspa.org.au www.anbg.gov.au profusely. Popular in landscaping. plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au www.wikipedia.org Campanulaceae www.austplants.com.au/plant-database Wahlenbergia stricta (Tall bluebell, Australian Don’t forget: Dan Clarke has all the monthly plant bluebell) A perennial herb, the most commonly table information compiled in his Plant Table found of the Wahlenbergias. It can be found in all Master list document available from our web site. states except Northern Territory. It has an erect Dan Clarke Plant Table Masterlist habit and is shallow rooted, requiring some access replay of the plant table to moisture. It has bell-shaped pale blue flowers on News and More Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve - Celebrating 50 years In 2020, we are celebrating 50 years of Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve at Kareela. At our September meeting, I gave a presentation on the 50 years of Joseph Banks Reserve. It was a personal history, reflecting what I know, my perspective and the photos I have easy access to. View the presentation on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXnf5sq1j9o&t=1s

As I have already covered the early days in earlier newsletters this year, I’ll focus on our more recent involvement. Having been established as a local group in 1963, APS was one of the community groups which initiated the development of the reserve, and we have continued our interest ever since. In the early days, volunteers created many rock walls, terraces and planting pockets on a steep site and their hard work is still visible forming a great framework even today. In 2009, almost 40 years after it started, we wrote to Sutherland Council about the need to rejuvenate the reserve. After various meetings, this led to development of a master plan, which was released for public comment, and then the implementation in several stages. Stage 1 in 2014 relocated the old work compound, redesigned the entry area, introduced accessible paths and created a new lookout north over the Georges River, while the combined Stage 2 and 3 works in 2017 removed the old pond, built a new terrace and deck and installed electric BBQs.

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Throughout the years, we have promoted the reserve in our local newspaper The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader in different ways, always with eye-catching photos of happy people including: • our conservation officer Connie McPherson in the early 1990s talking about birds (in black and white) • Aileen Phipps receiving a Cook award in 2009 for her volunteer efforts • Leonie Hogue celebrating our Easter Show prizes with entries from the reserve over 20 years, accompanied by members who were available at the time, and Council staff • a group of members promoting Senior Week activities • stories and photos promoting our Spring Walks events and Wattle Day, with the publicity sometimes appearing after the event.

Our publicity efforts over the years, working with Sutherland Council, the new infrastructure at the reserve and the wonders of social media have all contributed to ever increasing awareness and visitors to the reserve. With people looking for local green space especially in this COVID year, the reserve is becoming more and more popular and means different things to each of us.

I have included a selection of articles from The Leader. If you have any photos from the early days particularly from the 1970s and 1980s, it’s not too late to send them to me: [email protected]. If you have any photos from the early days particularly from the 1970s and 1980s, please send to me for our 50th anniversary Powerpoint presentation: [email protected]. Rhonda Daniels At Joseph Banks this month Our Thursday and Sunday working bees continue to be well attended including new volunteer Donna in October. We all spread out and find somewhere we are comfortable to work – whether it is weeding, tidying up or pruning. There continue to be many visitors on Sundays when we work. Jim Mackay from Sylvan Grove donated an Acacia pycnantha which Donna and I planted on 4 October on the edge of the Acacia garden. Although this is the national floral emblem of Australia, it does not seem easy to grow in Sydney. We have had several attempts at Joseph Banks, so that I was able to retrieve an old label

APS Sutherland – October 2020 6 from the shed. Joan Zande is watering it in its early days. There’s always something to catch the eye whatever the season. Over near the toilets, our Tecomanthe hillii, known as the Fraser Island creeper, has grown vigorously up very high with its clusters of large pink trumpet flowers best viewed by looking up. One of my name books suggests the genus is named after the Tecoma genus from the Americas which has tubular flowers and the Greek word anthos (for flower). Rhonda Daniels Welcome to new members • Saoirse (known as Sao) Aherne is a young student from Fairy Meadow. • Georgia Steal from Tempe named Sutherland and Northern Beaches as her groups. She wrote “Through lots of deep diving and research in how to bring native bird and bee species back to my garden and area. I'm starting to become obsessed with native plants and want to learn more and meet people who I can share this passion with”. Rhonda Daniels Pot recycling Sutherland Council nursery at 345 The Boulevarde, Gymea is now collecting plastic pots for recycling. Drop your clean, empty black pots off when buying some full ones. Membership If you are not receiving the monthly APS NSW enewsletter from enewsletter editor Rhonda Daniels, please email [email protected] so we can sort out whether we have your correct email address in our records. The September 2020 issue was emailed to members on 30 August.

Wahlenbergia propagation at Leonie’s Bring along - small pots/containers for cuttings and seeds, If you don’t have Wahlenbergia growing in your - clean secateurs garden Leonie has generously offered to help with - bag to take home cuttings a bit of propagation from her garden. Check out - mug for coffee or tea the plant table videos from September’s meeting - - show off by bringing something you’ve Leonie’s garden video caught a few eyes. propagated successfully to swap (optional!) Contact Leonie 0416 286 083 75A Wattle Road, Jannali From the library For anyone missing our library I just thought I would let you know about a wonderful service provided by Sutherland council library. The Rbdigital app lets you checkout magazines (and audio books) from their extensive collection in the comfort and safety of your own home. Titles include ABC organic gardening, Australian Geographic, Backyard and garden design, Earth garden, Great walks and of course Gardening Australia. Wahlenbergia stricta. (Ph: Leonie Hogue) This month’s issue of gardening Australia has Monday, 26 October 9am articles on how to welcome small birds to your Come along for a morning of propagating garden, the correct way to provide food and water WAHLENBERGIA. We will use both root cuttings to wildlife after bushfires and Jennifer Stackhouse and seeds. It’s fun and easy. There may be other visits Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake. plants in the garden you can take cuttings from to take home. Please stay for a chat and a cup of tea. To have a look type into your search engine rbdigital and follow the prompts to download the To be COVID safe I will need to know who is app. coming and must limit the number to 20. Please ring me on 0416286083 to let me know you are Clare McColl coming.

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Committee update APS Sutherland BSB 062 177 The committee met on 14 October and discussed A/C# 00904012 the following issues: • We agreed to continue our October and For reference, please put your surname and the November meetings by Zoom, but aim for word raffle, so our treasurer Anne can keep a meetings back at Gymea in February 2021. proper record. • We plan to have a COVID-safe end-of-year Alternatively, you can send me a letter, with gathering at Joseph Banks Reserve on the enclosed cheque for $20 per book and I’ll write out afternoon of Sunday 13 December and will your tickets and deposit the cheque. I can send monitor any changes to restrictions and advise you pictures of your ticket numbers by email or text later. to your phone. • Our AGM will be held at our 18 November meeting. The current stable committee are I can also arrange to leave a pile of physical books willing to continue in their roles, but we do with Leonie or Rhonda for distribution at the JB seek members to join to find out how the working bee for example. You can also pick them committee works and make sure we are up direct from me at my home. meeting the needs of newer members. Please Pick-Up from or cheques to: contact me at [email protected] . 25 Dubarda Street, Engadine, 2233 • We discussed the APS NSW process to update the strategic plan. Contact Ralph Cartwright [email protected] • We gave permission to Birdlife Australia to use 02 9548 1074 / 0416 030 872 photos from our Coastal Plants of the RNP Kirrawee’s Koala CD. • Next committee meeting: Wednesday 20 You may have seen the segment on Ch 7 news a January 2021, at Leonie Hogue’s. month or so back (Link here), where the NSW environment minister Matt Kean, announced that Rhonda Daniels the Koala found in Kirrawee at the beginning of August had been re-located into the RNP with a Covid Fundraising - Cook Raffle Tickets radio collar fitted. It is that time of the year again and with Covid restrictions in force for the foreseeable future, things are going to have to be a little different this year. For a start, I only ordered a quarter of the tickets I usually get. I have ONLY got 400, (but could get more if needs be). The prizes are still pretty good: 1st - International flight has now changed to four return domestic tickets anywhere in Australia (who will have you), plus $1,000 spending money. 2nd - a weekend away in Mollymook 3rd - a VIP tour for four at Sydney airport

including a helicopter flight “Royal” (photos: Ralph Cartwright) 4th - $1,000 Westfield shopping voucher 5th - two nights at Cronulla Quest If you are one of the people who each year kindly takes a book, but only sell them to yourself, or just writes in the names of family members or grandchildren, you can still participate safely and remotely. Reply to me by email to [email protected] with the names and phone numbers you would like to put on the tickets (10 per book), and I’ll do all the hard work for you. You can pay for them via EFT to our bank account: Commonwealth Bank

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It is being tracked by Science for Wildlife with help On a recent walk in the Royal along Wises track, from National Parks staff and volunteers from John Arney and I came across a patch of Friends of Royal. Prasophyllum elatum, which has a couple of common names, including the tall leek orchid, It has been tracked a few times in recent weeks snake orchid or piano orchid. and seems quite happy in his new home. He is a sub-adult male. Here he is having a rest after You can see why from these pictures. It is having had a feed on capitellata, brown described as one of the tallest orchids. stringybark. Ralph Cartwright Ralph Cartwright Walk report, with Friends of the Royal Uncommon orchids On 21 September, 8 APS members and 2 visitors According to Orchid expert and Sutherland APS left the Royal NP, Main Office Carpark, for a 4km member Margaret Bradhurst, this year has been return walk along the Bungoona Path, Florence especially good for orchids at least, if not for much Parade and Anana Hill fire trail. On the Bungoona else in the time of Covid. I have seen dozens on Path a trackside congregation of major walks in various places around the Royal. (Flying Duck) orchids surely started our day, followed by good displays of Ricinocarpos pinifolius with their female flowers surrounded by slightly larger males.

P. elatum (Ph: r. Cartwright)

C. major (flying duck orchid) (ph: L. Godden) On Florence Parade, Pultenaea’s lined the western side and Calochilus (Bearded Orchids) were seen on the verge of the recently slashed roadside. Boronia ledifolia had all but finished, with just the occasional flower to be seen.

A stand of P. elatum (Ph: R. Cartwright) Boronia serrulata (Ph: J. Arney)

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On the side of the Anana Hill trail we detoured Catch up at our youtube channel onto an elevated rock platform where a large Watch archived zoom meetings at our youtube number of stunted shrubs and grasses were channel. seemingly coping well on the dry, shallow topsoil. For example, from last month: 50 Years at JB Reserve https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXnf5sq1j9o&t=18s Plant Table with plenty of garden videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-yUlAVxtCQ Collected by Banks and Solander in 1770 The above heading links to a species list. There you will also find a link to digitised collection of the botanical art created on the Endeavour’s journey. Callistemon citrinus (crimson bottlebrush) is the Callistemon species which is the source of popular cultivars that can be found in home gardens such Calytrix tetragona (Ph: J. Arney) as "Mauve Mist" (mauve), "Burgundy" (purple-red), Some of the flowering species there were "White Anzac", "Reeves Pink" (pink) and, of course, Euryomyrtus ramosissima, Kunzea capitata, “Endeavour” (red). It is found along Australia’s Styphelia tubiflora and S. triflora, Mirbelia south eastern coast and is generally a small shrub rubiiflora, Hovea linearis , Bossiaea ensata, of about 2m x 2m. The flowers are and bird Isopogon anemonifolius, Darwinia fascicularis, attracting and it is good for hedging. Philotheca buxifolia, Phyllanthus hirtellus, Zieria laevigata to name a few. Further along, and a short side track took us to a stand of Boronia serrulata, others included Isopogon anethifolius and Olax stricta. On the bush track behind Grays Point school plants of note were Astroloma pinifolium, and Calytrix tetragona. A most interesting day was had with many plant species seen. Calochilus paludosus John Arney Callistemon citrinus (ph: J. Arney) (Ph: B. Walters at anpsa.org.au) Is Citizen Science for you? If you’re interested in photographing Australian plants, check out this citizen science project: https://resources.austplants.com.au/stories/photograph-moths-on-rutaceae-for-citizen-science/

If undeliverable, return to: Australian Plants Society, Sutherland Group 169 Peninsular Road Grays Point NSW 2232

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