AUSTRALIAN NATIVE SOCIETY

CANBERRA REGION (INC)

Journal Vol. 19 No. 05 March 2018 ISN 1447-1507 Print Post Approved PP100000849 Contents Herbaceous Plants Masumi Robertson 3 ANPSA Biennial Conference, Wrest Point, Hobart Anne Campbell 7 ANPS Support for Canberra Nature Map Geoff Butler 10 Herbaceous Plants Winners of 2017 Australian Native Plants Awards 11 What's going on in the ACT weeds world? Sarah Sharp & Geoff Butler 14 Hobart Environs Tour Lesley Page 18 Celebrating National Pollinator Week Julie Armstrong 20 ANPSA National Conference, Hobart Neville Page 25 Text and photos by Masumi Robertson My Canberra Garden in Transition Fran Middleton 28 With the arrival of cooler weather, I am Boabs or Baobabs — That is the Question Roger Farrow 35 looking forward to planting out smaller Study Group Notes Brigitta Wimmer 41 plants both to fill in gaps in the garden ANPS Canberra contacts and membership details inside back cover and to replace plants that died due to the extremes of our Canberra climate. Cover: Rulingia magniflora; Photo: Glenn Pure One group of plants suitable for this are herbaceous plants: non-woody plants that can be used like small , small accent plants or ground covers. Other herbaceous plants such as grasses and clumping plants (many Journal articles The deadline dates for submissions are 1 February (for monocotyledonous plants) will be dealt One of the Brachyscome daisy species with The Journal is a forum for the exchange of members' March edition), 1 May (June), 1 August (September) with in the June edition of this Journal. and 1 November (December). mauve, pink, blue and that contrast and others' views and experiences of with, well against their dark green . propagating and conserving Australian plants. Send articles or photos to: Herbaceous plants add colour to any garden. Many are long flowering over All contributions, however short, are welcome and Journal Editor Following a late winter tidy up they the warmer months by continuously may be accompanied by photographs or drawings. Gail Ritchie Knight mainly in spring, but they The editor reserves the right without exception to edit 1612 Sutton Road producing flowers. They also have the continue to flower when watered well ability to regrow and flower well in all articles and include or omit images as appropriate. Sutton NSW 2620 over the hot summer months and can autumn to early winter when the spring Submit photographs as either electronic files, such e-mail: [email protected] growth and flowers are removed. They cover a fairly large area. as JPEGs, or prints. Set your digital camera to take tel: 0416 097 500 are particularly useful in smaller gardens high resolution photos. Please send JPEGs separately Paid advertising is available in this Journal. Contact This is one of the most rewarding and and not embedded in a document. If photos are too the Editor for details. or new gardens as they are relatively reliable daisy species with a quick to grow. large to email, copy onto a CD or USB drive and send Society website: http://nativeplants-canberra.asn.au number of . it by post. Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed Printed by Elect Printing, Fyshwick, ACT Those described here are perennial envelope if you would like your prints returned. If you There are also many other Brachyscome http://www.electprinting.com.au/ forbs which respond well to a late have any queries please contact the editor. winter clip and feed every year. Other species, some occurring locally, and than Brachyscome multifida, they are all they are worth a try when available. Original text may be reprinted, unless otherwise indicated, provided an acknowledgement for the source is given. Permission to reprint non-original material and all drawings must be obtained from the copyright holder. The views and opinions expressed locally occurring species, adapted to our They include B. decipiens, B. graminea, in articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily the views and opinions of the Society. difficult environment. B. rigidula and B. spathulata.

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 3 Chrysocephalum The flowering stems grow to about 30 late autumn. By then, new leaves have semipapposum cm long but they tend to flop down, formed following the autumn rain, and creating yellow dots against the green. fresh flower stems emerge in spring Under good conditions with water, sun from a spiky rosette, thus repeating the and feed, this plant can sucker, covering cycle. They flower best in full sun, and a relatively large area. winter leaves are not affected by frosts or cold in any way. They are best planted Coronidium species were split from the out in autumn. Helichrysum; they contain paper daisy species with “sun” like flowerheads Goodenia pinnatifida having shorter ray flowers. The main flowering time is spring and summer but it continues to flower into autumn. I find it easier to maintain over summer plant dies down after flowering to an by cutting it down to remove spent underground tuber, resprouting with flowers and even flower buds and the arrival of autumn rain. The tuber A local golden daisy, this plant grows letting the plant regrow in late summer. is edible and has been an important more like a small to about 0.5 With this treatment, the plant flowers food source for the aboriginal people. m high. It is an everlasting, or paper, well in autumn and into early winter. As Having this type of root also means daisy that used to be in the genus with other daisies, it needs a late winter that the plant can survive hot summers Helichrysum. Paper daisy flowers last prune to remove old growth. protected underground. for a long time, keeping their colour. Clusters of flowers at the end of the Eryngium ovinum Pelargonium australe stem contrast well against the soft Large, bright yellow flowers are green leaves. The main flowering time continuously formed from spring is spring into summer, but with summer through summer and held about 20 pruning and watering, can flower well cm high over a rosette of leaves. This in autumn. It is a handy plant where you perennial plant can spread by suckering, want a bit of height. popping up in an area it finds best Coronidium scorpioides suited to grow among other plants and also into open space in the garden. Despite its scrambling growth habit with thin wiry flower stems, this plant can tolerate our hot dry conditions This is a very tough native ‘geranium’. The iridescent blue of our Blue Devil quite well. It flowers best in full sun and The plant forms a rosette of leaves and shines in the summer sun. It is a appreciates water when very dry. multiple flowering stems with many perennial plant seen around Canberra, growing to around 0.6 m high, or taller Microseris lanceolata pink-mauve flowers for a long time from in a garden. The blue flowers can last The yam daisy has one of the largest spring into summer. I cut our plants in into autumn. They can be dried and daisy flowers in bright yellow, held high early summer, removing dying flowers Another cheerful local paper daisy used as dried flowers along with paper at 30 to 40 cm, swaying in the wind. and older leaves. The plant will look tidy with bright golden-yellow flowers that daisies. It is best to remove the died Flowering stems emerge from slender with a fresh regrowth and more flowers contrast well against the green leaves. down old leaves and flowering stems in basal leaves, one flower per stem. The in late summer into autumn. This plant

4 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 5 also forms an underground thick tap root, thus it is more likely to survive hot summers and dry periods. The plant ANPSA Biennial Conference responds to summer rain and watering and flowers best in full sun. Wrest Point, Hobart Stylidium graminifolium

By Anne Campbell As well there was the Tasmanian Bushland Garden (beside the Tasman The Australian Native Plants Society Highway west of Buckland), designated rain, opening with sun and heat. Our Australia (ANPSA) Conference was held a Regional Botanic Garden and being plant has spread by suckering, coming between 15–19 January this year at one of the very few public gardens in up among other shrubs. The plant dies Wrest Point, Hobart, which proved to be Tasmania devoted entirely to Tasmanian down completely in winter, so it is best a good venue with great views across native plants. On the last day, this to remove the dead stems before spring. the water. Many of us also stayed there. format was reversed with a morning Xerochrysum viscosum The Conference was very well organised excursion until lunch time and then the This is the pink trigger plant. When well and the calibre of the speakers was afternoon session. established, multiple flowering stems good. We particularly appreciated Some highlights were the Welcome emerge from the centre of a rosette in having a printed conference handbook to Country with a wonderful singing late spring and summer. Twenty to 30 which provided a brief description rendition of same, a virtual tour of the pink flowers open from the bottom to the about the speaker and a short abstract Tasmanian coastal saltmarsh wetlands, top of the stem, 20 to 40 cm in height. of their topic, as well as general an introduction to the bryophyte world, The grass-like leaves remain green all information. The Conference organisers a number of presentations on landscape year but it is best to remove the spent had also appointed an independent restoration and Tasmania’s Gondwanan flower stems. It grows best in a well- small company to manage the bookings heritage. drained soil in full sun. The trigger in and finances. There were also reports from some of the centre of each flower is sprung by The theme of the Conference was Grass the study groups, whose posters could small insects pollinating the flowers. The This is a hardy perennial everlasting Roots to Mountain Tops and each day also be found in the foyer where there trigger resets after a while. daisy that grows like a small shrub to 0.7 focussed on a different aspect. The was an excellent book stall and an m high. Yet another species that used to overarching format was similar to that Wahlenbergia stricta opportunity to test one’s knowledge be in Helichrysum, then in Bracteantha of the one held in Canberra in 2016, One of the most hardy Wahlenbergia in several quizzes. As in the past, there and now in Xerochrysum. namely talks each morning until lunch species for your garden. Another was a raffle with a range of prizes from time followed by afternoon excursions species, W. communis, is very similar Whatever its name, a clump produces which to choose. to a range of destinations. and also grows well in gardens. We many flowering stems, each with a The Governor of Tasmania, patron of have seen these plants growing in bright yellow flower, in spring and These included salt marsh wetlands the Tasmanian Society, opened the road verges, baking hot, but surviving summer. It can grow in most conditions at Lauderdale and a well-established conference and then later received us continuous mowing and very tough but it flowers best in full sun with private native suburban garden (Green’s), at Government House where there was conditions. We have cheerful blue supplemental watering when very dry. A Mt Wellington, Royal Tasmanian also an opportunity to tour the native flowers, 2 to 3 cm in diameter, from similar species, X. bracteatum (not an ACT Botanical Gardens and an inner-city garden there. spring to autumn, even in early winter. local), tends to be an annual or a shorter garden in Battery Point (Champion’s There is also a white flowering form. lived perennial. Old stems are best garden), Inverawe Native Gardens and There was a good range of pre- and The flowers close every day and during removed in early spring for both species. Kingston Stormwater Wetlands. post-conference tours which a number

6 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 7 of the Canberra delegates enjoyed Day 3: Dry Bushland •• Tasmanian Bushland Garden Day 5: To the top namely: multiple day trips covering •• Tasmanian Island Ark: Ecological — Keith Corbett •• In my own backyard, Mt Alpine to Rainforest, King Island, and cultural restoration in the •• Heritage Forest Native Wellington — Sib Corbett Hobart Environs (Tasman, Hartz Tasmanian Midlands — Sebastian Garden Launceston — Jill •• Next conference — Albany, Mountain and Mt Field National Burgess Clark presented for Daphne Western Australia (28th Parks and Wellington Park), and day th •• Revegetation of the Midlands — Longman September to 4 October 2019) trips to Bruny Island and the Warra Tanya Bailey •• Blue Water Crescent — how •• Panel on the future — address Supersite. to surreptitiously introduce •• Study Groups issues that had been posted on a A list of the talks follows: locals to native gardens — notice board by delegates during •• Introduction — Jane Ritta Boeink the week. Day 1: Grass roots to Fountain, ANPSA Study Group Mountain Tops Coordinator •• Alpine vegetation of Tasmania — •• — Kevin Collins Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick •• Plants in containers — Lynner •• 200 years of Botanical History Mockridge — The Royal Tasmania Botanical •• and — Gardens Bicentenary — Mark Catriona Bate and Phil Trickett Fountain •• and Flannel Flower •• The Subantarctic flora and — Maria Hitchcock vegetation of Macquarie Island •• Garden Design — Ben Walcott — Nick Fitzgerald •• Living in the Goldilocks zone: Day 2: Coastal/Grasslands a look inside one of the world’s and Flowers tallest and most productive •• A virtual tour of the Tasmanian natural forest ecosystems — Tim coastal saltmarsh wetlands — Wardlaw Vishnu Prahalad Day 4: Rainforests and Current and past members of ANPS (Canberra Region) at the Conference •• Gondwanan flora: a global climbing up We were delighted to be able to include Gwyn and Geoff Clarke (North collection within a local natural Coast, NSW) and Pamela Finger (Mackay) in our Group, along with Catriona ecosystem (Inala Jurassic Garden) •• Tasmanian and Bates and Phil Trickett, the latter two still Canberra Region members even — Tonia Cochran allies: diversity, habitats and though now ensconced on the South Coast. •• Lowland native grasslands — conservation management Louise Gilfedder •• Tasmania’s rainforest and its •• Managing a native orchid hot Gondwanan heritage — Fred spot: learning about the plants Duncan and their needs — Phil Collier •• , liverworts and A.J. Swaby Address: Going to seed hornworts, their contribution to and proud of it: The Tasmanian the plant world — Patrick Dalton Seedbank story — James Wood. •• Grass Roots Projects

8 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 9 ANPS Support for Canberra Nature Map Winners of 2017 Australian Native By Geoff Butler, Conservation Officer data is as accurate as possible. The CNM website has public education in mind Most (if not all ANPS members) would Plants Awards be aware of Canberra Nature Map and provides a venue for contributors to (CNM). For those who do not know communicate and share their knowledge of its existence, CNM can be found at with other like-minded people. http://canberra.naturemapr.org/. CNM ANPS has two primary conservation was established by Aaron Clauson, objectives — to promote the Alexander Floyd and Diana Snape have The professional award this year goes to after an epiphany with a rare orchid conservation of Australian plants and been announced as the 2017 winners of rainforest expert and author Alexander while out mountain bike riding. their habitats and to observe and support the prestigious Australian Native Plants Floyd, who spent much of the 1970s and CNM has since progressed to a very laws for the preservation of Australian Award. ’80s assessing the conservation status successful partnership between the ACT native plants. of the NSW rainforest communties, Government and the community. These coveted awards are presented discovering many new species in the As ANPS members will know, weeds every two years by the Australian Native The main objective of CNM is to record are one of (if not the greatest) threat to process. observations, locations and abundance Plant Society (Australia) (ANPSA) to biodiversity anywhere in the world. This He was 70 when he joined the of flora and fauna in the ACT and local people who have made an outstanding year ANPS Council decided to provide a Australian Plants Society of NSW in region with the hope of improving contribution to the knowledge of $2,000 donation to CNM to assist with 1996 — the same year that he became public awareness of the diversity and Australian plants. Winners are chosen in software modifications related to weed Honorary Curator of the forestry importance of the diversity of life two categories: professional and amateur. reporting processes. that surrounds us. It is also providing herbarium of the North Coast Regional accessible and current locational data Our donation to CNM will assist in The Professional Award Botanic Garden in Coffs Harbour. It’s a that can already be used by scientists furthering our conservation objectives position he still holds, aged 91, and its and government when making and facilitate regional knowledge on the collection has grown from 16,000 to decisions about development(s) and occurrence of serious weeds, especially nearly 29,000 specimens in that time. how they may impact on biodiversity. any new incursions or new locations for ‘I’m very surprised and very flattered Observations can be recorded by existing weed species. Allied with this is a to receive this award’, Alex says. scientists or interested citizen scientists. CNM reporting process which will enable ‘It’s some time ago now that I was There are currently some 1,200 members a rapid management response, especially working on the evaluation of the NSW of CNM who have contributed 1,152,576 with new weed incursions or new rainforests. We often used a helicopter sightings of 4,700 species. Observations populations of existing weed species. for reconnaissance to identify the most interesting areas and then it was a are easily recorded and are presented on In my personal opinion, ANPS support of matter of getting in there; many areas screen in a user-friendly way. CNM contributes in a significant way to were very remote.’ CNM has a number of moderators who our conservation objectives, and I would check any observations to either confirm encourage the Society to consider Originally from Hampton, Vic, Alex the sightings or provide a name to any regular support for what is an innovative served in the navy during WWII then unidentified observations to ensure and effective conservation tool. Alexander Floyd, OAM studied botany at Melbourne University

10 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 11 before moving to the Australian Forest opened to the public and featured in a Snape Reserve, honouring her husband School in Canberra and then joining the number of publications. Brian, who was chairman of Trust for NSW Forestry Commission. It is here that Nature for 10 years, and Diana. ‘Our last open weekend it was glorious he set about finding, identifying and weather and we had almost 1000 The national Plant Awards are made classifying the rainforest trees of NSW, people through in total, so we thought in conjunction with ANPSA’s Biennial now published as Rainforest Trees of we’d finish on a high,’ she says. Now Conference and Seminar, held this year Mainland South-Eastern Australia. they have downsized but have Balwyn’s in Hobart. Maranoa Gardens on their doorstep. His service to botany was recognised The ANPSA (formerly known as the with a Medal of the Order of Australia Diana founded the ANPSA Garden Association of Societies for Growing in 2008 and his discoveries have been Design Study Group in April 1993 and Australian Plants) has been growing honoured with two genera of plants and edited its newsletter for 10 years, as well and promoting Australian Plants since several species being named after him. as writing for The Age and special-interest 1957. It caters for people interested Yet when asked what he considers his journals. She is author of two books in Australia’s native flora whether that career highlight, Alex lists a student on garden design: Australian Native interest is simple appreciation of the excursion to Black Range, west of the Gardens: Putting Visions into Practice beauty and diversity of the flora or Grampians, led by the legendary Dr (Lothian, 1992) and The Australian whether it extends to propagation, Jim Willis, who was then Assistant Garden: Designing with Australian cultivation and conservation. Plants (Blooming Books, reprinted Government Botanist at the National The Society’s activities are wide ranging Diana Snape 2008), the latter with co-authors and all Herbarium of Victoria. and include special interest Study royalties donated to the Garden Design of SGAP/APS and its Study Groups and Groups http://anpsa.org.au/study.html ‘He was so keen on everything he saw Study Group. Many of the photos and individual members. They really led the and support of research through the — big or small — he was a great mentor illustrations are also by Diana. and inspiration for me.’ way and then some tertiary institutions Australian Flora Foundation http://aff. gradually followed.’ In 2002 Trust for Nature named a org.au/. For more information please The Amateur Award 754-hectare property near Dimboola visit www.anpsa.org.au. After studying a Master of Science at The winner of the amateur category goes Sydney University, Diana taught science to author and artist Diana Snape, who at secondary and tertiary level, writing believes that using Australian plants is Meet the First 30 Elements in 1989. critical to creating an Australian garden. However, she says she was always a She describes her reaction to receiving keen gardener and interested in art the award as ‘Utter amazement, really’, and design: ‘In 1974, I asked at Burnley although she has been a member of the [Horticultural College] about doing a Australian Plants Society — first in NSW landscaping course but at that stage they and then Victoria — for more than 50 years. had no part of the course that mentioned ‘When we started gardening in 1960, we Australian plants and, when I discovered could find only two gardening books that, I lost all interest,” Diana says. with information to help us and little Instead she ‘read a lot’ and later served information about Australian plants,’ as a member of the Open Garden she remembers. ‘Now there would Scheme selection committee in Victoria. be hundreds, or possibly thousands. I Diana and her husband Brian created think this explosion of knowledge has a beautifully landscaped Australian Senecio pinnatifolius var alpinus, Porcupine Walk, Kosciuzsko National Park; Photo: Gail Ritchie Knight resulted from the work over the years plants garden in Hawthorn East that was

12 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 13 the ACT Weeds Strategy 2009–2019 the agenda that give a taste of what the (Environment ACT 2009). WAG is a group addresses: ‘technical reference group set up to What's going on in •• Progress on high risk weeds alerts to, oversee implementation of the ACT and passive surveillance reporting Weeds Strategy, be a source of expert the ACT weeds world? advice on weeds matters, and serve as from, key stakeholders including a conduit for providing reports to the community groups. We will elaborate … ACT Government’ (Environment ACT further on this in a future article, but By Sarah Sharp and Geoff Butler The Weeds Advisory Group 2009, p.5). the attached alert about Coolatai Grass (Hyparrhenia hirta) utilises This article is the first of what the The authors are community Other members of WAG include the agreed process for reporting authors hope will be an irregular representatives on the ACT Weeds academics, ecologists, ACT Government sightings. This species has recently regular feature in the Friends of Advisory Group (WAG). Sarah’s work managers and technical staff, including invaded the Southern Tablelands, in Grasslands and Australian Native in natural grasslands and grassy Steve Taylor and Jenny Connolly, locations very close to the ACT. Plant Society Newsletters. Over time, woodlands in the ACT has had a great Invasive Plants Officers with Parks Canberra Nature Map (CNM) the authors (with lots of help from deal (unfortunately) to do with weeds, and Conservation Services (PCS) and has an automatic alert placed various weedy friends) will attempt to given they comprise the greatest threat Transport Canberra and City Services on this species, as well as some provide information on actions that are (alongside development) to these (TCCS) respectively. WAG is supported occurring, as well as issues or links to ecosystems. by a secretariat, Dr Alison Mcinnes other species of concern, so that information. (Senior Policy Officer, Biosecurity and a reporting placed on CNM goes In her role as a scientist in the ACT automatically through to the newly Despite the volumes of information Rural Services, ACT PCS). Government for some 17 years she established High Risk Invasive Plants now available through various internet was also on the Weeds Working Group WAG meets approximately twice Team who can then respond to sources on weeds, including pages and has retained a strong interest and annually and goes through a pretty that report immediately (see the directly relevant to the ACT, our key concern with weedy matters since broad agenda each time. Five meetings article below by Steve Taylor). There reason for doing this is to ensure that leaving the public service. as well as several out of session have been a number of recent new the ACT community continues to work meetings have now been held since incursion and high risk occurrence in cooperation with Government to Geoff, who is a founding member early 2015. More information can be sightings lodged on CNM that have manage weeds in our landscape. of the Australian Network for Plant found about the Strategy and the been attended to very rapidly by the Conservation, and member of ANPS, priorities, membership and function of We hope that these articles will also be Conservation Council and the Friends Invasive Plants Team. reproduced for use in other media, such WAG in the weeds strategy (http://www. of Grasslands, has been for many years environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/ •• Steve Taylor gave a report on as other community group newsletters an active advocate for effective weed weed control and management and sent out more widely across the pdf_file/0007/575071/ACT-Weeds- management and has been the weeds Strategy-2009-2019.pdf). undertaken in the past three months region. We encourage you to utilise these officer for the Conservation Council for by Government and contractors, articles and copy and distribute them. many years. In addition to WAG, ACT Government including budget expenditure staff also are part of a regional and included reports on Chilean However, while we acknowledge the Both of us are committed to ensuring biosecurity group, which links land Needle Grass control monitoring assistance of others in preparation the community is well-informed and of these articles, please ensure you managers across the region (including and mapping. Annual weed plans, actively supporting weed management the National Capital Authority respect that they reflect the opinions progress on their implementation, in the ACT, whether it be for biodiversity, and Commonwealth Department of the authors alone, that they are reviews and information on economic or amenity reasons (yes, of Defence, as well as NSW local written for information and that the particular weeds are available at including our own gardens!) government Councils). ACT Government is not to be held http://www.environment.act.gov. responsible for implementing all actions WAG operates as a non-statutory WAG met on Monday 4 December 2017, au/parks-conservation/plants-and- identified within timeframes identified. advisory group and was identified in and we have included several items on animals/Biosecurity/invasive-plants.

14 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 15 •• WAG discussed community This review, with significant input by Two recent examples are given below of Spanish Heath report at Mt Taylor education and involvement in the WAG, has just been completed and how the team responds to a report. Sequence of events: Kathy Eyles will be released very shortly. This list context that several programs run from Friends of Mt Taylor reported has removed many invasive species, Turkey Rhubarb report at Mt Majura over many years have come to an an infestation of a suspicious plant at and restrictions have been placed on end (eg Floriade and (potentially) Waltraud from Friends of Mount Majura Mt Taylor to CNM. Identified as Erica where some species may be planted, Weed Swap). WAG identified the discovered a suspicious vine on Mt lusitanica (Spanish heath). need to develop and implement a such as not allowing them to be Majura. She posted it on Canberra An auto alert email was sent from CNM program that best utilises current planted adjacent or near reserves. Nature Map (CNM) http://canberra. to the High Risk Invasive Plants Team. resources, particularly the effective Another priority item identified in naturemapr.org/. It was identified as The infestation was mapped on the use of electronic reporting and the Strategy was to hold a Weed the invasive vine — Acetosa sagittata Collector app–weeds not treated map. mapping by staff, consultants, Forum every three years to facilitate (Turkey Rhubarb), native to South Africa. contractors and community. More information and knowledge exchange. The job was too big for the team, so An auto-alert email from CNM was on this at a later date. Two have been held to date, and a Ranger Ellyse Sheridan and specialist sent to the High Risk Invasive Plants third is to be held hopefully in 2018, weeds contractor J & J French •• WAG discussed the sale of illegal Team. The location was mapped on possibly to workshop community undertook the control work and it was online trade in invasive plants the Collector app weeds–not treated future programs. mapped on Collector app–treated through Facebook, eBay, Gumtree map. As this was a new incursion in weeds. and similar sites. This is a matter The High Risk Invasive the ACT, a specimen was taken to the affecting every country in the world, Plants Team National Herbarium the next day, for Well done to all involved — these with many species advertised confirmation and their collection. examples show the value of Citizen Steve Taylor, Senior Invasive Plants Officer, for sale in overseas countries, Science. ACT Parks and Conservation Services A wider search for more plants was as published in several papers also undertaken and other plants presented to WAG. The ACT Weeds Advisory Group were located and treated. Control recently decided there was a need for The ACT Government is working commenced a day later and the area a rapid response team to deal with the closely with other states to was mapped on Collector app–treated increasing reports of high risk new and determine how best to deal with weeds. this. Several heavy fines have been emerging invasive plants. applied interstate to online traders It was decided to create a multi-agency who had received previous warnings team of technical experts to prioritise about sales of legislated pest plants, and implement responses — called the but even so, had continued to High Risk Invasive Plants Team. advertise these plants for sale. Our Members of the team include: attention was drawn to a sale item Dr Michael Mulvaney, the Senior currently on eBay for the highly Environmental Planner with invasive Mexican Feather Grass. Environment Planning and Sustainable •• A review of achievements against Development Directorate (EPSDD); the priorities of the ACT Weeds Jenny Connolly, the Invasive Species Strategy 2009 to 2019 was discussed. Officer with Transport Canberra Some examples include a review of and City Services (TCCS); the Senior the urban tree planting guidelines, Invasive Plants Officer with ACT Parks to which developers are required and Conservation Services (PCS), and to comply. This is an action that has Mal Copelin who is a pests and weeds been sorely needed for many years. expert with TCCS. Turkey Rhubarb (also known as Rambling Dock) Spanish Heath (Erica lusitanica)

16 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 17 Hobart Environs Tour and other Comments on the Conference in General

Richea pandanii flowers, Mount Field National Park Another delightful plant, which had pink berries was Leptecophylla parvifolia, another epacrid. Tasmania has a large Epacridaceae family. The eucalypts were majestic. It competed with Victoria for the largest flowering tree in the world, Richea, Pandanii Grove, Mount Field National Park Eucalyptus regnans. There was E. coccifera, Tasmania’s answer to our snow gum, Lake Esperance, Hartz National Park E. pauciflora although I think they do have it. Eucryphia lucida was in flower, beautiful Words and photos by Lesley Page Esperence the smallest eucalypt in white buttercup shaped flowers, famous Australia, Eucalyptus vernicosa, the Nev and I arrived a week early for the for its leatherwood honey. varnish gum because of its shiny leaves. conference. We had booked the Hobart A smooth transfer of duties from Environs tour, which proved to be a very Richeas abound, the largest epacrid, Canberra to Tasmania was made on good choice. The first day we visited the Richea pandanifolia subsp. pandanifolia Sunday at Wrest Point where most of us Tasman National Park on the coast, south was seen in the distance. The richeas were staying. of Hobart. Second day was Hartz National were in flower, spectacular. Park, inland high country. The third day We also saw dotted in amongst the The Conference began on Monday and was Mount Wellington on a clear day and landscape montana, followed through to Friday, speakers in the fourth day was Mount Field National Proteacea family, in flower, white pink Bellendena montana, Hartz National Park the morning and visits to gardens and Park where the Tasmanians go skiing and poms poms clustered small shrub. There places of interest in the afternoon. we saw the fabulous Pandanii (Richea) was also , widespread. The topic Grass Roots to Mountain Tops grove. The epacrids were like enormous Only two are on the island, was well organised with exceptional ants out of Lord of the Rings. the other being B. integrifolia found in speakers. Nev and I got so much out of My favourite park was Hartz National the north-east of the island. it, as it was about Australia, its incredible Park. It was so pristine, no apparent polymorpha was also in flower, unusual beauty and problems, in particular weeds, great diversity and such for me because I have not seen lomatia in climate change. The topic also related interesting plants. I would even say it flower on the mainland. , to what we are trying to do at Wamboin, competes with my love of Kosciuszko the local waratah, had just finished maintain and improve a Box Woodlands National Park. Here we found at Lake flowering. Lomatia polymorpha, Hartz National Park environment mixed with grassland.

18 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 19 Celebrating National Pollinator Week

with Wild Pollinator Count at the ANBG Bulbine glauca with native bee Brachyscome multifida with native bee

Words and photos by Julie Armstrong 35 wild pollinators recorded. Near the ACT for Bees waterfall, Bulbine lilies, Brachysomes and Rhodanthe species attracted Last November, to celebrate National several native bee species and a few Pollinator Week (1), The Australian butterflies. were buzzing National Botanic Gardens joined in the with bees and the tall Xanthorrhoea seventh annual Wild Pollinator Count in flower spike was forage for bees, wasps, collaboration with ACT for Bees http:// butterflies, moths and wattle birds. actforbees.org/. Ten volunteers turned Numerous Leptospermum species were up on the Tuesday morning of National flowering at the time which attracted a Pollinator Week and were each given a wide range of native bees and wasps, Leptospermum rotundifolium with Bembix sand wasp Xerochrysum bracteatum and native bee particular location in the Gardens where particularly outside the main gates and they were to carefully count and record in the Sydney region gully area. feed from the flowers. Of course, the of the observations in the Gardens for the number of native bees, wasps, flies Callistemon had honeybees, flies, wasps the week were honeybees, wasps and The Grasslands area’s diverse species of and butterflies for ten minutes at a time. and a range of birds enjoying the nectar. native bees. It’s already known that They noted all the insects including daisies attracted many types of native bees and butterflies. The cascading The insect identification charts in the the Gardens are home to more than 50 European bees. bushes of Kunzea ambigua to the left Resources section of the Wild Pollinator species of native bees, as recorded by The pathway from the Bookshop turned of the Rock Garden were a surprise; as Count website were good guides for the Peter Abbott, a native bee enthusiast out to be one of the most fruitful places even between deluges of rain, small basic differences between bees, wasps during the Spring and Summer of to do the 10-minute observation with moths, flies and beetles emerged to and flies, and easy for all to use. Most 2016–17.

20 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 21 farms project which will help to secure neonicotinoid pesticides, from pollination of almonds, pears, lucerne, Australian and UK stores by the end canola, apples and cherries. (3) of 2018. (8) The common product names of Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid, In Germany a citizen science project Clothianidin, Thiamethoxam are listed similar to the Wild Pollinator Count has in the Bee Friendly Gardening section of been operating in 64 nature-protected actforbees.org website. areas for the last 27 years and has yielded concerning results: a 75% ACT for Bees formed as a voice for the decline in flying insect biomass.(4) These bees in response to an apparent drop results, overseen by university scientists, in honeybee numbers in the summer are of especial concern because the of 2013–14 and an apparent lack of project is conducted within nature pollination in backyard gardens around reserves, and the situation is likely far the ACT and NSW. According to many worse elsewhere. beekeepers, it was the worst year for honey on record. (9) In November 2017 Michael Gove, the UK Environment Secretary announced ACT for Bees have collaborated with Ammobium alatum with bee Lasioglossum Leptospermum thompsonii, Budawang area, tougher restrictions on neonicotinoid Cool Australia to create a free, online callomelittinum Sydney gully — prolific with insect life pesticides: ‘The weight of evidence now Years 5–6 Australian curriculum-aligned We were very fortunate that Peter the most-counted flower visitor. They shows the risks neonicotinoids pose to unit called ‘Love Food? Love Bees!’ (10) In Abbott conducted two guided say, ‘Flies (1256 total counts) won the our environment, particularly the bees March 2018, Cool Australia will launch observation walks during the numbers this time! The results highlight and other pollinators which play such a a ‘Food Security’ unit aligned with the Wild Pollinator Count week and how many non-bee insects are visiting key part in our £100b food industry, is new Years 9–10 geography curriculum. greatly helped with bee and wasp and often pollinating our favourite greater than previously understood… ACT for Bees is working with several identification. There is a wide variety flowers’. (2) This Australian project is We cannot afford to put our pollinator local agencies and the Ginninderry of native bee species in the Gardens helping to provide much needed data populations at risk.’ (5) development in West Belconnen to in Spring, the most common being about our wild pollinators as there is Studies suggest that this class of make a bee friendly Canberra with Lasioglossum sp, Exoneura sp, little long-term data to show the state of pesticides affect bees’ navigation pollinator corridors of year-round Leioproctus sp and Hylaeus sp. health of wild pollinators, particularly in and immune systems. There is also flowering plants. farming regions. For the Thursday walk, a good turn- concern that other beneficial insects, All of us can provide pollinator- out of home-schooling families The University of Adelaide is mapping songbirds, small mammals and aquatic friendly habitats by planting forage brought with them an enviable range the activity of bees and native invertebrates are also negatively to encourage beneficial predatory of magnifiers to closely observe the pollinators in areas of native vegetation affected by these systemic pesticides. (6) insects including ladybirds, hoverflies, insects. Unfortunately, the Saturday and re-vegetation around different A 2017 UK study showed more than 70% native predatory wasps and small was a washout with torrential rain crops to identify a list of plants with of plants labelled ‘bee friendly’ contained insectivorous birds to keep a natural throughout the day and minimal the most useful sources of pollen and neonicotinoid pesticides which can balance. Where possible, please plant sightings of pollinators. nectar. This will be used to create a remain in the plant for many years. (7) natives and heritage varieties for more unique map for strategic vegetation pollen and nectar, and plant flowers in Nationwide, The Wild Pollinator Count Neonicotinoids are widely used plantings around farms to improve clumps of up to one metre to reduce received 458 observations from 126 in Australia in agriculture and the biodiversity and productivity. foraging distances for insects. locations with participants counting nursery and garden industry. Many more than 4800 insects. The folks at the The Australian National University and have welcomed Bunnings’ recent Native plants are an excellent way to Wild Pollinator Count headquarters tell the University of New England are also decision to remove Yates Confidor, support local wildlife and it’s important us that European honey bees were not involved in the pollinator corridors on one of the most commonly used to check what they have been sprayed

22 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 23 with prior to sale. In the ACT, plants and 7) A. Lentola, A. David, A. Abdul-Sada, seeds treated with pesticides harmful A.Tapparoa, D. Goulson, E.M. Hill. Envi- to bees are not labelled. Keep a shallow ronmental Pollution Vol 228, September ANPSA National Conference bowl of water with stones topped up 2017, pages 297–304. Ornamental plants on sale to the public are a significant with clean water for the local wildlife. source of pesticide residues with implica- Hobart The next Wild Pollinator Count will be tions for the health of pollinating insects held 8–15 April 2018, so please join in https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ article/pii/S0269749117305158 by visiting The Wild Pollinator Count By Neville Page west and more like that of the mainland website and help contribute to much- 8) Bunnings to pull pesticides allegedly in the east. Much of Tasmania’s alpine The 2018 Australian Native Plants needed Australian data. linked to bee deaths. http://www.smh. vegetation is fire-sensitive. com.au/national/bunnings-to-pull- Society Australia (ANPSA) National References pesticide-allegedly-linked-to-bee-deaths- Conference was held in Hobart, The next speaker was Mark Fountain, 1) National Pollinator Week: http://beesbusi- 20180113-h0htzq.html Tasmania at the Wrest Point Hotel, in Deputy Director of the Royal Tasmanian ness.com.au/pollweekmain.html 9) Sweet deal with nature could turn sour. January. Botanical Gardens. His presentation was titled The Royal Tasmanian Botanical 2) Wild Pollinator Count: https://wildpollina- http://www.smh.com.au/business/ The Conference proper commenced sweet-deal-with-nature-could-turn-sour- Gardens Bicentenary. Then Nick torcount.com/ on Monday, 15 January 2018 with the 20140516-38feh.html Fitzgerald talked about The Subantarctic official opening carried out by Her 3) University of Adelaide: https://blogs.ad- flora and vegetation of Macquarie Island. 10) ACT for Bees ‘Love Food? Love Bees! cur- Excellency Professor the Honourable elaide.edu.au/environment/2017/03/24/ Nick is a geographer, plant ecologist bees-hold-the-key-to-unlocking-in- riculum resource. https://actforbees.org/ Kate Warner, AC, Governor of Tasmania. and field botanist with a special interest creased-crop-yields/ resources/love-food-love-bees-yr-56-unit/ The Governor is Patron of the Australian in Macquarie Island. 4) Caspar A. Hallmann, Martin Sorg, Eelke The views and opinions expressed in this Plants Society, Tasmania, and as Jongejans, Henk Siepel, Nick Hofland, article are those of the author and are not indicated in her opening address, is a Following lunch, various groups Heinz Schwan, Werner Stenmans, Andreas necessarily the views and opinions of the keen bushwalker. departed by bus on the first day’s Müller, Hubert Sumser, Thomas Hörren, Society. excursions. Format of the Conference followed Dave Goulson, Hans de Kroon that established in Canberra in The next day started with a very More than 75 percent decline over 27 years 2015, with technical sessions in the interesting talk by Vishnu Prahalad on in total flying insect biomass in protected mornings, followed by excursions in the A virtual tour of the Tasmanian coastal areas. October 18, 2017 https://doi. afternoons. There were five excursions: saltmarsh wetlands. This talk linked org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185809 Inverawe Native Gardens and Kingston in with the excursion to salt-marsh 5) Environment Secretary backs further Wetlands, Royal Tasmanian Botanical wetlands. Tonia Cochran spoke on restrictions on neonicotinoid pesticides, Gardens and the Champion garden, Gondwana flora: a global collection Department for Environment, Food & Rural Tasmanian Bushland Garden, Salt-marsh within a local natural ecosystem. Tonia’s Affairs and The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP wetlands Lauderdale and the Green business is Inala Tours which operates https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ garden, and Mount Wellington. an extensive world-wide natural history environment-secretary-backs-further- museum and Jurassic Garden on Bruny The keynote speaker was Professor restrictions-on-neonicotinoid-pesticides. Island. 9 November 2017 Jamie Kirkpatrick, Distinguished Professor of Geography and Ecologist and conservationist, Louise 6) M. Chagnon, D. Kreutzweiser, E.A. Mitchell Environmental Studies at the University et al, Environ Sci Pollut Res (2015) 22: Gilfedder then spoke on Lowland native 119. Risks of large-scale use of systemic of Tasmania. Jamie’s topic was Alpine grasses. The last technical session of insecticides to ecosystem functioning and Vegetation of Tasmania, and in his the day was by computer scientist, Phil services. The Task force on Systemic Pesti- presentation he explained that alpine Collier whose topic was Managing a cides. http://www.tfsp.info/resources/ flora is highly Tasmanian endemic in the native orchid hot-spot: learning about the

24 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 25 plants and their needs. Phil’s property Tasmanian seedbank program based The Conference Dinner was held on Tours included Hobart Environs (Hartz is home to about one quarter of the at the Tasmanian Seed Conservation Thursday night in the historic Derwent Mountains National Park, Mount Tasmanian native orchid flora. Centre of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Room where we had a very informative Wellington, Mount Field National Park, Gardens. Prior to his move to Tasmania, and the Tasman National Park), four On Tuesday evening we had the and amusing presentation from John James worked for Kew Gardens days in King Island, a five-day Alpine to presentation of the 2018 Plants Awards. Groom about the history of the Wrest Millennium Seed Bank project. Among Rainforest tour, a one-day tour to Bruny The Award in the professional category Point property. The Wrest Point Casino was other things, James spoke about the Island, and a visit to the Warra Supersite. was presented to Alexander Floyd, established in 1973, but the site has a long challenges of getting collected native rainforest expert and author. Alexander history pre-dating that. A luxury hotel, the As always, the Conference was a great seed to germinate. Floyd spent much of the 1970s and ‘80s Wrest Point Riviera was built on the site in opportunity to catch up with old friends assessing the conservation status of the Sebastian Burgess, Greening Australia’s the 1930s. Many of the original art deco and meet new acquaintances. It was NSW rainforest communities, discovering Tasmanian Director of Conservation, features of the old hotel are still intact. good to chat with Geoff and Gwyn many new species in the process. presented his topic: Tasmanian Island Clarke, Phil Trickett and Catriona Bate. On the final day of the Conference, Friday, Ark: Ecological and Cultural Restoration Pamela Finger was also there from He was 70 when he joined the 19 January 2018, Sib Corbett gave a in the Tasmanian Midlands. In his talk, Queensland. The Canberra contingent Australian Plants Society of NSW in presentation titled In my own backyard — Sebastian described the problems comprised Ben and Ros Walcott, 1996 — the same year that he became experienced in the Tasmanian midlands Mt Wellington. Then the President of the John Carter and Wendy Smedley, Jan Honorary Curator of the forestry by inappropriate farming practices, Wildflower Society of Western Australia Simpson, Warwick and Shirley Daniels, herbarium of the North Coast Regional and measures taken to restore the outlined details of the next National Els Wynen and David Vanzetti, Janelle Botanic Garden in Coffs Harbour. It is environment. Conference, to be held in Albany WA. Chalker, Anne Campbell, Mike and a position he still holds, aged 91, and The Conference concluded with a panel Robyn Shihoff, Lesley Page and yours its collection has grown from 16,000 to The next speaker was Tanya Bailey discussion on the future of ANPSA. truly Neville Page. nearly 29,000 specimens in that time. who spoke about Revegetation of the Midlands. Jane Fountain, ANPSA The Award in the amateur category Study Group Coordinator, then chaired was presented to Diana Snape. Diana a session on Study groups, with Correction founded the ANPSA Garden Design presentations from five Study Group On page 33 of the December 2017 Study Group in April 1993 and edited its leaders. Forest researcher Tim Wardlaw issue of the Journal (Vol 19 No 4), newsletter for 10 years, as well as writing finished Wednesday’s technical sessions the photo at the bottom on the left for The Age and special-interest journals. with a talk on Living in the Goldilocks zone: was incorrectly named. It should She is author of two books on garden a look inside one of the world’s tallest and read: Olearia lirata. design: Australian Native Gardens: most productive natural forest ecosystems. And on page 34 of the same issue, Putting Visions into Practice (Lothian, The next day started with Mark Wapstra the photo at the bottom was also 1992) and The Australian Garden: Olearia lirata talking about Tasmanian Ferns and fern incorrectly named. It should read: Designing with Australian Plants allies: diversity, habitats and conservation Leucochrysum alpinum (Blooming Books, reprinted 2008), management. Patrick Dalton spoke the latter with co-authors and all about Mosses liverworts and hornworts, royalties donated to the Garden Design their contribution to the plant world. Text was correct when submitted Study Group. Many of the photos and The final technical presentation was by the author. illustrations are also by Diana. from Fred Duncan who spoke about The A J Swaby Address was given by Tasmania’s rainforest and its Gondwana James Wood, titled Going to seed and heritage. A description of grass roots proud of it: the Tasmanian Seedbank projects was presented by Keith Corbett, Leucochrysum alpinum Story. James is manager of the Daphne Longman and Riitta Boevink.

26 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 27 this city. Some of my exotic plants have sentimental value and a few I just really like but native plants are really my passion. My Canberra Garden My garden has a gentle slope roughly east to west and the private back in Transition garden is on the north side, a delight in winter. The irregular shape of my house means that there are nooks and corners facing in all directions, microclimates for which I am very grateful in this part The gradual transformation of gardens beside the of the country. I do have one area that public footpath — Acacia ‘Little Nugget’ (is only suffers total cold shade in winter and little if I prune it), Melaleuca incana (dwarf, I think/ hope), plumes of Dichelachne crinita. then baking afternoon sun in summer and I am still thinking about what plants might do best there. I’ve always found that gardeners and gardens have to be very resilient here. Canberra has a ‘no front fence’ policy which theoretically means that gardens flow out to the footpath, enhancing the Former semi-circle of lawn beside driveway now a small garden surrounded by a path. streetscape. A corner block on the main Callistemon ‘Kings Park Special’ (left) will provide height eventually. Four-year-old Xanthorrhoea glauca through-street has its challenges in that doing well so I’ve recently planted two more a few metres away. there is just so much garden ‘on display’, whether I like this or not and whether Words and Photos by Fran Middleton More recently, I have decided to tip Textures and colours of Brachyscome multifida, the weeds have gone feral or I’m the balance in favour of native plants Chrysocephalum apiculatum and Kunzea ‘Badja One of my New Year’s resolutions has managing to get on top of it all. I must Carpet’ wrapping around a rock. and thought I might make some been to more regularly photograph ensure that my plantings don’t contributions to the Garden Design what’s happening in my 28-year-old reduce visibility for traffic turning Study Group Newsletter about my Canberra suburban garden. out of my street. challenges, strategies, successes and Back in 1990 I had that sometimes-prized failures as I’m probably not the only Being so visible does seem to opportunity, a blank canvas on which to member who would be embarking on lend itself to chats with passers- create a garden. Sadly, my enthusiasm such a project, whether the existing by who occasionally stop when for native plants was well into the future. ‘canvas’ on which they are designing is I’m gardening and ask what I’m Being from a completely different climate of their own making or not. up to and some even notice the zone (Brisbane), upon arrival in Canberra greater number of native plants in 1982, I became enthusiastic about So, here’s instalment number one. now. More importantly, the all the ‘new’ wonders of the plant world Tipping the balance, rather than starting birds and insects have noticed which the Canberra climate allows. Over all over again, is key to my decision as I and numbers and species have many years spent a small fortune on do intend to keep many of the mature increased. At last count there bulbs, perennials, Camellias and the like. deciduous trees for their amenity in were three Blue Tongue Lizards Life imitating Art, will the real Blue Tongue Lizard please That was my garden. ameliorating the climate extremes of in residence. stand up?

28 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 29 Challenges included a very large amount the mountains between Canberra and of lawn which I’ve gradually reduced to the coast and E. lucida when walking a small area in the back garden. Being a in Tasmania, so when a mature and compulsive plant collector, it’s not hard diseased double white ornamental to fill up such spaces so I need to try to peach in a prominent place at the front apply good design principles to make of the house had to go, I was delighted sure that these new gardens are worthy to find E. lucida at a recent ANPS plant of the hard work of getting rid of so sale to replace it. Hotter, drier climate much lawn. here, but a bit of extra water in summer and fingers crossed. Early failures with in some former lawn areas made me wonder if there might have been some residue of phosphorus from lawn fertilisers. I persevered with them and other and over time assume that the phosphorus has been leaching out. My suburb used to be a hillside pine plantation on clay soil. Years of autumn fall in my garden has overlaid this soil with a humus layer in many areas. I have earthworms in abundance but I also have mature tree roots. Eucryphia lucida, first flowers January 2018 Replacing and a hedge, some ‘pretties’ I propagated, Isotoma axillaris and Scaevola humilis ‘Sitting Pretty’. Pandorea jasminoides, Billardiera sp. (obscured) and Boronia ‘Purple Jared’ complete the picture Whenever I have any serious tree pruning done I acquire a big pile of Sometimes I try my hand at propagating Even painting their cut stumps with chips for mulch. It doesn’t have the even from cuttings — a good insurance herbicide hasn’t stopped some of them size or colour of commercial mulch but against loss as well as providing plenty reshooting but overall I’m winning that it’s free. I have an automatic irrigation of opportunities for repeat planting particular battle. And the scourge of system but I have found after some which will help to unify the look of the carpets of Vinca (both major and minor) losses that new plantings need hand garden as they mature. has now been overcome by a very watering over their first summer. labour-intensive exercise with gloves, I am challenged by all those exotic herbicide and a paintbrush. In general The only straight lines in my garden are bulbs which have multiplied and I would prefer not to use herbicide for those created by the public footpaths self-seeded prolifically and to my eye all the usual reasons, but I’m using it on two sides and my approach has been don’t always look quite right alongside responsibly and sparingly and for the to create meandering paths that follow Brachyscome multifida soften the edges where native plantings, although the sheer the curved edges of the former lawn three hard surfaces meet. Note to self, propagate greater good. more Brachyscomes! hard work of removing absolutely all areas. This mostly works well for moving of them is probably unrealistic now There is always something in flower, in a coherent way around the garden. So, it’s clear that I’m not immune to the so selective culling and ‘deadheading’ even if only briefly and tiny, and to my I must remember to stand back more disease of impulse purchases, many before seeding has been my strategy surprise and delight the January 2018 often and gaze and think and imagine. bought with wishful thinking during my so far. I have been casting a critical eye tally of flowering plants is about 90 I’ve admired Leatherwoods, Eucryphia travels, but I don’t have too many other over mature exotic shrubs that are past and counting. Many of my plants are moorei on ANPS Wednesday Walks in vices... their best and many have had the chop! still tiny so I find myself celebrating a

30 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 31 solitary flower. However, I don’t want to I do like to clothe the walls and vertical Many of my plants are grown in pots, rely solely on flowers so I also seek out structures with greenery and I hate some just to see how they survive interesting foliage. to admit it but there had even been the frosts as they wait out the winter Ivy in this garden at some stage! I’m under varying amounts of shelter, some finding that Billardiera make good light because I’m almost certain they won’t climbers as long as they have support. be happy in Canberra clay soil. There So far I’ve been trying six species for are often ‘spares’ coming along from my suitability in Canberra, all of which seem propagation efforts, just in case. Crowea easy to propagate, so far so good and I ‘Ryan’s Star’ was successful last year so I’m can replace those that may not survive now trying four in the ground. their initial locations. Billardiera granulata seed pods It seems to be taking forever for the Colorbond fence in the back garden to ‘disappear’ behind this four-year-old Hemiandra pungens showing promise as a ground hedge of Callistemon ‘Great Balls of Fire’. cover When this summer heat is over, a light prune should encourage some more of its colourful new growth.

Crowea ‘Ryan’s Star’

Billardiera sp.

Regelia ciliata has lovely, neat foliage

Ceratopetalum gummiferum ‘Johanna’s ’ Callistemon ‘Great Balls of Fire’ I know there are different approaches to gardening with natives and I am definitely a pruner. Much as I admire them, it has not been my intention that this garden will ever look like a naturalistic bush garden but I hope it will eventually be an example of how to effectively Melaleuca hypericifolia ‘Ulladulla Beacon’ combine native and exotic plants. I’m a little impatient to see how some of my Billardiera cymosa planting combinations work out. Darwinia diosmoides

32 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 33 There are some weedy areas of my There have been losses due to absence, garden that I haven’t yet incorporated weather and poor choices. However, I’m into my plan — just not enough hours definitely past the point of no return in the day. with this project and loving it. Boabs or Baobabs Some more January flowers That is the Question

Correa glabra ‘Coliban River’ Dianella ‘Uralla’, a delightful miniature plant

A boab, Adansonia gregorii,Kimberley

By Roger Farrow One of the objectives of my visit to The nearest relations of our boab are the Madagascar in October 2011 was to see baobabs of Africa and Madagascar and their endemic baobabs (Adansonia spp) its common name is almost certainly a and I then asked myself what is their corruption of baobab. The vernacular connection with our own endemic boab name 'baobab’ is derived from Arabic and here is what I found. (būħibāb), which means ‘father of many seeds’, and refers to the African The Australian boab, Adansonia gregorii, species that is also found on the Arabian is an iconic tree of the Kimberly region Peninsula, although I would not regard of north-western Australia. It is a it as a particularly proliferous producer pachycaul, that is, it possesses a swollen of and seeds. trunk that is used for water storage, an Carl Linnaeus honoured Michel adaptation to survive long periods of Adanson, 1727–1806, the discover of Pelargonium rodneyanum drought typical of tropical savannas. It is the African baobab with the generic also deciduous, being leafless for much name Adansonia. Adanson was a French This article was first published in the Garden Design of the tropical dry season that also naturalist of Scottish descent who Study Group Newsletter 101, February 2018, pp 16–19 enables it to conserve water. explored Senegal from 1748–53 and

34 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 35 Adansonia rubrastipa in the spiny forest

African Baobab, Adansonia digitata, Chobe National Park, Botswana collected and described the African A second species, A. kilima, was baobab, A. digitata (Linnaeus). This is very described in 2016 and was reported to common in that country and its specific be a diploid and commoner at higher name, digitata, refers to the digits on the elevations. This has not been supported by subsequent genetic and taxonomic hand and the five leaflets that make up The avenue of Adansonia grandidieri, Morondava the compound leaf. The baobab is often studies, which have confirmed that A venerable specimen, undergone regular ‘pruning’ referred to as the upside-down tree from A. kilima is a synonym of A. digitata. its appearance when leafless. This species is morphologically highly variable over its extensive range. Adansonia belongs to the family Bombacaceae that also includes the Tetraploid plants are also thought to kapok tree, Ceiba petandra (common all be more vigorous than their diploid ancestors. This species attains a massive over Africa mainland and Madagascar girth of up to 24m that is approximately and introduced in Australia) and Bombax the same as the height attained. All ceiba, the red kapok tree, common in species are very long-lived and some Asia and northern Australia that has specimens of A. digitata have been attractive red flowers. Recent studies estimated from their faint annual have moved the Bombaceae to a sub- growth rings to be over 1000 years old. family in the Mallow family, Malvaceae. Six species of Adansonia, all diploids, Until recently there was only one are native to the lowland dry forests of species of Adansonia described from west Madagascar plus the tetraploid mainland Africa, A. digitata that has African species, alleged to be a human been widely spread across Africa, introduction about 1000 years ago. Madagascar and Asia by human Madagascar contains many endemic Adansonia grandidieri in leaf near Morondava agency over the past 70,000 years. It is plant species and genera due to its long Adansonia za. The Bottle Baobab with etchings a tetraploid, that is, it has four sets of period of isolation but it is not clear why Not pictured are A. madagascariensis, chromosomes instead of the normal Adansonia has diversified over a relatively A. perrieri and A. suarezensis from the The eight species of Adansonia can two sets and it would have been derived small area of dry forests in the western part north-west of the island, an area I did be grouped by flower colour, which from a diploid ancestor in recent times. of the country. Several species co-exist. not visit. is associated with their respective

36 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 37 The red/yellow-flowered species: Genetic studies of the Indian popula- madagascariensis, perrieri, rubrastipa, tions have shown that multiple and za are pollinated at night by hawk introductions of the African baobab moths and other moths across Africa and to the Middle East and Asia have occurred since prehistoric times and are associated with the movements of African people through trading, labour recruitment and possibly slavery. In Australia, a similar translocation of the A. grandidieri Boab by the indigenous people has also occurred over a long time-period. It has been suggested that the diversification of Adansonia in Madagascar may be due to the absence of humans until recent times and that this restricted gene flow A. rubrastipa and encouraged speciation.

Adansonia digitata, the introduced African Baobab pollination strategies. Two flower colour combinations occur: white or red/ yellow. The individual flowers of both A. gregorii types open for one night only and are strongly scented. The white-flowered species, digitata, grandidieri, gregorii and suarezensis, are A. za predominantly pollinated by night-active The flowers of madagascariensis and Grandidier’s Baobab pods for sale flying foxes and primates, although hawk perrieri are similar moths sometimes visit the flower Human connections The baobab is an important food source across Africa and in Madagascar. The fruit yields a tasty sherbet-like pulp and the young leaves are used to produce a mucilaginous sauce eaten with rice and other grains. In Madagascar, the A. suarezensis baobabs are often pruned to improve the yield of fruit and leaves. The trunks are sometimes cut into to supply water A. digitata for domestic animals. Baobab pod split open

38 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 39 Origins of the Boab Acknowledgements & Molecular studies show that the References Australian Boab is most closely related Thanks to the internet for the flower Study Group Notes to the African species, A. digitata, pictures and Wikipedia for information rather than to any Madagascar species. on the botanist Adanson. By Brigitta Wimmer, Study Group Liaison •• Future Newsletter Themes Both are probably descended from Baum DA, Small RL, & Wendel JF. 1998 Bio- Officer, ANPS Canberra Region •• Financial Report 2016–17 a common ancestor in Africa. There geography and Floral Evolution of Baobabs •• Errata are three theories for the origin of the (Adansonia, Bombacaceae) as Inferred from Acacia Study Group • Australian Boab. Multiple Data Sets: Systematic Biology 47: Newsletter 139, December 2017 • About the Study Group 181–207. 1. It is a Gondwana relic, which would •• From the Leader Eremophila Study Group put its date of appearance back 100 Bell KL, Rangan H, Kull CA, & Murphy DJ. •• Welcome Newsletter 119, February 2018 mya but this is not supported by 2015. The history of introduction of the Afri- • •• Letter from the Editor molecular studies. can baobab (Adansonia digitata, Malvaceae: • From Members and Readers Bombacoideae) in the Indian subcontinent. • 2. It arrived in the last five million •• Acacia cretacea • What’s New in the Study Group Royal Society Open Science. years, probably during the Miocene •• Acacia pruinosa •• The Great Grafting Survey era, by transoceanic dispersal of Cron GV, Karimi N; Glennon KL, Kelsey L, •• Acacia rhetinocarpa •• More on Chimeras Chukwudi UA, Witkowski ETF; & Baum the seed (hydrochory) although •• Acacias and Galls •• An Introduction to Hybrids this hypothesis is not supported by DA. 2016. One African baobab species or two? Synonymy of Adansonia kilima and •• Archibald James Campbell •• Of Hairs and Microscopes prevailing ocean currents. A.digitata. Taxon 65 (5): 1037–1049. •• Xylella fastidiosa •• Feature species — Eremophila The fruit of the African baobab is forrestii reported to survive immersion in Groffen J, Rethus G & Pettigrew J. 2016. Pro- •• Wattle Family Plumbing miscuous Pollination of Australia’s Baobab, seawater for six months although •• Use of Acacia dealbata in dyeing •• A new find in Victoria The Boab, Adansonia gregorii. Australian the shell of the seedpod of our Journal of Botany 64 (8): 678–686. •• Seed Bank •• E. Meringur Crimson vs E. Passionate modern Boab is relatively thin and •• Study Group Membership Lady would not survive such prolonged Pettigrew JD, Bell KL Bhagwandin A, Grinan •• Financial Report •• Sub-group meetings immersion. E, Jillani N, Meyer J Wabuyele E & Vickers CE. 2012 Morphology, ploidy and molecular •• Seed Bank Listing •• Biennial Report to ANPSA 3. It was brought to Australia by phylogenetics reveal a new diploid species •• E. maculata field photos human migrations from about 70 from Africa in the baobab genus Adansonia Eremophila Study Group tya. This appears to be too recent (Malvaceae: Bombacoideae). Taxon 61 (6): Newsletter No. 118, November 2017 •• Eremophilas in Cloudy Hill Garden to account for the morphological 1240–1250. •• Field Trip Financial Report •• Letter from the Editor differences between gregorii and Rangan H, Bell KA, Baum DA, Fowler R, Mc- •• From Your letters •• What’s New in the Study Group digitata, although a higher mutation Convell P, Saunders T, Spronck S, Kull CA, •• Future Newsletter Themes rate could be responsible for this Murphy DJ. 2015. New Genetic and Linguis- •• Keying Eremophila •• Corrigenda discrepancy. tic Analyses Show Ancient Human Influence •• Feature species — E. calorhabdos on Baobab Evolution and Distribution in •• About the Study Group Transoceanic dispersal from East •• A Note about Drought-hardiness Africa still appears to be the most Australia. PLOS April 1. •• E. hygrophana seedlings Garden Design Study Group plausible source for the Boab. The Newsletter 101, February 2018 ancestors of many modern endemic •• A Trip in Western Australia plants and animals in Madagascar •• A new hybrid •• Leader’s Comments are thought to have arrived this way. •• Group Field Trip Report •• Correspondence •• Events •• GDSG Meeting, Hobart •• From Your letters •• The Marriott Garden

40 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 41 •• Book review: Native-Art and Design •• from cuttings Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc. with Australian Plants •• Wild about Waratahs Festival The aims of the Society are to foster the recognition, conservation and Membership Fees •• Comments on the book •• Floristry with Waratahs cultivation of Australian native plants. Single or family memberships are the same price. •• Australian Plants Award: Diana •• Checklist of Telopea species and Meetings are held at 8 pm on the second Thursday of each month, Basic membership including Bulletin and Journal — $35 ($18*) February to December, in Canberra. Visitors are always welcome. Snape varieties Full membership including Bulletin, Journal and Australian •• Canberra Garden in Transition • Day and weekend field trips to locations of outstanding botanical Plants — $50 ($33*) • Checklist of Actinotus species and interest are organised on a regular basis. •• GDSG Queensland: notice of varieties Life member subscribing to Australian Plants — $15 The Society publishes a Bulletin in all months except January, and this * Concession rates apply to pensioners (Centrelink), full-time meeting quarterly Journal in March, June, September and December. The ANPSA Study Group Coordinator, students and unemployed. •• Treasurer’s Report Website: nativeplants-canberra.asn.au Jane Fountain, reported in her Membership Secretary: Ros Walcott 02 6161 2742 •• Index Newsletter No 5 (25.11.2017) the [email protected] Study Group following: Council Other useful contacts Newsletter 66, February 2018 Revived Study Group I would like to welcome Lynne Mockridge who President Bulletin Editor •• Message from the Leader has revived the Australian Plants for Lucinda Royston Lucinda Royston •• Propagating 02 6231 6067 Containers Study Group. [email protected] •• Letters from the Members [email protected] In Recess Australian Plants for Bonsai Study Group Liaison Officer •• Financial Report Leader Roger Hnatiuk has put the Study Vice President Brigitta Wimmer •• Frost Group into recess for up to two years in Bill Willis •• Hakea collina order to pursue pressing interests but 0407 268 797 [email protected] •• ANPSA Conference, Hobart, January plans to return. [email protected] Propagation aid sales 2018 Jane suggests that any study group Secretary Glenn Pure •• leaders feeling challenged by writing Vacant 66 Crozier Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902 •• Hakea Crawl 2018 the newsletter themselves might appeal 02 6231 6457 to the members for contributions. •• Booksales Treasurer •• Hakea ambigua and falcate She also appeals again to those Study Murray Dadds Ben Walcott •• Hakea lasiantha Group Leaders who have not produced 43 MacLaurin Cres, Chifley ACT 2606 a Newsletter during the last year, to 02 6161 2742 •• Photos 0404 870 447 send out a page or two so members [email protected] •• Vic, Melton and Bacchus Marsh plant know that a particular plant still has Assistant Secretary/Treasurer [email protected] sale (including ), 12 May 2018 much interest. Maybe they even have John Carter Public Officer Waratah and Flannel information to share. 02 6231 7055 (for Associations Incorporation Act purposes) [email protected] Flower Study Group Paul Meier Newsletter 14, November 2017 Other Council Members 7 Robert Lewis Crescent, Gordon ACT 2906 Naomi Boccola •• Maria writes 02 6294 6601 (h) Darren Boulton •• From the members Geoff Butler All Society correspondence to •• Actinotus forsythii for sale Megan Dixon The Secretary •• Telopea truncata Philip Fradd ANPS Canberra Region (Inc), PO Box 217 •• Gallery Greg Quinn Civic Square ACT 2608 •• T. mongaensis Back cover: Eucalyptus pauciflora, Porcupine Walk, Kosciuszko National Park; Photo: Gail Ritchie Knight

42 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2018 43