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STUDY GROUP NEWSLETTER

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I ,l PROSTANTHERA & WESTRINGIA STUDY GROUP NEWSLETTER NO. 12

ISSN 0818 3341 December 1987 PATRON LEADER George Althofer Brian Timmis 60 Thornton Street 53 Northcote Avenue WELLINGTON, NSW CARINGBAH, NSW Ph. (02) 524 4743 EDITORS Barry Conn & Brian Timmis

MEMBERSHIP: The Prostanthera and Westringia Study Group is for all those who are interested in the cultivation of Mint bushes and Westringias which have been collected from the wild.

FEES: $4:00. Please make sure that you are a financia4 member.

The Society for Growing Australian TALK TO THE MID-NORTH COAST ******* S.G.A.P. MEMBERSHIP FEES FOR 1987 Due July 1987 Brian Timmis ***Sf** We have tried to upgrade On the 21st of August, I the style and quality of the gave a talk on Newsletter. From the wonderful to a well attended meeting of response that we have received, the above group at Port you have found the new Macquarie. A box of plants presentation more interesting. were given to an enthusiastic We have most certainly enjoyed young couple so that they doing it. BUT, like could start a mint bush everything else, it does costs section in their native money ! garden. Cultivation notes and Unfortunately, several a description of a number of members are unfinancial. We potted plants, followed by know that it is an oversight, about 60 slides covering but please send your $4:00 Prostsnthera habitats and subscription immediately. If close ups of many beautiful members are unfinancial at the species. end of December, then we have Study Group member, Mr no choice but to delete them Bob Hamilton, kindly offered from the membership list. hospitality at his home at REPIEMBER, our Newsletter Telegraph Point (hardly a keeps us informed of what other mintbush to be seen). The members are doing, helps in the following day, a small group garden and brings us up to-date met in the Kippara State with the latest botanical Forest with a Ranger member of research. Anyhow, it is a the S.G.A.P. Group, who led us pleasure to read over a cuppa to two Prostantheras in this on a quiet afternoon! area. The two species were P. scutellarioides and P. lanceolata. Our guide, Doug Binns, prior to locating these FRONTISPIECE plants believed that they were actually P. linearis and P. Since this is the ovalifolia. Prostanthera Christmas issue of the lanceolata (I also thought it Newsletter, it seemed was P. ovalifolia) is appropriate to use the described from this area in Victorian Christrlias Bush the 'Cradle of Incense' by ( PI-usCan thera lasianthos) to George Althofer. It has also illustrate the cover. been collected by Robert Miller in the Whian Whian State Forest and by Joyce Ward, Mt Glorious, Queensland, has sent material of what appears to be the same species. For those who can successfully grow this species will have a really good plant. For me, this plant became a "drop dead plant" after 12 months. After an interesting walk in the Kippara State Forest, Doug showed us the recently described Grevillea linsmi thii, a small population near a forestry road. This is an unusual plant with only a few insignificant flowers.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT I WAS RIGHT! FOR STUDY GROUP Barry Conn

A grant of $100:00 was Yes! You can get received from the N.S.W. Region something for nothing! Little of the S.G.A.P. to assist with did I know that there were so the formation of a photographic many dedicated people who are slide collection. Although prepared to volunteer their there are other aspects of our time to help curate herbarium work in the Study Group which collections. Since the last require financial assistance Newsletter, several people more urgently, we gratefully have helped mount specimens of acknowledge the support that Pros tan thera , ~Yicrocor~s, the N.S.W. Region has given us. Hemigeni a, Hemi andra and Westringia - all members of the family Labiatae. Recent collections have been sorted out so that they are now ready to be mounted, and many collections have been incorporated into the herbarium collections. I would like to thank June Gay, Patricia Lund, Ruth Overton, Les Taylor and David Wiggins for their generous support. They are all extremely busy people who, somehow, have found alittle more time to help. IN THE BACKYARD

purple flowers makes a compact shrub up to 6 ft high (1.8 m). PROSTANTHERA The award plant differed only ROTUNDIFOLIA 'CHELSEA PINK' in colour of its flowers which were an attractive pink.

Extract from 'The Garden', July 1987. An Award of Merit was collected by the Curator of the LOSS OF PROSTANTHERAS Chelsea Physic Garden for Prostanthera rotundifolia Norm Richmond 'Chelsea Pink' as a flowering "Poorinda", Bairnsdale, Vic. plant for the cool greenhouse. The Prostantheras are natives Around the end of April a of and Tasmania [Oh, mysterious happening hit the Dear! Will they ever learn! - Prostantheras. For some Barry Connl where they are unknown reason, starting with known as mint bushes from the P, rotundifolia and over a pungent aroma given off by some period of three weeks other species when bruised. With the plants were affected. exception of P. cuneata drop occurred up to 100% on described in Award Plants 1985, some plants and down to 75% on part 2 (The Garden, Oct. 19861, others. This occurred on all they are not winter hardy in types including hybrids, the British Isles though some excepting P. aspalathoides, P. species have been known to rhombea and types with linear survive out of doors in mild , Both aged and young winters, mainly in the south- plants were affected. In an west. They do however make effort to save the plants, I excellent pot or tube plants pruned very heavily with the for the conservatory when their result that I now have a very small but profusely borne two- large number of dwarf lipped flowers provide a Prostantheras! At the present welcome splash of spring time, it appears that some colour . Pros tilnthera will fully recover, others are rotundifolia, with its small recovering on one side only round leaves and heliotrope- and will be very lopsided for a while. Several plants are completely dead. The leaf drop THE HYBRID PROSTANTHERA was strange in that the leaves "POORINDA BALLERINA" fell and left the branches completely bare, but the leaves Brian Timmis r-were in perfect condition. Caringbah There was no change of colour, texture, drying or shrivelling. This plant is now seen in On the 3-4 foot high plants a many gardens. It makes a whole shower of leaves would spectacular display of pale fall off by shaking the lilac flowers with a dark . branches. Only plants in the calyx. The leaves are dark garden on the north side of the green, linear and not very house were affected. Potted conspicuous during flowering. plants on the south side of the Pros tanthera "Poorinda house were not touched. Ballerina" is one of several I The days in March and hybrids that were manipulated early April were very cool, at "Poorinda", Bairnsdale, overcast, with very little sun by Mr Leo Hodge. and the year to date has been "Ballerina" was a seedling extremely dry. The two days from "Poorinda Snow Queen" before the trouble were very which was claimed to be a hot with strong drying winds. cross between P. phylicifolia New plantings and young plants and P. lasianthos. The were watered about once per current owner of the fourteen days with hose using "Poorinda" property, Mr Norm dam water. Old plants 7-15 Richmond, recently visited years old have not received any Sydney and attended a talk 3 water except rain and the given by Robert Miller at the ground is so hard that most of Sutherland S.G.A.P. the water runs off. No other genera of plants were affected, only Prostantheras. I have not been able to CULTIVATION OF PROSTANTHERAS obtain any positive information IN CONTAINERS on the problem, but have just n read an article on Robert Miller 'Accumulation of Nitrates and Picnic Point Nitrites in plants'. This can a . occur under special conditions There are a number of inherent of soil or weather mainly under problems when growing a drought conditions, very diverse collection of similar to the above weather I Prostantheras in containers. have described. I do not know It is impractical to try and if Prostantheras are capable of recreate the natural soil I r this accumulation and if they conditions for all species and are what would be the effect on forms. The following article It the plant. Can anyone answer outlines the merits or faults 1 this question? of the various growing media which are available

Growing Medium for Prostanthera

cheaper to maintain. PACKING AND SENDING CUTTING MATERIAL Sand - The Myth One often reads th.at coarse Brian Timmis Nepean sand should be used for good drainage. Nepean. sand is a composite of granules which Over the past few years, greatly vary in size - I have received lots of relatively large (smal1 blue cutting material and specimens metal chips) to extremely small for identification by post. - (clay colloids). These sands Most of this material has often result in a suprisingly arrived in good condition, poor drainage medium. It is however, a significant amount not the size of the sand grains has not. The main reason for that produce good drainage and material not surviving postage I aeration, but the uniformity of is incorrect packing. To the grains. I recommend, small ensure that the plants will grained sand of very uniform arrive in the best possible size. This has greater surface condition: area and therefore, greater a. Send material on Mondays surface tension which increases b. Use the quickest postal the water-holding capacity. means available. Priority Increased pore space results in paid air mail costs more, but increased aeration. If Nepean the package usually arrives sand is to be used, it is the next day. In hot weather, recommended that it should be this time factor is crucial. washed to remove the clay content. Packing Method One word of caution: small a. Take cuttings early Monday rounded sand grains often morning indicate that these have been b. Roll out paper hand towel derived from saline conditions. and spread out bundles of These sands often result in cutting material iron chlorosis and toxic salt c. Include note paper labels levels. The presence of shell written in pencil (with each Y grit in the sand indicates that group of specimens) it comes from a saline d. Hist spray with cold water environment. SO, PURCHASER to saturate paper towel and BEWARE ! cuttings I e. Roll paper and cuttings reasonably tightly into sausage roll to a size that will slip into a clean 1 litre milk carton f. Fold top of carton and seal (e.g. with masking tape) to stop moisture loss g. Put carton in postal padded bag and mail it, preferably at 9:00 a.m. or when Post Office opens. Ply method is simple and family groups trying to adapt convenient for both sender and the various ideas to their own receiver. I prefer to avoid garden. There are wags of using plastic bags, newspaper, improving the presentation of boxes, soil or peat around all exhibits and knowing the cuttings, although, I have enthusiasm of the people often received material in good involved, next years show will condition using other methods. be better (but I do not know how) ! Although I am interested in all native plants, I do have a slight bias towards PROSTANTHERA DISPLAY Prostantheras! The AT SYDNEY WILDFLOWER EXHIBITION Prostanthera display by the East Hills S.G.A.P. group was Barry Conn spectacular. It was the most Royal Botanic Gardens impressive display of mints Sydney ever exhibited. The plants were provided by the This was my first visit to Pros tan thera and Wes tringia a Sydney Wildflower Exhibition. Study Group. For those who It was held at the Castle Hill saw this display, they may not Showground on the 19th and 20th have realized that the bulk of of September. The Exhibition the plants were Robert was obviously a great success, Miller's. A 4 ton truck load although attendance numbers of Mints! Some plants were were down on the previous year. over 2 metres tall in 18 inch However, plants sales 'went pots. The others were from through the roof'. Brian Timmis, with two plants Fortunately, the weatherman ( P. eckersleyana and P. provided two fine days, with a magnifica) from Frank few drops of rains during Hadfield. The display was Sunday afternoon. about 50 feet long and about All the displays were of a 15 feet deep with a separate very high standard and were all walk-around aromatic foliage very interesting. Naturally, display. Railway sleepers there is always room for were used as edging and the improvement. Some displays whole display was set up in a created more excitement and marque. In all, about 300 interest than others. One such plants were used. display was a presentation of Pros tan thera sieberi the various natural fragrances created the aromatic found in the foliage of our atmosphere in the marque. native plants. Others that I was en.joyed (actually I enjoyed used for background. Although them all) included the Western this species was not in Australian display - W.A. flower, the different foliage plants do seem to capture the forms blended with the other essence of Australia. The flowering species. Some of different garden displays also the more outstanding generated alot of interest and Prostantheras were: two one could see the different grafted plants of P. walteri which were almost 1 metre in -diameter; P. rugosa, although not quite in full bloom, these plants were also 1 metre in diameter; P. nivea beautifully presented itself amongst the REPOTTING other species; as did a large grafted plant of P. densa which Robert Miller I is always a beautiful plant; Picnic Point various colour-forms of P. rotundifolia, P. ovalifolia, P. This is best carried out sp. "Rylstonii"; the long at the beginning of new flowering P. striatifolia growth, enabling the plant to attracted alot of comments; quickly fill the container. various forms of P. This minimizes the chance of scutellarioides; several the mix becoming water-logged. colour forms of P. nivea var. Many species are best repotted induta; a true form of P. into progressively larger discolor; P. cruciflora with containers (especially those its unusual flower shape; plus from lower rainfall areas or P. incana, P. violacea, P. those from skeletal soils). howelliae, P. saxicola, P. Remember that the greater the aspalathoides, P. caerula, P. depth of the pot, the better li thospermoides, P. hirtula and the drainage. P. rhomoea. An incredible Repotting into the same effort and I have probably container will stop plants missed out on a few species! becoming potbound and will Thanks must also go to the maintain healthy growth. This East Hills S.G.A.P. members who should be carried out in supported Robert and Brian and conjunction with prunning and who organized the actual follows similar cultural transport of the plants to the procedures to that of bonsai. Showground and back. Kiat Low Up to one third of the provided excellent information rootball may be removed from labels for the display, These one side of the container by signs were generously donated slicing with a sharp knife. to the Prostanthera and It is very important that the Westringia Study Group by Kiat. mix used for repotting be It is a pity that the Show similar in drainage, aeration, Organization did not provide water holding capacity to that the main sign ('Prostanthera - of the previous mix. It is The Australian Mint Bush') in advisable to cut rootball from time for it to be displayed a different side with each where it could be read by the repotting. By placing the public. However, the Mints label in the side with the new were so impressive that no-one mix it is possible to remember could have missed them. which side was removed when it Congratulations to all was last repotted. concerned. coast areas. PROSTANTHGRA SIEBERI AND The aroma of the foliage P. INCISA in both species appears to be the same strong smell. It was WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? interesting to note that the odour of the crushed leaves is Brian Timmis different to the general odour of the plants, The leaves have a strongly Eucalyptus- These two species are like scent when they are difficult to distinguish from crush, which is quite each other. The reason for different to P. ovalifolia. writing this article is to find The population of P. incisa at out if there really is a the Wattagan State Forest difference! Looking at the seems to have a more open species lists members have sent habit with the branches me, it seems that P. incisa is growing at almost right angles grown considerably more than P. to the stem. This was fairly sieberi. The reasons for this constant throughout the preference is not clear. It population. The plants were may be because the Nursery mostly 1.5-2.5 metres high. Trade seldom, if ever, sell P. Prostanthera sieberi (at Mt sieberi . Kembla) appears to be more is easily propagated and this upright with the branches at may be the reason why they are about 45 degrees to the stem. commonly grown in gardens. The plants were about 2.4 However, there are frequently metres high. plants sold under the incorrect The is sometimes name. I have seen P. incisa/P. used as a character to sieberi sold as P. ovalifolia separate the two species. on many occasion. However, I can not see a Prostanthera sieberi grows consistent difference between to the south of Sydney in the the two populations. If a Royal National Park through to single plant from each Yt Keira and Mt Kembla. The population is compared, then a only locality that I have seen difference can often be P. incisa is in the Wattagan detected. The petiole of P. State Forest, south of Cessnock incisa seems to end abruptly (north of Sydney). However, at the leaf lamina, whereas it there are probably collections curves slightly into the leaf of P. incisa from other north margin in P. sieberi. -

The lower calyx lip of P. Westringia saxatilis is incisa is reportedly longer and an occasional or locally narrower than the upper lip, common species which is whereas, both lips are nearly possibly vulnerable. equal and broad in P. sieberi. Fortunately it is included in If this feature is used to the Deua National Park. identify the two populations that I examined, then all of my Etymology: The specific plants are P. sieberi! I would epithet of this species refers be interested in hearing from to the rocky habitat of this .members about their plants of species (namely 'saxatilis' = P. incisa/P. sieberi. Do all dwelling or found among of our cultivated species have rocks . broad and nearly equal calyx lips? If so, they are P. Description sieberi not P. incisa. Westringia saxatilis Further to the above taxonomic confusion, one Sydney Shrub 0.5-1 m high. Native Nursery sells P. Branches subterete; rotundifolia with pink flowers internodes with raised ridges as P. incisa "Rosea". They from axil of leaf to next more also sell P. incisa but not P. distal node, densely hairy, sieberi. hairs white. Leaves in whorls 1 I have not discussed P. of 3-5, spreading, abaxial incisa var. pubescens in this surface and petiole densely article. Barry Conn and George hairy with + subappressed, Althofer both regard it as a slightly tangled hairs, distinct species which can be adaxial surface very sparsely readily distinguished from the to moderately hairy; petiole above species complex. It has 2-2.5 mm long; lamina narrow, large, wide dentate leaves (up ovate to elliptic, 11-23 mm to 25 mm long and 20 mm wide). long, 3.7 mm wide, base cuneate to subattenuate, margin entire and recurved, apex acute and very shortly rnucronate . Inflorescence a WESTRINGIA SAXATILIS leafy racemiform conflorescence, uniflorescence Barry Conn monadic, up to c, 6-12- Royal Botanic Gardens flowered [per ~onflorescencel. Sydney Pedicel 0.8-1.5 rnm long, densely hairy; prophylls INTRODUCTION inserted at base of calyx, narrowly oblong or narrowly

Brief notes on Westringia , triangular to linear, 1-1.5 mm davidii were discussed in long, 0.2-0.3 mm wide, densely Newsletter 11. Another hairy, base not constricted, recently described species of margin incurved, apex Westringia is W. saxatilis. It tapering. Cal,v-u ?green ; is discussed in this article. outer surface densely hairy; For the original publication tube 3.5-5 mm long, inner refer to Conn (1987). surface glabrous; lobes Wntringia saatilis. a - twig and flowers. x 1. b - detail of indumentum. x 3. c - detail of calyx and prophylls, x 3. All from Gilrnour 5331. narrowly triangular to rhyolite rocky outcrops (at triangular, 3-4.5 mm long, 1.2- altitudes of 450-540 m), in 2 mm wide, moderately to skeletal soils of Eucalyptus densely hairy, apex tapering. stenos toma-Hakea macraeana Corolla 11-13 mm long, white, shrubland-open forest, with with yellowish spots medially Hakea dat.~loides , Casuarina on abaxial surface of tube and li ttoralis, Prostanthera mouth; outer surface glabrous porcata, Leucopogorm- setiger, basally, sparsely to densely Leptospermum sp. nov . hairy distally, hairs 0.2-1 mrn long, + appressed; inner Notes surface glabrous in tube, glabrous or sparsely to Although this species has moderately hairy on base of close affinities with W. lobes; tube c. 6-8 lilm long, fruticosa, it can be readily tubular, dilated in throat such distinguished from it. that tube appears slightly Westringia saxa tilis has funnelform distally; abaxial pedicels that are 0.8-1.5 mm median lobe spathulate, 4.5-5.7 long (about 0.5 mm long in W. mm long, 5.3-5.7 mm wide fruticosa) and prophplls that distally, bilobed, each half of are 1-1.5 mm long and 0.2-0.3 lobe perdepressed to very mm wide (usually 2.4-3 mm long broadly ovate and each with a + and 0.3-0.5 mm wide in W. rounded and irregular apex; fruticosa. lateral lobes oblong to subobovate, 3.2-4 mm long, 2.2- Reference 3.2 mm wide, apes rounded, slightly irregular, often Conn, B.J. (1987). Two new slightly bilobed; adaxial species of Westringia median lobe-pair transversely (Labiatael from New South broad-oblong to almost square, Wales. Muelleria 6: 312- 5.2-5.7 mm long, 5.3-6.2 mm 328. wide, apex rounded to t*t** subtruncate, + irregular, bilobed. Stamina1 filaments 1.5-2 nim long, glabrous or with an occasional hair; anthers 1- 1.5 rnm long. SLaminodal filaments 1.5-2.7 mm long, hairy; staniinodal lobes whi te, 0.6-1.3 rrlrn long. Pistil 7.5-8 nlrri long; style c. 6.5-7 mm lung, hairy; lobes up to c , 0.5 Iilm long. iclericrrrps ?iiarnature, c. 1.5 nirn long. Distribution This species is endemic to the Deua National Park of the South Coast region of . It is confined to steep

13 --- FIELD TRIPS

PROSTANTHERA LOCATIONS Bylong Valley, there is a AND HABITATS place called Growee Gulf which has some spectacular sandstone Robert Miller cliffs. Under the cliffs is Picnic Point the home of many plants, for example : Zieria compacts, 2. PART 11: MINTS OF GLEN DAVIS cytisoides, Rylestonea cerrlua AND BEYOND. and also mint bushes, namely Pros tanLhera prunel1oides. The following is the This species also occurs over second part of an edited one of the sandstone cliffs at transcript of parL of the talk Vales Point Lookout. In all which was given to the May 1987 instances, this species likes meeting of the EAST HILLS very skeletal soil and almost S.G.A.P. exposed sandstone rock. The ... Editors. typical form at Vales Point Lookout has light pink-mauve flowers. There is a white At Glen Davis, there are a flowering form at the number of mint bush species, Bankstown Native Gardens, especially under the towering Sylvan Grove, Picnic Point. I cliffs. Prostanthera have not found it in the wild cryptandroides grows on the yet, so if anyone knows where slopes below the cliffs, it grows, I would be grateful especially in Green Gully or if they would let me know. It what is known as the Pipeline was reputed to be growing at Pass. This is a small shrub Currajong. which flowers later on in the Back along the track, season. It is ideal for near Rylstone, heading east rockery gardens or pot culture. back towards the northern Blue It has got a highly aromatic Nountains, in the Wollombi foliage and even when the best National Park, is an area specimen has died, its foliage known as Dunns Swamp or Kandos is still fragrant for many Works Dam, it has been months and so, it is suitable colloquially called 'Kyber for little scent bags. It is a Pass' by George Althofer in very rare plant which has only 'Cradle of Incense'. This is recently been discovered by the locality of another Ernie Constable. undescribed species. Moving from the Glen It is frequently said Davis region, through Rylstone that mint bushes should be and back up the Great Dividing grown in semi-shade or shady Range, heading back down to the conditions, with lots of water

and well-drained soil. of these rocky areas across However, many species like the lake. growing on rock, in very Past the Bylong Valley, shallow, skeletal soils, but into the Goulburn River not on all rock types. The National Park, to an area plants characteristically grow known as Morrisons Flat. Dow in crevices and gullies where on the alluvial flat there ar the rainfall collects and runs two types of mint bush. down the rocky outcrop. Some Again, it is very dry. of these areas are where mint However, the plants have bushes will grow. adapted to this environment. This area has exposed rock They wilt and look dead, only and little pockets of peat. to 'spring' back to 'life' There are alot of very rare after a few drops of rain. plants in this area, one of This is where P. prunelloides them is Pfiebaliuin s,vmpeta_lum. grows, Since some of the min This is the only Phebalium that bushes grow in these has anthers Fused into a tube. environments, this is why man The undescribed mint bush can people have difficulty growin] be seen as dark green patches them in cultivation. They do amongst the Calli tris and other not realize where they have heath type shrubs. It is originated from. Most referred to as Prostanthera sp. publications generalize and aff. ovalifolia. It grows on say that the plants require rock in soils that would only lots of shade and water. be a few millimetres thick. Although most of them do The whole area is just a maze respond to water and of rocks that would be a few fertilizer, those which hundred feet tail. It is quite naturally occur in the drier spectacular, with the Cudgegong areas are likely to get funga. River running through these diseases if supplied with too rock formations. The Kaados much water and fertilizer. cement works dammed the upper Pros tan thera prunelloides portion of the river to supply occurs in very open areas the cement works factory. In where there is very little so doing, they have shade. inadvertentally created one of There is a massive the most spectacular and entanglement of P. cineolifer; beautiful man-made areas. bordering the track for a Prostanttlera sp. "Rylstonii" , couple of kilometers. It is or more correctly known as very much like P. ovalifolia Prostant-hers sp. aff . howelliae and is a really spectacular grow here. It is found in the sight when in flower. This leaf litter in the gullies. plant also grows in very open The water runs over flat rock areas. and then slowly channels down At Hurrumbo, looking into these gullies. In flower, towards Cox's Gap in the this species ranges from white northern part of the Blue to mauve and to very deep Mountains, you will find violet. The Prostanthera sp. Grevill ea johnsoni i , aff. ovalifolia mentioned Prostanthera prune11 oides and previously, also grows in some many others. The country side around Cox's Gap is very dry referred to as Prostanthera and is the home of P. sp. No. 3 in the same Flora. howelliae. Westringia This was originally known as longifolia is another plant P. denticulata. My collection that only grows in a narrow of this species was the first r n band on the downhill slope to record for Queensland. *e Honeysuckle Creek at the base I found at Wyaga Station, of Cox's Gap. Down in the between Inglewood and lower part of the gully there Milmerrin, anothe; plant which are big boulders. Amongst was named P. granitica by the these boulders grows P. then Government Botanist. I Y discolor. It is a very open collected this plant in plant, so its flowers are not November 1948 and it was also hidden by the foliage. It is a first record for Queensland. However, is not S' also an endangered species P. grani tica fi* which is only known from Cox's mentioned in the 'Flora of Gap. South Eastern Queensland'. I found P. collina nY aB St*% between Alpha and Barcaldine in January 1956. At the same -0 NOTES ON time, I collected P, ringens QUEENSLAND PROSTANTHERAS about 51 miles from Tambo on the Alpha Road. This plant David Gordon was not in flower but the "Myall Park" foliage is quite unlike that Glenmorgan, Qld of P. leichardtii. Do not discard this latter name in a Pros tan thera euphrasioides hurry! It is worth " is nearly always found near remembering that Bentham described both and gal outcrops of sandstone, whereas P. ringens P. li tilospermoides is always on P. leichardtii. DO deep well-drained sand, The 'Flora of South sometimes coarse loose sand or Eastern Queensland' records red soils associated with another Prostanthera (namely laterite. The largest plants I P. sp. No. 2) from Mt have seen, up to 3 metres high, Tinbeerwah near Tewantin. I were amongst lateritic do not know this plant. *rra boulders. There is P. Pros tan tilez-a parvi fl ora is suborbicularis out west in the native to our garden area and Mulga. P. megacal.yx occurs on B this is the origin of the plant the Gray Range. This is the a you have [referring to Brian]. largest flowering and most The name P. parviflora Domin beautiful of the , even j >en has been discarded by the surpassing P. magnifica. I Queensland Herbarium. In the found P. meg.aca1,y.u long ago, recent 'Flora of South Eastern shortly after it was name by Queensland', it is referred to C.T. White and Francis. It is as Prostan thera sp. No. 1. worth seeing in the wild. It Another species that I found on will make a very deep a flat top hill on the road impression on you. There is from Milmerrin to Dunmore great variation, some plants srld with larger flowers and side Station, away back in 1948, is , and some with the Helensburgh and Beecroft Head. larger more colourful. Before this visit, I had Seeing the plants in their thought that I could native habitat would assist in distinguish between the two successful cultivation of the species. I am now, not so species. sure! Since then, Brian and I have also studied the populations which occur at Nelson Bay (the most northerly locality for this species). Prostan thera scuteJlarioides was collected from the Wattagan State Forest. This Field trips can be plant occurred along the banks exciting, especially if of a small creek. organized to coincide with Prostanthera incisa was also flowering times. Plans for collected from the Wattagan 1988 and beyond should be State Forest (refer article by thought about now. Remember, Brian Timmis in this issue). members living near populations Two attempts were necessary that you may wish to visit, can before I found P. prunelloides be of invaluable assistance. at Mt Denman. How I missed it Their local knowledge of the the first time I do not know! populations can save many hours was found of frustration. Furthermore, here (only one plant though) they would probably welcome the and in abundance, near Sandy opportunity of sharing their Hollow. Several colour-forms expertise. of P. stricta were located in the Widden Valley. kt Cox's Gap, we found all the Prostantheras which Robert Miller mentions in his article in this issue, except P. PROSTANTHERA HUNTING discolor. After two attempts, 1987 I now know that we were searching on the wrong ridge. Barry Conn Robert and I studied plants in the Kangaroo Valley (SE of With Robert Miller and Wollongong). We collected P. Brian Timmis living nearby, it incana on our way to study an was impossible for me NOT to undescribed Pros tan thera which collect Prostantheras! Soon has affinities with P. after arriving in Sydney, I linearis. It occurs near the visited the small population of Tallowa Dam. To our surprise a delightful Prostanthera which and delight, we also found has affinities with P. cuneifolia a plant saxicola. This plant occurs on which Robert relocated at Hill the Heathcote Road, Menai (a Top a few months before. This southern suburb of Sydney). plant is very interesting Unfortunately, this area is because it is half-way between destined to be covered by a and a Hemigenia. housing. Brian and I studied Both of these genera belong to populations of P. densa/P. the same subfamily as marifolia at Cronulla, Pros tan thera and Wes tringia (namely, subfamily collected it. ). Robert and I followed Brian's footsteps to a*** Mt Keira and Mt Kembla to collect fruiting material of P. sieberi. Pros tanthera linearis was collected from the Woronora River near the Heathcote Road bridge. Brian and I also examined an unnamed Prostanthera which has affinities with P. saxicola, from Jervis Bay. Prostanthera rotundifolia, P. granitica and an unnamed Prostanthera were collected from the Newnes Plateau, Blue Mountains. Prostanthera rugosa was collected from the Berrima Colliery Coal dump. A species which has affinities with P. hirtula was collected from a nearby escarpment. Pros tanthera caerulea from near Mt Wilson in the Blue Mountains was also studied. has been examined at Cox's Gap and Sackville North which is possibly the type locality of this species. Populations of a Prostanthera from near Wisemans Ferry were examined. These plants have affinities with P. ovalifolia. Although most flowers were mauve, two plants with white flowers were collected. It has been a very worthwhile year in the field, with many of the problem species examined. The main advantage of studying these plants in the field is to assess the overall morphological variation within each population. Odd plants always exist in populations and frequently these are collected because they are different. However, the botanist examining the dried specimen does not know whether a collection is typical or atypical, unless he 19 PONDENCE jf&$@&

Dear Brian .., 'It is very gratifying to 'I have had a quiet gear know that dedicated people are for Prostantheras, adding only working on our wonderful a few, , P. flora. I should like to join incisa a pink-flowered form and the Group and enclose a cheque P. cr,vtandroides. I am hoping for $14:00, being membership for a colourful spring as many fee and a donation. of my own cuttings will be ' 'I wish I had shown you flowering for the first time, my Prostanthera herbarium but P. spinosa and P. specimens when you [referring crytandrvides have flowers now, to Brian] were here in 1986. I hope to have the energy (or 'We have Wes tringia self-discipline) to keep a cheelii near Tara and a W. sp. record of flowering times and on the Moonie Highway general growth of the plants. apparently unknown to the Ideally, I should go around Queensland botanists.' every month, as we tend to be later than most areas, but not D.M. Gordon for everything. "Myall Park" 'I'm still creating garden Glenmorgan, Qld beds, replacing "weeds" etc, so that I am not concentrating on [I would love to see some my chosen genera yet. I reckon herbarium specimens of these that I have at least another 12 Westringias, particularly the months to go, and it does get unknown one from Moonie dangerous as the list of Highway - Barry Connl inLerests tends to grow. However, I can say the Prostantheras do me proud, they seem to like iL here. I've tried to keep them tip pruned, 'Congratulations on the but some of them are hard to top quality newsletter and the keep up with.' contents thereof, is this to be a monthly or quarterly B.N. Buchanan effort? May I suggest a small Kallista, Vic. quote to be used as your slogan for the newsletter: The Gods have said "that they will add to Man's alloted span (i.e. 3 score years & lo), the time he spends on gardening". 'I was most impressed with your "new look" [We hope to produce 3 or 4 Newsletter. It looked great issues of the Newsletter each and was very interesting to year, but no promises yet! read. ' Keep the a~.ticlesrolling in. (Editors)] Jan Skid Lawnton, Qld and in later correspondence ... 'I visited Mt Elizabeth I1 with the Field Naturalists. It [Although there is a distinct is about 80 km from home. We possibility that we will end found a lovely patch of up with an inflated ego, it is Prostamthera walteri, not yet great to hear that you like in bloom though. A good number the new format of the of cuttings are now in the Newsletter - thanks (Editors)] propagating box and looking very good. On the way, beside the Tambo River, there are hundreds of plants of a large round leaf form of P. rotundifolia in the normal deep coloured flowers and also one bush of very pale mauve flowers. A very small pale mauve flowered and small leaf 30 n form of P. rotundifolia was rk" found from the Murrindal area Qld near Buchan.' 'I PETER & HAZEL ALTHOFER Norm Richmond Peter and Hazel Althofer "Poorinda", Bairnsdale, Vic. recently retired after many years of dedicated service to the Burrendong Arboretum. All members of the Prostanthera and Westringia Study Group 'We have experienced two congratulate them on a ,job successive drought seasons and very well done and extend it is surprising how all their best wishes for the species planted have weathered future. .e the the dryness. At the moment, their flowering is superb. .O 'The new format of the Newsletter is very good.'

Joyce Ward ley Mt Glorious, Qld ;pan - t

AND SO ENDS ANOTHER YEAR Barry Conn

Botanically, it has been a very chailengirlg year for me. The problems in ProstanLhera in the Sydney reglon appear to be never ending. But, of course, that is why it is SO exciting. It has been a good year for the Study Group - a great Prostanthera display at the Wildflower Exhibition, funding from the N.S.W. branch of the S.G.A.P., a new style Newsletter, and increased participation by the members. We are fortunate in having many very enthusiastic people in the Group. It is true that we have our problems with growing Prostantheras in our gardens, but gardens are not meant to be planted only once and then left untouched except for the weeding. A garden is to be lived in. One which did not offer challenges would be boring! After all triumphs always feel better if contrasted against past failures, No matter what, we are continually learning about a group of plants which are uniquely Australian. That must be appropriate for the Bicentenary in 1988 ! Brian and I would like to wish all the Members of the Study Group a very Merry Christmas and an exciting year with native plants in 1988. We look forward to your continued support.