PROSTANTHERA & WESTRINGIA.=---y - -;

NUMBER & WESTRINGIA STUDY GROUP NEWSLETTER NO. 13

ISSN 0818 3341 July 1988

PATRON LEADER George Althofer Brian Timmis 60 Thornton Street "Coach & Horses Inn" WELLINGTON, NSW Jellore Street BERRIMA, 2577, NSW Ph. (048) 771 242 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 financial member. Fees Last Paid: / 7/198& DUE -

The Society for Growing Australian PERSONAL NEWS ANNOUNCEMENTS**** PROSTANTHERA TALKS COMING UP WHAT'S THIS ABOUT BERRIMA? From August, Brian will be 8th September 1988: living at Berrima in a lovely - Brian Timmis house called the "Coach.& 9th September 1988: North Horses Inn". Naturally, his Shore - Brian Timmis part of the Prostanthera and 11th November 1988: St George Westringia collection will be - Brian Timmis going with him. Robert Miller ? ? 1988: Newcastle will still maintain the bulk - Barry Conn of the collection at Picnic [Can anyone tell me when I am Point. supposed to speak at Newcastle, I would like to know!! (Barry)]

MOVE TO BERRIMA Brian Timmis For those not familiar with Berrima, it is an historic PLEASE NOTE: A speaker is village (population of 500 required for the Hunter Valley people). It is situated on the Branch. about midway ------between and Canberra. The Hunter Valley Branch The "Coach & Horses Inn" of the SGAP is only a small is thought to have been built group of 10 to 15 members in 1850. It was one of eleven which attend meetings. Chris licensed inns accommodating Cousins (Secretary of the travellers of that time. It is Branch) writes, "We are not currently a private residence looking for an accomplished and is one of twelve buildings public speaker, just a person at Berrima classified by the who could possibly lead a Heritage Council as permanent discussion, show some slides conservation. and give us an idea of the Joy (my wife) and I are work carried out by your Study currently making an application Group. to open a wildflower and Their meetings are held pottery shop at the property. on the fourth Tuesday of each More news in the next month. Interested people can Newsletter regarding our contact Chris on telephone progress. We would like any number (049) 33 1253 (at home) members papsing through Berrima or on (049) 62 1201 (at work). to visit US. I hope someone out there will help out. PERSONAL NEWS **** NEW BOOKS PHIL CONGDON "Name that Flower - The identification of flowering plants" by I, Clarke and H. Phil Congdon, who is a Lee (1987). ( member of the Study Group, has University Press: Carlton), been managing the Sydney 260 pages, plus illustratio'ns. Wildflower Nursery at Price about $20-00. Heathcote for the past five years. He has now open his This new book would be a own nursery in Newcastle. In useful for anyone interested past Newsletters, we have in identifying flowering mentioned the incorrect naming plants. The book includes of species, particularly in chapters on the structure of nurseries. Phil has promised the flower, the arrangement of to stock a large range of flowers on the (the Prostanthera and Westringia inflorescence), reproduction, species and to be one of the plant structure and function, few nurseries to have them classification and correctly named. The address nomenclature (naming of of the nursery is: plants), identifying flowering Newcastle Wildflower Nursery plants (a very clearly 45 Pacific Highway explained introduction to Bennetts Green, NSW plant identification. Very good if you find 'keys' We wish Phil all the best in alittle daunting), and (the his new business venture. largest chapter) a discussion of several plant families. The characteristic floral structure of each family is ANNOUNCEMENTS provided. They have also included 'spotting characters' (very handy!). The HERBARIUM OPEN DAYS illustrations that accompany 24 & 25 SEPTEMBER 1988 this chapter are excellent, both artistically and (10.00 am - 4.00 pm) interpretatively. One weakness with the The Prostanthera & book is that it is based Westringia Study Group will be fairly heavily on the exhibiting a display of Victorian flora. However, it , as part of a is one of the best books of joint display with the National its kind that I have use. I Herbarium of . recommend that this book is The Open Days are part of worth purchasing by anyone who this years 'Spring in the is interested in improving Gardens' . their understanding of the structure of flowering plants. Hope to see you there. fi IN THE BACKYARD

MINTS IN MY GARDEN are 2-5 cm long, light green and undulate on long Ruth Overton branches. The flowers appear Glenbrook, NSW in terminal racemes, subtended by reduced leaves in the form My garden is a friendly of bracts which fall off at place. Everywhere I look, I am flowering time (Spring and reminded of fine people I have Summer ) . met through SGAP. In the early In my garden, I also have days of the Blue Mountains SGAP a form of P. prunelloides, the Group, I remember walking with cutting of which were given to John and Billie Kelly (he was me by another SGAP mate, one our first president) in the Evan Weatherhead. The leaves area of the Knapsack Gully on are smaller that the local Lapstone Hill and collecting form, as is the whole bush. specimens of Prostanthera The flower is a lovely blue- prunelloides. This is a fine, mauve, contrasting well with upstanding slender plant with the light green of the leaves. aromatic leaves and long Evan says he collected it terminal racemes of flowers. along the , which is The flowers are white, shading maybe abit vague. Apparently, to pale mauve at the edges, in this area the colour forms with golden spots (like little were varied from pink through bee's footprints) leading to to purple. Maybe if Brian the centre of the flower. T;,,.,,,,,La mm, C- was with him or; that At this time, the Blue trip, he would remember the Mountains Group was keen to location. If you have well- propagate local plants to grow drained soils, light shade and in the developing Glenbrook a few sandstone rocks to strew Native Plant Reserve. The around, Prostanthera plants in the Reserve have prunelloides is to be prospered and seedlings have recommended. appeared over the years. Among Happy gardening! trees, the shrubs can grow quite tall (to 3 metres) but in a more open situation the usual height is about 2 metres. It favours well- drained areas like the gullies and ledges of sandstone areas. In the central Blue Mountains it occurs in light shade. The its deepest flower colour and maroon-bronze leaves at certain times of the year, FURTHER RAVINGS OF A MINT LOVER albeit a little open and leggy with age. Rodger Bagley Another P. ovalifolia Blaxland favourite of mine is one I picked up from our reserve nursery some years ago. This With some .amount of one is now spread around the sadness I watched the last few garden somewhat. It has quite Prostanthera flowers clinging pronounced racemes about 80 cm to an odd few bushes in my long with reddish-purple garden. Due in part, no doubt flowers in great abundance. to the $abundant August rains, For my purposes I have dubbed it was an excellent year for it "floriferous" whilst mints in 1987. Masses of propagating it. It has a flowers in their various distinctive shape, shades beckon the viewer from something like an elongated every angle to come and have a diamond and lacks marginal closer look to check if their serrations. This one is very soft loveliness was real. resistant to dryness, never Normally, the last to wilting or rccciving any flower is a form of P. artificial watering. ovalifolia (identified as such Another hardy species by Barry Conn several years which is easy to propagate and ago, but doubtful to me, as grow is P. marifolia. It has it's scent is unique and the abundant flowers that are of anthers and leaves seem rather such a deep purple, or rather different too, but I am no violet, that it is the closest expert). However, this form is rival to "Violet Beauty" in very hardy and vigorous. It is this colour range. Although, always well covered in smallish it has smaller flowers and is mauve flowers and appears a smaller shrub, it does have somewhat bushier. However, beautiful little leaves, this year, it has been eclipsed crinkly looking and oblong. by the local form of P. Although a fairly dense plant prunelloides which is new to my even in dense shade. It looks garden (typical isn't it!) and even neater after a good a new plant with narrow leaves 'haircut'. and large lilac flowers which This year, my P. nivea has been named by some local hybrid "pinks" were quite SGAP members as "Lilac refreshing and eyecatching. Beauty". It is a beauty too, Normally they are not terribly growing to at least two metres outstanding. The flowers tend (so far) and quite vigorous. to be rather insipid pinkish So that is what I still and their habit is generally have to enjoy now (early very open. However, their November) but on the other end good growth and more abundant of the scale, various forms of flowers this year has moved P. ovalifolia are also first them up in my popularity scale on the scene in early spring, somewhat. This plant sprung including "Violet Beauty", up as a seedling like so many which I am very fond of, for others in Les Taylor's front yard. On the subject of pink mints, I must say that although mints generally seem FERTILIZING to like my place, unfortunately, I have had no success with those most Robert Miller desirable looking ones we see Picnic Point in books, e.g. P. ovalifolia "rosea" and P. rotundifolia Additional fertilizers "rosea" - they just do not are essential for good long seem to have any vigour, so I term growth of prostantheras have more or less given them in containers. A combination away for the time being, of slow release fertilizers although I have just tried two and liquid fertilizers is plants of P. rhombea "rosea" - preferable. here's hoping! Another favourite of "Osmocote" - Summer mine, with its' lovely blue flowers, attractively serrated "Nutricote" - Winter elliptical leaves and sturdy upright form is P. caerulea. Complete Liquid Fertilizer - This is also a difficult one stimulate newly potted for me, not having been able cuttings. These promote quick to get one up past about a root development and foot, as yet. In the wild establishment. These can be near Mt Wilson and in the used throughout the growing valley below Lawson, both season. higher up in the Blue Mountains where I live, they grow so Application of fertilizer beautifully in the moist should anticipate new growth. protected places - it is really For instance, after pruning, frustrating! repotting, at first sign of However, there is a blue leaf fall or yellowing of flowered mint doing very well lower leaves which may in ever increasing numbers in indicate a lack of nitrogen, my garden. It has gorgeous and after lengthy periods of large bluish-mauve flowers, heavy rain which will leach large rounded and toothed out soluable nutrients leaves, and a large well- (especially nitrogen). If the shaped form. It is P. conditions that cause plants prunelloides "blue form", that to suffer from leaf fall or was given to me by Evan yellowing of the lower leaves Weatherhead and it does a good are not corrected this will job in the background of other result in a leggy plant shade leaves. It even makes a (ironically, these often good screen plant for those flower the best!). shady situations. A good percentage of prostantheras respond well to slightly heavy applications of fertilizer, more so than many native plants (e.g. Rutaceae and Epacridaceae). However, if plants suffer water stress whilst there are high levels of fertilizers present, damage PESTS & DISEASES will result. It is very FOR POT PLANTS important to water plants heavily in monthly intervals Robert Miller if products like q qua sol" are used. This reduces the salt build up. "Prevention is better than the cure!" Pathogenic fungi are the major cause of plant losses. This can be reduced by good sanitary practices: Sterilization of pots and secateurs; Pasterization of potting mix; Careful watering.

PRUNING PLANTS IN POTS

Robert Miller

Ideally, this is a continual process of shaping and controlling growth by pinching out apical shoots and removing unwanted vigorous growth to promote lateral branch development. This keeps the plants compact and also dwarfs the plants, reducing the necessity to repot. Major pruning (if necessary) should be carried out after flowering and also in late summer to early autumn for spring-flowering**** species. THE LENS

PROSTANTHERA SPINOSA with mallee, Eucalyptus A SPECIES WITH A DISJUNCT camaldulensis, E. baxteri, E. DISTRIBUTION 1eucoxyl on, A1 1 ocasuarina verticillata and Callitris rhomboidea communities. Barry Conn Associated understorey species Royal Botanic Gardens include Acacia mearnsii, A. Sydney retinodes, A. ruppii, Bauera sessil if01 ia, Caladenia caerul ea, Correa spp . , Davesia Only two species of spp., Gahnia sieberiana, Prostanthera have spines Hibbertia spp., Isopogon spp., present, namely P. nudula and Logania spp., Petrophile P. spinosa. Prostanthera pulchella, Pul tenaea spp. , nudula is restricted to the Thryptomene calycina and Everard Ranges of South Xanthorrhoea spp. Soils , whereas P. spinosa usually are sandy to a sandy- occurs in South Australia, loam, overlying sandstone or and New South Wales. limestone. Ironstone gravel Prostanthera spinosa is a is sometimes present. small, erect shrub, to 0.5 m The distribution of P. high, rarely to 2 m high. spinosa is fragmented into Sometimes it forms a scrambling more or less isolated and so semi-prostrate shrub. populations (see Distribution The ends of the branches are u.-,-\ CL-CLl~a~ have attained reduced to fine spines. The considerable homogeneity and, leaves are shortly petiolate in several instances, (petiole 0.4-1 mm long), with represent recognizable local the lamina narrowly ovate to variants. broadly elliptic, 1.5-6 mm long, 1-4 mm wide. The flowers have a green calyx with a The characteristics of maroon-brown tinge basally. each variant can be summarized The corolla is pale mauve, very as follows: pale lilac to almost white, with orange to orange-brown 1. 'The Grampians' lines or dots on the inner variant (including the Type) - medial surface of the throat. Victoria. This species commonly occurs in rocky areas and This variant is sparsely to watercourses in association moderately hairy on the branches; sparsely hairy on hairs on most parts. The the outer surface of Bhe outer surface of the calyx is calyx, pedicels and leaves; densely hairy and the inner and the prophylls,(bracts) and surface is minutely hairy near the inner surface of the calyx the margin. The branches is glabrous. This variant usually are hairy at the tends to have very long nodes. This variant has a pedicels [5-14(-15) mm long]. narrowly ovate leaf lamina (length to width ratio 3), 2. The 'Mt Arapiles' whereas the previous variants variant - Victoria. have suborbicular to ovate leaves (length to width ratio This variant is similar to 1.1-2). The pedicels are (4- 'The Grampians' variant, )5-7 mm long. This variant except that it differs by is similar to P. nudula of being densely hairy (hirsute) South Australia, however this throughout (except the inner latter species has unequal surface of the calyx is calyx lobes, a corolla which glabrous), and it has pedicels is white with purple streaks, that are only 1-3 mm long. and fewer spines. It interesting to note that the 3. The 'Kangaroo Island 'Coaldale' variant has fewer and Eyre Peninsula' variant - spines than is found in the South Australia. other variants of P. spinosa. This is also very similar to 'The Grampians' variant, except that the indumentum is shorter and most parts have occasional hairs present. The inner surface of the calyx is glabrous and the pedicels are 5-8(-10) mm long. 4. 'The Flinders Ranges' variant - South Australia. The plants which occur in the Flinders Ranges are sparsely hairy throughout, except that the inner surface of the calyx is glabrous. This variant is intermediate between 'The Grampians' and the 'Kangaroo Island and Eyre Peninsula' variants. The pedicels of this variant are short (2.5-3 mm long). ,

5. The 'Coaldale' variant - New South Wales. The plants from this area are glabrous or have scattered

each population) have been PROSTANTHERA LASIANTHOS analyzed (see Distribution A STUDY OF THE Map). Seventeen populations LEAF VOLATILE OILS have been sampled in New South Wales; one in , An announcement of a new seven from Victoria, and ten project from Tasmania. A further 5 or 6 populations will be included in the survey. In total, the . Barry Conn volatile leaf oils of about Royal Botanic Gardens 200 plants will be analyzed. Sydney At this stage, no results are available. Hopefully, I will have something to report Prostanthera lasianthos by the end of the year. occurs from Tasmania, throughout much of Victoria and eastern New South Wales, and just extends into southern Queensland. It varies from a moderately sized shrub (e.g. 2-5 metres high) to a small tree (up to 9 metres high). The leaves are sometimes relatively small and narrow, particularly in central New South Wales, whereas the Tasmanian and Victorian populations mostly have larger leaves with strongly toothed margins. The leaves may be strongly aromatic when crushed or apparently lack an aroma. Fortunately, the flowers appear to be reasonably constant! The observed morphological variation is difficult to explain. However, it is hoped that further studies will reveal some meaningful pattern. To improve our understanding of the variation found in this species, I have initiated a joint study, with Dr Trevor Whiffin of the LaTrobe University, Bundoora (Victoria), that will investigate the presence or absence of chemical races within this species.

' At this stage, the volatile leaf oils from 35 populations (5 plants from

FIELD TRIPS

a very small scrambling plant, PROSTANTHERA and when in flower, it appears as patches of purple amongst LOCATION & HABITATS the Lomandra sp. It grows to about the same size as Baeckea Robert Miller ramosissima. The Heathcote Picnic Point Road population is the only know population of this PART 111: MINTS BACK HOME species. It is being threatened by the West Menai The followirlg is the third development. part of an edited transcript of There is another part of the talk which was prostrate plant, P. saxicola given to the May 1987 meeting var. montana which I think of the EAST HILLS S.G.A.P. should be given specific rank. ... Editors This plant occurs at Kanangra Walls. It also grows in a few Back home down the other places. The prostrate Woronora River is the home of form like to grow in swamps one of the forms of where it roots at the nodes. Prostanthera 1 inearis. It Each branch can be a metre or grows right in the creek where two in length. It is very floods come and wash down old spectacular at Christmas or logs, sticks and sand. Again, late January when it is in it is just basically growing on flower. rocks with patches of sand and Past Yerranderie on Mt occasionally some grow on the Cookem looking dwon on the banks. Cox's River which feeds the There is a plant that , you will find grows in Kangaroo Valley that more mintbushes. It is very is also referred to P. steep, high up and also dry. linearis. It has scented, Here you will find a plant serrated leaves and the referred to by botanists as flowers have different markings Prostanthera hirtula / to those of typical P. P.granitica / P. denticulata linearis. This taxon has complex. It also grows on the proved difficult to cultivate. Beecroft Peninsula. Again, on the Heathcote Around Ulan is an Road, there is one of the interesting place know as rarest mintbushes in the 'Hands on the Wall Cave', an Sydney Region, namely aboriginal cave with all these Prostanthera saxicola. It is hands painted on it. There right where the hands are, grows Prostanthera sp, af f . granitica. It varies from pink to purple. This plant excited alot of interest at the SGAP show at Castle Hill. Prostanthera sieberi is found on the Illawarra escarpment at Mt Kiera and Mt Kembla. Another rare mintbush grows in rainforests. This un-named species occurs at Gosford. [This was incorrectly referred to as P. incisa var. pubescens by Robert in his talk Fig. 9.16th century formal muwrdpond for residences in hot, dry zones toassjst in the cultivation of water loving - Editors] herbs such as Angelica, Manarda. Sweet Cicely and Mint. Prostanthera ovalifolia, the form, is probably very different from what most people know as P. ovalifolia. There are so many plants that come under the names P. rotundifolia, P. lasianthos or P. ovalifolia! Westringia glabra This could be a distinct species. It is the only form A CURE FOR VERTIGO! of P. ovalifolia that has a purple calyx and purple While collecting colouring on the stems. Often Prostanthera lasianthos for it loses all of its leaves when the volatile leaf oil study it is in flower. At least, it (for details see this issue), does along the Hawkesbury River I visited Edgars Lookout, in in the stretch from Mangrove the Wollomombi Falls areas of Creek past and the Oxley Wild Rivers in that area. I think the National Park (N.S.W.). plant sold in nurseries as P. Right on the edge, in ovalifolia var. latifolia is fact, slightly over the edge, also incorrectiy named. is a lovely bush of Westringia An interesting form of P. glabra. Lying flat on my rugosa occurs at the Berrima stomach, out-stretched with Colliery. It is a spectacular toes firmly dug into the plant that grows right at the ground, I made a rather hasty edge of the sandstone cliffs. collection of this plant! One of the many forms of This plant was an erect, P. rhombea grows around compact shrub, about 0.7 Douglas Park. Prostanthera metres high, with a diameter denticulata grows in the shale of about 1 metre. The flowers areas around and were a pale purple with maroon Kuringai National Park. dots in the throat. The corolla tube was white. Overall a very attractive plant. If this plant always grows in such precarious situation, it would surely cure vertigo! The only side- effect which m,ay occur in some sufferers could be palpitations ' I and hyper-ventilation!!!. - n Barry Conn

A RARE MINT IS CLOSER TO flowers in leafy racemes, EXTINCTION similar in appearance to P. sp. aff. rhombea from the Robert Miller Newnes Plateau. Picnic Point The increased urbanization around Helensburgh poses a serious Urban development threat to this species, even seriously threatens the rare though the proclaimation of a mintbush, Prostanthera State Recreation Area mari fol ia. prevents wholesale clearing of Prostanthera marifol ia is the habitat. The spread of an extremely rare species now pathogenic organisms, weeds, only found in a few small increased usage of the sites populations around Helensburgh. for recreational purposes and It has recently been the need for control burns may rediscovered by C.P. Gibson eliminate this fire sensitive whilst doing field work for species. "Save the Royal from Urban The Prostanthera Spoil" campaign. Since then, marifolia/P. densa complex is two more small populations have taxonomically unresolved. been located - one by A. However, Barry Conn states Fairley and the other by that both are very rare myself. species. The Beecroft The National Herbarium of Peninsular occurences make the New South Wales holds taxonomic delimitations specimens collected from between these two species Woolwich on the 30th July, unclear. The majority of 1905. This specimen resembles specimens from here have an the Helensburgh plants. intermediate appearance Another collection from the between P. densa and P. Upper was collected marifolia. Is this an in 1921. This specimen has intermediate population linking the two species? Should they be more correctly referred to as infraspecific taxa of the one species? The species are current,ly distinguished as follows:

Branchlets, leaves and calyces scabrous, hirsute; appendages exceeding the cell ...... ,..... P. marifolia Branchlets, leaves and calyces with dense indumentum of soft hairs; appendages not exceeding the cell ...l.*.l.,..... P. densa

The soft indumentum of P. densa is composed of longer hairs than found in P. marifolia, with the species having a soft feel, especially NOTE: One of the displays at on the leaves. Whereas, in P. the Herbarium Open Days (see marifolia the soft indumentum announcement in this is shorter than the scabrous Newsletter) will emphasize indumentum, and so the species endangered Prostanthera has a coarser feel. The value species ... (Eds) of the anther appendage for distinguishing between these two species is not known. Typical P. densa occurs at Shoal Bay, Cronulla and Marley Lagoon. Typical P. marifolia is now only known from Helensburgh. ****. COR SPQNDENCE j$@,.

Dear Brian ... Barbara Dalz mentioned the 'A graft of Prostanthera presentation specially in scutellarioides to Westringia her report to the 14th "Wynyabbie Gem" has been Biennial Conference growing well in the garden 1987/88. ' for two years, while one of the P. rotundifolia stock has Dermott Kelly been largely overtaken by Prospect, S.A. shoot growth from the stock. The forms of P. aspalathoides from Bendigo Whipstick and Rushworth Forest (near Shepparton) are superior in cultivation (more viable), in Melbourne than those from the Little Desert. It often flowers profusely in its' native habitat in 'The mints on the front dappled shade of the of my house are really Eucalyptus forest.' growing well when I reconstructed the garden. I Max A. McDowall filled it with well-spent Bulleen, Vic. horse manure and mulched it with casuarina needles. I planted in batches of three or more where possible. Within twelve months, they have all grown well. The 'I am writing to ask for first flowering should be a a copy of your last sight this coming spring. newsletter, not so much for I think the latest my interest in Prostanthera newsletters are terrific and Westringia (I belong to with lots of good news,' the Australian Grasses Study Group), but to see what your Evan Weatherhead newsletter looks like. Blaxland, NSW thought to be extremely rare. I was interested to read that you and Barry found P. 'I am afraid that scutellarioides in the prostantheras are not very Watagin State Forest. Also well represented in this of interest was your article part of the world, with only on P. incisa and P. sieberi. two that I am aware of I have had exactly the same (namely, P. mellisifolia and thoughts as you, which are P. lasianthos).' total confusion. As you say, if the usual features N.J. Bone of the selection are used Anglesea, Vic. then the population of P. incisa in the Watagins is in [Well, to have two of the some doubt. Prostanthera most beautiful native mints sieberi, in my experience, is not bad! (Eds)] is more robust, more upright and the leaves are more oblong than P. incisa and with less teeth. These are hardly features on which to build a species. Perhaps Barry will shed some light on the problem in due course. The newsletter is excellent. My congratulations to you and Barry, and contributors. I haven't forgotten about that 'Enclosed are some article we discussed about specimens of the "other" mint the Hunter Valley mints [nor from Dingo Creek, you may have we Kevin! (Eds11. remember there are two leaf forms. Terry Tame is Kevin Stokes convinced that both are the Toronto, NSW same as the Widden Valley mint which Barry says is P. stricta. Thought you might find this variation interesting, perhaps you could show ~arr~and Robert, if possible. Could you also tell Barry that we made a return visit to the Broken Back Range area and collected some more of the mint there (nearly certain it is P. cineolifera) sorry no flowers but I have some plants for the next time I see you. Nearby is Eucalyptus pumila ('Pokalbin Mallee') which is