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ISOPOGONS & PETROPHILES The Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants Isopogon & Petrophile Study Group Newsletter ISSN 1445-9493 Number 4 May 2003 Petrophile divaricata. Stirling Ranges WA. (Photo by M. Pieroni) (See page 4 for more details about this species) CONTENTS 2 EDITORIAL 3 CONSERVATION, MEMBERS LETTERS 4 PETROPHILE DIVARICATA- A COMMON WESTERN SPECIES 5 ISOPOGON FLETCHERI- A RARE EASTERN SPECIES 6 MEMBERS LETTERS 7 AN INTRODUCTION TO PETROPHILE SECTION ARTHROSTIGMA 10 KEY TO PETROPHILE SECTION ARTHROSTIGMA 13 GLOSSARY, MEMBERS LETTERS, BALANCE SHEET 2002-2003 14 SEED BANK, MEMBERSHIP LIST 15 REFERENCES E DITORIAL bank and so has excellent drainage. It gets a bit of run off from a small pond area that gets Hello and welcome to the fourth newsletter for the supplementary watering, but doesn’t get any specific study group. It has been almost two years since the extra watering. In addition I. mnoraifolius, I. group was founded, just before the Canberra anemonifolius, and I. prostratus are in bud, so I’m ASGAP conference. The next conference will be looking forward to spring. The I. anethifolius that was held in January in Launceston, Tasmania, and if the exhumed to make way for the drainage works is presentation at the conclusion of Canberra’s was back in the ground now and looking happy with anything to go by, it will be marvellous. My family plenty of new growth. It seems to have come and I will be going and I hope to catch up with through its ordeal unscathed (fingers crossed). some of you there. The study group has an Internet site through yahoo At last there seems to be some widespread rain groups. The Internet address is: http:// across much of both the east and west coast. Not groups.yahoo.com/group/Isopogons_Petrophiles. enough in Victoria to say the drought is over, but in There is an email list where any issues, comments typical fashion Sydney has almost been washed queries etc can be voiced, as well as some files of away. Even the little bit we have had down south pictures and the like. Anyone is free to join. has perked up the garden and the countryside is The current issue of the emagazine Australian starting to look green again. Hopefully some good Plants online (APOL) features a general article on follow up rain will come. Isopogon and Petrophile. This regular publication I have increased my collection a little after a trip contains all sorts of great information on Aus plants down the Geelong road to the autumn plant sale. It and is well worth reading. Its address is was great to see so many sellers and such a variety http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/apoline.html. of great looking Australian plants. It is the best time As I have mentioned in the past, I am developing an of year to have a big sale, as you can usually get electronic library of images for the study group. things straight into the garden. I picked up P. Brian Walters sent me a number of slides recently longifolia, P. teretifolia, and I. sphaerocephalus. Phillip that I scanned. In addition, Margaret Pieroni has Vaughan had a number of other species there and I sent me some more of her photos and slides. visited his temporary plant storage lot in (Thanks very much Brian and Margaret). If anyone Campbellfield a week or so later and picked up I. has photos, negatives or slides they would be happy axillaris, I. polycephalus, I. trilobus (long lobe variety to go into the library, please send them to me. I will formally known as I. tripartitus), P. seminuda, P. scan them and then return the originals unscathed. linearis, P. media, P. anceps and P. fastigiata. He had a If anyone would like particular photos, please number of other varieties of Isopogon and contact me. Petrophile as well, some of which neither of us This issue of the newsletter deals with two could identify. He is still looking for a permanent potentially hardy species, the common Petrophile address and so his plants are randomly placed with divaricata from WA and the very rare Isopogon fletcheri no labelling. If anyone is interested in purchasing from NSW. Barbara Rye and Mike Hyslop from the plants from him, he can be reached on his mobile Western Australian Herbarium have written a and will allow “inspection” by appointment. fantastic article on the species of the West Phillip has a number of grafted Isopogons and has Australian section of Petrophile known as Arthrostigma previously grafted Petrophiles. In every case he has and have developed a key to the plants of the used Isopogon anethifolius as the rootstock, apparently section. There are lots of letters and opinions from with good success, even with the Petrophiles! It you, the members, as well as an update on the fate seems that this hardy species is the Grevillea robusta of the rare and endangered P. latericola ms (the of cone bushes. Cas Liber tells me that Peter Abell Ironstone petrophile). I hope you enjoy it. had grafted Isopogon dubius onto I. anemonifolius and Thanks to everyone who has written to me and the plant lasted 6-7 years, and so the other common otherwise contributed. It’s great to hear what’s eastern Isopogon is another potential rootstock for happening out there. If anyone has any observations some of the touchier taxa. or pearls of wisdom please write or send an email. My garden plants are starting to grow well and I was Finally, I hope that “Huey” has been good to you all very excited recently to find about ten to fifteen and happy gardening. buds on my Isopogon latifolius. It is about 1.5m tall now and has been in for almost two years. It is on David Lightfoot ☺ its own roots, in sandy soil at the top of a small Isopogons and Petrophiles Number 4. Page 2 ONSERVATION ART C P 2 From Bob O’Neill. Wandin North, Vic. Meredith Spencer from CALM has an update on the P. J an 2003 latericola translocation project mentioned in the last newsletter. J ust an update on how things are here. The seed efforts were all in vain. I will need to follow Petrophile latericola ms is a critically endangered Declared Rare flora (DRF) species that is known M argaret Pieroni and set fire above the seeds. I from only 2 populations. The main population of thought if I punched holes in fruit cans and lit a about 150 plants occurs in State Forest near fire above planted seeds. In this way all the seeds Busselton with 3 other critically endangered would be in their respective containers and I species and several further DRF and priority w ould be able to identify any emergent seedlings. So far all else has failed so there is little to lose. species, being part of an occurrence of the Southern ironstone critically threatened ecological [ Perhaps a 24-hour soaking in smoke water before community. Population 2 consists of 5 plants in a planting may help. Ed] degraded rail/road reserve. An Interim Recovery At the meeting at Foothills last year I gave you a Plan has been written for the species outlining few little plants. Since then I have planted out all actions designed to address factors threatening the the rest of that group of Isopogon cuttings, species. This includes "translocation" of the making about 30 plants all up in the garden. species, i.e., establishment of new populations There was very little fuss in striking the cuttings grown from seed and cuttings. and I have not lost one of my struck cuttings that In 2001, 174 plants were planted into two Nature I have planted. All were planted at tube size, Reserves in the Busselton area. The sites are watered and mulched. Some have bolted, some extremely harsh environments, being inundated are much more sedate, but all look well. All are in during winter and undergoing drought conditions full sun. Some very well drained others with fair in summer. They are ex-pasture lands, with little to good drainage. I guess that the current dry soil over ironstone rock. The translocation spell would suit them, especially as I give a light included research into most appropriate supplementary watering by bucket every few establishment techniques, including mounding, weeks for those in for perhaps several weeks. ripping, sheltering, and watering treatments Perhaps as much as weekly for a start if the together with control sites. In the research site, conditions become somewhat torrid. I read 21% of plants survived, however, it should be through the entire newsletter and was very noted that all controls (planted flush to earth) interested in the species grown by members. I died, which greatly reduced survival rates. At the would be delighted to exchange cuttings with second site 54% survival has been experienced to other members, especially those with Petrophile date. Factors affecting survival included grazing, species. I obtained 2 plants of an unnamed weeds, strong winds, inundation and longer than Petrophile species from a nursery near Geelong, average summer drought. The species is also and they are the only ones I have, explaining my moderately susceptible to dieback disease. disappointment with my lack of success with the In 2003 it is planned to undertake further site seeds. Is it possible for me to have the names and preparation by heavy planting of associated addresses (including email) of members who may species in order to provide protection to seedlings be happy to exchange plant material in person or from wind and other environmental stresses.