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A Field Guide to Native Flora Used by Honeybees in Tasmania

ISBN 1 74151 947 0 ISSN 1440-6845

A Field Guide to Native Flora Used by Honeybees in Tasmania

Publication No. 09/149

Project No. PRJ-002933

The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances.

While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication.

The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors.

The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication. This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. However, wide dissemination is encouraged. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the RIRDC Publications Manager on phone 02 6271 4165

Researcher Contact Details Name: Mark Leech of Brueckner Leech Consulting Email: [email protected]

In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form.

RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600

PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604

Phone: 02 6271 4100 Fax: 02 6271 4199 Email: [email protected]. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au

Published in December 2009

2 A Field Guide to Native Flora Used by Honeybees in Tasmania

by Mark Leech

RIRDC Publication No 09/149 RIRDC Project No. PRJ-002933

Electronically published by RIRDC in December 2009 Print-on-demand by Union Offset Printing, Canberra at www.rirdc.gov.au or phone 1300 634 313

3 Contents

Contents ...... 4 Foreword ...... 6 Acknowledgements ...... 7 Introduction...... 8 Tea Tree Species ...... 10 Using this guide...... 11 Floral Species...... 15 Silver Wattle, Acacia dealbata subsp. dealbata...... 16 Coast Wattle, Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae ...... 18 Black Wattle, Acacia mearnsii ...... 20 Blackwood, Acacia melanoxylon ...... 22 Prickly Moses, Acacia verticillata ...... 24 White Waratah/Fragrant Candlebush, Agastachys odorata...... 26 Drooping Sheoak, Allocasuarina verticillata ...... 28 Horizontal, Anodopetalum biglandulosum ...... 30 Tasmanian Laurel, Anopterus glandulosus ...... 32 Golden Pea, Aotus ericoides...... 34 Sassafras, Atherosperma moschatum subsp. moschatum...... 36 Silver Banksia, Banksia marginata...... 38 Saw Banksia, Banksia serrata...... 40 Wiry Bauera, Bauera rubioides ...... 42 Prickly Box, Bursaria spinosa...... 44 Yellow Bottlebrush, Callistemon pallidus ...... 46 Prickly Bottlebrush, Callistemon viridiflorus ...... 48 Native Plum, Cenarrhenes nitida ...... 50 Mountain Clematis, Clematis aristata ...... 52 Native Hop/Broadleaf Hopbush, Dodonaea viscosa subsp. spatulata ...... 54 Heaths, Epacris species...... 56 Black Peppermint, Eucalyptus amygdalina ...... 58

Snow Peppermint /Snow Gum, Eucalyptus coccifera ...... 60 White Top/Gumtopped Stringybark, Eucalyptus delegatensis subsp. tasmaniensis ...... 62 Tasmanian Blue Gum, Eucalyptus globulus subsp. globulus ...... 64 Smithton/Western Peppermint, Eucalyptus nitida ...... 66 Brown Top Stringybark/Stringybark, Eucalyptus obliqua...... 68 Black Gum, Eucalyptus ovata subsp. ovata ...... 70 Cabbage Gum, Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. pauciflora ...... 72 White Peppermint, Eucalyptus pulchella...... 74 Swamp Gum/Giant Ash, Eucalyptus regnans...... 76 Ironbark, Eucalyptus sieberi ...... 78 Alpine Yellow Gum, Eucalyptus subcrenulata ...... 80 White Gum, Eucalyptus viminalis subsp. viminalis ...... 82 Leatherwood, Eucryphia lucida ...... 84 Dwarf Leatherwood, Eucryphia milliganii ...... 86 Cutting Grass, Gahnia grandis...... 88 Mountain Pinkberry, Leptecophylla juniperina subsp. parvifolia ...... 90 Woolly Tea tree, Leptospermum lanigerum...... 92 Manuka/Common Tea tree, Leptospermum scoparium...... 94 Coast Paperbark, Melaleuca ericifolia...... 96 Scented Paperbark, Melaleuca squarrosa ...... 98 Lancewood/Satinwood, Nematolepis squamea subsp. squamea...... 100 Musk/Musk Daisybush, Olearia argophylla...... 102 Tallow-wood/Cheesewood, Pittosporum bicolor...... 104 Common Dogwood, Pomaderris apetala subsp. apetala ...... 106 Christmas Mintbush, Prostanthera lasianthos var. lasianthos...... 108 Yellow Eye, Xyris operculata ...... 110 Appendix 1 - Non-native flora...... 112 Appendix 2 - Leatherwood predictive extent ...... 114 References ...... 116

5 Foreword This pocket field guide is intended to provide a user-friendly tool for beekeepers to help identify Tasmanian native flora likely to be accessed by and beneficial to honeybees. It is an essential element of a suite of products that describe Tasmania’s honeybee industry and the floral resources accessed by honeybees.

The National Workshop on the Effects of Honey Bees on the Environment identified the need for each state to develop a beekeeping resource database to assist the beekeeping industry and relevant national and state government departments when determining beekeeper usage of government-controlled lands.

Materials presented here build on the 2004 Apiary Census and 2005 Apiary Industry Profile undertaken in Tasmania by the Forest and Forest Industry Council and the Apiary Working Group.

This field guide is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 1,900 research publications, and forms part of our Honeybee R&D program, which aims to improve the productivity and profitability of the Australian beekeeping industry.

Most of RIRDC’s publications are available for viewing, free downloading or purchasing online at www.rirdc.gov.au. Purchases can also be made by phoning 1300 634 313.

Peter O’Brien Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation

6 Acknowledgements This field guide would not have been possible without the following assistance: x The beekeepers who warmly welcomed the author and gave freely of their time in interviews and who responded to the surveys; x RIRDC who funded the project; x The Forest and Forest Industries Council who funded the 2005 Apiary Industry Profile by Brueckner Leech Consulting, which, with the report based on the 2004 Apiary Census, has provided the data for the field guide; x The floral images kindly provided by Hans and Annie Wapstra, and Mark Wapstra (Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania); x Botanical editing generously donated by Mark Wapstra; x Scott Livingston of Livingston Natural Resource Services who interpreted the spatial data and production of the distribution maps, and x Josh Crawford who designed and compiled these resources into a field guide format.

7 Introduction The field guide to Tasmanian native flora accessed by honeybees (Apis mellifera) has been produced as a component of the Tasmanian Floral Database project. The base data was derived from the Tasmanian Apiary Census, 2004 and the Tasmanian Apiary Industry Profile, 2005. The guide is intended to provide an easily understood visual assessment of native flora distribution and its use by honeybees. The floral sequence data has been regionalised, and a range of values for honey yield and pollen values provided.

Species distribution maps have been based on site records of the Tasmanian Natural Values Atlas (NVA). The NVA, developed and managed by the Resource Management and Conservation Division of the Department of Primary Industries and Water, is a comprehensive set of maintained natural values with integrity and validation. Its use at the printed map scale provides a surrogate of species distributions, but species may occur outside the recorded points.

Hive locations are those reported by beekeepers in association with the species taken from the 2004 Apiary Census data. An attempt at creating some notion of the significance of species based on low honey yield and pollen value eliminated only one species from the guide. This indicates that the floral species reported by beekeepers as being important to their bees are either yielding honey or are an important source of pollen.

The majority of semi-commercial and commercial beekeeping in Tasmania is migratory, i.e., hives are moved to capture peak honey flows as part of the overall management process, either in preparation for provision of pollination services, or to optimise honey production.

The 2004 Apiary Census captured valuable information about the flora used by bees and beekeepers in their apiary management. Native flora and introduced flora contribute in an interlinked mosaic across the landscape. Information has been provided here for species that beekeepers know their bees are accessing, although in extensive natural settings more species than indicated may be used. There are at least 51 native species, and at least 41 introduced species accessed by bees in Tasmania.

Managed honeybees make extensive use of all flora, whether native or introduced. The floral database produced from the 2004 Apiary Census provided the following information: At least 93 species and plant associations have been identified by beekeepers as being accessed by managed honeybees; Leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida) is the most important floral element in the Tasmanian floral sequence, being accessed by at least 12,500 hives from at least 280 sites, and yielding approximately 1,000 tonnes of honey per year. It is also the latest-flowering species, providing crucial winter stores for bees; Tasmanian Blue Gum, Prickly Box and Tea Tree species are other native species that consistently produce sizeable commercial honey flows; The plants consistently considered by beekeepers to be most important for pollen are Crack Willow, Gorse and Blackberry, all of which are serious environmental weeds; Production of clover-blackberry ‘white honey’, once the mainstay of the industry, is threatened by changing agricultural practice and biological control.

Tea Tree Species Tea tree honey has begun to attract the attention of the consumer and beekeeper for its therapeutic properties and associated high potential value. New Zealand has led the research into the therapeutic activity levels of some honeys, with a particular interest in Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium, also commonly known as tea tree). Non-peroxide activity level has been identified in honey from a number of species, but appears to be most reliably produced from Manuka. The New Zealanders have trademarked their acronym UMF® (Unknown Manuka Factor) which relates to a relative score of laboratory- tested honey potency in comparison with known antibiotic agents, mainly standard phenol solutions. Very high returns have been recorded for honey with UMF® scores greater than 20. It appears that this trend has increased all tea tree honey prices, regardless of any nominated therapeutic factors.

While some Tasmanian beekeepers are making use of the extensive tea tree resource, the distribution maps indicate that there is a lot of unused resource. Beekeepers have often reported tea tree as being present, but providing no honey, but also noting that it may represent a pollen resource. These tea tree sites are usually on the west coast where the leatherwood flowers so prolifically that bees will prefer to visit that species. Tea tree has been unpopular at these sites as it can ‘taint’ the first leatherwood honey take. However, the tea tree usually begins flowering three to four weeks before the leatherwood, potentially providing the opportunity to obtain a pure tea tree take prior to commencement of the leatherwood flow. The tea tree resource offers a significant potential to the industry, with a need for further research into peroxide- and non-peroxide based therapeutic activity levels of the honey based on region of origin and site conditions.

10 Using this guide

The guide is intended for use in the field to assist visual identification of native species in flower. The distribution map and regionalised floral sequence should aid in identification, especially when used together with more detailed botanical field guides.

Each species map has its own legend and is self-explanatory. The species’ botanical name and most commonly-used name appear as a heading.

Natural Values Atlas recorded locations of species are shown by a blue cross (+), and recorded hive locations by a red square ().

11 Each of the floral images are considered to be representative of the species, but may not cover all variations found within the different regions.

Common names have been referenced from the Little Book of Common Names for Tasmanian Plants (Wapstra et al. 2008). However, if the name used by beekeepers was consistently different it also has been included.

The information provided in the floral sequence tables has been derived from the 2004 Apiary Census. Some key points in relation to the tables are: x number of sites and the number of hives accessing a particular species provides a measure of relative importance; x pollen nutritional value was rated by beekeepers from 1-5, with 1 being considered to be of little nutritional value; x flowering may vary within regions and the indicated flowering timeline is the cumulative flowering period within the region; x honey yield has been provided as a range from the sites within the region, unless it was constant across sites and reflects an average take from a site; x where a number of species may be flowering at once from a given site, beekeepers have, where possible, provided estimates of pollen importance and honey yield for individual species.

The floral sequence data provided for each species provides an indication of the importance of the species in terms of the number of sites and hives accessing individual species, the time and duration of flowering, the relative importance of the pollen and the range of honey production.

12 The sequence presents flowering times and duration within six regions based loosely on the local telephone districts (see below). Differences occur within regions, and care must be used in applying the information, as the range for each species indicated by the bar chart (below) is cumulative across the region, thus, a species may flower for one month in the southern part and two months on the coast, which may appear as three months of continuous flowering on the chart.

Regions North West (NW): The ‘04’ telephone district south to the Arthur River, then limited by a line due east to the ‘03’ boundary. North (N): The western ‘03’ telephone district west of the River Tamar, extending down the Midlands Highway. North East (NE): The eastern ‘03’ telephone district east of the River Tamar, extending down the Midlands Highway. West (W): The ‘04’ telephone district south of the Arthur River, then limited by a line due east to the ‘03’ boundary. South West (SW): Forests in the Derwent and Huon State forest districts managed for leatherwood. South East (SE): All other areas in the ‘02’ telephone district.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

13 14 Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Floral Species

15 Silver Wattle, Acacia dealbata subsp. dealbata

Plant Type Small to medium tree (5 – 30 m)

Vegetation Communities Dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, to wet sclerophyll forest

Flowers Lemon to bright yellow globular flower-heads, in racemes or panicles.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 19 1121 1 1-2 1 0-10

16 16 17

17 Coast Wattle, Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae

Plant Type Bushy shrub to small tree (to 5 m)

Vegetation Communities Coastal vegetation including sand dunes and coastal forest and woodland

Flowers Long straight yellow spikes in upper leaf axils.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 13 264 1 1-2 4-5 0

18 18 19

19 Black Wattle, Acacia mearnsii

Plant Type Small tree (to 10 m)

Vegetation Communities Dry sclerophyll forest and woodland

Flowers Fragrant, pale yellow globular flower-heads in long axillary racemes or panicles.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 3 28 1 1-2 3-4 0

20 20 21

21 Blackwood, Acacia melanoxylon

Plant Type Small to medium tree (8 – 30 m)

Vegetation Communities All forest communities, especially in higher rainfall areas

Flowers Dense, globular, pale yellow heads, solitary or on short racemes of 2–8 heads.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 11 387 1 2 2-5 0

23 22 24

23 Prickly Moses, Acacia verticillata

Plant Type Slender shrub to small spreading tree (2–10 m)

Vegetation Communities Most forest and woodland types, especially in damp areas

Flowers Dense, bright yellow cylindrical spikes, axillary in upper branches.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 3 20 1 2 3 0

25 24 26

25 White Waratah/Fragrant Candlebush, Agastachys odorata

Plant Type Erect bushy shrub (2–3 m) to small tree (to 8 m)

Vegetation Communities Wet scrub with buttongrass plains, occasionally in forest

Flowers Strongly scented, creamy white, straight upright spikes, 5–8 cm long in leaf axils near ends of branches. © Hans and Annie Wapstra

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 29 2090 1 1 1-3 0-1

27 26 28

27 Drooping Sheoak, Allocasuarina verticillata

Plant Type Much-branched small tree (4–10 m)

Vegetation Communities Coastal communities to dry woodlands

Flowers Male flowers: long yellow-brown spikes; female flowers: red globular masses.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 1 24 1 2 3 0

29 28 30

29 Horizontal, Anodopetalum biglandulosum

Plant Type Small tree to 10 m forming dense thickets

Vegetation Communities Rainforest, mixed forest and wet sclerophyll forest

Flowers Small flowers with 4 pale green to white pointed petals.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 8 420 1 1-2 0 0-14

31 30 32

31 Tasmanian Laurel, Anopterus glandulosus

Plant Type Shrub (2–4m) to small tree (to 10 m)

Vegetation Communities Rainforest, mixed forest and wet sclerophyll forest

Flowers Showy white, cup-shaped flowers to 2 cm diam., on slender stalks in terminal racemes.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 22 1040 1 1-2 0-3 0-38

33 32 34

33 Golden Pea, Aotus ericoides

Plant Type Shrub (0.3–1.3 m)

Vegetation Communities Coastal communities, heath, dry sclerophyll forest and woodland

Flowers Classic peaf flower, golden yellow with red markings, solitary or up to 3 in upper leaf axils forming cylindrical heads. © Hans and Annie Wapstra

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 1 24 1 2 4 0

35 34 36

35 Sassafras, Atherosperma moschatum subsp. moschatum

Plant Type Medium to large conical shaped tree (to 45 m)

Vegetation Communities Rainforest, mixed forest, wet sclerophyll forest

Flowers/other features Stalked flowers on underside of branches facing downwards; male flowers c. 2 cm diam.; female flowers smaller; flowers white and scented; bark and leaves gives sarsaparilla-like smell and taste when crushed.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 19 1375 1 1-2 1 0

37 36 38 37 Silver Banksia, Banksia marginata

Plant Type Small shrub to small tree (0.5–12 m)

Vegetation Communities Variable from sea-level to 1000 m; coastal heathland, dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, wet sclerophyll forest

Flowers Bottlebrush-like spike of soft lemon yellow to golden flowers, spike 10 cm long by 4 cm wide. © Hans and Annie Wapstra

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 22 1472 1-2 1 1-2 0-20

39 38 40

39 Saw Banksia, Banksia serrata

Plant Type Small tree (to 15 m)

Vegetation Communities Coastal vegetation, restricted to the Rocky Cape– Sisters Hills area in northwest Tasmania

Flowers Large spikes up to 20 cm long by 10 cm wide; pale yellow to golden flowers.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 1 20 2 2 1 10

41 40 42

41 Wiry Bauera, Bauera rubioides

Plant Type Wiry shrub, prostrate to thicket-forming (to 6m)

Vegetation Communities Widespread, especially in wet heaths; occasional component of higher rainfall forests

Flowers Pendulous 1.5–2 cm flowers, axillary on slender stalks, petals pink or white.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 21 1590 1 1 1 0

43 42 44

43 Prickly Box, Bursaria spinosa

Plant Type Shrub to small tree (3–10 m)

Vegetation Communities Dry sclerophyll forest and woodlands, especially dry hillsides and rocky areas

Flowers Numerous star-like, white to cream flowers in branched pyramidal infloresences; flowers scented.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 96 4534 1 1-4 1-5 0-50

45 44 46

45 Yellow Bottlebrush, Callistemon pallidus

Plant Type Erect shrub (to 4 m)

Vegetation Communities Poorly-drained areas in forest and scrub, often in riparian areas

Flowers Bottlebrush-like spike of pale yellow flowers, 8 cm long by 3 cm wide.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 5 110 1 1-2 4 4-14

47 46 48

47 Prickly Bottlebrush, Callistemon viridiflorus

Plant Type Erect shrub (1–2 m)

Vegetation Communities Various and widespread, but often at higher elevations in poorly-drained and rocky sites

Flowers Bottlebrush-like spike of pale yellow to greenish yellow flowers.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 15 1200 - 1 1 0

49 48 50

49 Native Plum, Cenarrhenes nitida

Plant Type Spreading shrub to small tree (to 10 m)

Vegetation Communities Wet scrub and heath, wet sclerophyll forest, mixed forest, rainforest

Flowers/other features Flowers in near-terminal axillary spikes, white to 1 cm diam.; fruit a large purple spherical drupe; leaves produce nauseating smell when crushed. © Hans and Annie Wapstra

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 10 585 - 2 2 0

51 50 52

51 Mountain Clematis, Clematis aristata

Plant Type Woody climber (to 15 m)

Vegetation Communities Mainly wet sclerophyll forest and canopy gaps and edges of rainforest and mixed forest, occasional in drier forests

Flowers Creamy white star-shaped flowers, c. 4.5 cm diam., with 4–7 long narrow segments. © Hans and Annie Wapstra

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 4 130 1 2 - 0

53 52 54

53 Native Hop/Broadleaf Hopbush, Dodonaea viscosa subsp. spatulata

Plant Type Dense shrub to small tree (to 6 m)

Vegetation Communities Coastal vegetation, dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, rocky hillsides

Flowers/other features Small flowers in terminal clusters; fruits conspicuous reddish-brown papery capsules.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 2 44 1 1 1-5 2-20

55 54 56

55 Heaths, Epacris species

Plant Type Ground flora and shrubs (mostly <1 m, some up to 5 m)

Vegetation Communities Coastal vegetation, heathlands, dry sclerophyll forest and woodland

Flowers Various, many with bright white tubular flowers.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 105 7238 1 2-7 1-5 0-5

57 56 58

57 Black Peppermint, Eucalyptus amygdalina

Plant Type Medium tree (to 30 m)

Vegetation Communities Dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, coastal communities

Flowers/other features Narrow willow-like leaves; rough bark on whole trunk and on to upper branches.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 35 2457 8-15 1-2 1-3 0-35

58 59 60

59 Snow Peppermint /Snow Gum, Eucalyptus coccifera

Plant Type Medium tree (to 25 m)

Vegetation Communities Montane woodland

Flowers/other features Fruit in groups of 7–15 (sometimes 3); deciduous smooth bark; adult leaves green or greyish with a small hooked tip.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 1 25 4 2 5 0

61 60 62

61 White Top/Gumtopped Stringybark, Eucalyptus delegatensis subsp. tasmaniensis

Plant Type Large tree (20–90 m)

Vegetation Communities Wet and dry sclerophyll forest, generally at higher elevations

Flowers/other features Fruit in groups of 7–15; persistent bark on base, deciduous on upper trunk; “seedlings” red-stemmed with leaves blue/green and almost circular.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 45 2645 1-20 0-3 1-5 0-38

63 62 64

63 Tasmanian Blue Gum, Eucalyptus globulus subsp. globulus

Plant Type Large tree (3 m in coastal areas, up to 90 m in wet forest)

Vegetation Communities Dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, wet sclerophyll forest

Flowers/other features Fruit solitary or in groups of 3; large white to pale yellow; characteristic large “warty” capsule. © Hans and Annie Wapstra

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 74 2385 1-12 1-7 1-5 5-60

64 66 65 Smithton/Western Peppermint, Eucalyptus nitida

Plant Type Small to medium tree (5–20 m, up to 50 m)

Vegetation Communities Coastal vegetation, dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, wet sclerophyll forest, mixed forest, sedgeland copses and edges

Flowers/other features Multi-fruited umbels; rough persistent bark on base, smooth bark on upper trunk and branches; crushed leaves have “peppermint” scent. © Hans and Annie Wapstra

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 22 1730 2-80 1-10 4-5 0

67 66 68

67 Brown Top Stringybark/Stringybark, Eucalyptus obliqua

Plant Type Medium to very large tree (15–90m)

Vegetation Communities Dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, wet sclerophyll forest, mixed forest

Flowers/other features Bark fibrous (“stringy”) and persistent on trunk and branches; adult leaves typically oblique.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 82 2784 7-14 2-4 1-5 3-38

69 68 70

69 Black Gum, Eucalyptus ovata subsp. ovata

Plant Type Medium tree (to 50 m)

Vegetation Communities Dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, wet sclerophyll forest (usually on broad flats and riparian areas), heathland and sedgeland margins

Flowers/other features Bark persistent on base, fibrous to “platy”; adult leaves typically “oval”. © Hans and Annie Wapstra

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 11 325 1-4 1-4 3-5 8-40

71 70 72

71 Cabbage Gum, Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. pauciflora

Plant Type Medium tree (up to 20 m)

Vegetation Communities Mainly dry sclerophyll forest and woodland; also coastal

Flowers/other features Fruit in groups of 5–15; weeping habit, often with long pendulous branches; smooth deciduous bark on trunk; leaves are “glossy”, thick and waxy. © Hans and Annie Wapstra

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 3 65 1-4 3-4 3-5 0

73 72 74

73 White Peppermint, Eucalyptus pulchella

Plant Type Small tree (usually 6–15 m, up to 30 m)

Vegetation Communities Dry sclerophyll forest and woodland

Flowers/other features Attractive white, yellow and grey smooth bark; very thin leaves.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 1 24 - 1 4 0

75 74 76

75 Swamp Gum/Giant Ash, Eucalyptus regnans

Plant Type Very large tree (to 100 m)

Vegetation Communities Wet sclerophyll forest, mixed forest, rainforest

Flowers/other features Basal bark fibrous, upper bark deciduous and peeling in long ribbons.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 14 735 7 1-2 3 0-38

77 76 78

77 Ironbark, Eucalyptus sieberi

Plant Type Medium to large tree (15–30 m)

Vegetation Communities Dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, occasionally in wet sclerophyll forest

Flowers/other features Deeply-fissured, persistent bark; red branchlets.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 2 60 6 2-4 - 30

79 78 80

79 Alpine Yellow Gum, Eucalyptus subcrenulata

Plant Type Small to medium tree (6–55 m).

Vegetation Communities Wet sclerophyll forest, sub-alpine woodland

Flowers/other features Smooth trunk, orange-red or yellow-green.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 1 30 4 1 5 0

81 80 82

81 White Gum, Eucalyptus viminalis subsp. viminalis

Plant Type Medium to large tree (to 90m)

Vegetation Communities Dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, wet sclerophyll forest

Flowers/other features White trunk with ribbon bark.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 32 1627 2-10 2-4 0-5 0-30

83 82 84

83 Leatherwood, Eucryphia lucida

Plant Type Tall shrub to medium tree (to 30 m)

Vegetation Communities Mixed forest, rainforest

Flowers “Large” flower to c. 3 cm diam. with 4 bright white petals, in leaf axils near ends of branches, often numerous.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 281 12453 1 1-5 1-5 8-115

85 84 86

85 Dwarf Leatherwood, Eucryphia milliganii

Plant Type Spreading small shrub (to 2 m)

Vegetation Communities Montane vegetation

Flowers White flower with 4 petals.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 13 460 1 2 1-5 0-15

87 86 88

87 Cutting Grass, Gahnia grandis

Plant Type Large tussock (to 3.5 m)

Vegetation Communities Widespread on poorly drained sites

Flowers/other features Plume-like flowerheads; grass-like leaves with cutting edges.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 7 160 1 1-4 1-5 -

89 88 90

89 Mountain Pinkberry, Leptecophylla juniperina subsp. parvifolia

Plant Type Dense shrub (0.6–1.2 m)

Vegetation Communities Sub-alpine vegetation

Flowers/other features Small, cream, bell-shaped flowers in leaf axils; pink spherical berries, often numerous.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 1 30 1 4 - 30

91 90 92

91 Woolly Tea tree, Leptospermum lanigerum

Plant Type Large shrub to small tree (3–6 m)

Vegetation Communities Widespread and abundant; coastal vegetation, wet sclerophyll forest, montane vegetation, riparian vegetation

Flowers Small, creamy white, solitary (but numerous) flowers to 1.5 cm diam.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 26 1791 1-2 1-2 2-4 4-5

93 92 94

93 Manuka/Common Tea tree, Leptospermum scoparium

Plant Type Small shrub to small tree (2–7 m)

Vegetation Communities Coastal heath, dry sclerophyll forest and woodland

Flowers Small white solitary flower in leaf axil, to 1.5 cm diam.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 44 3036 1 1-2 0-5 3-12

95 94 96

95 Coast Paperbark, Melaleuca ericifolia

Plant Type Shrub to medium tree (3–8 m, up to 25 m)

Vegetation Communities Swamp forests, riparian vegetation, wet sclerophyll forest

Flowers/other features White spikes (small brush) of creamy white flowers; paper-like peeling bark.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 30 2153 1 1-2 3-5 0-13

97 96 98

97 Scented Paperbark, Melaleuca squarrosa

Plant Type Small to tall shrub (1–6 m)

Vegetation Communities Heathland, moorland, wet sclerophyll forest, swamp forest

Flowers Small creamy yellow bottlebrush-like flowers, spike to 4 cm long; sweet-scented.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 21 894 1 1-2 5 5-7

99 98 100

99 Lancewood/Satinwood, Nematolepis squamea subsp. squamea

Plant Type Low to medium shrub to small tree (1-6 m to 12 m)

Vegetation Communities Wet sclerophyll forest, riparian scrub

Flowers Flowers in small clusters in leaf axils, c. 1 cm diam, white.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 6 80 1-4 2 4-5 5-30

101 100 102

101 Musk/Musk Daisybush, Olearia argophylla

Plant Type Small tree, much branched from low height (5–15 m)

Vegetation Communities Wet sclerophyll forest, broadleaf shrubbery in canopy gaps and fern gullies

Flowers/other features Small (to c. 1 cm diam.), white ‘daisy’ flower in large terminal heads; large olive-green leaf, silvery-white below.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 3 75 1 2 5 0-15

103 102 104

103 Tallow-wood/Cheesewood, Pittosporum bicolor

Plant Type Small tree (to 14 m)

Vegetation Communities Wet sclerophyll forest, dry sclerophyll forest and woodland

Flowers Small bell-shaped, yellow with deep crimson or purple flushes.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 5 350 1 1-2 5 0

105 104 106

105 Common Dogwood, Pomaderris apetala subsp. apetala

Plant Type Small tree (to 10 m), often in dense thickets

Vegetation Communities Wet sclerophyll forest, mixed forest, riparian scrub

Flowers Lemon to yellow flowers with no petals in large heads.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 4 100 1 2-3 5 0-14

107 106 108

107 Christmas Mintbush, Prostanthera lasianthos var. lasianthos

Plant Type Shrub to small tree (2–6 m)

Vegetation Communities Wet sclerophyll forest, riparian scrub, canopy gaps and edges in mixed forest and rainforest

Flowers Prolific, white or pale lilac spotted with deep purple.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 5 150 1 1-2 1-5 0-6

109 108 110 109 Yellow Eye, Xyris operculata

Plant Type Rush-like plant (to 0.6 m)

Vegetation Communities Widespread on poorly-drained sites, especially sedgelands and wet heathlands

Flowers Bright yellow flowers on a leafless stem.

Floral Sequence J F M A M J J A S O N D NW N NE W SW SE

Floral Data Year Flowering Pollen Honey Yield Total Between Duration Total Sites Value (1-5) (kg/hive) Hives Flowering (months) 20 1590 1 1-2 1 0

111 110 112

111 Appendix 1 - Non-native flora The non-native flora form an interlinked mosaic with the native flora across the landscape. The non-native species are essential to hive nutrition and early build-up, and have traditionally been a mainstay of the industry. However, the resource is being subjected to rapid change through alterations to agricultural practice and environmental weed control.

The table provided below is indicative of species named by beekeepers as being important either nutritionally, as a honey source, or a pollinated crop.

Highlighted species are the most significant contributors statewide, being either accessed by >1,000 hives, with pollen values > 4, and/or a honey yield 5kg/hive.

113

112 Weeds Crops (C) / Horticulture Garden (all) Common Botanical Common Botanical Common Botanical Name Name Name Name Name Name Blackberry Rubus Apples Malus spp. Banana Passiflora fruticosus passionfruit tarminiana English Cytisus Apricots Prunus Blue Pacific Ceanothus sp Broom scoparius armeniaca Cape Weed Arctotheca Blackcurrants Ribes nigrum Garden Various calendula (cultivars) Flora Gorse Ulex Blueberries Vaccinium sp Home Various europaeus Berries Ragwort Senecio Cherries Prunus apetala Home Various jacobaea (cultivars) Orchards Salvation Echium Grapes Vitis vinifera Linden Tilia Jane/Patersons plantagineum (cultivars) europaea Curse Scotch Thistle Onopordum Lavender Lavandula sp Mallee Eucalyptus acanthium Gums spp. Spanish Heath Erica Loganberries Rubus spp. Pride of Echium lusitanica (cultivars) Madeira fastuosum Thistles Raspberries Rubus spp. various (cultivars) Tree Lucerne Chamaecytisus Strawberries palmensis Wild radish Raphanus Brassicas (C) Brassica spp. raphanistrum Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Wild turnip Brassica rapa Clover (C) Trifolium spp. subsp. campestris Yellow Tree Cytisus spp. Lotus Major Lotus major Trees Lucerne (C) Lucerne (C) Medicago Sycamore Acer pseudo- sativa platanus Garlic (C) Allium sativum Crack Salix fragilis Willow Mustard (C) Brassica Hawthorn Crataegus juncea monogyna Poppies (C) Papaver Pussy Salix discolor somniferum Willow Potatoes (C) Solanum Weeping Salix tuberosum Willow babylonica Pyrethrum Tanacetum (C) cinerariifolium White lucerne Medicago sativa

114

113 Appendix 2 - Leatherwood predictive extent A spatial analysis of the existing leatherwood resource using Natural Values Atlas (NVA) site records, and photo- interpreted (PI) and old-growth forest type mapping, was used to identify the potential leatherwood resource in Tasmania (Leaman et al. 2008).

This work has advanced the simplistic approach used in the field guide (i.e. using the NVA site records as a surrogate for species distribution) and provided a more sophisticated stratification based on forest type and elevation.

The analysis of the resource identified 1.09 million hectares of forest likely to contain leatherwood; 64% of the predicted leatherwood resource is considered theoretically accessible, and 36% of the currently accessible leatherwood is theoretically used for beekeeping.

The mapping has stratified the leatherwood resource into four productivity classes based on forest typing and elevation: very high (1), high (2), moderate (3) and low (4). The analysis used an average bee foraging range of 3 km to determine accessible forest from established roads.

The map shows the modelled extent of the resource and its current use, based on hive sites and the applied 3 km foraging buffer. This provides an indication of potential gaps that may exist in the use of the resource.

115 114 Summary of theoretical accessibility and utilisation of leatherwood. Leatherwood Productivity Class TOTAL ('000) (ha) 1 2 3 4 Area (ha) 344 333 241 172 1,090 Accessible (ha) 212 218 163 103 696 Utilised (ha) 95 72 57 27 251 % of area accessible 62 65 68 60 64 % of accessible utilised 45 33 35 26 36

Distribution of the leatherwood resource (Eucryphia lucida and E. milliganii) currently used for beekeeping (Leaman et al. 2008).

116

115 References Leaman, T., Gao, R. and Hickey, J. (2008). Changes to oldgrowth forest management in Tasmanian state forests and implications for the leatherwood nectar resource. A Report to the TCFA Implementation Committee, Forestry Tasmania.

Leech, M. (2005). Apiary Industry Profile. Forest and Forest Industry Council, Tasmania.

Wapstra, H., Wapstra, A., Wapstra, M. and Gillfedder, L. (2005). The Little Book of Common Names for Tasmanian Plants. Department of Primary Industries and Water, Hobart.

117 116 References Leaman, T., Gao, R. and Hickey, J. (2008). Changes to oldgrowth forest management in Tasmanian state forests and implications for the leatherwood nectar resource. A Report to the TCFA Implementation Committee, Forestry Tasmania.

Leech, M. (2005). Apiary Industry Profile. Forest and Forest Industry Council, Tasmania.

Wapstra, H., Wapstra, A., Wapstra, M. and Gillfedder, L. (2005). The Little Book of Common Names for Tasmanian Plants. Department of Primary Industries and Water, Hobart.

117 117 A Field Guide to Native Flora Used by Honeybees in Tasmania By Mark Leech. Pub. No. 09/149 This pocket field guide is intended to Materials presented here build on the 2004 provide a user-friendly tool for beekeepers Apiary Census and 2005 Apiary Industry to help identify Tasmanian native flora Profile undertaken in Tasmania by the Forest likely to be accessed by and beneficial to and Forest Industry Council and the Apiary honeybees. It is an essential element of a Working Group. suite of products that describe Tasmania’s honeybee industry and the floral resources Rural Industries accessed by honeybees. Research & Development Corporation PO Box 4776 The National Workshop on the Effects of KINGSTON ACT 2604 Honey Bees on the Environment identified the need for each state to develop a Level 2, 15 National Circuit beekeeping resource database to assist BARTON ACT 2600 the beekeeping industry and relevant Ph: 02 6271 4100 national and state government departments Fax: 02 6271 4199 when determining beekeeper usage of government-controlled lands. Email: [email protected] Web: www.rirdc.gov.au Bookshop: www.rirdc.gov.au or phone 1300 634 313

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