May we get political for a moment? PAGE 2

September 2014 Volume 25 Three INDIGENOTES VOLUME 25 NUMBER 3 Epacris impressa, Common Heath. Photo: Brian Bainbridge President’s letter The vote for Victoria’s flora and fauna ICTORIA’S floral emblem, the Common Heath, election, and I search in vain for a specific policy relating to the is far more familiar than it’s faunal counterpart, the environment on the Coalition’s own websites today. Leadbeater’s Possum. But even common species have A number of bodies are pushing for positive environmental beenV made vulnerable by the actions of this government. policies from our parties. You can read about the Great Can I get political for a moment? Forest National Park proposal in this issue of Indigenotes and The current Victorian Government’s record on biodiversity Environment Victoria has a top ten list available on its website. matters has left a lot to be desired, that is, unless you are a Some key policies and issues IFFA committee property developer, coal miner or have a vested interest exploiting has nominated include: our natural resources. a review of recent changes to the Native Vegetation Environment Victoria’s report card updated in early August on • 1 Framework. Although it may be difficult to reverse all of the Victorian State Government , listing decisions and actions the recent changes, it is urgent that we stop the reliance on they deem have helped or destroyed the environment shows the ‘fairy-tale modeling’; anti-environmental actions outnumbering the pro-environmental • permanent removal of cattle from the Alpine National Park. actions by four to one. A crude separation of biodiversity from This includes an immediate halt to the ‘scientific grazing the ‘brown’ issues of energy, waste and water, (while recognizing trial’ at Wonnangatta Valley and other areas of our parks that these are intimately connected) makes the contrast even system; more stark. A mere 5 positive actions/announcements against • an immediate halt to the bogus ecological thinning project 34 negative relating specifically to biodiversity. A scan of the in our Red Gum National Parks, which is really just logging environment ministry’s media announcements on the Coalition’s in disguise; own website only corroborated this dismal record as compiled • a strong policy to protect National Parks from by Environment Victoria. Positive announcements, such as inappropriate development; the addition of 10,000 hectares to the state’s reserve system in • scrapping of the East-West Link that combines destruction 2011, are revealed to include offsets for clearances resulting from of grassy woodland remnants at Royal Park with increased bushfire protection measures. consolidation of polluting cars over public transport; But even this numerical comparison doesn’t tell half the story. • a call for evidence-based management of national and state Among the anti-environmental actions are some that have gutted parks, providing the baseline data we need to identify the environmental protection processes, expertise and resources, resource needed to secure these vital places for the future; arguably placing our entire biota on the ‘vulnerable’ list. Among • a commitment to restoring funding and staffing for parks the more serious: management. • January 2013 saw the government planning sweeping • a new project for State-owned Sugar Gum plantations to new powers for the Planning Minister to circumvent provide sustainable firewood for all Victorians. environmental approval processes, these were implemented late last year; Last year, Age writer, Tom Arup, summed up his report card on • Introducing sweeping changes to Victoria’s national parks environmental performance of the current Victorian Govenrment allowing for 99-year private leases in May 2013; for the Age with this statement; “Ultimately the Coalition has • Repeated job cuts and mergers of the agencies charged decided concern for the environment is not strong enough in the with managing national parks and reserves and of flora and electorate to swing significant votes”. fauna everywhere. I hope we can prove them wrong on this point. Whichever way you choose to vote in November, please seek out the policies of I’d like to compare the policies of the major parties contesting the parties (if you can!) and advocate to your local members for a the upcoming election in November, however, no formal better deal for our flora and fauna. platform was taken by the Coalition government to the 2010 Brian Bainbridge

Environment Victoria “Their performance so far”, web page http://environmentvictoria.org.au/envirowatch/performance#.VAJIghccRD8 Accessed 30th August 2014

Saturday 11 October, 9.30am-noon Sunday 12 October, 11am-2pm blindness Wedding Bush Festival Greenlink Sandbelt competition at the Grange Heathland Indigenous nursery winner Walking tours, free BBQ, free plant. Open day The winner of the Ricinocarpos pinifolius puts on most Cheap tubestock (most sourced competition in the March spectacular floral show in the sandbelt. from the Grange Heathland) issue of Indigenotes and the Grange offers four vegetation See how simple propagation can be, get is Chris Walker-Cook. classes in six and a half hectares. your hands dirty, sample the volunteer Congratulations Chris, Osborne Ave, off Westall Rd, experience. And the free BBQ. you win a year’s free Clayton South. membership. 587 Heatherton Road, Clayton South. Enquiries: Mick, 0403 587 611 Enquiries: Louise, 0488 004 012 2 INDIGENOUS FLORA AND FAUNA ASSOCIATION INC Vale Elizabeth Henry IFFA and the wider environment movement has lost a valued friend and committee member with the passing of Liz Henry, activist, advocate and passionate indigephile.

IZ was born in July 1945, the third child of four Flora and Fauna Association (IFFA). She soon learned that in the Jenkin clan, with three brothers. Growing seed collected in an area should be used to revegetate that area, up in a Methodist family, her parents encouraged which was contrary to the practices at NRCL at that time. theL children to attend church and Sunday School. Liz Liz became an environmental activist and advocate. She took enjoyed the fellowship in the youth group and also singing on a role as a committee member for IFFA and volunteered her in the choir. She went on to develop an eclectic taste in time and knowledge as an Indigenous Nursery Representative music and enjoyed different sports, playing basketball and on the committee. Over the following years Liz regularly cricket. She also had a love of animals, particularly cats. assisted with activities and events, until she resigned last year. During the 1950s Liz’s dad would take Liz and younger Attending many seminars and workshops, often hosted brother, John, up into the Dandenongs for bush walks, by Greening - Victoria, and some by IFFA particularly along the then disused Puffing Billy railway line. or Save the Bush, but all relating to flora and fauna, or Her dad had been involved in the timber trade and had learned environmental weeds, Liz prepared and presented talks for how to identify various eucalypts along with their botanical friends groups and school groups, passing on her knowledge names. It was here that Liz began to appreciate the natural and passion for sound environmental management. bush with it’s lilies, orchids and native heath, Epacris impressa. During the 1990s Liz also became actively involved in Also during the 1950s Liz’s family had annual summer the Skene’s Creek Advancement Society, collecting seed, holidays, renting a home at Skene’s Creek, near Apollo propagating and revegetating the local area as well as removing Bay. Her parents purchased the adjoining block and built a environmental weeds and contributing to the committee. modest holiday home in 1960. Liz would often go walking Her commitment grew: supporting local bodies or driving through the Otways. And so began some five including Whitehorse Council, City of Knox – Natural decades of involvement in local environmental learning. Heritage Working Group and Parks Wide and extending After she successfully completed fifth form her endeavours to the Colac - Otway Shire. (matriculation), Liz gained employment with the Bank Liz had a short contract with Operation Revegetation, of NSW in Collins St. Melbourne and became one of (the nursery arm of the Knox Environment Society). the first female tellers in the banking system. During Liz also prepared a workshop paper on environmental this time Liz met Peter and they married in 1970. weeds which was presented to members of interested Her next employer was a motor engineer who specialised friends groups. Liz then worked for a long period as in mini minors. This enabled her to buy her first car – coordinator at Bungalook Nursery, Whitehorse Community yes, a mini. Liz then worked a few more years in smaller Indigenous Plant Project, which supported many local offices in secretarial and book-keeping duties. environmental activities and plantings. Liz became a skilled Liz’s appreciation of the environment and horticulture and dedicated indigenous nursery worker. Her detailed developed during this period. She was passionate to pursue a propagation notes are a testament to her work there. career in environmental work and in 1987 enrolled with the Over two decades Liz also capably assisted her brother Australian Horticultural Correspondence School in Lilydale, John as an office manager and bookkeeper. She died at as the waiting list for Burnley College was too long. Liz her home in August. She lived a full and active life. started working at the Natural Resources Conservation League Liz has been an active and valued member of IFFA. (NRCL) nursery in Springvale, employed as a propagator, An enthusiastic ambassador for the environment, “pricking out” and “potting on” by the thousands! having strong conservation priorities and ethics. Liz joined two Melbourne-based environmental A truly passionate Indigephile! organisations: Greenlink Box Hill and and the Indigenous Michele Arundell IFFA’s Annual General Meeting 30 November, 2:30pm Hear Brian Bainbridge at Balwyn Library speak on Yam Daisies All members are invited to attend Microseris sp. were a staple food of Aboriginal people — we need as many as possible to in South east Australia and are plants of considerable come as new rules specify a larger cultural significance for Aboriginal people today. They are quorum than in the past. also of high conservation and evolutionary significance. Please consider nominating for Brian will relate findings by the Merri Creek Management a position on the committee. Committee from monitoring remnant populations in the Nominations need to go to the north of Melbourne and the results of actions to build Secretary. Guests are welcome too. populations that has involved a wide array of stakeholders.

Nomination forms at http://www.iffa.org.au/IFFA-files/IFFA%20nomination%20form.pdf

INDIGENOTES VOLUME 25 NUMBER 3 3 Cultivating seed Iramoo Nursery. Photo: Cassandra Twomey By Naomie Sunner, IFFA’s Indigenous Nurseries Liaison Officer

T’S SPRING, and as revegetation crews, Friends groups the nursery, each plot has hundreds of individuals of the same and Landcare groups finish off their plantings for the year species, ensuring cross pollination and genetic diversity. The and prepare for the summer ahead, indigenous nurseries series of plots are fenced to protect them from being eaten by prepareI for their main propagation season over summer. rabbits and wallabies, and mulched to minimise weed invasion However winter is a slow time in a nursery’s propagation and protect the soil from drying out in summer. These plots shed, so this winter I took some time away from my own ensure easy access to healthy, diverse seed of tens of species, and propagation activities at the Victorian Indigenous Nurseries beats battling the heat in dense grasslands searching for seed! Coop (VINC) to visit other indigenous nurseries and meet However not all nurseries have access to space to plant up the people who ran them. I was privileged to be given the seed production areas, so for small herb species, seed production VIP tour of each nursery I visited and to talk to the passionate areas in pots can suffice. At VINC we have a number of staff and volunteers about their successes and challenges. species in pots specifically for seed production that are either One challenge that a few nurseries face, particularly those rare or difficult to collect seed from in the wild. For most of in urban or urban fringe areas, is seed availability. As areas these species, we keep 50 - 300 plants for seed collection over once prized for their abundance of seed every summer summer and rotate the population yearly, supplementing become degraded or developed, many nurseries are losing with wild collections every few years. However there are access to healthy populations of local plants to collect from. some rare species that we are lucky to produce 10 plants of Some nursery staff have also noted that ‘improved’ native a year. For those species, we are keeping a permanant potted species being used on freeways and offset plantings have the seed production area to add to each year, with the aim of potential to cross breed with local forms. To address these eventually having a diverse genetic population to grow from. issues, nurseries are relying on seed production areas either Of course the best method of ensuring quality local seed created within the nursery in pots or on nearby sites. is to protect and maintain the sites where these plants live. Seed production areas vary according the space available to At CRISP (Community of Ringwood Indigenous Species the nursery and the type of plant, but always consider the need Plant) Nursery, staff and volunteers go out one day every for a healthy, genetically diverse population. The requirements week to a local site to help land managers and Friends groups are different depending on how the species is pollinated and with their work. Through this they develop an intimate how diverse the original population is, but at a minimum knowledge of their local sites and how their plants grow Florabank’s1 guidelines suggest that 100 individual plants from in the wild, and are able to advise on planting selection to 20 adults are needed to ensure a healthy seed production area. ensure they have viable populations to collect from. Here’s how some nurseries have addressed the challenge. However they do it, indigenous nurseries are no Iramoo nursery in St Albans grows plants for the grasslands longer relying purely on seed collected from the wild on the western basalt plains. While many of the herbs and and are becoming more involved in the cultivation of wildflowers within the local grasslands are declining in numbers their plants for the purposes of seed production and in the wild, Iramoo’s staff and volunteers have created dense ensuring the viability of local forms into the future. plantings of these species. In a previously mown area behind 1 Florabank, http://www.florabank.org.au/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=879

4 INDIGENOUS FLORA AND FAUNA ASSOCIATION INC Why we need the Great Forest National Park Uniting isolated patches of national and state parks in a single system will boost survival chances for threatened species, reduce long-term fire risk, benefit the economy and enhance water supply to Melbourne, explains Karl Just. Photos by Don Butcher

REMEMBER the moment when I heard that some of the trees find it very difficult to recruit in the dark of the forest floor. tallest trees on the planet had been killed by the February And so they have adapted this ‘phoenix-like’ strategy, allowing fire 2009 bushfires. I had been lucky enough to visit these to kill the parent so that the next generation has a chance to recruit Mountain Ash, Eucalyptus regnans, forests within the Wallaby by arising from the ashes. In the aftermath of a bushfire a mass of CreekI closed catchment several times in the years leading up to the seed falls to the ash-covered ground, which is open to sunlight due fire, and they were trips I won’t forget. to the removal of the vegetation by fire. In this way the trees can As a student some Parks Victoria rangers took my class on a perpetuate themselves, giving the gift of life to their offspring so tour throughout the catchment and showed us some of the most they can carry on the ancient lineage. significant areas of forest. This included some record-holding trees But the death of the Wallaby Creek trees was only part of a that were some of the tallest flowering plants in the world, with much more concerning story that began to emerge once the smoke the largest reaching over 90 meters. It was totally awe-inspiring to had cleared. The Kilmore East Fire that burnt through Wallaby walk amongst these trees, complete with an understorey of lush Creek eventually joined with another major bushfire and burnt all tree ferns and ancient wet forest shrubs. But equally special to me the way to the east of Marysville. In addition to the tragic loss of was another stand nearby that included some truly ancient trees human life and property that ensued, the fire burnt through many that were believed to have originated sometime around the 1730s. other stands of old growth rainforest and Mountain Ash forest, These relics were shorter than the younger tall trees, as Mountain including equally significant stands in the O’Shannassy closed Ash typically begins to lose its crown with age, but at the base they catchment. In the end, the 2009 wildfires were to have a serious were huge, and it took many of us touching hands to reach right impact on the old-growth estate, significantly reducing the area of around the trunk. Many people would be surprised to know that old Mountain Ash forest left on mainland Australia. this amazing area of tall forest was in the ranges just north-east of When some of the first European explorers such as Hume and Whittlesea. Hovell first visited the central highlands in the early nineteen But after multiple earlier bushfires in the Victorian highlands century, it is believed that large areas of the forest were what we managed to miss this area (including in 1851, 1898, 1926 and now define as ‘old growth’. It would have been truly amazing to 1939) the 2009 fire tragically burnt through the entire Mount see, thousands upon thousands of hectares of old, giant trees. But Disappointment Plateau. It was a shock to hear the news, that as Europeans moved in they began to cut the forests down, first for something so special had been decimated within a matter of hours. timber and later on an industrial scale to sell mostly for woodchips. But this was bound to happen, as Eucalyptus regnans isn’t called This correlated with a significant increase in the incidence of an ‘ash’ for nothing. Whereas the majority of eucalypts have the extensive wildfires, with the 1939 fire alone affecting the majority ability to re-shoot from lignotubers after a fire, most Mountain of the highlands. Some experts believe this increase in wildfire has Ash trees are killed (the same goes with Alpine Ash, Eucalyptus largely been caused by the removal of old-growth and replacement delegatensis). This is part of their fascinating ecology, as the trees with young re-growth. You see, an old growth Mountain Ash are so tall and their associated understorey so dense that immature Forest develops a complex understorey of ferns and shrubs that

INDIGENOTES VOLUME 25 NUMBER 3 5 retain a high level of moisture. This understorey is far less likely to burn, or creates a patchy burn that leaves large areas of unburnt refuge. Young disturbed forest on the other hand is characterised by thick regeneration that is often dominated by disturbance-promoted species that are more flammable than the original vegetation. Several decades after being clear-felled a Mountain Ash forest can resemble a thicket of giant match-sticks, with dense young trees over an equally thick and flammable understorey. The disturbance generates major structural and compositional changes that lead to an increased flammability of the forest. These changes have been exacerbated by the increase in fires caused by accidents or arsonists: with people now living refuges. Scientists are now warning that unless something all through the forests year round and constantly using fire for is done very soon we are going to lose this species to different purposes, fires are much more likely to escape into the extinction. bush. But since the 2009 bushfire, the state government’s The legacy of the last two centuries is that we have lost nearly response has been appalling. Instead of protecting the entire area of old growth ash forest and huge areas of cool these last refuges for the Leadbeaters Possum, they have temperate rainforest. Current estimates are that there is as little as allowed Vicforests to go in for the kill, logging into 1.5% of the original extent of old growth ash forest remaining, the heart of the remaining area of unburnt forest. This comprised of less than 2000 hectares spread over 147 separate has been particularly apparent around the Toolangi patches. area, which is currently an unburnt refuge of tall forest This is very bad news surrounded by for the fauna of this ‘In the past ten years VicForests has sold around areas devastated iconic habitat, as a diverse by Black array of species is totally $300 million worth of publicly owned pulp and sawlogs. Saturday (many dependent on old-growth Return to the public purse has been just over $5 million. call it ‘the hole in forest for their survival, To survive ten years, the corporation has required generous the doughnut’). largely due to the reliance Despite a strong on hollow-bearing trees subsidies (as defined by the WTO) including grants of campaign to protect these for habitat. It takes over $24.75 million and low interest loan facilities provided by forests, including coupes 150 years for the ash where the Leadbeaters trees to develop suitable the Treasury Corporation of Victoria has been recorded in the hollows. The hollow- past, VicForests have been dependant fauna of the ash forests includes such magnificent carving up remaining habitat, with full support from the state species as the Greater Glider, Petauroides volans, a large possum government. I think many Victorians would be alarmed to know that lives off a diet of eucalypt leaves and can glide up to 100 that the government is heavily subsidizing a forestry industry that meters between trees, the highly endangered Leadbeaters Possum, is not only making little to no profit for the state but that seems Gymnobelideus leadbeateri, which is Victoria’s faunal emblem, as determined to drive the State’s faunal emblem to extinction1. well as several rare forest owls. But the campaign against this vandalism of our natural estate The 2009 fire was particularly bad news for the Leadbeaters is growing stronger every day, and it is becoming increasingly Possum, as it burnt out many of its last remaining old-growth difficult for the government to ignore the message. David

6 INDIGENOUS FLORA AND FAUNA ASSOCIATION INC Lindenmayer, the Mount Disappointment forests in the west, as far as Eildon in chief expert on the the north, east of the Thomson Dam to the east and south all Leadbeaters possum the way to the edge of the Gippsland Plain. Not only would and one of Australia’s this significant increase in size greatly improve the viability and top forest ecologists, integrity of the reserve system, it would join up many existing quit from the reserves into one contiguous whole. This would greatly decrease Leadbeaters recovery edge effects around what are currently isolated patches of national team in disgust, saying and state parks surrounded by areas open to logging, instead that the government protecting them with large undisturbed buffers. was creating policies The creation of the park would be a great boost to the eco- that would lock in tourism industry and the potential economic gains are a stark the species extinction. contrast to the current loss-making timber industry. Successive He even published pro-forestry governments have never widely advertised the an article in an significance of these forests, perhaps being uneasy that tourists are international journal likely to come across recently cut old-growth ruins, still smoking claiming the Victorian from the ‘clean-up’ fires. Few Melbournians are aware that within Liberal Government an hour’s drive from the city they can wander through spectacular could be the first ever forests dominated by the largest flowering plants in the world. to intentionally wipe The potential for day trips for locals and tourists are obvious. out a species. This bit of Another significant benefit would be much greater protection international scrutiny for Melbourne’s water resources. Although several large blocks finally got the Liberal are currently closed to logging with the aim of protecting water Government moving, catchments, large areas are also logged, including in the vicinity and they have since of Thomson Dam. Re-growing ash forest uses far more water been feebly trying to than an old forest, and so timber harvesting is reducing the net piece together a credible water yield to the catchment. This factor in conjunction with the conservation policy for increase in sediment run-off and the damage to gullies that occurs the Leadbeaters. However the final recommendations provided during harvesting operations leaves little sense in allowing logging by the committee set up by the government have recently been in our catchment areas. described as ‘crap’ by a leading representative of the Friends of Leadbeaters Possum. It appears that the terms of reference So what is our vision for the future? provided to the committee stipulated that reduction in logging Do we want to continue to support a logging industry that was not to be considered. Because that is the driving factor for costs money to the state and is driving species to extinction, or do decline, they never had a hope of creating an effective policy. we want to protect and manage these forests and promote them But now the call is growing for an inspiring vision for the to the world? The choice seems obvious. central highlands, one that doesn’t include woodchips, bulldozers To find out more about the proposal visit and extinction. Lindenmayer and a host of others, including the http://www.greatforestnationalpark.com.au/park-plan.html Wilderness Society and My Environment, have proposed a new At this site you can pledge your support by signing up your National Park for the region dubbed the ‘Great Forest National name, which will help to give the government a strong message Park’. The proposal is for an addition of 355,000 hectares to that Victorians want this park. Even better, write a letter to your the 170,00 hectares that are currently protected in the central politicians. After all, it is state election year and the major parties highlands. The Park would span a very large area, from the may be looking for proposals to win votes.

INDIGENOTES VOLUME 25 NUMBER 3 7 K, SO THERE we were, a year ago, just starting work on our new garden, digging. Lots of digging. Some involving excavators, but right now I’m thinking of theO simple down-on-your-hands-and-knees sort, with one of them little mattocks, chopping away at the soil, through the four inches of topsoil and into the mullock that my street was built on back in 1959. Mullock is the waste left over from mining and Ballarat had piles of it prior to the 1950s. Full of quartz dust, euphemistically called sand, that used to blow about on dry windy days and get in everyone’s eyes. Big piles. In 1951 they carted tons of it up into the hills to build the White Swan Dam and still had enough left over to level my new indigenous garden project, but this is how things are in the deserted mine sites dotted around the city. Including Black Ballarat. History? You’re standing in it. Hill Flat, where my street is. And there’s a lot more history, too, about how Black Hill slowly See below what my street looked like in 1861: became a reserve as mining (and subsequent industries) wound That’s Black Hill in the background, so named because in down during the twentieth century. It’s now covered in pine trees, 1851, when Europeans first arrived, it was covered in dense thanks to several initiatives by the no-doubt-well-meaning Black forest. “The timber has all been stripped from it, and the radical Hill Progress Association, including a major push on Arbour Day operations of the Black Hill Gold Mining Co. have riven the hill 1917 that involved kids from several local schools and resulted in in twain and turned it from black to white.” (Guide to Ballarat, 1,000 pine trees planted in one day. Thanks, kids. 1890) Why white? Quartz. And slate. Tons of it. So, yes, my house backs onto a reserve. Thankfully, the part of And no, it didn’t take 40 years to strip it. There are drawings the reserve it backs onto isn’t covered in pine trees. I’ve knocked from 1853 that show nothing more than stumps and a few down the back fence and now my garden looks out onto, well, at saplings. And all that environmental destruction was done least it’s indigenous. Really dense stands of mostly manna gums, without machines. Mainly it was just a lot of men with mattocks with no middle or under-storey, planted as part of the City of and shovels. In late 1851 there were 5,000 men on the Ballarat Ballarat Linear Network of Communal Space (LINCS) program goldfields, roughly half of all the men in Victoria, all digging and about 15 years ago, which I’d love to know more about. When I chopping and cutting and sluicing. find out, I’ll let you know, but that’s enough background for now. I’m pretty sure my house is roughly in the middle of that Let’s get back to the digging. settling pond in the foreground. I had to have a soil test done I don’t know how many plants we’ve planted now, but those before I built the foundations for my shed, and they drilled down particular holes I was digging a year ago were memorable. They two metres and found only mullock. “This is all reclaimed land, were a little deeper than most – these particular plants were in around here,” the guy reckoned. super tubes – so I remember having to hack my way into the And how was it reclaimed? Enthusiastically, it would appear: mullock a bit further. These were special, and the fact that I had “Following the war years a new appreciation of the earthworks them at all showed how quickly people in the Ballarat indig that could be undertaken came with the development of scene accepted me into the fold. The two in super tubes were gargantuan machines that removed mountains in their path and so precious, they’d been growing for five years, they were much made the crooked straight.” (Mayor’s Report 1958-1959) bigger than the others, but even they didn’t seem to have more Yes, alright, this is a lot of background to a brief letter about than ten fronds each. Two fronds a year? How long was it going to be until I got a full head? Well, not that long, actually. A year later they’re already looking tussocky. I was told they’d take off once they were in the ground. What are they? Grass trees. How cool is that? And two types: Xanthorrhoea australis, the ones that grow trunks (eventually), and Xanthorrhoea minor, the ones that don’t. I’ve got twelve. Oh, my goodness, it’s too exciting. I’ll just go and have a little lie down. Apparently I’ll be lucky if the australises show any trunk at all before I die, but heck, I’ll be happy even if they don’t – all I want is a good head of fronds to stare at while they swing back and forth in the breeze in that mesmerising way they do. In the meantime they’ll teach me patience. Speaking of patience, guess what else I’ve got twelve of? Snow gums. Indigenous. How awesome is that? Neil Huybregts

8 INDIGENOUS FLORA AND FAUNA ASSOCIATION INC A novice’s garden design Creating a new garden can be rewarding and humbling, writes Ella Reavley VEN though I have always loved gardening and out the grass (during January while the soil was rock solid), we considered myself to have great taste and style in all things were ready to select our plants. While I wanted a very natural, plants, I realised earlier this year that I have in fact never rambling style of garden, Tristen was after something a bit more plantedE out a garden. I am 26 and have spent the last 8 years modern and refined - the compromise was in the selection of hopping from rental to rental, both interstate and in Victoria. plants; other than a Long-leaf Box (Eucalyptus goniocalyx), we For the most part, I have lived in units or ‘villas’. Single storey bought 4 varieties of strappy tussocks that would grow to a with a small outdoor patio or courtyard, with maybe a strip of maximum of 1.5m x 1.5m – Smooth Flax Lily (Dianella laevis), dirt somewhere Slender Spear-grass (Austrostipa scabra near the entrance ssp. falcata), Spiny-headed Mat-lily or front door. (Lomandra longifolia) and Large ‘Common areas’ Before Tussock-grass (Poa labillardieri). predominated, We agreed that a sense of uniformity where the plant in the plant choices would balance selection was out the natural/random placement made by some of plantings. The indigenous nursery anonymous for our location was the Victorian person long Indigenous Nurseries Cooperative ago, unloved by (VINC) in Fairfield, so we spent a current residents, morning choosing plants and came maintained by home with close to 30 tube stock. a gardening After some to-ing and fro-ing contractor, deciding the layout, an agreement was and frequently reached and plants were planted with a hosting the most natural mulch unappealing surround and plants to have a scattering ever been cultivated. After of rocks that Despite or perhaps were already because of these factors, on-site. The I became a travelling plant backyard lady. All of my precious was treated plant possessions were as a minor in pots, mounted on part of the various mediums, or in re-decorating: hanging baskets ready to we agreed cart around at the next on having impending move. While a lawn with of course my favourite surrounding species of plants are those mulched of the indigenous kind, garden beds they are not the best suited Photos: Ella Reavley and alternating to growing in pots and when your location changes frequently, Spiny-headed Mat-rush and Slender Spear-grass. We anticipate so will their status as being indigenous. Orchids and ferns are my the backyard to be a long term project, with potentially some vice, so I have amassed quite a collection that has travelled with re-levelling and removal of a rear garage, so our creative energy me for many years. has been saved for the time being. In the meantime, we have a Luckily and thankfully, my partner Tristen and I purchased our thousand and one ideas for the different ways to use and utilize first house late last year and finally I had a chance to show what our backyard, which we look forward to working on in the I was made of with the layout design and plant selection of our future. new garden. The house we purchased came with what I perceived The experience of putting in my first garden was rewarding, but to be a ‘blank canvas’ for a garden; all plants were exotic and so also quite humbling as I realised there is a real art in getting the were promptly and enthusiastically pulled out. These included layout and plant choices working together, and that loving and Dwarf Golden Oriental Thuja (Platycladus orientalis ‘aurea nana’), collecting plants doesn’t necessarily translate into gardening skills! Golden Diosma (Coleonema pulchrum aurea), French Lavender My hope for our garden is that it will contribute to supporting (Lavender dentate), a hibiscus, Slender Palm Lily (Cordyline stricta) our local ecology, that it will be visually appealing and potentially and noxious weed species like Broad-leafed Privet (Ligustrum inspire others to introduce some indigenous plants into their lucidum) and Sweet Pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum). gardens, that we can enjoy watching it change over the seasons The front yard was a lawn bordered by these plants, and we and years to come, and one day show our future children the agreed to turn this into one large, mulched garden bed. Once we smallest of examples of how effortlessly beautiful nature is, and had pulled out all of the existing plants, and painstakingly dug that there are ways to incorporate it into our modern, urban lives.

INDIGENOTES VOLUME 25 NUMBER 3 9 Almaleea, Ornduffia and other new names N OUR last Indigenotes we mentioned that a new I hope the list below helps guide you to some edition of Flora of Melbourne was soon to be published, of the name changes and find your most beloved and by now some of you may have replaced your plants in the new Flora of Melbourne. well-lovedI and battered 3rd (or 2nd, or 1st!) editions. TheFlora of Melbourne is known to some as the local ‘plant PREVIOUSLY NEW NAME bible’. Without this book the vast diversity of our local flora Acacia retinoides Acacia provincialis (Wirilda) would be largely unknown to anyone but professional botanists Pultenaea subumbellata Almaleea subumbellata (Wiry Bush-pea) and ecologists. The initial idea for the Flora started 31 years ago Elymus scaber Anthosachne scabra (Wheat Grass) with a group of people enthusiastic about locally indigenous plants, and the recently published 4th edition is the culmination Centipeda minima Centipeda minima of years of work by Marilyn Bull, George Stolfo and countless (split into 2 species) (Spreading Sneezeweed) Centipeda elatinoides others. I am sure I am not alone in having learnt a great deal (Elatine Sneezeweed) from this book – the fabulous drawings of George Stolfo and the ‘plain language’ plant descriptions have Clematis microphylla Clematis microphylla (Small-leaved Clematis) helped make the wonderful world of botany accessible Clematis decipiens (Slender Clematis) and become one my great passions in life. Convolvulus remotus Convolvulus angustissimus spp. As with the last edition in 2001, this edition brings much omnigracilis (Slender Bindweed) that is new. There is an expansion to the greater Melbourne Convolvulus erubescens Convovulus angustisissimus ssp. region, new species, and wonderful colourful photos alongside angustissimus (Blushing Bindweed) the line drawings. There are also many name changes to twist one’s tongue. The volunteers I work with (as well as Helichrysum sp. aff. rutidolepis Coronidium gunnianum (Pale Swamp (Lowland Swamps) Everlasting) colleagues and myself) are grappling with the new names, and we all secretly wonder if taxonomists were put on this Helichrysum scorpioides Coronidium scorpioides earth keep us on our toes! Below we’ve included a list of (Button Everlasting) some significant name changes to provide a guide. Dianella revoluta Dianella admixta (+2 others) (Spreading Flax-lily) One thing I’ve found very interesting about the name changes is that some species that were considered as separate are now Dianella longifolia var. longifolia Dianella laevis var. laevis (Pale Flax-lily) ‘lumped’ as variations or subspecies of a single species, for Dianella longifolia var. grandis Dianella sp. aff. longifolia example with local Convolvulus and Eutaxias, yet others have (Benambra) (Arching Flax-lily) been split up, for example Clematis microphylla. This will prove Eutaxia diffusa Eutaxia microphylla var. diffusa a challenge, but supports the case for identifying variations, (Spreading Eutaxia) subspecies, local forms and using local provenanced plants. Hakea sericea Hakea decurrens ssp. physocarpa While the new edition of the Flora attempts to include all the (Bushy Needlewood) progress in over the last 13 years, the understanding Psudeognaphalium luteoalbum Helichrysum luteoalbum of our local plants is still evolving. Some name changes have (Jersey Cudweed) already occurred after the book went to the printers! Melbourne Hovea linearis Hovea heterophylla (Common Hovea) had two remaining species in the Helichrysum genus after many Kunzea ericoides Kunzea leptospermoides former species were moved to new genera in earlier decades. (+ 2 further forms)(Yarra Burgan) Helichrysum sp. aff. rutidolepis (Lowland Swamps), mainly found Pratia pedunculata Lobelia pedunculata (Matted Pratia) on the Basalt Plains, is included in the Flora as Coronidium aff. Hymenanthera dentata Melicytus dentatus (Tree Violet) scorpioides (Lowland Swamps). However, in a recent edition of the botanical journal, Muelleria, the new name of Coronidium Myoporum viscosum Myoporum petiolatum (Sticky Boobialla) (Myoporum sp. 1) gunnianum’ has been selected to describe this species1. Villarsia reniformis Ornduffia reniformis In the Flora of Melbourne, all forms of Murnong or (Running Marsh Flower) Yam Daisy have been included as a single variable species, Microseris lanceolata. We have advice from Neville Walsh formosum Platylobium infecundum (split into 3 species) (Famine Flat-pea) from the Royal Botanic Gardens that they continue to Platylobium montanum spp. montanum recognise two Microseris species in Melbourne, the widespread (Mountain Flat-pea) ‘Foothills’ form (Microseris sp. 3) and the skinny Plains Yam Platylobium reflexum (Victorian Flat-pea) Daisy, Microseris scapigera. They consider that the name Austrodanthonia sp., Joycea sp., Rytidosperma sp. (Wallaby-grasses) ‘Microseris lanceolata’ belongs to a third species, the Alpine Notodanthonia sp. Yam Daisy, which does not occur in the Melbourne area. Halosarcia sp., Sclerostegia sp. Tecticornia sp. (Glassworts) Even though many of us are finding it a headache learning the Geranium solanderi Several species and further un-named new names, there can be fun to be had. At work we regularly and G. retrorsum forms! (Crane’s-bills) abbreviate the botanical names of plants, so that Lomandra longifolia becomes ‘Lom long‘, Poa labillardierei becomes ‘Poa 1Walsh, Neville, ‘A revision of the Coronidium scorpioides lab‘, and Coprosma quadrifida becomes ‘Cop squad‘. I now have (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae) complex’, Muelleria, v32, p16 - 33 new exciting names to find fun ways to learn, like the Wheat Naomie Sunner Grass, Anthosachne scabra (previously Elymus scaber), which I like to call ‘acne scab‘ (even though I do quite like the grass!).

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President: Brian Bainbridge Indigenous Nurseries Liaison Officer: Indigenotes is the newsletter of the Indigenous email: [email protected] 0458 938 945 Naomie Sunner, [email protected] Flora and Fauna Association. Views expressed Vice-President: Ella Reavley 0415 941 629 in Indigenotes are not necessarily those of email: [email protected] 0409 702 066 (ah) Fundraising Coordinator: vacant the Indigenous Flora and Fauna Association. Secretary: Ben North Ecological Information Coordinator: Articles are not peer reviewed [email protected] 0419 709 744 Karl Just, [email protected] Treasurer: Tania Sloan Committee members: Call for articles [email protected] Linda Bradburn, Michele Arundell Indigenotes is a newsletter by IFFA members for IFFA members. Stories, snippets, photos and Events Coordinator: vacant Indigenotes editor: reports from members are always welcome. If Webmaster: Lawrie Hanson Tony Faithfull, [email protected], 93860264 it’s something you’re doing with flora or fauna or [email protected] (03) 9416 7184 Indigenotes design: Mick Connolly habitat, write it down and send it to IFFA’s editor Student representative: Life member: Patricia Crowley at [email protected] Karen McGregor, [email protected]

INDIGENOTES VOLUME 25 NUMBER 3 11 Book review Flora of the Otway Plains and Ranges Volume 2 Enid Mayfield Reviewed by Pascale Pitot (pages 210-211) hen the first volume of Flora of the Otway Plain elucidating even for and Ranges, on “petaloid monocotyledons”, came beginners the differences out in 2006, it stole my heart straight away with between stipules, stipels, itsW amazing colour botanical drawings, as well as the clear bracts and bracteoles, so often and smart layout. Indeed the power of great botanical confused. Yet, the jump in the drawings is that you can position on the page different following pages to the individual elements of the plants, at scales of your choosing. 45 pea species organised over This way, all the important spotting characteristics 33 pages in alphabetical order can be laid out for easy viewing, often conveniently by genus may be disconcerting. A transcending the challenge of seasons. When finally in reminder on the introductory page presence of the live specimen, these botanical drawings also gently for peas that these genera have a quick guide you to ‘look in all the right places’. I must confess I had a visual reckoner on pages 21-22 may be few ah-ha moments that previous dichotomous keying had not of assistance. Each of the 20 genera, on their own page, are brought on; somewhat more enjoyable too! described with more details guiding the eventual identification; Recently, many excellent plant identification guides have so, overall, this lack of cross-referencing is a small detail. made judicious use of colour digital printing and appealing Another user-friendly feature is the juxtaposition of similar photographs next to informative paragraphs to guide plants to sort one from the other with a quick visual comparison. identification, setting new colour standards. However I believe A great example, page 247, presents geraniums and pelargoniums Enid Mayfield trumps this feat with lovingly set drawings. highlighting a range of differences throughout the life cycle. Even Certainly, good photo selection can highlight ‘prominent’ challenging families like the daisies become accessible to all. I am differences. For example the deeper notches in the petals of the tempted to think that even total beginners may be able to get to large Kangaroo, Solanum laciniatum, compared to Solanum species, even within the 14 different species of senecio (fireweeds) aviculare (here on page 368) can equally be captured in photos. covered across pages 109-117. Nevertheless, when the details get smaller and to be observed in several places, drawings can achieve more than photos. A great A similar layout is used for each family, genus or species example can be found with the treatment of Wood sorrels presented and brings predictability. The (of course beautifully (pages 301-302) where (small) hair’s direction (up or down) in illustrated!) glossary at the back is of great help too. There is so various places helps distinguish between similar species. much for anybody to discover in this enticing volume including some related fauna information. The first volume is a great resource on, for instance, orchids and lilies as well as a great inspiration to go to the Otways. However, Clearly Enid Mayfield created a new standard in plant around 75% of the species so faithfully presented had little identification resources, accessible and relevant to beginners and relevance to my day-to-day city dweller’s life. Not so for volume practiced plant lovers alike. 2 on shrubby and herbaceous dicotyledons! Its 420 pages for a Would it be too greedy to ask for more? Similar books for other total of 480 species have a much broader appeal for bush lovers in bioregions would certainly be welcomed. However my dream Melbourne or other parts of Victoria. Not everything of course is volume would cover for Victoria, Enid style, the main families covered, Eucalypts being an obvious exception. and genera, both mono and dicotyledons. Volumes for large In the same spirit of simplicity for the general public, families families like (peas and wattles) for the whole of Victoria are organised in alphabetical order in the remainder of the book, come at a close second best. which permits quick finding. However, at times cross-referencing In any case, browsing through the current volume is guaranteed between pages would enhance navigation; such as in the to inform and also delight if, like Enid clearly does, you section on peas. It starts with another beautiful and clear visual appreciate plants wherever you live. presentation of this group’s characteristics Thank you Enid!

Bossiaea cinerea

CONTENTS President’s letter 2 Why we need a New botanical names 10 Great Forest Park 5-7 Vale Liz Henry; AGM notice 3 IFFA membership Letter from the ’Rat 8 application form; Seed availability in nurseries 4 A novice’s garden design INDIGENOUS9 contact FLORA AND us FAUNA ASSOCIATION11 INC