Strelitzia Nicolai (Strelitziaceae): a New Species, Genus and Family Weed Record for New South Wales

Home , Bidjigal Reserve, Ravenala, Strelitzia, Strelitziaceae, Strelitzia nicolai, Strelitzia reginae

Volume 20: 1–3 elopea Publication date: 30 January 2017 T dx.doi.org/10.7751/telopea11022 Journal of Plant Systematics plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/Telopea • escholarship.usyd.edu.au/journals/index.php/TEL • ISSN 0312-9764 (Print) • ISSN 2200-4025 (Online)

Strelitzia nicolai (Strelitziaceae): a new species, genus and family weed record for New South Wales

Marco F Duretto1,4, Seanna McCune1, Reece Luxton2 and Dennis Milne3

1National Herbarium of New South Wales, Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. 2Clarence Valley Council, Locked Bag 23, Grafton, NSW 2460, Australia. 3Yuraygir Landcare, Minnie Water, NSW 2462, Australia. 4Author for correspondence: [email protected]

Abstract

Strelitzia nicolai Regel & Körn. (Strelitziaceae), a native of South Africa, is newly recorded as a sparingly naturalised weed for New South Wales and represents new family, generic and species records for the state. Descriptions, notes and identification key are provided for the family, genus and species.

Introduction

Strelitzia nicolai Regel & Körn. (Giant White Bird of Paradise or Natal Wild Banana; Strelitziaceae), a native of South Africa, is a common horticultural subject in eastern Australia. Recently a small colony of plants was discovered at Minnie Water (c. 60 km NNE of Coffs Harbour, North Coast, New South Wales). The colony is of note as some plants were 8 m tall (suggesting they had been there for some time) and that they were setting viable seed. Seedlings were found within this population and Milne and Luxton have observed that the species is being found in increasing numbers on council land and in National Parks of the area. The species has also been recorded from the Murri-yanna Track, Bidjigal Reserve (North Rocks, NW Sydney) in 2006, with vouchers lodged at the National Herbarium of New South Wales. This latter population consisted of approximately 20 seedlings. This area was visited by Duretto in 2015 and the population is extant with roughly the same number of plants. There were plants of different sizes (30–250 cm tall, the height being mostly leaf length) suggesting that they were of different ages and thus recruitment events. In addition it was noted that the plants were found not only along the track but scattered in the forest in wetter areas to a few 10’s of metres from the track. No mature plants were seen though plants are growing in private gardens bordering the reserve and these may be the seed source. The Atlas of Living Australia (http://www.ala.org.au/) and NSW BioNet (http://www.bionet.nsw.gov.au/) both have a few additional observational sightings of this species from the Sydney and Newcastle areas but with very little information. It would appear that Strelitzia nicolai has become sparingly naturalised in at least two localities in New South Wales. The species is well known and large and so awkward to collect. It may be underrepresented in Herbaria as people tend not to collect and send in familiar and/or large plants for identification. The species is sparingly naturalised in south-eastern Queensland (Queensland Government 2015).

The descriptions provided below were compiled from living material and the descriptions given in Wright (1913),The descriptions Dyer (1976) provided and Anderson below were (1998). compiled from living material and the descriptions given in Wright (1913), Dyer (1976) and Anderson (1998). Strelitziaceae (K.Schum.) Hutch. Strelitziaceae (K.Schum.) Hutch. Arborescent suckering plants or acaulescent plants with dichotomously branched stem. Leaves alternate, distichous;Arborescent sheath suckering without plants distinct or acaulescent ligule; petiole plants distinct, with indistinctdichotomously or absent; branched blade stem.entire, Leaves midrib alternate, distinct, lateraldistichous; veins sheath closely withoutset and parallel. distinct Inflorescence ligule; petiole a terminaldistinct, orindistinct lateral thyrsus, or absent; bearing blade cincinnate entire, midrib flower distinct, clusters inlateral axils veins of spathaceous closely set and bracts parallel. on an Inflorescence indeterminate a terminalmain axis. or Flowers lateral thyrsus, bisexual, bearing trimerous, cincinnate heterochlamydeous, flower clusters zygomorphic,in axils of spathaceous subtended bracts by carinate on an indeterminate bracteoles. Sepals main 3, axis.free orFlowers more orbisexual, less adnate trimerous, to petals. heterochlamydeous, Petals 3, variously connate,zygomorphic, equal subtended or very unequal. by carinate Stamens bracteoles. 5 or Sepals 6, staminodes 3, free or moreabsent; or anthersless adnate basifixed, to petals. elongate, Petals 3, 2-thecate, variously 4-sporangiate.connate, equal Ovary or very inferior, unequal. 3-locular, Stamens with 5 ordeeply 6, staminodes sunken septal absent; nectaries; anthers ovules basifixed, anatropus, elongate, 1 to numerous2-thecate, on4-sporangiate. axile placenta; Ovary style inferior, filiform. 3-locular, Fruit a dehiscent with deeply capsule. sunken Seeds septal inoperculate, nectaries; arillate, ovules withanatropus, a 1-layered, 1 to numerous starchless perisperm,on axile placenta; with copious style filiform. starchy Fruit endosperm. a dehiscent capsule. Seeds inoperculate, arillate, with a 1-layered, starchless perisperm, with copious starchy endosperm. The naturalised species of Strelitziaceae are distinguished from other plant families in New South Wales by usuallyThe naturalised being arborescent, species of Strelitziaceaehaving large banana-likeare distinguished leaves from (usually other > plant1 m long families including in New petiole) South Walesarranged by distichouslyusually being and arborescent, with an elliptic having lamina large and banana-like a main midrib, leaves and (usually the large > 1 flowers.m long Someincluding species petiole) in Strelitzia arranged are notdistichously arborescent and but with these an elliptic are not lamina naturalised and a andmain can midrib, be distinguished and the large by flowers. forming Some large species clumps in of Strelitzia large leaves are andnot arborescentthe large, showy but these and unequalare not naturalised tepals. and can be distinguished by forming large clumps of large leaves and the large, showy and unequal tepals. The family consists of three taxa native to southern Africa (Strelitzia, Bird of Paradise), Madagascar (Ravenala madagascariensisThe family consists Sonn., of three Travellers taxa native Palm) to andsouthern South Africa America (Strelitzia (Phenakospermum, Bird of Paradise), guyannense Madagascar (Rich.) (Ravenala Endl. ex Miq.)madagascariensis (Anderson 1998).Sonn., StrelitziaTravellers and Palm) Ravenala and South are common America in ( Phenakospermumhorticulture and only guyannense the former (Rich.) appears Endl. to beex Miq.)naturalised (Anderson while 1998).the latter Strelitzia may persist and Ravenala from dumped are common garden in refuse. horticulture and only the former appears to be naturalised while the latter may persist from dumped garden refuse.

Key to genera Ravenala and Strelitzia (Strelitziaceae) Key to genera Ravenala and Strelitzia (Strelitziaceae) 1 Petals very unequal, the anterior pair connivent into a large sagittate structure with a central groove 1 enclosing Petals very stamens unequal, and the style; anterior posterior pair connivent petal small into and a largescalelike; sagittate arborescent structure or with not ...... a central groove Strelitzia enclosing stamens and style; posterior petal small and scalelike; arborescent or not ...... Strelitzia 1: Petals ± equal in shape though posterior one slightly smaller, not connivent; arborescent ...... Ravenala 1: Petals ± equal in shape though posterior one slightly smaller, not connivent; arborescent ...... Ravenala Strelitzia Banks, Strelitzia reginae [plate] (1788). Strelitzia Banks, Strelitzia reginae [plate] (1788). Type species: Strelitzia reginae Banks Type species: Strelitzia reginae Banks Arborescent and suckering or acaulescent and clumping with dichotomously branching corm like stems. InflorescenceArborescent and lateral. suckering Sepals orunequal, acaulescent the median and clumping sepal smaller with thandichotomously the lateral branchingpaired ones. corm Petals like strongly stems. unequal,Inflorescence free; lateral.the paired Sepals ones unequal, large, brightlythe median coloured, sepal conniventsmaller than into the a sagittatelateral paired structure ones. centrally Petals strongly with a grooveunequal, enclosing free; the the paired style ones and stamens;large, brightly the unpaired coloured, (posterior) connivent one into small. a sagittate Stamens structure 5, perfect. centrally Ovary with 2a rowsgroove of enclosingovules. Seeds the stylefew, globose, and stamens; with orange the unpaired woolly (posterior)aril. one small. Stamens 5, perfect. Ovary with 2 rows of ovules. Seeds few, globose, with orange woolly aril. A South African genus of 5–6 species. Three species, S. reginae (Bird of Paradise), S. nicolai and to a lesser extent S.A junceaSouth African Link, are genus widely of 5–6cultivated species. and Three important species, floricultural S. reginae (Bird plants. of Paradise),Strelitzia nicolaiS. nicolai is sparinglyand to a lesser naturalised extent inS. junceasouth-eastern Link, are Queensland widely cultivated (Queensland and important Government floricultural 2015) and plants. north-eastern Strelitzia nicolai New South is sparingly Wales. naturalised in south-eastern Queensland (Queensland Government 2015) and north-eastern New South Wales. Strelitzia nicolai Regel & Körn., Gartenflora 7: 265, t. 235 (1858). Strelitzia nicolai Regel & Körn., Gartenflora 7: 265, t. 235 (1858). Arborescent, multi-stemmed plant to 8(–12 m elsewhere) high; trunk diam. to 0.5 m wide; forming large clumpsArborescent, by new multi-stemmed stems shooting plant from to base. 8(–12 Leaves m elsewhere) simple, petiolate, high; trunk to 2 mdiam. long; to bases 0.5 mtightly wide; packed; forming lamina large undividedclumps by thoughnew stems usually shooting splitting from in base.several Leaves places simple, between petiolate, lateral toveins 2 m with long; age, bases elliptic, tightly with packed; a single lamina main veinundivided and many though perpendicular usually splitting lateral in severalveins; persisting places between for short lateral time veins after with dying age, and elliptic, then with falling a single off entire. main Inflorescencevein and many axillary, perpendicular protruding lateral from veins; between persisting petioles; for spathe short large, time darkafter bluedying to andreddish-brown, then falling drying off entire. and persistingInflorescence for axillary,several years.protruding Entire from flower between to 18 petioles;cm high spatheand 45 large, cm long, dark typicallyblue to reddish-brown, held just above drying the point and wherepersisting the forleaf several fan emerges years. Entirefrom the flower stem. to Tepals 18 cm white/blue. high and 45 Fruit cm along, woody typically capsule. held Seeds just abovelarge, 8–10the point mm diam.,where black;the leaf aril fan orange. emerges from the stem. Tepals white/blue. Fruit a woody capsule. Seeds large, 8–10 mm diam., black; aril orange. Specimens examined: AuSTRALIA: NEW SOuTH WALES: North Coast: Minnie Water, 29°46'06"S 153°17'43"E,Specimens examined R. Luxton:, AprAuSTRALIA 2015 (NSW: N 907786);EW SOu CentralTH WALES Coast:: North Along Coast footpath: Minnie [Murri-yanna Water, 29°46'06"STrack] on eastern153°17'43"E, side of R. Darling Luxton ,Mills Apr 2015Creek (NSW [Bidjigal 907786); Reserve], Central North Rocks,Coast: 33°46'45"S Along footpath 151°00'36"E, [Murri-yanna W. Cherry Track] 21, Oct on 2006eastern (NSW side of741411). Darling Mills Creek [Bidjigal Reserve], North Rocks, 33°46'45"S 151°00'36"E, W. Cherry 21, Oct 2006 (NSW 741411). Images: Images of Strelitzia nicolai and related species are readily available on the internet (eg. PlantNET 2016). Images: Images of Strelitzia nicolai and related species are readily available on the internet (eg. PlantNET 2016). Strelitzia nicolai (Strelitziaceae): a new weed for NSW Telopea 20: 1–3, 2017 3

Distribution and ecology: Currently known from two vouchered populations in New South Wales. 1. At Minnie Water (c. 60 km NNE of Coffs Harbour), in and around Yuraygir National Park, where found in Melaleuca forest on sand as well as in tall open Banksia heath on exposed headlands (e.g. east side of Pipers Hill, D Milne pers. obs.). 2. At Bidjigal Reserve (NW Sydney) plants are found in wet Syncarpia glomulifera/ Angophora costata forest on sandstone. Plants have also been observed as isolated individuals or in small groups around Sydney; eg. Melaleuca forest in Lawson Swamp (Centennial Park, Randwick), very weedy woodland on railway sidings at Waverton, as well as at Middle Harbour near the Roseville Bridge (M Duretto, pers. obs.). In Queensland the species is found in tall open woodland, notophyll vine forest and rainforest (Atlas of Living Australia; http://www.ala.org.au/). Notes: At Minnie Water the species appears to be established over a large area in a variety of habitats, although individuals can be widely spaced. There are a variety of ages present (from seedlings to plants 8 m tall), and since seed production is active it would appear the plants have become established. The local Yuraygir Landcare group is actively removing plants. Elsewhere it is not known if populations are self-perpetuating. They may originate from seeds produced by local horticultural subjects or from garden refuse. Nevertheless the species is long lived, and given the size plants can attain, in both height and width of the colony, removing them should become mandatory in natural habitats. Once established the species would be difficult to eradicate.

References Anderson L (1998) Strelitziaceae. Pp. 451–455 in Kubitzki K (ed.) The families and genera of vascular plants, Vol. 4, Flowering Plants Monocotyledons: Alismatanae and Commelinanae (except Gramineae). Springer- Verlag, Berlin Atlas of Living Australia. http://www.ala.org.au/ [accessed 22 September 2015] Dyer RA (9176) The genera of southern African flowering plants, Vol. 2, Gymnosperms and Monocotyledons. Department of Agricultural Technical Services, Pretoria PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au [accessed 29 Sep 2016] Queensland Government (2015) Census of the Queensland Flora 2015 https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/census- of-the-queensland-flora-2015 [accessed 19 September 2016] NSW BioNet. http://www.bionet.nsw.gov.au/ [accessed 22 September 2015] Wright CH (1913) Scitamineae. Pp. 313–319 in Thiselton-Dyer WT (ed.) Flora Capensis: being a systematic description of the plants of the Cape Colony, Caffraria and Port Natal (and neighbouring territories), Vol. V, section 3, Hydrocharideae to Scitamineae. L. Reeve & co., London

Manuscript received 8 August 2016, accepted 26 November 2016