AUSTRALIAN NATIVE SOCIETY REGION (INC)

Journal Vol. 17 No. 9 March 2014 ISSN 1447-1507 Print Post Approved PP299436/00143 Contents Spring Walks 2013 Spring Walks 2013 Ros Cornish 1 By Ros Cornish Possumwood, Quintinia sieberi Roger Farrow 12 Visit to Blayney/Bathurst Ros Walcott 14 A plethora of Pomaderris: Roger Farrow 20 our local diversity hotspot A story about Yetholme Shirley Pipitone 28 Eremomophila crawl in South Australia Lyndal Thorburn 30 Study Group Notes Lesley Page 35 ANPS contacts and membership details inside back cover

Xanthorrhoea australis, Gilbraltar Peak; Photo: Linda Spinaze Cover: 'Merinda'; Photo: Glenn Pure We had a full program for spring 2013 what was in the open area before then with only one walk postponed because making our way along the fire trail which of adverse weather. We were lucky to is mainly in forest. We had lunch in a The deadline dates for submissions are 1 February (for be invited to three private properties — moist gully before retracing our steps. Journal articles It was a good start to spring with many March edition), 1 May (June), 1 August (September) two were return visits and one was new, The Journal is a forum for the exchange of members' to which we hope we will be returning in wattles flowering — dealbata, and 1 November (December). Send articles or photos to: and others' views and experiences of gardening with, autumn. We also walked in several new A. melanoxylon, A. gunnii, A. trachyphloia propagating and conserving Australian plants. Journal Editor places including a newly created nature and A. brownii. Also flowering well All contributions, however short, are welcome. Gail Ritchie Knight reserve near Goulburn. Overall it was were Epacris microphylla, Hardenbergia Contributions may be typed or handwritten, and 1612 Sutton Road a great spring with lots of good floral accompanied by photographs and drawings. Sutton NSW 2620 displays. Submit photographs as either electronic files, such as e-mail: [email protected] JPEGs, or prints. Set your digital camera to take high tel: 0416 097 500 Monga State Conservation resolution photos. Please send JPEGs separately and Paid advertising is available in this Journal. Contact the Area not embedded in a document. If photos are too large Editor for details. The Monga State Conservation Area to email, copy onto a CD and send it by post. Please (SCA) is accessed from enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you Society website: http://nativeplants-canberra.asn.au Road not far from the township of would like your prints returned. If you have any queries Printed by Elect Printing, Fyshwick, ACT Mongarlowe. We had visited in 2011 please contact the editor. http://www.electprinting.com.au/ and decided to return to drive along Original text may be reprinted, unless otherwise indicated, provided an acknowledgement for the source is given. Permission to reprint non- original material and all drawings must be obtained from the copyright holder. The views and opinions expressed in articles are those of the the Narranghi fire trail. We stopped first authors and are not necessarily the views and opinions of the Society. just outside the SCA boundary to see Acacia trachyphloia, Monga SCA; Photo: Jean Geue

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 1 violacea, Hovea heterophylla, Patersonia E. polyanthemos, E. rossii and E. nortonii. Road and then Mogo Road. We walked sericea, Tetratheca bauerifolia, Mirbelia An interesting find was Lomandra past the locked gate, keeping to the platylobioides, fraseri and a bracteata, quite obvious with its ground- right-hand side, which is part of the few Rhytidosporum procumbens. level, yellow flowers. Reserve. There were many flowers — Mirbelia platylobioides, Aotus ericoides, Lomandra glauca, Leucopogon virgatus, Lissanthe strigosa, Philotheca salsolifolia, Tetratheca bauerifolia, Patersonia sericea, P. longifolia, Acacia brownii, A. gunnii, A. obtusata (just finishing), Petalochilus fuscatus, Diuris pardina and Exocarpos strictus to name a few. Other interesting plants were three Philotheca salsolifolia, Nadgigomar Nature Reserve; banksia species (B. marginata, B. spinu- Photo: Martin Butterfield losa and B. paludosa), Persoonia mollis, Lomandra bracteata, Isaacs Ridge; Photo: Jean Geue P. microphylla (some enormous plants) Also in the pipeline scar were some There were quite a lot of Wurmbea dioica and one which kept us guessing until spectacular Leionema diosmeum and Chloanthes parviflora. Mirbelia platylobioides, Monga SCA; flowering, a sure sign of spring. Other we reached the pipeline and found one Photo: Martin Butterfield interesting plants were Allocasuarina flowering — Conospermum taxifolium. Special mention should be made of the verticillata, Acacia implexa (some very old large numbers of Leucopogon lanceolatus ones), Isoetopsis graminifolia (a daisy that in full flower, giving off a very heady looks like grass), one Cryptandra amara, honey perfume. Other interesting plants several Indigofera adesmiifolia, Cheilanthes were several patches of Pomaderris distans (as well as the usual C. austro- elliptica in bud, Comesperma volubile also tenuifolia) and a big patch of Goodenia in bud and we managed to go firm on the pinnatifida. The views were stunning and names of the puzzling peas from last time well worth the trek up the hills. — Podolobium ilicifolium, P. procumbens and Platylobium formosum. Cullulla Rd, Nadgigomar Nature Reserve (East), Isaacs Ridge Claypit Rd & Willow Glen Rd

Isaacs Ridge runs behind the suburbs The main aim of the day was to walk of East O’Malley and Isaacs and is part from the locked gate on Mogo Road of Canberra Nature Park. We began the to the gas pipeline scar in Nadgigomar walk from Callemonda Rise near the Nature Reserve — a new area for us. water tank, headed to the top of the To get there we went via , ridge then walked south before looping Tarago and Cullulla Road where we back. There were many areas covered did our usual stop at the quarry site in weeds but some patches of good which continues to regenerate well. bushland. There were some wonderful The endangered Pomaderris delicata trees, with many saplings — Eucalyptus was flowering beautifully. We continued blakelyi, E. bridgesiana, E. melliodora, on to Sandy Point Road, Ford Leionema diosmeum, Nadgigomar Nature Reserve; Photo: Roger Farrow

2 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 3 On the way back we called in to Claypit Woodstock Reserve reflexa, Hibbertia obtusifolia, Thysanotus Other flowers, but not particularly Road looking for Bossiaea oligosperma, a patersonii, Glossodia major, Petalochilus in profusion were Wurmbea dioica, threatened only found in a couple of Woodstock Reserve is accessed from fuscatus, Glycine clandestina, Brachyloma Craspedia variabilis, Indigofera australis, locations. We found the small population Fairlight Road, shortly after Uriarra daphnoides — and many others. The Glossodia major, Petalochilus carneus, and there were still a few flowers but it Crossing. A vehicle track follows the views of the river and the cliff under Ranunculus lappaceus, Pimelea pauci- was already forming seed pods. Murrumbidgee River giving good views. Shepherd’s Lookout were great. flora (we hardly ever see this), Viola The highlight was finding Bossiaea betonicifolia and Hakea microcarpa. grayi, an endangered species. It is a Gibraltar Peak The last part of the fire trial was very flat-stemmed pea formerly known as rewarding with many grass trees, some B. bracteosa but after a good look at We tried the new route to Gibraltar Peak in full flower and sporting some unusual the flat-stemmed peas over the last few in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and found shapes. We won’t leave it so long for a years, Keith McDougall (NSW National it to be a very pleasant, moderate one. It return visit but next time we’ll return on Parks and Wildlife Service) has named meanders through some great country the new track rather than the fire trail. four new species. We are already familiar with some outstanding views. It was not with one — B. bombayensis — which particularly difficult until near the end we see at the Bombay Reserve on the (after the viewing platform) where there . B. grayi is only known are some steepish steps and one slab of to occur in the ACT and is typically rock to get up but there is a convenient found in the riparian corridors of the handrail. We reached the saddle by Murrumbidgee River. We saw at least lunch time and some lunched closer to three healthy specimens, with many the peak. The views were fantastic. The seed pods developing. return on the fire trail, while providing a few extra species for our list, was a bit hazardous as we were on “ball-bearing” granite and it was quite steep in parts. However, we all made it without incident. We had very good displays of Pomaderris Bossiaea oligosperma, Claypit Road; andromedifolia ssp. andromedifolia in Photos: Jean Geue and Dave Herald (close-up)) full flower nearly the whole way. Also putting on a good show was Olearia Here we also finally saw what we’d been lirata — many shrubs in full flower. flashing past — good displays of the prostrate form of Pultenaea microphylla — and also a yellow prostrate form of Bossiaea grayi, Woodstock Reserve; Xanthorrhoea australis, Gibraltar Peak; Grevillea juniperina. Also flowering well Photo: Martin Butterfield Photo: Martin Butterfield were some Dillwynia glaucula which is Meangora Road Property another rare and endangered pea. Then, Other highlights were five species of onto Willow Glen Rd to do the pomaderris pomaderris, mostly flowering — in order We made a return visit to a private crawl, passing some floriferous Pomaderris of appearance, P. eriocephala, P. sub- property off Meangora Road just south elliptica en route. We saw P. andromedifolia capitata, P. angustifolia, P. betulina ssp. of Nerriga. We wandered down the (small leaved form), P. lanigera, P. ledifolia betulina and P. betulina ssp. actensis — road we walked on last trip, towards and P. andromedifolia ssp. confusa. Many and Gynatrix pulchella in flower (many , but then went were past their best but the flowering was male plants but only one female). Other Pomaderris andromedifolia ssp. andromedifolia, on a lovely meandering track where pretty good and massed in parts. flowers were eremicola, Correa Gibraltar Peak; Photo: Linda Spinaze we experienced a number of different

4 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 5 Chip N Dale Fire Trail plants including Philotheca salsolifolia, Bossiaea heterophylla, Choretrum We accessed the Chip N Dale fire trail pauciflorum, Xanthorrhoea concava, from private property on the Captains Conospermum taxifolium, Persoonia Flat Road. We drove first to the locked mollis ssp. livens, Gompholobium gate at the border with Yanununbeyan minus, Hibbertia acicularis, Patersonia National Park. We had permission from longifolia, leptophylla and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service D. squarrosa. After morning tea at the to drive into the Park which we did after house site, we followed the powerline first having morning tea and exploring management track through dry near the gate. We continued on to a woodland, making the occasional foray high point, stopping a few times. It was under the powerlines where the taller extremely windy so we didn’t venture vegetation had been cleared. We saw too far. We saw an interesting array of good displays of Ranunculus lappaceus, plants, many in flower, and added about Goodenia hederacea, Coronidium 20 new species to our long list for that scorpioides, C. oxylepis ssp. lanatum, Kunzea parvifolia, area. Brachyloma daphnoides, Hibbertia Meangora Road property; Photo: Roger Farrow The highlight was the number of obtusifolia, Ozothamnus diosmifolius, orchid species flowering, some in Calotis scabiosifolia var. integrifolia, vegetation types and came out near the large numbers — Stegostyla cucullata, Pomaderris phylicifolia ssp. phylicifolia, swamp. We added many new plants to S. moschata, Diuris sulphurea, Calochilus Isopogon prostratus, a number of our already substantial list. Many were platychilus, many Thelymitra in bud and Lomandra species, Wahlenbergia stricta, flowering including Kunzea parvifolia, one Gastrodia sesamoides in bud. There Stylidium graminifolium, Pultenaea Aotus ericoides, Hibbertia obtusifolia, were also good displays of Stackhousia subspicata, Gompholobium minus and H. rufa, H. riparia, Patersonia longifolia, monogyna, Daviesia leptophylla, Dillwynia sericea — even a pure yellow P. sericea, P. glabrata (not in flower), Dillwynia sericea, Tetratheca bauerifolia, one. There were some good orchids — Tetratheca thymifolia, Isopogon anethi- Hibbertia obtusifolia, Olearia lirata, Diuris sulphurea, Calochilus platychilus, folius, I. anemonifolius, Hybanthus mono- O. erubescens, Choretrum pauciflorum, C. paludosus, Caleana major (many), petalus and orchids: Diuris sulphurea, Indigofera australis, Eucalyptus dives, Petalochilus fuscatus, Stegostyla sp., Thely- Bossiaea buxifolia, Brachyscome mitra simulata and Calochilus paludosus. spathulata, Ranunculus lappaceus and Craspedia variabilis. There were also male and female Lomandra multiflora flowers, one Pomaderris phylicifolia ssp. phylicifolia in bud and many Cassinia longifolia and C. aculeata in bud. Oallen Property At the end of October, we were invited to a private property off Oallen Ford Road which borders the Shoalhaven

Isopogon anethifolius, Meangora Road property; Thelymitra simulata, Meangora Road property; River. We made one stop on the drive in Photo: Roger Farrow Photo: John Wilkes where there was an interesting array of Caleana major, Oallen property; Photo: Roger Farrow

6 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 7 Thelymitra sp. and early buds of a C. aculeata were in good bud. We soon Dipodium sp. Other interesting plants began to find manyHibbertia obtusifolia were Bossiaea riparia (a very upright form flowering — the usual grey form and in large numbers), Acacia hamiltoniana, some with very green foliage. We A. uncinata, Pomaderris eriocephala and spotted some Lotus australis flowering Olearia viscidula. We are looking forward then all the rest started — Pultenaea to a return visit in autumn. procumbens, Brachyloma daphnoides, Daviesia mimosoides (the perfume Glenloch Blocks and Aranda was incredible), Olearia erubescens, Bushland Grevillea lanigera, Diuris sulphurea and Caleana minor, Back Arm NR; Photo: Roger Farrow D. semilunulata, Brachyscome spathulata, The walk began from the car park near Granite Tors Clematis aristata, Acacia mearnsii, Epacris Glenloch Interchange. We headed north breviflora, Daviesia ulicifolia, some into an area which is being considered This was a new walk for us. It begins at Thelymitra (probably T. arenaria) and a for adding to Aranda Bushland. It was the old Orroral Valley tracking station car few daisy bushes in bud — Ozothamnus mainly woodland with a diverse array , Aranda Bushland; Photo: Graeme Kruse park, first crossing the floor of the valley stirlingii. of plants including good displays of then rising steeply up the ridge. The Leptorhynchos squamatus, Dillwynia Arm Road and entered at the north- track then changes direction and follows sericea, Hibbertia riparia, H. obtusifolia, eastern corner after trying to placate a creek for a while before the final stretch Pultenaea procumbens, Velleia paradoxa, the neighbouring farmer. At this point to the incredible granite tors. The views Veronica perfoliata, Podolepis jaceoides, the Reserve is quite heavily wooded to the valley are spectacular. There Xerochrysum viscosum, Chrysocephalum with a sparse grassy understory and weren’t many flowers to see initially but apiculatum, Craspedia variabilis as well steep gullies running into creek lines. as we climbed higher we started seeing as a few flowers of Grevillea alpina, The trees were Eucalyptus bridgesiana, good displays and this allowed us to Leucopogon virgatus, Brachyscome E. dives, E. macrorhyncha, E. melliodora, stop and catch our breath. Ozothamnus rigidula, Billardiera scandens, Diuris E. rossii, E. rubida and E. viminalis with thyrsoideus and Pomaderris aspera sulphurea, Coronidium oxylepis ssp. large stands of E. sieberi (flowering) (one) were flowering in the start of the at the high point. The understory was woodland and Cassinia longifolia and lanatum — and the first fringe-lily, Lotus australis, Granite Tors; Photo: Roger Farrow Thysanotus tuberosus. We then crossed mainly Rytidosperma pallidum, some Poa into Aranda Bushland and did a short labillardierei and quite a few Persoonia foray before returning via part of the linearis, as well as smaller plants such as Snow Gum to Forest Track. There were Rhytidosporum procumbens, a narrow- many similar plants to those already seen leaved Platysace lanceolata, Acacia gunnii, but extras were Calytrix tetragona and A. lanigera, A. terminalis, Daviesia latifolia, Goodenia pinnatifida — both flowering D. leptophylla, Hovea heterophylla, and — and the fern Pellaea falcata which we Pimelea curviflora. A highlight was don’t see very often. Many of the grasses seeing Acacia falciformis flowering. There were starting to flower. were some other flowers: Gompholobium huegelii, Coronidium scorpioides, Olearia Back Arm Nature Reserve microphylla, Goodenia hederacea, Dianella revoluta, R. procumbens and a few orchids: Back Arm Nature Reserve was created buds of a Dipodium species, some Diuris in 2010. It is about 30 kilometres north sulphurea, several spent Thelymitra and Ozothamnus thyrsoideus, Granite Tors; Diuris sulphurea (left) and Diuris semilunulata (right), of Goulburn. We approached it via Back some Caleana major and C. minor. Photo: Graeme Kruse Granite Tors; Photos: Graeme Kruse

8 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 9 Piccadilly Circus Area and monticola. After lunch at Bulls Head, Drive Down Bendora Dam Rd we drove down the Bendora Dam road and had many stops as we saw things Our final walk for the year was really a of interest — Euphrasia collina, Olearia drive in the Brindabellas. We began the megalophylla, Astrotricha ledifolia, day with a short walk in the Piccadilly Olearia lirata, Leptospermum brevipes, Circus area, under the powerlines for Bedfordia arborescens, Stackhousia a while before heading along a track monogyna, Prostanthera lasianthos, into the wooded area. There were many Veronica derwentiana, V. perfoliata and lovely Stylidium armeria flowering, some Melaleuca pallida, all flowering well. Tetratheca bauerifolia, Pimelea glauca, Olearia erubescens, Clematis aristata, Epacris breviflora, Stackhousia viminea, Oxylobium ellipticum, Daviesia ulicifolia and many D. mimosoides still flowering Oxylobium ellipticum, Piccadily Circus; and giving off their perfume. There Photo: Graeme Kruse were also carpets of Goodenia hederacea Lagenophora gracilis, Pomaderris Clematis aristata, Granite Tors; Photo: Graeme Kruse ssp. alpestris and a few Viola hederacea, phylicifolia ssp. ericoides and Ranunculus V. betonicifolia, Poranthera microphylla, scapiger. We found a few orchids — Simpliglottis valida, Calochilus montanus, Stegostyla moschata and Diuris

Leptospermum brevipes, Bendora Dam Road; Photo: Graeme Kruse

You can read a short description of our various walks, look at the list of plants we found and often, the birds and insects we spotted, as well as some photos in the Wednesday Walks section of the ANPS website — http://nativeplants- canberra.asn.au.

Calochilus montanus, Piccadily Circus; Tetratheca bauerifolia, Picadilly Circus; Photo: Jean Geue Photo: Christine Kendrick

10 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 11 This ‘rainforest’ tree is restricted to confined to a mental asylum in the top of the escarpment unlike Prague where he died aged 54 but Possumwood, Quintinia sieberi most rainforest species which his legacy lives on in the many plant inhabit gullies down to the coast names ascribed to him. An enigmatic tree encountered in the and it is found from Mt Dromedary 25 species of Quintinia occur in the Southern Highlands and Blue Mountains to the Queensland border. According Australasian region. The classification to a contributor to Wikipedia the of Quintinia has had a chequered wind-blown seeds often germinate history but it has been most recently Words and photos by Roger Farrow in rock crevices and in the trunks placed in the Paracryphiaceae in of Dicksonia tree ferns as hemi- On our recent September field trip I had no idea what the tree was and the molecular-based, Angiosperm epiphytes. Here the seedlings are safe we visited Fitzroy Falls and went on could not key it out so I sent the Phylogeny Group system APG II and from herbivores such as wallabies. the east rim walk. Looking down from pictures around to various experts III. This family was erected for the the cliff top we saw patches of white but to no avail until I contacted Denis Alan Cunningham first described monotypic Paracryphia, endemic through the canopy of eucalypts and Wilson, the Nature of Robertson, who this habit in 1839 at Mt Tomah as a to New Caledonia. Before this with the aid of binoculars we saw a has been on several walks with us. parasitical growth. In this respect the Quintinia had been successively spectacular flower display from a He immediately identified the tree tree is similar to Pinkwood, Eucryphia placed in the gooseberry family, rainforest tree. Further on the walk in as Possumwood, Quintinia sieberi. We moorei, that only grows from the Grosullariaceae, the escallonia a gully we could see a tree close-up then saw the same species growing trunks of tree-ferns at Penance family, Escalloniaceae, and even its covered with spike-like panicles of in crevices at Hassan Walls at Lithgow Grove, Monga. Another characteristic own family, Quintiniaceae, but its white flowers that I photographed. on the next field trip. of Possumwood is the presence of affinities remained an enigma until buttresses. the molecular studies of the APG The derivation of the name project were undertaken. Several possumwood was not ascertained specimens of Q. sieberi are planted although the tree is also known as in the Australian National Botanic corkwood which is not very useful Gardens. as there are several different species of tree called ‘corkwood’. The species was named by the Swiss botanist Auguste de Candolle (1778–1841) in 1830. The genus was named after John Baptist de La Quintinie (1626– 1688), lawyer, gardener, agronomist and creator of the Garden of the King at Versailles. The specific name refers to the Bohemian botanist Franz Sieber (1789–1844), who collected Unopened flowers in a panicle the plant on a seven-month trip to Australia in 1823. Sieber became At Fitzroy Falls At Hassan Walls, Lithgow mentally deranged at 40 and was

12 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 13 Visit to Blayney/Bathurst Words by Rosalind Walcott Photos by Ben Walcott

Front of house, Cloudy Hill garden Seat in garden, Cloudy Hill The gravel paths were edged with many Combined Canberra GDSG and Sydney different types of daisy. Acacia falciformis GDSG Visit to Blayney/Bathurst or Mountain Hickory was in full flower and a magnet for insects. Alex has built November 9–10, 2013 some beautiful stone walls for the garden and also added some quirky metal Fifteen members of the Garden Design from the house. Fiona has planted many artwork. Fiona has planted indigenous Study Group gathered at Cloudy Hill, interesting plants in an intensive series plants in some above-ground tanks to Fiona Johnson’s and Alex Kruczaj’s garden of beds, with contrasting sized plants. provide better drainage. outside Blayney at noon on Saturday. We all commented on how beautifully The weather forecast for the weekend the leptospermums were flowering. We next visited Eva and Gerd Wolf’s had not been promising, predicting rain garden near Millthorpe. The Wolfs had on both days. But Saturday turned out to built their own house into a hill to take be a pleasantly cool and sunny day and advantage of passive solar benefits. The the rain held off until we finished our garden was wrapped tightly around visits on Sunday, so no complaints. Fiona the house and was also on the roof of and Alex provided us with a marvellous the house. The palette of plants was spread for lunch in their spacious (and restricted, but those planted were Gerd's delightful ants very neat!) shed, then we set off to thriving. There were some very old garden with his metal creations of insects explore the garden. The house is situated eucalypts surrounding the house, one and reptiles, dragonflies, butterflies and just below the brow of the hill and the dated at about 350 years old. Gerd had lizards, some on long stakes buried in main part of the garden runs downhill Leptospermum 'Fantasia', Cloudy Hill added much to the ambiance of the the gardens.

14 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 15 Steps to the roof, Wolf garden Swale behind the house, Rath garden

Sunday morning we gathered at the home of Donna and Terry Rath at Mount Rankin, outside Bathurst. Donna is an enthusiastic booster of native plants and had recently opened her garden with the Bathurst Garden Club and welcomed over 300 visitors. Her garden sloped down from the road towards the house, with a very large swale above the house to catch any runoff and allow it to soak into the garden, rather than Sculpture by Ulric Steiner, Rath garden flood the house. The garden consisted of many interesting trees, including a The last garden we visited was that of magnificent Wollemi Pine (Wollemia Val and Colin Fenn in Duramana. This nobilis) and a Queensland Bottle Tree garden was really a bush garden, but (Brachychiton rupestris) and large with incredible additions of Colin’s art island beds full of hakeas, banksias, in every part. Colin creates wood, metal native grasses and daisies. One bed and rock sculptures, pergolas, paths was planted as a cottage garden filled and everywhere your eye falls, there with small colourful flowering natives. is a treasure load of art. The birds love Stainless steel sculptures by Ulric Steiner this garden and were constantly flitting, Up on the roof — note Gerd's artwork are featured in this garden. bathing and singing everywhere.

16 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 17 our way. This garden is full of wonderful eucalypts, and the best stand of Banksia robur you could imagine. The stand was fortuitously in the runoff path to the dam and loved the extra water it received. All these gardens were rural gardens, with space to spare and expansive views. It makes you realise how restricted we are in the city for garden space and how often we have cramped and tiny views (not that they are not precious!). All these gardens were filled with birds and artwork and felt relaxing with generous Colin's fantastical sculpture views and big skies. Colin showed us his workroom, which was a fascinating jumble of materials and tools. Fiona and Val provided us with a slap-up morning tea to send us on Gathering around the workshop, Fenn garden

From the terrace, Fenn garden Pelargonium inodorum, Granite Tors; Photo: Roger Farrow

18 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 19 along the roadside, again caused by trail we found ten co-existing species a profusion of Pomaderris shrubs. (plus two subspecies) of Pomaderris This area is quite different from the over several visits, some abundant A Plethora of Pomaderris: open forest found along the and some less so, extending all the fire trail. Willow Glen Road was way from Mulloon Creek to the our local diversity hotspot carved through the bush as part of a Shoalhaven River at Bombay. A subdivision development exposing surprising find was a species which bare cuttings of gravel and rock. the Study Group only knew from Words by Roger Farrow, Ros Cornish and Jo Walker the Bungonia area. It does not key Photos by Roger Farrow out to a named species. Members of the Study Group had tried to identify it over a number of years and they Some years ago Roger took his not from wattle flowers as he first provided samples to academics mother to Braidwood for her thought, but from the flowers of a studying the genus. It has become new shrub for him, Pomaderris, that birthday in the middle of September known as Pomaderris sp. ‘Bungonia’ has no vernacular name. and decided to take a short cut home and is still undescribed. via the Mulloon fire trail through the A few years later, in late September, Gourock Range and Tallaganda State the Wednesday Walkers returned Forest, now a National Park. Turning from the Nadgigomar Nature Reserve a corner in the middle of the park at Mayfield via the Willow Glen Pomaderris, Willow Glen Road, September 2012 he saw a hillside covered in yellow, Road, and found a swathe of yellow Meanwhile, Jo had been running the Rhamnaceae Study Group for some years, and, along with some local ANPS members including Ros, had been studying the local genera in the Family, namely, Pomaderris, Cryptandra and Discaria. They were Pomaderris sp. ‘Bungonia’ at Mulloon very interested in Roger’s finding and a Wednesday Walk was organised for the Mulloon fire trail. The Study Group also did separate trips to the Mulloon fire trail and Willow Glen Road and many Wednesday Walks in the Mayfield area included drives along Willow Glen Road to document what was there. What we found was quite Pomaderris ledifolia, Willow Glen Road, September 2012 remarkable. Along the Mulloon fire Pomaderris sp. ‘Bungonia’ flowers

20 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 21 It is so abundant on parts of the Mulloon fire trail below Mt Palerang that we would like to see it eventually named to reflect that─ P. palerangensis perhaps? The Table (on page 24) lists the species found along Mulloon Fire Trail, Willow Glen Road, local species and those found further afield.

Our group has traversed Willow Cullulla Quarry cutting, September 2010 Glen Road on a number of occasions in spring and we have identified six species and two sub-species of Pomaderris growing along the gravel banks of the road. Not far from Willow Glen Road on the Cullulla Road, several different Pomaderris species have colonised a steep gravel cutting that forms part of the Cullulla Quarry. The endangered P. delicata is found here with P. ferruginea and Cullulla cutting showing Pomaderris in flower, Pomaderris intermedia, Black Mountain P. andromedifolia. September 2013 Nearer to home, the the area and we have found it to be and Murrumbidgee valleys contain abundant in a number of riverine a range of Pomaderris species locations in the ACT. shown in column three of the table To the north of the ACT, Woodstock (on page 24), while Black Mountain Reserve in the Murrumbidgee is home to P. intermedia that has a corridor is another place of high spectacular flower display. diversity with four species and The Wallaby Track at Queanbeyan two sub-species encountered: Cascades, Googong, contains four P. angustifolia, P. betulina subsp. co-existing species, P. angustifolia, betulina, P. betulina subsp. actensis, P. betulina subsp. betulina, P. eriocephala, and P. subcapitata. P. eriocephala and P. pallida. P. pallida P. velutina is recorded near Cotter on is a declared threatened species the Murrumbidgee and P. prunifolia in NSW and is vulnerable under from the Gudgenby River south of the Environment Protection and Tharwa but we have seen neither yet Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and the former record is unconfirmed Pomaderris delicata, Cullulla Road although it is relatively common in although we have an unconfirmed

22 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 23 sighting of the latter near Tidbinbilla and Willow Glen Roads has led to Locations of the Pomaderris of the local region tracking station. the simultaneous germination of Pomaderris Mulloon Willow Glen & Local NSW & ACT Further Afield Pomaderris species already present Taxonomic Units Cullulla Roads Further afield near Pikes Saddle at in low numbers in the adjacent bush. andromedifolia subsp local common common Big Badja and at Tuross Falls there andromedifolia Consequently many Pomaderris are small populations of P. parrisiae andromedifolia subsp confusa local local local species are now more abundant and and P. virgata, respectively, while angustifolia common visible than in the past and have along the Goulburn–Bungonia aspera local common been shown to be efficient pioneers road there are populations of P. sp. betulina subsp. betulina common common of disturbed ground. betulina subsp. actensis local, Woodstock ‘Bungonia’ and P. delicata that have sp. ‘Bungonia’ common Bungonia a dedicated reserve. At Badgery’s The flower displays of many species of costata local Lookout near Tallong, on the Pomaderris can be very spectacular cotoneaster Tallong sandstone escarpment, there is a in spring and the persistent buds and delicata local small population of the endangered the seed capsules are also attractive discolor Monga P. cotoneaster. Nearby at Carrington at other times of the year. So it is elliptica local common Falls another endangered species surprising that they are not found eriocephala common P. walshii is found among other more often in native gardens. They ferruginea local species of Pomaderris. are exceedingly drought-tolerant and easy to grow from seed and helianthemifolia subsp. hispida local, Carwoola On the Corn Trail near Monga intermedia local local, Black Mtn cuttings. Given some supplementary P. discolor is present. Many more watering in dry conditions they will lanigera local species are found to the east of the ledifolia local common keep their lush green foliage over ranges in coastal forests and are summer in native gardens and this parrisiae Badja excluded from this article. pallida common gives them a superficial resemblance pauciflora local Following the 2003 fires in the to deciduous shrubs of the northern phylicifolia subsp. ericoides local, Tall, NNP ACT many trees in the woodland hemisphere. They also respond well phylicifolia subsp. phylicifolia local local, Tall,Tinderry Oallen and forest were killed and much to pruning after flowering and can prunifolia local Gudgenby of the topsoil was either burnt or be kept bushy. subcapitata common subsequently washed away by Some species can be fairly velutina local Cotter heavy rain. Many shrubs germinated nondescript for part of the year virgata Tuross Falls on the bare ground, including and that may account for their lack walshii Carrington Falls several species of Pomaderris, and of popularity in the native garden. Total 28 TU (25 species) 11 7 15 8 dense thickets of species such as In the wild the species vary in size TU = Taxonomic Units Tall = Tallaganda NNP = Namadji National Park P. betulina have emerged in areas from single-trunked, small trees like Corin Dam Road, the Cotter, the such as P. cotoneaster (shown on Murrumbidgee River corridor and the following page), P. costata and parts of Namadgi National Park and P. parrisiae, to multi-branched shrubs Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Similarly, such as P. betulina (shown on page the removal of topsoil and exposure 27), P. eriocephala, P. angustifolia of the gravel subsoil along the Cullula and many others. Their leaves vary

24 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 25 Pomaderris betulina thicket along the Kambah Pool Walking Track

from large and floppy (P. aspera) to present in three species so we can small and narrow (P. angustifolia and rightly claim that our area of the ACT P. phylicifolia) and have distinctive and adjacent patterns of veins and hairs that assist and Southern Highlands is a hotspot identification. for Pomaderris diversity. There are 66 described species of Pomaderris in Australia, according to the Royal Botanic Gardens of Victoria website, with one species yet to be named in our area and they are found in all states except the Northern Territory. 25 of these have been found locally so far, namely 38% of the known Australian species, a value that is arguably higher than any other multi-species genus. In Pomaderris cotoneaster, Badgery’s Lookout, Tallong addition we have six sub-species Solanum cinereum, Isaacs Ridge; Dave Herald

26 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 27 A Story about Yetholme

Words and photo by Shirley Pipitone My mother’s beautiful garden, full of Dillwynia sp Yetholme mentioned rhododendrons and camellias, is now by Ros Cornish (ANPS Canberra much neglected. If I had another life I Journal Dec 2013, p1) brought would buy back the house block and back memories! In the 50 years bring the high altitude local bush to since I left Yetholme to go to The her garden! Australian National University at the “My” bush was almost closed canopy tender age of 16, I have discovered wet forest, possibly rainforest. only about three people who Ferns, wombats and possums were knew where Yetholme is and also abundant but I had no-one to talk to how to pronounce it! “Yet home” about Australian plants at that time is the pronunciation for this tiny and the word ecosystem had not yet Yetholme — View from the edge of the pine forest; Photo: Shirley Pipitone settlement — still not really a village been coined. Yetholme is currently a sparse I plan to visit Yetholme again early this — about 20 km from Bathurst on the dormitory settlement for Bathurst — year to see some Open Gardens, no Last year I found very little evidence Great Western Highway. Most of the too far away to be called a suburb. significant presence of native plants of anything other than ordinary dry Yetholme I knew is actually off the What a waste of that beautiful bush unfortunately, but I will also get back sclerophyll forest except for a few current highway and on Yetholme and also some of the richest soil in to my bush and allow more time to ground ferns and other tiny plants in Road which was the route of the old Australia! search for remnants. Watch this space. highway. the two metres each side of a forest track. Early last year I visited Yetholme to Correction try and locate some of the bush I Pine forest started to take over the On page six of the previous issue (Journal Vol.17 no.8) some plants were incorrectly remember, which is the bush on top bush in 1957 and my environmental spelt. Following is the corrected text. of the last mountain range before awareness was awakened as I grieved ‘Thus far I have identified 15 species in the DB as being shown as threatened in one Bathurst. Where I lived was about the huge uprooted eucalypts. Again, or more of those sources: Dampiera fusca; Dillwynia glaucula; Diuris pedunculata; no-one to talk to so I wrote poetry Dodonaea procumbens; Lepidium hyssopifolium; Leucochrysum albicans var. tricolor; 400m from a trig station 1300m Muehlenbeckia tuggeranong, Olearia montana; Pimelea axiflora; Pomaderris delicata; above sea level. Our apple and instead. My father believed in the Pomaderris pallida; Rulingia prostrata; Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides; Swainsona recta; pear orchard was a little lower than “useless scrub” dictum current at Swainsona sericea. In addition Bossiaea grayi has been recorded on a WW but not that but we still had an average of the time, pine forests provided yet input to the DB.’ 600mm depth of snow every year. employment (most Australian And on page eight of the same issue, the caption incorrectly stated ‘Lake Mopgo’. It should read ‘Lake Mungo’. People currently living in that high governments are still playing from Text was correct when submitted by the authors. A sub-editor incurred the errors. The area of Yetholme can’t remember the that same score!) and who was to editor apologises and will no longer utilise the pre-press services of the sub-editor. last time snow settled for a few days. stand in the face of “progress”!

28 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 29 Eremophila crawl in South Australia

Ken Warne’s farm-based Eremophila plantation, outside Owen, South Australia Acacia papyrocarpa (Western Myall); Photo: Tom Jordan

Words and photos by Lyndal Thorburn About 30 people joined in the weekend, Other highlights included the Acacia including six of us from Canberra/ papyrocarpa (Western Myall) which was In September 2013 Tom Jordan and I Queanbeyan and the south coast of NSW. ENORMOUS, the stunning Eremophila joined in an Eremophila Study Group We began our weekend on Friday at the oppositifolia and E. youngii subsp. South Australian event centred on Owen Arid Lands Nursery at Port Augusta, lepidota in full flower (the latter two both and Dutton in South Australia (SA). where we drove after flying to Adelaide. well over two metres high). It was a fabulous experience, apart from the millions of bush flies! At Port Augusta one of the highlights was the Sturt’s Desert Pea in the area in front of the visitors’ centre.

Sturts Desert Pea at the front of the Visitors’ Centre at the Arid Lands Botanic Garden, Port Augusta Eremophila oppositifolia subsp. oppositifolia Eremophila youngii subsp. lepidota

30 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 31 We stayed at Clare overnight, which was plantations (which also contained a On Saturday night we listened to a great has a lot of clay and she brings in sand delightful, and met the rest of the group smattering of Dodonaea, Hakea and a talk by Professor Hans Greisser who is and gypsum to lighten it to grow her at Owen on Saturday morning. Apart few — quite a few — other spp). Many of researching the use of Eremophila as plants. from those of us from the east coast, Ken’s plants are featured in the Boschen antibiotics. His work aims to develop others had travelled from Adelaide, the et al book of Eremophilas. new anti-microbials that could be used The garden had so many Eremophila Yorke Peninsula and the Para Hills region to coat implanted medical devices, such in flower it was hard to know where to of SA. We were first treated to a guide of as artificial hips and knees, to reduce look, but we were particularly impressed naturally occurring Eremophila hybrids the high rates of infection that result in by the use of E. drummondii as a low by Ken Warne, who is a stalwart of those poor outcomes for many patients. There growing border for the drive; and the introducing Eremophila into horticulture. was also some discussion about the potted (and grafted) E. cuneiifolia and We then attended a grafting lesson by high levels of “cyanogenic glycosides” E. mirabilis in tubs. Keith Pitman, who is from Cockatoor in Eremophila maculata. This converts There was also a four-metre high Grevillea Valley. Keith has discovered and grafted to prussic acid when attacked by insects Winpara Gold and many other species in a cream form of Grevillea lavandulacea. and may also poison domestic ruminants He is a former grower of Australian native (sheep and cattle) if they eat it. flower. plants for the cut flower trade. On Sunday morning all met in Nurioopta I came home with a renewed interest in After lunch we headed off to Ken for the short drive to Bev and Ian Rice’s grafting, having picked up some useful Warnes’ place in Owen and then to his farm outside Dutton. Around the tips about sterilisation from Keith Pitman farm outside Owen where we wandered farmhouse is a spectacular garden with (using methylated spirits) and from Phil around his old and new Eremophila Eremophila used to great effect in pots Trickett (ex-Canberra, now south coast, Grevillea lavandulacea cream form, using bleach). grafted by Keith Pitman and throughout the garden. Bev’s soil

Eremophilas in Ken Warnes’ garden in Owen, SA Eremophila drummondii used as a driveway border, backed by Eremophila maculata and other species

32 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 33 Study Group Notes

By Lesley Page, Study Group Liaison Officer, •• Checklist of Actinotus species and ANPS Canberra Region varieties Gwen Elliot of the Epacris Study Group The Chef’s Cap Newsletter of the Friends is looking for a new Leader. of Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens Leaders have been writing about the January 2014 ANPSA conference last year, bushfires in •• President’s Report — five-year the Blue Mountains and the lack of rain. strategic plan for the Gardens, Grevillea Study Group Newsletter extension and renovation of the No. 96 October 2013 Visitors Centre •• Flame spider-flower (Grevillea • Grafted pot plants of Eremophila cuneiifolia and Eremophila mirabilis • Life at the Gardens — Photographic kennedyana) recovery plan exhibition opened by Heide Smith. •• The search for Grevillea lanigera on Heide gave some hints to all who are the Monaro interested in nature photography. •• Flood damage to Grevillea wilkinsonii •• Human bower birds •• Grevillea lanigera at Green Cape and •• Vale Alison Baird Nadgee Nature Reserve, NSW •• A close look at Brachychiton •• Seed germination in the rare shrub populneus Grevillea kennedyana And more….. Australian Plants Society South East NSW Group Newsletter No. 98 Waratah and Flannel Flower Study December 2013 Group Newsletter No. 6 December 2013 •• Next meeting — Saturday 1 March •• Leader Maria Hitchcock writes about Grevillea Winpara Gold in Bev Rice’s garden, Dutton 2014 at 10.30am. Venue to be starting a seedbank decided. •• From the members Our thanks to the SA group for all their •• Jennifer Liney describes Commelina •• Growing waratahs from seed work on the planning, keeping us fed cyanea and watered, and their generosity •• Red waratahs anyone? Telopea •• Driveway beds by Leigh Murray in sharing propagation material. We ‘Corroboree’ •• Save Our Flora! brought home a lot of cutting material •• Actinotus gibbonsii that will be tested locally and perhaps, •• Telopea oreades •• Thomasia for the garden by John once proven, released through ANPS •• Checklist of Telopea species and Knight Eremophila psilocalyx in Bev Rice’s garden, Dutton Canberra bi-annual sales. varieties •• Visit to Horse Island

34 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014 35 Acacia Study Group Newsletter No. 123 Hakea Study Group Newsletter No. 53 Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc. December 2013 October 2013 The aims of the Society are to foster the recognition, conservation Membership Fees and cultivation of Australian native plants. •• From the Leader: reminder about the •• Letter from the Leader Paul Kennedy Single or family memberships are the same price. Meetings are held at 8pm on the second Thursday of each month, field trip to Barakula Forestry area of •• Suggested Hakea crawl in September Basic membership including Bulletin and Journal — $35 ($20*) Queensland in August. Register your February to December, in Canberra. Visitors are always welcome. 2014 Western Australia Full membership including Bulletin, Journal and Australian Plants Day and weekend field trips to locations of outstanding botanical interest if you would like to go. — $50 ($36*) •• Letters from members interest are organised on a regular basis. •• From members and readers Life member subscribing to Australian Plants — $15 •• What pollinates Hakeas? The Society publishes a Bulletin in all months except January, and •• Save Our Flora! this quarterly Journal in March, June, September and December. * Concession rates apply to pensioners (Centrelink), full-time students •• Photos taken by Hana Chlovija from and unemployed. •• Tasmanian bushland garden Western Australia Website: nativeplants-canberra.asn.au Membership Secretary: Masumi Robertson 6251 6525 •• Article on Olive Pink Botanic Garden Epacris Study Group Newsletter No. 36 [email protected] •• Description of Acacia murrayana Spring 2013 •• Victoria Tanner writes — Acacias •• Epistle from Leader Gwen Elliot Council Other useful contacts (Australian) — Not Welcome in South •• Vale Jeff Irons President Bulletin Editor Africa •• Profile of Epacris myrtifolia Neville Page Paul Carmen •• Two new species, Acacia alaticaulis •• Report on determining the 02 6238 1766 Box 6094, Mawson ACT 2607 and A. kulnurensis pollinators of rare and endangered [email protected] 0447 603 309 •• Late flowering wattles Epacris species: implications for Vice President [email protected] •• Acacias in the news conservation Paul Carmen Study Group Liaison Officer 0447 603 309 Lesley Page Wallum and Coastal Heathland Study •• The Australian Flora Foundation — [email protected] [email protected] Group Newsletter No. 36 November outlining its purpose 2013 •• Recording the flowering times of Secretary Propagation aid sales Epacris species Glenn Pure •• Letter from the Leader — 21st John Robertson 66 Crozier Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902 birthday Till next time. 02 6251 6525 [email protected] 02 6231 6457 •• Activities — past and future Booksales Treasurer •• ANPSA bus trips to Sunshine Coast Murray Dadds Masumi Robertson Wallum — beautiful photos 43 MacLaurin Cres, CHIFLEY ACT 2606 02 6251 6525 02 6281 6065; 0404 870 447 Garden Design Study Group Newsletter [email protected] No. 84 November 2013 [email protected] Assistant Secretary/Treasurer •• Small Garden Areas — interesting Public Officer Vacant comments by Diana Snape (for Associations Incorporation Act purposes) •• Soils Ain’t Soils and Plant Selection by Other Council Members Paul Meier Jeff Howes Murray Dadds 7 Robert Lewis Crescent, Gordon ACT 2906 6294 6601 (h) •• The Answer Lies in the Soil by Pam Philip Fradd Yarra Jeanette Jeffery All Society correspondence to Julie Lindner The Secretary •• Hardenbergia Season by Maree Nola McKeon ANPS Canberra Region (Inc), PO Box 217 McCarthy Alison Roach Civic Square ACT 2608 •• Resurrection in a Native Garden by Ben Walcott Eucalyptus gummifera; Drawing by Lesley Page Back cover: Banksia spinulosa; Photo: Glenn Pure

36 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2014