AUSTRALIAN NATIVE SOCIETY () INC STUDY GROUP

NEWSLETTER NO. 110 – JUNE 2018

GSG NSW Programme 2018 02 | EDITORIAL Leader: Peter Olde, p 0432 110 463 | e [email protected] For details about the NSW chapter please contact Peter, contact via email is preferred. 03 | ACTIVITY REPORTS SE QLD GREVILLEA STUDY GROUP GSG Vic Programme 2018 MEETING, 25 FEBRUARY, 2018 AT PEACEHAVEN PARK, 56 KUHLS ROAD, HIGHFIELDS Leader: Neil Marriott, 693 Panrock Reservoir Rd, Stawell, Vic. 3380 QLD GSG OUTING TO p 03 5356 2404 or 0458 177 989 | e [email protected] TENTERFIELD AREA Contact Neil for queries about program for the year. Any members who would like to visit the official collection, obtain cutting material or seed, assist in its maintenance, and stay in our cottage for a few days are invited to contact Neil.

07 | GREVILLEA NEWS GSG SE Qld Programme 2018 NEW MEMBERS USEFUL LINKS Meetings are usually held on the last Sunday of the even months. We meet for a communal morning tea at 9.30am after which the meetings commence at 10.00am. Visitors are always welcome. For more information or to check venues etc please contact: Ross Reddick on 0405 510 459 or Denis Cox on (07) 5546 8590 as changes can occur. 07 | IN THE WILD OF NEW CALEDONIA GREVILLEA WHITEANA June – Cancelled in favour of July excursion THE LOWOOD RAIL TRAIL MARCH 2018: COLLEEN AND GEOFF KEENA TALK TO PETER BEVAN ABOUT GREVILLEAS ON THE RAIL Saturday & Sunday, 21-22 July TRAIL AT LOWOOD venue: Excursion to Bargara, visiting Richard Tomkin’s ‘Changers Green Nursery’, and 2 private gardens at Gympie & Hervey Bay

15 | IN YOUR GARDEN Sunday, 26 August venue: Young native garden of Chris Nikolic at Tallegalla, via Minden GROWING ON ITS OWN ROOTS SEEKING GREVILLEA ‘EILEEN ROSE’ Sunday, 28 October venue: Pete’s Hobby Nursery at Lowood

16 | SEED BANK Sunday, 25 November venue: Magnificent native garden of Jim & Fran Standing at Mt Clunie, near Woodenbong, Nth NSW.

17 | FINANCIALS EDITORIAL

A FEW WORDS FROM PETER P Olde, NSW

Welcome to another Queensland issue. There is much A polytomy suggests that the genes selected were unable to be said about this Queensland offering. Be sure you to properly resolve the full relationship and so it was make a trip to the Lowood Rail Trail if you are travelling in decided to go with a further study being conducted by Queensland and do call in to see Peter Bevan at his nursery Dr Cardillo utilising over 400 genes. Preliminary results (Pete’s Hobby Nursery). have shown much better resolution and the results are particularly interesting to those interested in evolutionary I have recently been travelling to member’s gardens to relationships. collect DNA from leaves of the species in their collections. One garden in particular, one that was featured in our last The authors involved in the paper published by Austin newsletter, was developed by Robert and Norma Brown, Mast et al. (2015) refrained from acting to recognise new in Nicholson, Victoria. This truly is a magnificent garden genera or to sink into Grevillea, which the results and holds an extremely large healthy range of Grevillea revealed to be necessary. They elected to wait on the species, all grafted by the proprietor. Not only is this a results of the Cardillo study which appear to show that valuable collection of plants in its own right and valued Hakea and Grevillea, with some alteration, can continue to for its display of flowers in due season, but it is testament be recognised separately. In the meantime, in February this to love and patience. The Brown’s welcome visitors so do year, botanical gatecrashers ( Gateway’s ‘Global Flora’ not hesitate to go there. You should ring first of course. an online digital publication) have come in and transferred Bairnsdale is nearby and provides good accommodation. all Grevillea species and subspecies to species of Hakea. Unfortunately the tropical garden described in our last They have gone over the top, not only of our research, but issue is no longer, having been decimated by frosts. Being have done the same in numerous genera awaiting proper able to collect specimen and cutting material in one place evaluation. The Cardillo study will hopefully invalidate saved me going on an extended journey to south-west their work because although Grevillea species have new . Hakea names, this outrageous claim for glory will not be accepted by Australian herbaria if it is shown to be At present an extensive study of the genus Grevillea and its incorrect. For many other unfortunate studies, they will relationship with Hakea is being undertaken by Dr Marcel have gazumped all their planned nomenclatural work Cardillo and his Macroevolution team at ANU, Canberra. (shades of Richard Salisbury and Robert Brown). Well done The aim of this exercise is to sequence every Grevillea Maarten Christenhusz and James Byng!! species and subspecies, though this may be a bit optimistic as it is a massive and expensive undertaking. I have committed the Grevillea Study Group and its remaining funds to this important study and I will be setting off shortly to collected material of all the Top End species. I am hearing that there may be new species up there too so stay tuned. Access to some areas is very difficult and I Illawarra Grevillea Park have engaged a helicopter to assist. I will be travelling with NEXT OPEN DAYS 2018 Ian Evans Bendigo member who will supply the vehicle. To date I have collected almost 200 species from members’ gardens including my own. The participation of Mt Annan July 7, 8, 14, 15 Botanic Garden, Burrendong Arboretum, Robert and September 1, 2, 8, 9 Norma Brown, Phil Vaughan and Neil & Wendy Marriott is acknowledged to date. The exercise has shown that we Opening hrs are 10am – 4pm need to get material around to members to enlarge their collections. Many species are represented in only one Location garden, having been once common in our collections. Stay The Park is located at the rear of Bulli Showground, posted on this. Princess Highway, Bulli. All this follows the study on Grevillea-Hakea relationships Admission published by Austin Mast et al. (2015) which in part $5 adults, children with adults are free demonstrated a need for more testing. Most of the email [email protected] Grevillea Hakea , and species were resolved in six or visit grevilleapark.org clades of a polytomy.

NEWSLETTER NO. 110 – JUNE 2018 02 ACTIVITY REPORTS

SE QLD GREVILLEA STUDY GROUP MEETING, 25 FEBRUARY, 2018 AT PEACEHAVEN PARK, 56 KUHLS ROAD, HIGHFIELDS R Reddick, Qld

Denis opened the meeting at 10:00. He thanked members 15.02.2018 - Laurie Smith, DC report to Displays & visitors for attending & welcome to our first meeting eCommittee, with the proposed theme for Wildflower for 2018. show. Attendance: 16 members & 1 visitor, as per the Outward: attendance book. 24.01.2018-Ross email list of GSG activities to Jan Sked Apologies: 1 apology, as per the attendance book. for inclusion in the next NPQ publication. Raffle: Tickets are circulating; 50c per ticket; each side of 30.01.2018 - Ross email minutes & meeting reminder the book is a ticket, write your name on a piece and place back in the box; don’t retain a butt! 15.02.2018 - Chris email to Peter Olde;Mole Station excursion report with photos. Record of Last Meeting: The record of the December meeting sent out on 30th January together with the 19.02.2018 - Ross email meeting reminder and other notice of this meeting; Another reminder went out 19th notes. Feb. Ross moved the inward correspondence be accepted & Actions arising: outward endorsed. Sec, Chris R 1. Ross to follow-up Alan Lee (at Nielsen’s Native Nursery) General Business: to check his email address. Still to be done! 1. Richard Tomkin of Changers Green Nursery was 2. Chris Purchase confirmed access to the Peacehaven interviewed on ABC RN ‘Country Breakfast’ show on 3rd Park nursery for today. Thanks Chris. Feb, discussing his process in producing new varieties & grafted Grevilleas. He was described as the ‘Grevillea 3. Chris R to add photos to Jan’s Mole River trip report. king’. Done, sent to Peter Olde. 2. Gondwana Nursery excursion now 21st & 22nd April, 4. Fran to suss out dining opportunities in Kyogle for in lieu of 28/29 April, due to clash of dates with the our April meeting at Gondwana Nursery. Sample menu Grovely TAFE native plant sale on 28th at which many circulated. Thanks Fran. members volunteer & man a stall. 5.Develop itinerary for the July excursion to Bargara. See Details follow:- general Business. • Members make overnight accommodation booking & 6. If anyone has an article for the GSG newsletter, send to find their own way to Kyogle on Saturday. Peter Olde, whose details are at the front of the regular newsletter. • Evening meal at Gateway fine foods Café. Choice of 2 mains & 2 desserts was canvassed. Financial Report: Treasurer - Bev Weir; Results were:- Opening Balance: December 2017 = $1767.16 • 2 Mains - Spanakopita pie & Moussaka. 2 Desserts - Income: Raffle - $52, plus 5c interest; $50 for NPQ display. Tiramisu & Date & orange blossom cake. BYOG. Expenditure: $10 to host, $20 for grafted plants, $450 I have selections from the members at the Feb meeting, associated with visit of P Olde. but I will canvass all members again as I will need exact numbers by say, 16th April. February 2018 balance: $1539.20 3. Itinerary for excursion to Bargara,Sat 21 & Sun 22 July. Bev moved acceptance; Sec. Fran S; Carried Saturday - Meet at 10:00 at Lake Alford Park (Visitor Info Correspondence: Admin Ross Reddick; Centre), Gympie for morning tea; Whereis says 2 hours Inward: from my place), then transport to Carrol Gadd’s garden, 1 McHugh Court (5 minutes away). 24.01.2018 - Chris Purchase, advising the Peacehaven Park nursery manager will be here for us on 25th Feb. (It was decided not to include the Hervey Bay garden on this trip, due to time constraints.) CONTINUED >

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After garden tour & lunch (somewhere), transport to Denis closed the meeting: at 11:00 to enable a nursery Bargara; (Whereis says 2.5 hours from Gympie). tour. Take Goodwood Road off Bruce Hwy just before Childers; The nursery convenor kindly opened the Peacehaven then at Thabeban, take ‘Bundaberg Ring Road’ to Bargara Park Nursery for us (out of usual opening times), and Road, Continue to Bargara. many took advantage of browsing & procuring more plants. Suggest accommodation at Bargara Beach Caravan Park (Cabins & van & tent sites) 4159 2228. Other options Some rain squalls kept us on our toes keeping belongings available are motels & units close by in town. dry under the small shelter we had for our meeting. Suggest holding our meeting on Saturday evening over a Due to the rain squalls, the nursery time and the MYO or BYO dinner. distances most people had to travel home, a tour of the gardens went by the wayside. The gardens around the Sunday - Pack-up & transport, 09:15,to Changers Green entrance & the carpark have recently been developed Nursery (about 10 minutes), Linden Cres, Qunaba, AKA with some interesting Grevilleas, Eremophilas & other The Hummock. (mostly) native species and a magnificent welded After nursery tour, etc, head for home; approx. 5 hours to sculpture of Stan Kuhls, a former local farmer who is to Brisbane. be thanked for the Park’s land & after whom the Road is named. 4. Our involvement at the 2018 Spring Wildflower Show– Theme is ‘What’s Up Down Under?’ We had the raffle, which had a variety of Peter’s grafted Grevilleas &other donated specimens. After a ‘bite’, we Our display will focus on Proteoid Roots. Format of the were invited for a stroll thru Chris Purchase’s beautiful display etc to be developed over coming meetings. native garden nearby. 5. The next GSG newsletter relies on articles from What’s coming up? Queensland Branch. Sunday 22.04.2018 Peter Olde is holding our article on the Mole River Note changed date -(in lieu of 29th). Gondwana Native Nursery excursion. Nursery, Creegans Rd, Barkers Vale, via Kyogle. We gather Put your thinking-caps on and write an article, no matter at 09:30 at the nursery for a shared morning tea, then a how small; your fav grevillea!, what grows best for you short meeting at 10:00, then Nursery ‘crawl’& spending!. and why!, what bugs your grevilleas!, 24.06.2018 Email direct to [email protected] or to me, and Cancelled in favour of July excursion. I’ll forward it. Sat/Sun 21-22 July, 2018 6. Denis to talk to Peter Olde regarding a project that could be funded by branches making donations to the Excursion to Richard Tomkins ‘Changers Green Nursery’ national body, in lieu of the previous annual Newsletter/ at Qunaba, near Bargara &private native plant garden at Membership fee. Gympie, en-route.

QLD GSG OUTING TO TENTERFIELD AREA J Glazebrook, Qld

Photos: Chris Reddick After nearly a week of wet and miserable weather, the sun shone brightly on Friday the 20 October 2017 as about 20 Queensland members of the Grevillea Study Group converged on Tenterfield for a weekend of nursery visits and finding grevilleas in the wild. Several members met for coffee at The Summit and together made a stop at the site of at Cottonvale near Stanthorpe. From all reports, it was looking very healthy in its roadside location. The same group also had a look at G. juniperina on the road into Boonoo Boonoo N.P. CONTINUED >

NEWSLETTER NO. 110 – JUNE 2018 04 ACTIVITY REPORTS

Stopping before the creek crossing, we had a good look After settling into our various accommodations in around the area at other plants, including G. viridiflava Tenterfield, we met up for dinner at the Bowls Club. Janet growing near the creek. White, an ex-Brisbanite, joined us there. An enjoyable evening was had by all. During the night, as predicted, the rain returned, but this could not dampen member’s enthusiasm. First stop was the nursery of Sarah and David Caldwell at Mole Station. This was like being let loose in a lolly shop. So many plants to choose from and some we had never seen before. We all came away laden with plants and with huge smiles on our faces. After morning tea, we car-pooled to visit Grevillea Downs, the site of G. beadleana. We arrived at Barry’s cabin to find he had a roaring fire and the kettle boiled for lunch. The more intrepid made their way down the creek, but most of us were content to examine the G. beadleana near the crossing.

We had time to dry out a little before taking the 4WD track into the site of G. beadleana.

These plants weren’t as lush looking as the earlier plants, but they have to cope with shallow soil and flood water. Other interesting plants in this area wereIsopogonpetiolaris and Petrophilecanescens.

After some serious 4WDing on the muddy tracks, we stopped to look at two specimens growing by the track away from the creek. These were looking very healthy and sported a few flowers. CONTINUED >

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The next part of this trip saw us traverse the back tracks of Grevillea Downs and emerge on a high ridge on Sarah and David’s property. The more energetic walked to the nearby trig point for panoramic views over the Mole River valley and the hills beyond, as the rain had cleared by this time. Sarah led us to a beautiful cabin they had built high on a hill, with stunning views to the Dividing Range, with not a house to be seen.

They were flowering, along with masses of Epacris obtusifolia, a dark pink boronia, and Hibbertia acicularis, to name just a few. After morning tea, and dodging the leeches, we headed for the falls.

David then cooked up some lamb from his property and we had a great meal of lamb and salads. The roaring fire warmed us all as we watched the sun go down. What a great experience. Thanks to Sarah and David for a wonderful day and a perfect finish.

We followed our leaders Janet and John White back to Tenterfield. Sunday dawned fine and we were hopeful of another good day. Most of us met at the turn into Basket Swamp N.P. Arriving at the picnic ground, the first thing we did was We spent a fair bit of time exploring this area and the check out the G. acanthifoliasubsp. stenomera. interesting plants that grow there. Back at the picnic area for lunch, we all agreed that it had been a fantastic weekend with lots of wonderful plants seen and great company. Many thanks to Ross Reddick for organising the trip.

NEWSLETTER NO. 110 – JUNE 2018 06 GREVILLEA NEWS

NEW MEMBERS C Guthrie, NSW

We love to find out about our members, so feel free to Neville White, send a few sentences about yourself or your activities by Tamworth NSW way of introduction. I have an interest in native plants and my wife and I have a garden full of many different species. My particular interest or passion is collecting grafting and breeding Grevillea species. I have around 100 species of Grevillea in our garden. I also collect Eremophila species. I enjoy fly fishing and tying my own flies as well as photography and playing lawn bowls. I look forward to being a part of your extremely informative group.

USEFUL LINKS C Guthrie, NSW

Richard Tomkin is featured on ABC News Queensland at: Save our Flora E-Bulletin No. 22, May 2018, page 9 features http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-22/growing-and- a new booklet titled Australian Grass Trees by Attila grafting-the-key-for-bundaberg-grevillea-king/9176660 Kapitany & Neil Marriott. Neil, another Grevillea Study Group member, is a renowned conservationist, botanical Richard from Bundaberg, Qld is a member of the Grevillea author and horticulturalist. He is co-author of the three Study Group. Heis a breeder and collector of grevillea, volumes of Grevillea books and Grassland Plants of South with over 30 hybrid varieties to his name from 35 years of Eastern Australia. breeding and collecting. https://saveourflora.weebly.com/ uploads/4/7/9/8/47983599/sofbulletin22.pdf

IN THE WILD

GREVILLEAS OF NEW CALEDONIA P Olde, NSW

New Caledonia is an isolated French-administered of ultra basic substrates, including peridotite, ferricrete, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean comprising several serpentinite and laterite. The bed-rock is high in nickel, islands that lie approximately 1200–1500 km east of magnesium and iron and very low in other nutrients. Unlike Townsville, Queensland. It is situated at the northern New Zealand at the southern end of Zealandia, vulcanism end of what has recently been recognised as the eighth played no significant part in its formation. continent of the world, Zealandia. Zealandia is an almost entirely submerged landmass and is recognised as a The main island of New Caledonia, Grande Terre, is the drowned continent because of the extent, thickness third largest in the South Pacific and is a landmass of 16000 and density of its crust. It was once part of Gondwana sq km. with a mountainous backbone, covered mainly in but rifted from Antarctica between 150 to 85 million rainforest. The diverse climatic and geological conditions years ago, and from Australia, to which it was attached and the mountainous relief of the main island have given along its eastern coast, between 85–60 million years rise to a series of vegetation types with an exceptionally ago. By a process of sea-floor spreading, it drifted to its rich diversity of endemic species,’ the main component present position about 50 Mya. The continent consists of which is evergreen rainforest with a high number of mainly (93%) of submerged continental shelf, but was ancient ferns such as Angiopterisevecta, Marattia and tree completely submerged 23–25 million years ago, according ferns. The rainforest on another island, the Isle of Pines, is to geological evidence. Subsequent tectonic movements developed mainly on limestone. The geography of Grande have seen New Caledonia, Lord Howe, Norfolk and New Terre features two rainforest types, highland and lowland, Zealand re-emerge as islands. New Caledonia re-emerged as well as areas of heathland known as ‘maquis’, coastal on a ridge after a series of folds in the earth’s mantle mangrove flora and dry tropical forest (now rare). during which oceanic mantle obducted over the original Cretaceous schist. This led to the formation of a thick layer CONTINUED >

NEWSLETTER NO. 110 – JUNE 2018 07 IN THE WILD

Much or all of its land surfaces appear to have been submerged for up to 20 million years at some point, re- emerging in the Eocene between 43 and 25 mya. Under this hypothesis, all endemic Gondwanic flora must have been extinguished by submersion. Yet Gondwanic-derived flora today comprises the major part of the endemic New Caledonian rainforest flora. In fact, New Caledonia has the highest rate of endemic plants anywhere in the world. The conflict between the geological and biogeographic evidence has resulted in several studies over recent years. The main conclusion is that long-distance dispersal and some outcropping islands with remnant flora allowed for reintroduction to the newly emergent land mass. Grevillea exul ssp rubiginosa – Photo: Peter Olde

However, the situation is not straightforward. There are Both Grevillea exul and G. gillivrayi are found in abundance 20 species of Araucaria (14 endemic) in New Caledonia, on maquis, sometimes growing together, close to Noumea, a gymnosperm family with a lineage dating back some although their distribution is much wider. Perhaps the most 250 million years. Although it might be assumed that the beautiful isG. exul subsp. rubiginosa which is a hardy plant endemic species of New Caledonia evolved there from that forms into an attractive dark green or small plants that originated when it was part of Gondwana, tree. It is mainly distributed in the south of Grand Terre molecular phylogenetic evidence suggests that all species with scattered populations in the north. Terminal, bird- are sister to the Norfolk Island pine, Araucaria heterophylla, attractive, white or cream toothbrush racemes en masse which arrived there relatively recently by cross-water are a feature and the flowers and leaves have a variable dispersal. The endemic Araucarias must have evolved indumentum of red-rusty hairs. A rare pink-flowered form, quickly and relatively recently. The same inferences do not probably a sport or genetic mutant, has been photographed apply to other Gondwanic relics such as Amphorogyne, but has not been seen in recent years. Robert Virot (1968) Paracryphia and Phelline, leaf cuticle fossils of which have divided the species into two subspecies, with two varieties been found in New Zealand, suggesting a former wide in one and two forma in the second. There is considerable distribution and contraction of the Gondwana flora. variation in leaf width and the characters used to define There are 43 species of in New Caledonia which the different infraspecific characters are somewhat G. are divisible into nine genera, one of which is Grevillea, with nebulous. I felt safe referring to all the plants simply as exul Grevillea three endemic species. All genera appear to have evolved . This species is widely used, like all species to from one or two dispersal events. The Grevillea species revegetate mine sites and we in Australia should consider Grevillea are found in the maquis or rainforest margins, not in the growing it from seed and planting it here. Of all G. exul G. robusta rainforests. Maquis vegetation has been characterised by species, most closely resembles which Bramwell (2011) as ‘low, sclerophyllous, evergreen, heath- is widely planted in New Caledonia. The two may share a G. exul like plants with stunted Araucaria trees and is found from common ancestor. According to Virot, is confined to sea level to the mountainous regions on Grande Terre, serpentine substrates. Serpentinite is a metamorphic rock and other nearby islands’. The maquis is a response to that is mostly composed of serpentine group minerals, the special conditions of the depauperate, ultrabasic antigorite, lizardite, and chrysotile which are produced substrate soils, such as peridotite and serpentinite, rich in by the hydrous alteration of ultramafic rocks. These are nickel, magnesium, chromium and manganese which are igneous rocks that are composed of olivine and pyroxene toxic to many plants. Peridotite is a dense, coarse-grained (peridotite, pyroxenite). igneous rock consisting mostly of the minerals olivine and pyroxene. It is also ultramafic, as the rock contains less than 45% silica. It is high in magnesium, reflecting the high proportions of magnesium-rich olivine, with appreciable iron. Many component species have spectacular flowers and there is much variation in species composition. One of these, Dodonaeaviscosa, was perhaps the most spectacular. Difficult to believe it is the same species as the Australian plant.

Grevillea gillivrayi – Photo: Peter Olde CONTINUED >

NEWSLETTER NO. 110 – JUNE 2018 08 IN THE WILD

Grevillea meisneriis similar in habit to G. gillivrayi but the inflorescences are much shorter and decurved. The pistils are longer than all other species and the perianth is quickly deciduous. It is found mainly in a few locations in the northern half of Grande Terre but we only saw var. meisneri, and then at its most southerly location in serpentine maquis 7 km S of Pouembout, near Kone, growing with several species of , including the very desirable S. milnei. Virot recognised two varieties in G. meisneri and I cannot really comment on them. According to Virot’s key, the difference between var. meisneri and var. rhododesmia lies in the glabrous nature of the external surface of the tepals and the floral rachis of var. rhododesmia. Both varieties are recorded from on or near the dome of Tiebaghi which really begs the question about their biological difference.

Grevillea gillivrayi – Photo: Peter Olde

Grevillea gillivrayi is mostly found in the south of Grand Terre and on a few adjacent islands in maquis. The inflorescences are erect, cylindrical and vary in colour from cream to red, most being a shade of pink. They have an untidy habit, usually with leaves at the base and emergent whip-like canes carrying the flowers and a few Grevillea gillivrayi – Photo: Peter Olde leaves above. Virot divided the species into two varieties, one of which var. glabriflora, is known from two specimens collected on Mt Dore. Unfortunately, var. gillivrayi has also References been collected from this location and the recognition of two formal varieties is hardly warranted, if at all. There Bramwell D (2011) Biogeography and conservation of the is some variation in leaf width. A narrow-leaved form is flora of New Caledonia. In Bramwell D, Caujapé-Castells found around the Dumbea River near Noumea and in J (Eds) The Biology of Island Floras (Cambridge University a few other places but there are many overlaps in both Press) shape and width between the two varieties that prevents “Zealandia: Is there an eighth continent under New classification. Recent writers have confirmed my own view Zealand?”. BBC News. 17 February 2017. Archived from that the recognition of infraspecific taxa is not justified. the original on 28 March 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2017. Kranitz ML et al. (2014) Evolutionary diversification of New Caledonian Araucaria. Plos One 9(10). Mortimer N, Campbell H (2014) Zealandia: Our continent revealed. (Penguin Books (NZ): Auckland) Virot R (1968) Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dépendances. (Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle)

Grevillea gillivrayi – Photo: Peter Olde

NEWSLETTER NO. 110 – JUNE 2018 09 IN THE WILD

GREVILLEA WHITEANA V Tanner, Qld

I recently went back to my home town in Qld (Maryborough) and drove about 45mins to Mt Walsh NP near Biggenden. On hiking up the mountain I saw a number of grevilleas (not flowering), but once on top, there was a lovely small tree/ large shrub in flower despite the area’s obvious drought conditions. On return I referred to The GrevilleaBook (Vol. 3) to establish that it was Grevillea whiteana.... a lovely grevillea! One of the important characteristics of G. whiteana is the rusty perianth limb which distinguishes it visually from G. banksii white. The latter also has a conspicuous glandular indumentum on the flowers which is absent from G. whiteana. We seem to have lost G. whiteana from cultivation. Is anyone still growing it? [Ed.]

THE LOWOOD RAIL TRAIL P Olde, NSW

The Lowood Rail Lowood sits at the southern end of the The railway line to Lowood was completed in June 1884 Somerset Region of Queensland, 80km from Brisbane CBD, and the Commissioner of Railways chose the name 30km from Ipswich and 8km from Fernvale. It is a small town Lowood for the terminus of the first section of the Brisbane amid rolling hills, meandering creeks and farmland. Lockyer Valley branch line. It was named after the low woods of Creek flows through the district and joins the Brisbane Brigalow scrub formerly growing naturally in the area. The River as it passes by Lowood from nearby Lake Wivenhoe. Brisbane Valley Rail Trail was developed for low impact tourist use, including biking, walking and other forms of recreation. Lowood Railway station marks the beginning of the Rail Trail in the area which extends for around 1 km from the local IGA store in the main street. About 500m of rail trail adjacent to the Lowood Golf Club is more fully developed and features a fascinating mix of unusual and well known Australian native plants, dominated by Grevillea and Eremophila. It features also a wide range of other horticulturally attractive Australian native plants, many of them grafted. Most of the plantings are on one side of the trail. The planting project was initiated, funded and carried out by Peter Bevan, proprietor of Pete’s Hobby Nursery, in a volunteer capacity, with support from family and a few friends and is now attracting visits by a large number of gardening enthusiasts from across south-east Queensland.

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At the time of my visit, a short area was being prepared for planting which enabled me to see the deep, well- drained, grey sandy-loam soil profile. The soil is first ripped and ploughed and allowed to fallow for a few months. Weeds are sprayed out and plants readied for planting in autumn. Peter is guided here by his own loves (which I share) eremophilas and grevilleas. Wisely he plants spectacular hybrids amongst the sometimes less spectacular local plants and endangered species. He has truly achieved something worthwhile for all enthusiasts and general gardeners to visit. Camping is available in the show grounds plus overnight accommodation in a motel. There are two pubs, a bakery, and a number of cafes, fast food outlets and toilets. I visited Pete’s nursery and the magnificent rail trail at the end of his street in early December 2017 with Jan and Dennis Cox. I was stunned and overwhelmed at its beauty and the excellent plant growth being achieved there with so many ‘difficult’ plants over such an extensive area. Unfortunately, most of my photos were ruined when my mobile phone camera got too hot. The plantings are being extended all the time, a few grants here and there, and volunteers turning up to offer a hand. The local council has assisted with drainage works, the supply of mulch and site preparation.Further support is also being provided through the Salvation Army Employment Plus program, and the Tusra program, with a number of Centrelink referrals helping to undertake plant maintenance and brushcutting activities along the trail.Plans are also in place to have the existing and new plantings linked to a pathway and garden that is soon to be installed near the Main Street entrance Congratulations to Peter and his team of volunteers, which to the rail trail. Lowood IGA will fund this element of the includes Tim Roberts and Trish McCoombes. project.Discussions are also in progress with the Lowood High School principal to have students assist with some plantings too.Steps are also being undertaken to modify the rail trail to make it more suitable for motorised disability scooters, with the work to be undertaken by Boughen’s Bitumen in a volunteer capacity.

NEWSLETTER NO. 110 – JUNE 2018 11 IN THE WILD

MARCH 2018: COLLEEN AND GEOFF KEENA TALK TO PETER BEVAN ABOUT GREVILLEAS ON THE RAIL TRAIL AT LOWOOD

The next two plants were seedlings that Pete discovered HOW DID PLANTING ON THE RAIL TRAIL BEGIN? and then propagated. The planting along the Rail Trail at Lowood began as a Grevillea ‘Little Lady’ was a seedling of ‘Lady O’. As it has trial garden for native hibiscus species and crosses and to the extended flowering of ‘Lady O’, its flowers can be seen provide privacy for a family member whose house backed over an extended period. However its bright red blooms on to the trail. are particularly noticeable in Summer, when surrounding plants are not in flower. It is a ground cover and so is useful WHAT INPUTS ARE MADE WITH PLANTS ON THE as a weed suppressant, a useful characteristic for the Rail RAIL TRAIL? Trail. Water is applied only at planting. Occasionally, if a plant is Grevillea ‘Lowood Cascade’is the fourth plant. Itis a rare, there will be a second application. seedling which arose in Pete’s own garden near ‘Cooroora Cascade’. Feedback indicates that this a superior Grevillea plant. Apart from the spectacular golden flowers WHY WERE GREVILLEAS INCLUDED IN THE which can be seen throughout the warmer months, its PLANTING? spreading ground-cover growth makes it an effective Grevilleas and Eremophilas were included to increase weed suppressant. Comments from people who are now diversity. growing their own plants have been extremely positive. As these plants have been grown on their own roots, this is helpful information for future propagation. WHERE DID PLANTING GO FROM THERE? Hardy, inland plants or others with low water requirements were added to the planting. WHAT NEXT? Many new Grevillea seedlings are being trialled on the Rail Trail, including the plants in the Coominya Collection, CAN YOU PROVIDE INFORMATION ON NEW previously described. Information on these will be made GREVILLEAS ON THE RAIL TRAIL? available as trialling progresses. Two existing Grevillea crosses from Colleen and Geoff Keena were included on the Rail Trail. HOW WOULD YOU SUMMARISE GREVILLEAS ON The first of these, Grevillea ‘Patsy’, is a small plant that THE RAIL TRAIL? was propagated for the Rail Trail as it grew and flowered in The plants described above indicate that the goal of shade over a long period. increasing diversity has been achieved with just these four The second selection consisted of two seedlings from Grevilleas. They vary from ground-covers, to a small shrub Grevillea ‘Elegance’. They were first propagated in 2004. to tall plants; flowering is mainly in the cooler months for One, Grevillea ‘Apricot Sensation’, has apricot flowers that the first two and in the warmer months for the second become a delicate pink, the other, Grevillea ‘Red Sensation’, two; colours range from apricot/pink to red and gold; has red flowers that turn to white. The dense growth of flower form varies from ‘spider’ flowers to large brushes. both these plants has meant they have proved valuable as Other attributes such as screening and weed suppression screening plants. Their foliage and their flowers are useful are useful on the Rail Trail. in flower arrangements. Both plants flower from the end of Autumn to the middle of Spring.

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NEWSLETTER NO. 110 – JUNE 2018 12 IN THE WILD

GREVILLEA ‘PATSY’: From C. & G. Keena IMAGES: Small bush; Single Bloom; Cluster of flowers; Visitor to bush.

GREVILLEA ‘SENSATION’: From C. & G. Keena IMAGES: Screen; Foliage; Filler; Colour - Apricot to Pink or Red to White

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NEWSLETTER NO. 110 – JUNE 2018 13 IN THE WILD

GREVILLEA ‘Little Lady’ Ground Cover; Weed suppressant; Bright Red Blooms; Summer flowering

GREVILLEA ‘Lowood Cascade’ Spectacular bush; Weed suppressant; Large Brushes; Summer flowering

NEWSLETTER NO. 110 – JUNE 2018 14 IN YOUR GARDEN

GROWING GREVILLEA PETROPHILOIDES ON ITS OWN ROOTS L Purchase, Qld

I have had somewhat limited success with this task but have found that this plant lasts here in Toowoomba just as long on its own roots as it does grafted,ie about 6-8 years. I first tried around 2003 with an ungrafted plant from a local nursery. It powered on for approximately 7 years before finally succumbing to drought, I suspect. Then out of the blue a seedling came up very close to where it had been. I didn’t hold out much hope because in the past I have had 3 seedlings come up from grafted plants. I lost one to transplanting and two that never got past half a metre high, doing poorly in heavy shade. However this particular seedling is in more sun and is a much healthier plant. It is currently 50 cm high and I am hoping it will do as well as its parent plant did. I did have another ‘dwarf’ form of G.petrophiloides on G. petrophiloidesseedling its own roots in another garden bed. It lasted three years then suddenly dropped dead when coming into flower. For people who graft themselves it is much cheaper to grow this species as a grafted plant, but I like to try things on their own roots. G.leucopteris has done very well here on its own roots but didn’t appreciate being blown almost out of the ground for a third time. It will be interesting to watch how my latest one grows.

G. petrophiloides Dead ‘dwarf’ form of G. petrophiloides

SEEKING GREVILLEA ‘EILEEN ROSE’ J Sked, Qld

Is anyone growing Grevillea ‘Eileen Rose’? My original plant lived for about 22 years. In 1986 I obtained two more plants from Fairhill and they lived for In 1977 I grew this plant from seed from a hybrid Grevillea about 12 years. banksii x sessilis, which closely resembled G. ‘Misty Pink” that was growing in the garden of a friend, Eileen Prescott, As I no longer have this plant, I am keen to obtain another at Albany Creek, Queensland. specimen for my daughter’s garden, as my garden is now too shady to grow Grevilleas successfully, and my daughter When it turned out to be rather different from its loves Grevilleas. parent, I registered it in 1982 with the Australian Cultivar Registration Authority in Canberra, giving it the name If anyone knows of this Grevillea or is growing it in their ‘Eileen Rose’ in honour of my friend Eileen. In the 1980s garden, please let me know and maybe I can get some Fairhill Native Plants, Yandina, obtained the rights to cuttings. propagate it. Jan Sked Grevillea ‘Eileen Rose’ is a small shrub, about 1.5 metres Native Plants Queensland tall, with attractive, grey-green, deeply divided leaves, Study Group Liaison Officer very similar to G. ‘Misty Pink’ foliage. Deep, rosy pink Email: [email protected] flowers are carried in cylindrical spikes, 12cm long, at the Phone: 07 3285 3322 ends of the branches intermittently throughout the year.

NEWSLETTER NO. 110 – JUNE 2018 15 SEED BANK

MATT HURST: 37 HEYDON AVE, WAGGA WAGGA 2650 NSW PHONE (02) 6925 1273

Please include a stamped self addressed envelope. $1.50 + s.a.e

Grevillea aurea Grevillea magnifica Grevillea magnifica alba prostrate ssp magnifica Grevillea ramosissima ssp ramosissima ssp manglesii (ltd) (ltd) Grevillea superba ssp abbreviata ex Grevillea triternata Coonabarabran (ltd) Grevillea wickamii (ltd) ssp aprica

Free + s.a.e

Grevillea banksii prostrate white Grevillea leucopteris Please note: seed from hybrid -substitute -cultivated plants does Grevillea banksii prostrate red Grevillea magnifica not necessarily come true to type. Grevillea banksii prostrate red Grevillea ‘Moonlight’ ex 1770 Grevillea petrophiloides Grevillea glauca Grevillea ramosissima Grevillea juncifolia Grevillea johnsonii red flowers Grevillea stenobotrya Grevillea longistyla

Fresh stocks of garden seed are desperately needed as most species are almost out of seed. Can members asking for seed please give an alternative list in case some species are no longer in stock. It is preferred if requests are sent with a small padded post pack. It costs less to send at approx $1.50 per letter than padding an envelope at $2.00 each or more so the seed will survive the trip down the sorting rollers. It’s a good idea to send extra stamps with requests as extra postage is usually needed to be paid with almost every request. Leftover stamps would be sent back with your seed.

NEWSLETTER NO. 110 – JUNE 2018 01616 FINANCIAL REPORT JUNE 2018 OFFICE BEARERS

Income LEADER Peter Olde Interest 0.17 140 Russell Lane, Oakdale NSW 2570 (02) 4659 6598 [email protected] Total income $0.17

TREASURER AND NEWSLETTER EDITOR Expenditure Christine Guthrie 32 Blanche Street, Oatley NSW 2223 Newsletter publishing $255.00 (02) 9579 4093 [email protected] Part reimbursement to P Olde for research expenses $500.00

Reimbursement to G Meikeljuohn CURATOR OF LIVING COLLECTION for fuel expenses $114.00 Neil Marriott PO Box 107, Stawell Vic 3380 (03) 5356 2404 or 0458 177 989 Total expenditure $869.00 [email protected]

Bank account details CURATOR OF ILLAWARRA GREVILLEA PARK, BULLI Ray Brown Amount in interest bearing deposit 29 Gwythir Avenue, Bulli NSW 2516 and will be terminated 28/06/2018 (02) 4284 9216 $18,941.25

CURATOR OF SEED BANK Balance in current account Matt Hurst 14/06/2018 37 Heydon Ave, Wagga Wagga 2650 NSW $321.93 (02) 6925 1273

DONATIONS ONLINE CONTACT

1. President’s email address The newsletter is now free but groups are [email protected] encouraged to make an annual donation. Individual donations are always welcome. Direct deposits can be made into the Grevillea Study Group account. 2. URL for Grevillea Study Group website BSB: 112-879 http://anpsa.org.au/grevSG/ Account Number: 016526630 (St George Bank) To be notified of the latest newsletter, email recipients must Please notifiy the Treasurer of transfer by email be registered. Please ensure your email address is registered ([email protected]) and up to date and any changes are advised to Christine Guthrie at [email protected]

NEWSLETTER NO. 110 – JUNE 2018 17