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AUSTRALIAN NATIVE SOCIETY () INC STUDY GROUP

NEWSLETTER NO. 107 – JUNE 2017

GSG NSW Programme 2017 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.

GSG Vic Programme 2017 OBITUARIES 03 | Leader: Neil Marriott, 693 Panrock Reservoir Rd, Stawell, Vic. 3380 DOROTHY ‘DOT’ AMY SAUNDERS p 03 5356 2404 or 0458 177 989 | e [email protected] PETER G. ABELL Contact Neil for queries about program for the year. Any members who would like to visit the official collection, obtain cutting material or , assist in its maintenance, and stay in our ALLAN HOTTON cottage for a few days are invited to contact Neil.

GSG Living Collection There has been further extensive planting of the collection, with the development of a | South Australian Grevillea bed, a hill, many areas of Western Australian 04 and a lovely NSW Grevillea bed. Any volunteer help would be greatly appreciated PROTEMIRIS GREVILLEAE, A NEW as the garden is now getting just too much to care for alone. Special thanks must go to those SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN PHYLINAE members who have donated plants recently to the collection: Brian Weir, Graeme Woods, Phil Vaughan, Neville Collier, Dave Binch, Barry Teague, Mike Williams, Humphris Nursery and Kuranga Nursery. Any members wishing to get seed or cutting material are most welcome – come and have a look around and collect your own.

05 | GREVILLEA NEWS GSG SE Qld Programme 2017 RE: REVEGETATION BY STOCKTON Meetings are usually held on the last Sunday of the even months. We meet for a communal LANDCARE morning tea at 9.30am after which the meetings commence at 10.00am. Visitors are always FACEBOOK 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.

Sunday, 27 August venue: Garden of Jim & Fran Standing; Mt Clunie Road, Mt Clunie (via Woodenbong, NSW) 06 | IN THE WILD subject: Small white flowering Grevilleas with different petal arrangements, by Denis Cox CENTRE BREAK ROAD EXCURSION phone: (07) 4666 5118 GREVILLEAS OF CAPE YORK TO THE TIP Sunday, 21 October NEW GREVILLEA SPECIES FOR venue: Field trip & excursion to Mole River Nursery at Mole River Station and on to Grevillea Downs, to see the home of , west of Tenterfield. High clearance vehicles may be required in Grevillea Downs, so car-pooling could be the order of the day. Ross to develop an itinerary, based on the Nursery & Grevillea Downs visits taking in the Saturday. Meeting at the Nursery for usual start time, which may require overnighting in Tenterfield on Friday night (at least). | IN YOUR GARDEN subject: Recovery Plan for the Grevillea beadleana 13 phone: More details later ADVICE NEEDED Sunday, 29 October venue: At home of Gail and Adrian Wockner, 5 Horizon Court, Highfields Qld 4352 subject: Pests and Diseases associated with Grevilleas by Adrian Wockner phone: (07) 4615 4800 | SEED BANK 13 Sunday, 03 December (in lieu of 26.11.2017) venue: Garden of Denis Cox & Jan Glazebrook, 87 Daintree Drive, Logan Village, Cnr Diamantina Drive (the 2nd corner of Daintree Drive on Diamantina Drive) speaker: Mr Peter Olde 14 | FINANCIALS phone: (07) 5546 8590 EDITORIAL

A FEW WORDS FROM PETER Peter Olde, NSW

Our winter edition comes courtesy of the We won’t be seeing dumbeensis Guillaumin chapter. Thanks to those who participated. We see a because it is thought to be extinct but we will be seeing couple of articles on Cape York. Many Easterners take Amborella, the most ancient flowering in the the opportunity at this time of the year to travel into world. New Caledonia separated from in that beautiful wild part of Australia to the north. There the , and after a partial submersion during is much to interest the plant lover with a mixture of Paleocene and Eocene, the main island emerged 37 rainforest and heath all the way to the tip. The roads are million years ago and was likely exclusively re-colonized by no longer a terrifying prospect. You could safely get there plants through long-distance dispersal. At the time of its in two-wheel drive in the dry season with tar road all the emersion it was probably entirely covered with ultramafic way to Laura and good, well-graded roads further on. rocks that still occupy over 5000 square km of the surface Unfortunately much of the country is excluded because of the main island. The weathering of these rocks produced of native title laws. I personally think that it is a mistake a variety of soils that have a very low level of phosphorus, to deny visitation to such vast areas but with claims for potassium, calcium but high level of magnesium and heavy ownership of the whole Cape in train, there seems little metals including nickel (Ni), cobalt and chromium. New hope of a reversal any time soon. One serious problem Caledonia harbors a rich and original vegetation likely is the impedence to scientists and botanists who wish to resulting from the adaptation of plants over a long period explore and collect in areas regarded as ‘sacred’. Draconian of time to these challenging conditions. New Caledonia is laws in also act as an impedence to renowned for its rich, endemic and threatened vascular botanical research even if they are designed to protect flora and is therefore considered as one of the world the flora from rapacious individuals who have no interest biodiversity hotspots. In particular, 2145 species, among in plants. This is not a land rights issue but it is a real which 80% are endemic, are developed on these metal rich problem. Even WA collecting permits prohibit collection soils. New Caledonia has also been listed among the main from roadsides, reserves, national parks etc even if these hotspots for metallophytes. Rainforest genera are the only areas where the plants grow. include , Beaupreopsis, Eucarpha, Garnieria, , , , , , , In November I will be travelling to New Caledonia with Sleumerodendron, Virotia. the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney under the leadership of Dr Peter Weston, probably our Several grevilleaphiles will be going. You or some of your most knowledgeable botanist on the Proteaceae. There friends may be interested in joining this unique trip. are three species of Grevillea there, G. meisneri, G. exul Further information can be obtained from lyn.Johnson@ and G. gillivrayi with some internal varieties recognised, rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au. but numerous other Proteaceae, both endemic and not.

REMINDER: NEW FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS Christine Guthrie, NSW

You will recall from the last edition that the Grevillea Study Alternatively post your cheque to: Group newsletter is now only available online, for FREE. Many people have already provided their email address so Grevillea Study Group I can send the link when the newsletter is published but 32 Blanche Street OATLEY some are still outstanding. Please send details to bruce. NSW 2223 [email protected] as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss out on the newsletter. Illawarra Grevillea Park NEXT OPEN DAYS 2017 While there is no subscription, donations are welcome. We are encouraging all groups and regions to make an annual July 1, 2, 8, 9 Opening hrs are 10am – 4pm donation to the study group. This can be done by direct deposit into the Grevillea Study Group account: Location The Park is located at the rear of Bulli Showground, BSB: 112-879 Princess Highway, Bulli. Account number: 016526630 Admission (St George Bank) $5 adults, children with adults are free Please include your name in the transaction details. email [email protected] or visit grevilleapark.org

NEWSLETTER NO. 107 – JUNE 2017 02 OBITUARIES

DOROTHY ‘DOT’ AMY SAUNDERS (1932–2016) Peter Olde, NSW

Dot Saunders (with husband Hessell) was a long-time Sid Cadwell, who lived alone near Rylstone and was enthusiastic member of the Grevillea Study Group. The often provided with meals made by Dot. At their home Saunders regularly attended meetings, participated on in Woonona, NSW they grew a magnificent range of NT field trips and collected specimens for use in the Grevillea and tropical Grevillea species. Dot was a generous person Book. In 1985 they collected G. scapigera from near Corrigin who suffered greatly from diabetes as she grew older. She and sent material that was propagated by Peter Abell at never complained. She and Hessell were joined at the hip RBG. They also organised a GSG field trip in the Rylstone and I can still remember how openly amused she always area where they had a small Grevillea growing property. was by Hessell’s corny jokes. Condolences to Hessell, her Dot was a former home economics school teacher and a extended family and her four children, one of whom, Greg, magnificent cook, bringing her offerings along in recent suffered a massive heart attack that both ruined his life years to open days of the Illawarra Grevillea Park, Bulli and place a great strain on the family in recent times. Dot where she used to sell them and donate the proceeds to passed away on 12 November 2016 and we thank her for the Park. In former times, when I first met them both, they sharing part of her life with us. used to take a kindly interest jn that scratchy bachelor,

PETER G. ABELL (1963–2017) Peter Olde, NSW

Peter Abell first came to attention as an apprentice Grevillea as a cut- focus plant. Unfortunately he left horticulturist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney where the project soon after it began and moved into other areas he had developed a passion for grevilleas. Among the in which Grevillea took more of a back seat. The project first of his successess was the introduction of Grevillea failed to deliver any outcomes and the Study Group also scapigera, material of which was sent to him in 1985 and stopped funding, losing half its investment in the process. which he successfully grafted. Material from this plant was later used to reintroduce this near-extinct species into the In recent times he acted as a’ QP’ or Qualified Person wild. Peter was one of the earliest in Australia to develop for registration of plants under Plant Breeders Rights grafting skills with Australian natives. legislation, organising the registration of numerous PBR Grevilleas for George Lullfitz in Western Australia. The In his early days Peter was also a good collector, most of most recent are two forms of G. stenomera, both collected his specimens being held at NSW. There are 674 specimens from the wild. I must confess that the registration of listed on AVH mainly from in 1985-86, wild collections mystifies me, and I wonder how they of which 57 are Grevillea. He also collected in Western could ever be legally defended. He also earned money Australia but apparently did not lodge his specimens. I as a lecturer and teacher. Peter pursued his passion for met him and his family there in the field near Coolgardie Ptilotus, introducing many selections to horticulture. purely by chance one day. His collection from Buckett’s Way in Wallaroo State Forest (P.G. Abell 57, August 1985) Recently, Peter moved from the Blue Mountains to the was chosen as the holotype of Grevillea humilis Makinson. Bellinger Valley near Coffs Harbour to take up a new job Among his other collections are specimens of Grevillea exul which would have expanded his horizons even further. It and G. gillivrayi from New Caledonia which he collected was here on a sunny hot afternoon of March 1 2017 that on a field trip there in March 1987. Material from these he and his wife Sue and three children Oliver, Claudia and collections are grown by members of the Grevillea Study Riley ended up on Repton’s Tucker Box Beach and went Group today. Peter’s passion soon took a more commercial for a swim. According to the Coffs Harbour Advocate, he bent and after he sought release from his job because and his two sons aged 11 and 14 were seen struggling in of a perceived lack of support for his initiatives in 1991, the water apparently against a rip around 5 pm. The boys he turned up at the University of Sydney Plant Research managed to make it to safety but Peter was carried out to Facility at Cobbity where his interest in Grevillea expanded sea unconscious and regrettably did not respond to CPR into other plants such as the development of Scaevola when pulled from the water some 30 minutes later. The and eventually Ptilotus for the horticultural market. Peter cause of his death is uncertain. We pass our condolences also wrote articles for Australian Horticulture as well as to his family and especially brother Mark who continues to the Grevillea Study Group Newsletter (see online index). assist the Study Group with collections and photos. Around 2002, Peter got the Grevillea Study Group into its first funding venture, $10,000 for the development of

NEWSLETTER NO. 107 – JUNE 2017 03 OBITUARIES

ALLAN HOTTON (18/10/1951–14/02/2017) Laylee Purchase, Qld

Toowoomba has lost one of its most successful and avid Allan also actively participated in the Grevillea and native plant gardeners.  He and wife Chris’s multiple Eremophila Study Groups – a dedicated and busy man award winning Carnival of garden showed many when it came to native plants. His contribution to both is newcomers to native plants that it just took knowledge, greatly appreciated. time and effort to produce such a wonderful garden. Allan spent 20 years in the Army, retiring as a Warrant Officer 1, after whichhe turned his love of horses into hobby farming, specialising in breeding Arabs. He later established a very successful mechanical business. Despite his lengthy battle with cancer, he was a tireless worker, even when he should have been resting. Allan saw when jobs needed to be done, and did them. He regularly contributed to the Tmba SGAP Newsletter, and discussions at meetings, and gave gardening advice freely and readily. He passed on his many gardening skills to whoever sought Grevilla arenaria Photo – M. Noake it. He still managed to find time to help out at Peacehaven opened seed capsule. Botanic Park, and was on Management Committees of both our club and Peacehaven – all the time managing the cancer that finally took his life.

TAXONOMY

PROTEMIRIS GREVILLEAE, A NEW SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN PHYLINAE Peter Olde summarises (HEMIPTERA : MIRIDAE) a recent paper

Researchers Kaleigh Russell and Christiane Weirauch, bug. They are morphologically similar to psyllids, a group working at the University of , have identified that are generally very destructive to plants. The five new a new monophyletic Phyline Protemiris with five species in the genus include P. adenanthi, P. conospermi, species associated with Proteaceae, among them P. P. distichi, P. grevilleae and P. isopogoni and, although this grevilleae from Western Australia. Australian plant bug study shows that they are mostly restricted to Western fauna has recently witnessed a surge of new discovery, Australia with one species also in the Northern Territory, admittedly from a very low base. The U.S. NSF-funded they are possibly spread much further. A morphology- Planetary Biodiversity Project on plant bugs and other based cladistic analysis confirms the monophyly of initiatives have started to transform our understanding this new genus and places it in the recently described of Miridae in Australia, describing more than 180 new subtribe Exocarpocorina of the tribe Semiini, among species in 29 new genera. One clear pattern to emerge other Australian phylines with similarly elaborate male is that Phyline species diversity is very high in the and female genitalia. The Exocarpocorina group of plant Western part of Australia, associated no doubt with its bugs has the greatest documented diversity in Australia exceptionally high floristic biodiversity. Research on the and . Habitus and scanning electron images, interactions of insects and plants in the Proteaceae have genitalic illustrations, host associations and distribution mostly focused on pollination, seedling mortality and maps for the new plant bug species are provided in the herbivory. An interesting aspect that drives low florivory paper, as well as a key. is the occurrence of cyanogenic compounds, mainly in the flowers of many species of Proteaceae. Protemiris grevilleae Russell & Weirauch is associated strongly with the true, sometimes called ‘toothbrush’ Despite the substantial number of recent taxonomic grevilleas, especially G. eriostachya, although the holotype treatments of Australian Phylinae (e.g. Schuh & Schwartz was collected on Grevillea apiciloba subsp. apiciloba 2016), a significant portion of species-level diversity from near Nungarin, Western Australia. It has also been remains to be documented. Protemiris is a genus in the recorded on the closely related species G. juncifolia subsp. Hemiptera, a subgroup of which (the Sternorrhyncha) juncifolia. contains psyllids, aphids, white fly, coccid scales and mealy CONTINUED >

NEWSLETTER NO. 107 – JUNE 2017 04 SECTIONTAXONOMY

However, it is not confined to Grevillea and there are over References Brachyscome ciliaris var. lanuginosa 30 accessions on and Russell K, Weirauch C (2017) ‘Toothbrush’ plant bugs and Eucalyptus camaldulensis. P. grevilleae is most closely allies: Protemiris gen. nov., a new genus and five new P. adenanthi P. isopogoni related to and from which it can species of Proteaceae-associated Australian Phylinae be distinguished principally by its size (> 3 mm long), its (Hemiptera : Miridae). Austral Entomology, 56(1): 75–93. uniform pale orange colour, and smaller eyes. doi: 10.1111/aen.12213. Published online in 2016. Schuh RT & Schwartz MD. 2016. Nineteen new genera and 82 new species of Cremnorrhinina from Australia, including analyses of host relationships, distributions, and discussion of connections outside of Australia (Insecta :Hemiptera :Miridae : Phylinae : Cremnorrhinini). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 925, 1–278. Schuh RT & Weirauch C. 2010. Myrtaceae-feeding Phylinae (Hemiptera : Miridae) from Australia: description and analysis of phylogenetic and host relationships for a monophyletic assemblage of three new genera. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 344, 1–95.

GREVILLEA NEWS

RE: REVEGETATION BY STOCKTON LANDCARE (NL 106, FEB 2017, PAGE 13)

Further correspondence from Paddy Lightfoot and The location was the northern end of Stockton township. Peter Cousins The ‘soil’ is effectively sand – some with a bit of organic matter, but much with very little, especially within the first Paddy Lightfoot: 10-20 metres of the high water mark. In response to Peter Cousins’ request in the last study group newsletter, I am working with a Landcare Group at the With five weeks having passed since our final plantings, all Hunter Wetlands Centre Shortland (near Stockton) over 45 of the 105 plants we bought are going well (all in 140mm hectares. As there are no really local Grevilleas we restrict pots). We were also given an additional four flannel flowers planting of Grevilleas to the Visitors Centre and Education in tall tubes from another source which we put in. One Centre gardens (around the man made environment). of these was in poor condition and it now appears dead. These gardens are available for educational and aesthetic I’m not going to consider this in our success/failure stats planting of Australian Natives from anywhere in Australia. for the longer term. All of the plants have 450mm high However out in the ‘wilds’ we have no Grevilleas with the translucent plastic guards and supporting bamboo exception of local garden escapees - Grevillea robusta - stakes. All have been mulched with native woodchip. large specimens which will eventually be removed. We We tried to obtain as many species from Peter Olde’s already pull out any small specimens of G. robusta we recommendations as we could – probably got to about come across in our bush regeneration. In other words out 50/50. Some are just not available commercially. With the in the ‘Wilds’ we plant no Grevilleas. Hope this helps in the ones mentioned that grew naturally in our area, we’ll try discussion? to collect seed/cuttings from them over the next year or Peter Cousins: two and give them a try as well. Thanks for your advice and time. The actual planting part of the project was effectively completed over two days on 31 March 2017. Now we’re in the care and maintenance phase – and all so far is going well. We’ll likely have a better idea on the longer term prospects as we get well into summer late this year. I accept that we’ve not applied purists’ tactics in our choice of species, but that wasn’t our aim.

NEWSLETTER NO. 107 – JUNE 2017 05 SECTIONGREVILLEA NEWS

FACEBOOK Bernie Shanahan, Vic

Perhaps last year I mentioned that the Yahoo site is almost Serge didn’t want the site to be about selling things so dead & suggested a new Facebook site for an internet forum. Brian Weir suggested and helped to set up ANPE Buy Swap Serge Shoots started the ANPE, Australian Native Plant & Sell. This site is in its infancy but growing. Today I have Enthusiasts. It has grown considerably in ashort time and been listing all my plants for sale to advertise on ANPE Buy there are now over 8000 members. All genera of Australian Swap & Sell & have just started a Mostly Aussie Nursery plants including fungi are discussed with Grevilleas being Facebook page. These two sites would be useful in the the main topic. APS plant sales are listed, gardening tips, GSG Newsletter. pests & grafting are some of the topics. There are members in all states but I am not sure about N.T.

IN THE WILD

CENTRE BREAK ROAD EXCURSION Margaret Pieroni, WA

On Saturday, 29 August, a group of 18 members, including three children and friends, were treated to a magnificent array of wildflowers in bloom on Centre Break Road.

Grevillea trifida

We saw another white flowering grevillea, G. pulchella and when we arrived at the location where Julie and I had seen a few plants of G. occidentalis, there were masses of it in full flower, on both sides of the road.

Grevillea occidentalis

Grevilleas are not very common in this region but I expected to see six different ones on the day. We saw three in flower at our first stop, just after entering Centre Break Road from the Denmark – Mt. Barker Road. They were , with white flowers, which also occurs on my Denmark block, G. quercifolia, the - leafed Grevillea, and G. occidentalis with its furry, greyish pink flowers. This last one was beginning to flower in late June, so I had thought we might be too late for it. CONTINUED >

NEWSLETTER NO. 107 – JUNE 2017 06 IN THE WILD

As well as the grevilleas, in the Proteaceae family we I drove Julie, Bob and John back to the Mt. Barker Road and saw: quercifolia, the bright pink Coneflower, along Spencer Road to the northern end of the Sheepwash formosa, and amplexicaulis, some with Creek track and we made our way for about 9 km to the pink flowers rather than the usual white or cream, and H. location of a rare grevillea growing on outcropping granite, varia, this one not in flower. Pea flowers were prominent, not far from the river. We would have all been here had we as well – the yellow flowering Sphaerolobium alatum been able to cross it. This area is known as The Pass. with leafless stems, the brilliant orange Daviesia sp. and the most outstanding, the bright pink, large flowered Gompholobium scabrum.

Grevilla quercifolia Grevilla sp nov aff umbellulata I hadn’t had a chance to check out the Mitchell River crossing at the beginning of the Sheepwash Creek track, or The grevillea has very small, furry, rather insignificant the plants, beforehand. We saw so many wonderful plants flowers with a powerful, sweet, spicy scent. It is very in flower, however, that having stopped the vehicles so similar to G. umbellata which occurs in the Eneabba area often to admire and photograph them, it was lunch time and Wongan Hills. It will probably be named as a variety when we arrived at the river, 17 km from the main road. or subspecies of this species. The perfume wasn’t very We had lunch and assessed the situation. There are two obvious on that day. It had become overcast and, after crossings over stony bottoms. The river was running fast we got home we had quite a heavy downpour. Also, in the and it was decided that the water level was too high to location was G. depauperata with its bright red flowers cross safely. The children played in the water and the rest and many other colourful plants. of us had our lunches and did some more botanising. All but four of us decided to return home by the same route, very pleased and more than satisfied with the amount of wildflowers, already seen.

Grevilla arenaria opened seed capsule. Photo – M. Noake Grevilla depauperata

CONTINUED >

NEWSLETTER NO. 107 – JUNE 2017 07 IN THE WILD

It’s not often that it is possible to arrange an outing in advance and then find, not only perfect weather but so many different plants at their peak of flowering. We certainly ‘hit the jackpot’, this time.

NEWSLETTER NO. 107 – JUNE 2017 08 IN THE WILD

GREVILLEAS OF CAPE YORK Peter Olde, NSW

In September 2016, I travelled from Cairns to Cape York the tip and hang down, a characteristic of almost all the with Off-Road Adventure Safaris, an experience I can Cape species. There is a prostrate form at Cape Flattery but thoroughly recommend. For someone interested in the we did not get to this area. The toothbrush Proteaceae, there is plenty to observe but a copy of two are orange or, rarely yellow and also simple. On the Cape books by J. Beasley would be of great assistance, especially the flowers of G. pteridifolia seem less robust compared if studied before the trip. to those in cultivation from N.T. but were still attractive to nectarivorous birds. Around the lookout at Iron Range, Cape York is situated in Far North Queensland between the spindly saplings dominated the heathland. At Grassy Hill, Gulf of Carpentaria on the west coast and the Coral Sea which overlooks the Endeavour River I found more plants. on its east. There is no clear demarcation to the south, This is where Cook was forced to spend seven weeks although the official boundary in the Cape York Peninsula repairing the hull of his ship in 1770, and where the type Heritage Act 2007 of Queensland runs along 16°S latitude. specimen was gathered by . The tip of Australia is around 1000 km north from Cairns. This area then is what I refer to as Cape York. Two other species, G. glauca and G. parallela. were also collected at this time and plants of these species were also At my quick count, there are eleven species of Grevillea found in the vicinity. on Cape York. The most common are G. pteridifolia, G. parallela and G. glauca. These were closely followed by G. Wherever you look in the woodland you can see G. parallela, striata, G. baileyana, and G. macgillivrayi (syn. G. coriacea). the larger plants occasionally in flower, but mostly small G. erythroclada was the rarest species seen. plants to 2 m with clusters of green foliage at the top. The have flat margins and the undersurface has equal was found mainly in rainforest margins parallel veins such that no midvein can be discerned. I around creeks or rivers. In the juvenile stage it has large, noticed that after fire it was suckering from below the lobed leaves often intermixed with simple elliptic leaves, ground near the main trunk (probably from a lignotuber) the apices of which taper to a point. It is recognisable by the and also producing foliage from epicormic buds in its black coppery hairs on the undersurface of adult plants. Juveniles furrowed trunk. Like G. glauca, G. parallela also has thick- have fine white hairs and can appear glabrous until walled and is sometimes called the ‘Clothes-Peg’ contents are absorbed into the hairs. This is important to Grevillea by locals. Other Proteaceae seen in the woodlands note because it is easily confused with darlingiana were falcata, which suckers after fire and Hakea which has completely glabrous leaves. D. darlingiana does persiehana, a tall needle- Hakea with persistent beaked not sppear to grow north of the Annan River whereas G. fruits. In the northern Cape regions Banksia dentata was baileyana grows into Papua . However the also a frequent sight, mainly around creek lines. distribution of the two species overlap and they may grow sympatrically. If you have all the material (fruits and flowers is also a common component of woodland. included) they can easily be distinguished. There are many In the adult it is a moderate tree to 6 m but young plants differences from which has 4 in are common and often have silvery elephant-like velvety a single and the ovary clothed in golden hairs. All very leaves, like some acacias, (e.g. A. holosericea) from which it well if you have flowers but difficult to distinguish from G. can be differentiated easily by its coppery tips. It has very baileyana at the seedling or juvenile stage. large rounded woody fruits that were apparently used as clothes pegs by early pioneers. I did not see it in flower but G. baileyana grows readily from seed and was seen mostly noted that it was invigorated by fires and appeared to be at the young sapling stagej. Seedlings were numerous lignotuberous in some instances, reshooting from the base. around Silky Lodge on the Mossman River where my wife and I spent a few days after the tour. I did not see it in A common species, especially in Melaleuca viridiflora flower which occurs when fully grown, usually in late spring woodland, is . I did not see it in the northern (November-December). part of the Cape but it is recorded from Badu Island in Torres Strait. Like G. parallela it has leaves with parallel veins on In contrast, G. pteridifolia was ubiquitous except in the underside but the leaves are darker green on top, more rainforest. Like most other species of Grevillea it mostly leathery and often much wider. They are also often curved, inhabits open sandy or loam woodlands. It was dominant not straight like G. parallela. It grows into a large tree and in the heathlands of the northern Cape with its spindly its wood is suitable for turning. trunk standing well above its neighbours. It grows mostly to c. 3 m high but some older plants exceeded 6 m. It is I did not see it in flower but when flowering it can easily especially common in disturbed soils beside the road be distinguished from G. parallela by its small pistils, only where it grows from seed after fire or disturbance. It has 6–10 mm long. Both have white flowers. G. striata has thin- pinnately divided green leaves that usually cluster towards walled fruits < 1mm thick. CONTINUED >

NEWSLETTER NO. 107 – JUNE 2017 09 IN THE WILD

Growing with G. parallela and G. striata around Mareeba is are only 30–40 plants at Moreton. To find it, walk 100–200 G. macgillivrayi (syn. G. coriacea), another white-flowered m north of the camp to the woodland near Barra Creek. The species. I saw it in the grounds of the Jabiru Safari Lodge plants at Moreton are not the only plants of this species in on the artifically constructed Mareeba Wetlands. It Queensland because it has also been collected near Weipa closely resembles G. parallela and has similar cylindrical and must have once had a wider distribution. The Wenlock inflorescences but does not have its black furrowed bark. River is an ancient river that contains numerous rare and There is a more distinct midvein especially on wider leaves relictual plants (G. Sankowsky pers. comm.) and obscure angled lateral veins. It also has strongly is apparently reasonably common north recurved to revolute leaf margins. All three species grow of and around Cairns and on Tin Mine Rd., at Shipton’s Flat, together. I also found G. macgillivrayi growing well to the but regrettably, I did not see it at all. Nor did I manage to find north of Mareeba where G. parallela was flowering at the G. mimosoides, G. decora subsp. telfordii nor G. dryandri same time. It seems to grow in moist soils with Melaleuca subsp. dryandri, both of which occur in the Laura area. spp. and regenerates strongly after fire. I did not see birds attending this species (nor G. parallela). I did not find the The latter two species apparently grow in sandstone, I differences from G. parallela as obvious as those stated by learned later. Sandstone outcrops are relatively widely Don McGillivray (1975, p. 20). Both species were flowering spaced among miles of woodland. I could not locate at the same time (September), both had branched either of them at the time. They were not in the woodland inflorescences, and flowers looked very similar. country that I searched, though an unnamed wattle does a good job of mimicing the former. The sandstone rocks One of the major highlights of the trip was our arrival at appear twice along the road south of Laura but you need Moreton Telegraph Station, situated on the banks of the to time to search. According to Beasley (2009, p.10) G. Wenlock River. A great spot to spend a bit more time dryandri can be found in found in flower just after the wet than was allowed to us. We did not get to see the Palm (probably around May) but is otherwise a nondescript low Cockatoo but on arrival we were shown the rare ‘needle- plant hidden among the grass that might easily be missed. leaf grevillea’ which I identified as G. erythroclada. A good location for it in a quarry is also given. Development of the camp grounds is constricted by this species which is flourishing under the burning regime being References adopted. It took two years for approval to be granted for an Australia’s Virtual Herbarium. http://avh.ala.org.au/ extra hut. G. erythroclada shoots back straight away after fire and new ones appear nearby, possibly regenerating Beasley J (2006) Plant of Tropical North Queensland. from root sucker. It has very long terete leaves that weep Footloose Publications. down, branched inflorescences that were budding up and Beasley J (2009) Plant of Cape York. Private. persistent fruits. The fruits were used to scarify the skin of aboriginal men in the Kimberley. They exude a caustic viscid McGillivray D.J. (1975) Australian Proteaceae: new taxa and substance that is a powerful and painful skin scarifier. There notes. Telopea 1: 19–32.

TO THE TIP Jan Glazebrook, Qld

In mid 2014, a group of seven of us set off for a trip to the Just south of Belyando Crossing, we came upon G. decora tip of Cape York. Members of the group were Steve and on the roadside. It was growing with other beautiful Laylee Purchase, Peter Bevan, Jan Glazebrook, Denis Cox wildflowers such as pink Calytrix sp. And yellow Jacksonia and Chris & Ross Reddick. The first five are members of sp. The grevilleas were in flower, with some attractive the Grevillea Study Group, so among the many wonderful young fruit forming. Around here, we started to see the plants discovered were many grevilleas. Jan and Denis set orange flowers of G. pteridifolia, and they continued most off from Brisbane and met up with Steve and Laylee in of the way to the tip of Cape York. The Purchases left us Dalby. Our first night was spent in Isla Gorge National Park. in Charters Towers to go to Townsville and meet up again We arrived with just enough daylight left to do a short in a few days. We spent the night camped just north of walk in this exciting (plant and scenery wise) national park. Charters Towers. It wasn’t long before we came across with its bright red flower spikes. A vow was made to come We travelled to the Undarra Lava Tubes, where we had back one day to explore further. an underground tour of the tubes and found out how they were formed. While here, we had a close up look Next day saw us travel further west to Clermont. On the at G. glauca and G. parallela in flower. Another grevillea way, we saw G. striata, usually as a small tree. Day 3 saw us common around this area is G. mimosoides. heading north west along the Gregory Development Road. CONTINUED >

NEWSLETTER NO. 107 – JUNE 2017 10 IN THE WILD

None of the plants were in flower, but it was hard to miss After a night at the newly reopened Laura Caravan Park, their large blue-green leaves. Some areas had recently we had another attempt to explore Lakefield NP. This been burnt, and many G. mimosoides were putting out is a flat open area around the Normanby River, full of new growth near the base. freshwater waterholes. The water lilies and wetland plants are beautiful and the amazing Corypha palms make this a Next day we headed off the beaten track to Chillagoe. This is unique area. Unfortunately, it had taken the brunt of Ita an area of limestone caves and jagged limestone outcrops and we were unable to access the northern part of the with interesting vegetation, but no grevilleas. After park. There weer plenty of here, but no exploring this area, we headed to Irvinebank, a well known grevilleas. wildflower area, where we met up with the Purchases and Peter Bevan. This is the home of G. glossadenia, which Back to Laura, and it was goodbye to the bitumen on our were to 1 m tall with lovely orange and yellow way to the Musgrave roadhouse and on to our camp at flowers. Our first of many encounters with G. dryandri Archer river roadhouse. occurred here, although it was not in flower. While here, we also checked out Acacia purpureopetala, which grows This is a popular camp site on the Archer River. The road was only here. Many other interesting plants were present and very good, with lots of road work going on and stretches of half a day was easily spent in this area. G pteridifolia and G. sealed surface. The next day, we tackled the road into Iron glauca were also seen here. Range. Although only 135 km, it took us most of the day. Admittedly, there were many stops along the way. I had Two days were spent at Peter’s brother’s dairy farm at had the impression that Iron range was a rainforest area, Ravenshoe, on the southern Atherton Tablelands. We but the bulk of the vegetation is heath, with rainforest explored some rainforest areas and caught up with some only present near the coast and at Lockhart River. old friends. The only grevillea present in the rainforest was G. baileyana, although on the drier northern tablelands The heath is mostly less than 1 m tall and contains around Walkamin grew G. pteridifolia and G. parallela. interesting plants, such as Banksia dentata, Neofabricia, Our first sighting of G. coriacea was north of Atherton. Fenzlia, Asteromyrtus and a pink Jacksonia, to name a G. parallela and G. coriacea look very similar at a distance, few. The only grevillea I recall were G. pteridifolia near but closer examination of the leaves proves them to be the many creek crossings and G. Baileyana on the edge quite different. G. parallela has thin, flat leaves with of the rainforest going into Lockhart River. After a day parallel venation, while G. coriacea has thick leaves with spent at Chilli Beach, we headed back to the main road the edges of leaves rolled under and no parallel veins. and headed north. After a night at Cape Tribulation, when incessant rain Our next camp was at the old Moreton Telegraph Station. prevented much examination of the surrounding area, we Around the station and along the Wenlock River grew retraced our route and headed for Cooktown looking for an unusual grevillea with long weeping leaves and corky, some dry weather. G. pteridifolia, parallela, coriacea and fissured bark. This has been put in with G. erythroclada, glauca were common along the way. Only the Purchases although this species does not occur anywhere else in braved the slippery slopes and deep crossings on the Queensland, but is common in the Northern Territory Bloomfield Track. Chris and Ross Reddick had joined us on and northern Western Australia. This was the last new the Tablelands, so the complete convoy of four vehicles grevillea we saw on the way to the tip. Side trips were was together at last at Cooktown. made into fruit Bat and Elliot Falls, before we crossed the Jardine River on the ferry. We made camp for a few days at The plan was to take the Battle Camp Road to Lakefield Seisia, from where we explored the tip and areas around National Park, but Cyclone Ita, which had been through a Bamaga. A day was spent on Thursday Island before we couple of months earlier, had dumped lots of rain on this headed south again. area, and the creeks were still up and many roads were still closed. So we were forced to return to Cooktown At Archer River, we had 2 inches of rain overnight and and take the bitumen to the small town of Laura. Around the roads, which were beautiful on the way up, turned to Laura, sandstone cliffs have overhangs and caves with slippery mush. All day was spent ploughing through the aboriginal art. We examined some of these and tried to mud, until we arrived back at Laura and the bitumen. The find G. decora subsp. telfordii, but a newly erected barbed- group then split up and went in separate directions. Our wire fence blocked access to where we thought it grew. plan was to make it to Normanton on the Gulf and west The sandstone cliffs grew some spectacular wildflowers to Lawn Hill near the N.T. border, but that is a story for including Calytrix, Homoranthus and G. dryandri. another newsletter.

NEWSLETTER NO. 107 – JUNE 2017 11 IN THE WILD

NEW GREVILLEA SPECIES FOR VICTORIA Roger Wileman and Peter Olde

We record here a new addition to The Study Group leader will lead an expedition to this the Grevillea species in Victoria. The discovery extends population later in the year if anyone is interested. the range of the species much further to the south than Notification of this will be given in the next newsletter previously recorded. which will appear in early September. In September 2010, one of us (Olde) collected G. arenaria subsp. canescens on the Riverina Highway, west of Albury in New South Wales. Until now this (and another population above Basin Creek in Dora Dora National Park, NSW660854 collected in 1980) represent the extreme southern end of the distribution of the species, previously confined to New South Wales.

In 2016, a population of about 50 plants of G. arenaria was found near Everton by Roger Wileman while cycling along part of the trail between Wangaratta and Bright. No specimen was pressed but the specimen taken was identified by Phillip Vaughan. Only one yellow flower was seen.

We will also visit this population which has red flowers. There is also an interesting area of hybrid plants at this location. My notes taken at the time state ‘gravelly red clay-loam on steep hillside in open slightly degraded Eucalypt forest’.

The plants are located 2.5 km N from Everton Rail Station on the rail trail track to Beechworth. A suite (2–3) of pressed flowering herbarium specimens is required to formally confirm the discovery and its identity.

NEWSLETTER NO. 107 – JUNE 2017 12 IN YOUR GARDEN

ADVICE NEEDED GREVILLEA ROBUSTA Laylee Purchase, Qld

Valerie Hoot from San Diego California has recently I have a Grevillea robusta that is an unusual colour. joined the study group and is eager to learn more about I cannot remember where I got it from but Neil says grevilleas. This is Valerie’s request: there is a similar one growing in the main street of Stawell. Does anyone else know about this colour form I have been getting yellow tipping on new growth on or where it grows? Grevillea Moonlight. I have been trying to purchase Gro Power 40 % Iron and am not having any luck. I have been using seaweed and fish emulsion and pruning off the old new growth and now my 6 ft specimens look strangely shaped. Grevilleas are just starting to be popular here in San Diego and there is not a lot of knowledge about them. Any suggestions on a product to treat them with?

Grevilla arenaria opened seed capsule. Photo – M. Noake

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 Free + s.a.e Please note: seed from hybrid Grevillea longistyla Grevillea pulchella prostrate white -substitute -cultivated plants Grevillea baileyana Grevillea magnifica Grevillea banksii prostrate red does not necessarily come Grevillea banksii alba Grevillea magnifica Grevillea banksii prostrate red true to type. prostrate ssp magnifica Grevillea ramosissima ex 1770 ssp ramosissima ssp manglesii (ltd) Grevillea glauca Grevillea striata (ltd) Grevillea superba red flowers ssp abbreviata Grevillea longistyla Grevillea magnifica Grevillea ‘Moonlight’ ex Grevillea triternata (ltd) Coonabarabran Grevillea glauca Grevillea wickamii Grevillea ramosissima Grevillea johnsonii (ltd) ssp aprica Grevillea robusta Grevillea juncifolia Grevillea stenobotrya Grevillea leucopteris

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. 107 – JUNE 2017 13 FINANCIAL REPORT JUNE 2017 OFFICE BEARERS

Income LEADER Peter Olde Seed sale $18.00 140 Russell Lane, Oakdale NSW 2570 Interest 0.14 (02) 4659 6598 [email protected] Donations 0.00

Total income $18.14 TREASURER AND NEWSLETTER EDITOR Christine Guthrie 32 Blanche Street, Oatley NSW 2223 Expenditure (02) 9579 4093 Newsletter publishing $240.00 [email protected] Printing 133.60 Postage 45.00 CURATOR OF LIVING COLLECTION

Stationary 59.96 Neil Marriott PO Box 107, Stawell Vic 3380 (03) 5356 2404 or 0458 177 989 Total expenditure $418.60 [email protected]

Bank account details CURATOR OF ILLAWARRA GREVILLEA PARK, BULLI Ray Brown Amount in interest bearing deposit 29 Gwythir Avenue, Bulli NSW 2516 till 23/10/2017 $19,489.82 (02) 4284 9216

CURATOR OF SEED BANK Balance in current account Matt Hurst 30/06/2017 37 Heydon Ave, Wagga Wagga 2650 NSW $616.30 (02) 6925 1273

DONATIONS ONLINE CONTACT

The newsletter is now free but if groups and 1. President’s email address individuals wish to make a donation, direct [email protected] deposits can be made into the Grevillea Study Group account. BSB: 112-879 2. URL for Grevillea Study Group website Account Number: 016526630 http://anpsa.org.au/grevSG/ (St George Bank) Please notifiy the Treasurer of transfer by email ([email protected]) or by post to: To be notified of the latest newsletter, email recipients must be registered. Please ensure your email address is registered Grevillea Study Group and up to date and any changes are advised to Christine 32 Blanche St Oatley, NSW 2223 Guthrie at [email protected]

NEWSLETTER NO. 107 – JUNE 2017 14