Eucryphia Volume 23 No.4 December 2018 Journal of the Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc

Home , Baeckea, Eucalyptus pulchella, Eucryphia, Euryomyrtus

Eucryphia Volume 23 No.4 December 2018 Journal of the Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc. ISSN 1324-3888 Online ISSN 2209 -0452

Westringea© D. rubiifolia Burns

$2.20 PRINT POST APPROVAL No. 100004305

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The Australian Native Plants (Australia) Terra Australis Garden constructed in the Australian National Arboretum in Canberra, was officially opened on Sunday 25 November 2018

Front Cover: Above: Euryomyrtus APST members on the Ramosissima ‘long’ walk in Narawn- :White Dazzler: tapu National Park (See article page 10) ready for the minute of silence for the 100th anniversary of WW1 Armistice Left: Euryomyrtus PRINTER: THE XEROX Ramosissima SHOP, © D. Burns 118 BATHURST STREET in close-up HOBART TASMANIA

Eucryphia December 2018

EUCRYPHIA Contents ISSN 1324-3888 Published quarterly in Membership subs. & renewals 2 March, June, September and December by Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc Membership 3 ABN 64 482 394 473 President’s Plot 4 Patron: Her Excellency, Professor the Honourable Kate Warner, AC, Governor of Tasmania Members’ Get-together Report 5

Society postal address: APST Strategic Plan Update 6 PO Box 3035, Ulverstone MDC Ulverstone Tas 7315 Study Group Highlights 7 Editor: Mary Slattery [email protected] Calendar for 2018/2019 8

Contributions and letters to the editor Publications Report 9 are welcome. If possible they should be forwarded by email to the editor at A Not-so Recent Name Change 10 [email protected] or typed using one side of the paper only. If Annual General Meeting 2019 Agenda 11 handwritten, please print botanical names and the names of people. A Weekend Of Gardens 12 Original text may be reprinted, unless otherwise indicated, provided an acknowledgment of the source is given. New Membership Application 17 Permission to reprint non-original material and all drawings and photos must Flies In The Pollen - Part Two 19 be obtained from the copyright holder by Australian novels arising from Plants the contributor.. 22 Views and opinions expressed in and The environment articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily the views and/or opinions News from the Groups: of the Society.

Next issue: March 2019 Northern Group 23 Deadline: 20 February 2019 email: Hobart Group 24 [email protected] North West Group 25

Distribution Please refer any problems with receipt or 26 distribution to: Group Programmes The Newsletter Distribution Officer, PO Box 3035, Invitation to All Members 27 Ulverstone MDC ULVERSTONE APST Directory 28 TASMANIA 7315

Eucryphia December 2018 2 Membership Subscriptions

Regular (individual) including Organisations $40.00 *Concession membership $37.00

Each additional adult included in Regular or $9.00 Concession (Household Membership )

Each additional child included in Regular or $1.00 Concession (Household Membership )

**Overseas Member or Overseas $55.00 Organisation ****Subscription for Australian Plants $14.00

*Concession subscription rates are available to holders of a Pensioner Health Concession Card issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veteran Affairs or of a Student ID Card. **Paid by Banker’s Draft in $Australian. ***Subscription payments may also be made directly into the Society’s account at a Westpac bank or by Electronic Funds Transfer. Please identify payment with your surname or membership number. Account details: Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc.; BSB: 037015 Account number: 194644. ****It is a decision of Council that the subscription to Australian Plants entitles a member to receive only those issues that are published during the members’ subscription period. Purchase of back copies may be arranged by contacting your Group Secretary.

Membership Badges and Cards Membership Badges are provided to all financial members and Membership Cards are re-issued to financial members at the time of membership renewal. Inverawe Native Gardens at Margate offers half price entry; Plants of Tasmania Nursery at Ridgeway offer 10% discount on non-discounted items to financial members on presentation of a valid Membership Card. Substantial discounts are offered on book purchases through the Publications Officer.

Membership Renewals Your subscription expiry date is shown on the mailing envelope and automatic reminders will be enclosed near expiry date. Please return the reminder with your payment to facilitate the work and record-keeping of the Treasurer and the Membership Officer. If payment has already been received this is reflected in the expiry date on your mailing envelope and you do not need to send any remittance until you next receive a reminder. An application form is included on page 13 for use in introducing new members to the Society. Please note the requirement to unambiguously identify yourself and the subscription type if payment is made directly into our bank account. Failure to do so can cause substantial difficulty for the Treasurer and Membership Officer.

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Membership Fran Taylor, Membership Officer . We would like to warmly welcome the following new members.

Allen Jacinta 21 Blenheim St AVOCA TAS 7213 6384 2355 [email protected] Anderson Dianne 100 Alanvale Rd NEWNHAM TAS 7248 0417 369 324 [email protected] Blackwood-Beattie Roberta PO Box 327 NEWSTEAD TAS 7250 0408 346 956 [email protected] Chenhall Judi & Neil PO Box 57 EXETER TAS 7275 6396 1110 [email protected] Cullen Joanne 3 Fleetwood Dr PORT SORELL TAS 7307 0409 002 090 Cutler Christine 280 Leighlands Rd EVANDALE TAS 7212 0408 918 323 [email protected] Eden Christine 56A Trevallyn Rd TREVALLYN TAS 7250 0437 677 755 [email protected] Elkington Richard & Kylie 14 Parsonage St DELORAINE TAS 7304 0457 000 917 [email protected] Everard John 386 Howden Rd HOWDEN TAS 7050 6267 1297 [email protected] Fast Deborah 3-211 Roslyn Ave BLACKMANS BAY TAS 7052 0400 106 619 [email protected] Giblin Marie Unit 1 53 Campbell St Upper Firthside KINGSTON TAS 0437 314 588 [email protected] Griffin Kiri 270 Dunorlan Rd DUNORLAN TAS 7304 0417 335 542 [email protected] Hutchinson Ian, 23 Hull St LEITH TAS 7315 0407 875 243 [email protected] Johnson David 75 Mt Stuart Rd MT STUART TAS 7000 0409 122 101 Larner Helen 27 Hingston Cres. NORWOOD TAS 7250 0438 553 164 [email protected] Lourey William Randall & Simone PO Box 2021 ST KILDA VIC 3182 0456 146 899 [email protected] Richardson Anna PO Box 346 MARGATE TAS 6267 1239 [email protected] Solman Stuart 27 Vaux st WEST LAUNCESTON TAS 7250 6344 9003 [email protected] Thomas Ian 5 Totara St RIVERSIDE TAS 7250 0457 949 243 [email protected] Veiss Margrieta 259 Motor Rd DEVIOT TAS 7259 0408 781 947 [email protected] Missing editions Editor would like the following copies of Eucryphia, if you have spare or are down- sizing. Email details to [email protected] please 1999 All 2011 All 2001 June, December 2012 All 2002 December 2014 September 2003 December 2016 December 2004 All

Eucryphia December 2018 4 President’s Plot   Margaret Killen, President.

This has been an important and busy year for the Society. In January, we hosted a very successful biennial Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) conference in Hobart, with a flow-on of the themes being used within the Groups. Some of these themes include visits to saltmarshes and speakers on seed collecting and seedbanks. Membership numbers have remained constant and activities well attended. Another great annual get-together was hosted by the North West Group and held on the weekend of November 9-11. We experienced wonderful weather and beautiful garden flowers and plants on the Saturday. Be sure to read the report to get all the details. The Rosny Hill Development has been withdrawn and gone back to the drawing board, our support was part of this rational result. We have had another beautiful calendar of Tasmanian native plants produced by Amanda Walker for 2019. The focus for this calendar is the Winifred Curtis Reserve on Tasmania’s East coast at Scamander. More work has been done on planning for APST’s future. It is exciting to see that Council has become involved in the process, they are after all, the approvers of anything the Strategic Planning Group (SPG) send to them. It is their role to accept, approve and advance the ideas that the think tank, which is the SPG, asks them to tackle. This relationship is now working in a positive feedback loop. There is an invitation to you in this issue (see page 27) to visit and become informed about the development at Hobart’s Macquarie Point. From items in the newsletters I can see that this has been a great year for spring flowers. In my garden at the moment the fascination is with Stylidium graminifolium, the intriguing Narrowleaf Triggerplant. I grow them in pots as they don’t last too long in the garden but thrive in pots. It also means that I can move them around and enjoy them in different places. If you only had space or time for one potted plant, this is the one I would recommend. It is colourful, clever, increases flower spikes year on year and a great talking point for adults and children. From your Council and myself I wish you and the people who are special to you, a happy and peaceful holiday break and we will be back in the New Year with more exciting activities and adventures.

Stylidium graminifolium,

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Members’ Get-together November, Camp Banksia, Port Sorell Joy MacIntosh, NW group President The weather couldn’t have been better for the APST Members’ Get-together weekend at Camp Banksia in Port Sorell. Friday afternoon saw members check in from Northern and Hobart groups as well as several from the North West group, many having visited Dick Burns’ garden at Penguin on the way. Some took advantage of the daylight to walk along the foreshore and surrounding areas before dinner. After breakfast on Saturday morning it was a visit to Bluewater Crescent Roundabout at Shearwater, an area landscaped with Australian native plants by the local residents years ago. Unfortunately all those residents have moved on. Then all visited John Tabor’s garden at Hawley Beach and checked out the wide range of plants he has crammed into his block. On to Riitta and John Boevink’s garden for morning tea followed by a walk around their extensive garden. This was followed by lunch at the Arboretum and a visit to the Tasmanian Section, after checking out the Wollemi Pines. Then on to Jessie Vonk’s garden at South Spreyton which is built on a steep slope with many pathways named after composers. After dinner on the Saturday night Phil Milner gave a talk with photos show- ing various aspects of Narawntapu National Park and what to look out for, and what to avoid, during our visit the following day. Also Phil Collier and Robin Garnett spoke about their Land Conservancy property where there was to be a visit on Sunday morning. On Sunday after breakfast it was checkout time, with some doing a long walk in Narawntapu led by John Tabor, and others visiting the Land Conservancy property of Phil Collier and Robin Garnett at Squeaking Point, followed by a short walk in Narawntapu led by Peter French. After eight years of dedicated work, Phil and Robin have left their Conservancy property which is dedicated to the research and conservation of Tasmanian orchids. The weekend coincided with their being back in Tasmania and able to share their property with our members. A control burn had brought up a number of specimens in flower. After this visit, 11 members took the short walk along the fire trail at Narawntapu with Peter French, following on from observing Remembrance Day. The most prominent and most spectacular plants were the Xanthorrhoea australis. The first orchid sighted was about 100 metres in from the start and was a purple Thelymitra which was unable to be positively identified because of the variations within this group. Other orchids found were an unusual Caladenia, and a few Dipodium roseum (Hyacinth Orchid) near the lunch spot. Fortunately Christine Howells was in the party and able to help with identification. Some of the other plants encountered were Comesperma ericinum, Wahlenbergia gymnoclada, Hibbertia sericea, Banksia marginata and lots of PTF’s (Pea Type Flowers). John Tabor led fourteen members on the long walk which was expected to be about twelve kms but member GPSs recorded it as twenty one km Certainly felt like it, and it makes a better story than twelvekms. The walk started at the Ranger’s Hut, with a visit to the bird hide as the group headed for Bakers Beach via Archers Knob, over Little Badger’s Head into Copper Cove, then a climb partway up Badger’s Head where lunch was enjoyed with a magnificent view. Remembrance Day was observed on Baker’s Beach before the climb to Archer’s Knob. Along the walk several orchids were found including a Tiger Orchid, a Caladenia, a Sun Orchid and a Bearded Orchid. On the return walk the wildlife were out sunning themselves, including three copperhead snakes enjoying various spots around the lake, a number of kangaroos, an echidna, a mountain heath dragon, Rankinia diemensis, (the only dragon that occurs in Tasmania), several pademelons, and some reasonably fresh wombat poo. This was in an area away from the camping sites so hopefully there are some healthy wombats still in the park. A big thank you to all who came along and helped make the weekend successful and to those who were part of the organising group. 

Eucryphia December 2018 6 APST Inc. Strategic Plan Update Margaret Killen, Convenor What has all this planning achieved so far? Importantly it has started a conversation about our future – at Council meetings, Group meetings and more recently in newsletters. It is noteworthy to say that by raising issues and discussing them in a constructive and positive way we can plan the best outcomes. It has helped APST Council to understand its role more fully – looking at the policies that are necessary for good Governance; looking at the Constitution: does it still suit our needs? Is it up to date with the current Act? etc. Membership has stopped declining. We started looking at the numbers in 2015 with an aim to achieving better retention. The numbers over the past two years have been constant with no decline. I would like to recognise the good work done by all those in the new-member pipeline. Over the years we have tried to make it quicker to become a member. Recently that timeline has decreased significantly simply by using emails to transmit information rather than the postal system. New members continue to join the Society and our aim is to keep them excited and involved by providing what they want to learn and the experiences they wish for, as well as keeping within the Objects of the Society. We now look closely at new members’ reasons for joining, as requested on the membership form, and pass that onto the Groups so that these ideas can be included in their programmes. APSTI and the Northern group have websites and the Northern group has Facebook. To improve office bearer and councillor understanding and increase skills in this area a number of us have attended courses in social media and digital marketing. These courses are held around the state, they are free and conducted through the Tasmanian Govern- ments ‘digital ready’ program. The graphic view of the Strategic Plan (SP) on next page is an attempt to simplify our interpretation of the priority areas and to help visualise that they are interrelated.

Next steps The next priority areas we will be working on are Partnerships, Technology and Marketing. We have a huge opportunity to partner with the major development at Macquarie Point in Hobart. The following quotes from the website https:// www.macquariepoint.com describe its location and plans for the future. ‘At just over nine hectares, Mac Point adjoins the Hobart waterfront and sits adjacent to the Regatta Grounds, the Cenotaph and the Queens Domain. It is a development which will deliver an extraordinary precinct for Tasmanians and all Australians’. ‘The vision encourages cultural and public spaces to sit alongside land uses which could include a conference centre, hotels, retail and an Antarctic and Science Precinct. Mac Point is an ideal location for scientific research to complement our Antarctic and oceanic research links and support Tasmania’s status as Australia’s Antarctic gateway. Tourism developments, such as the Antarctic-themed eco-tourism project Eden Hobart, may also form part of the reset.’ On the morning of Wednesday 13th February 2019, I have organised a visit to Mac Point, to attend a presentation by CEO Mary Massina and a tour of developments so far. Please respond to the invitation on page 27 to take part in this exciting occasion. My thanks to the excellent and dedicated members of the Strategic Planning Group and Peter Edwards who give their time and another level of input into this process. 

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Study Group Highlights

Riitta Boevink, Study Group Liaison

Plants in Containers Study Group The Australian Plants in Containers group has been in recess for several years. It has been relaunched by Lynne Mockridge. Membership is free. Please support Lynne and send items about your experiences in growing Australian plants in containers. Please email Lynne at [email protected] Garden Design Study Group, newsletter No 103 June 2018 The Garden Design SG is trialling publishing bimonthly newsletters. They are all available on the ANPSA website http://anpsa.org.au or Google ‘Australian Garden Design’. Each newsletter follows a theme. The theme for no. 103 is ‘Water in the Gar- den’. Ros Walcott describes water features around the world in some great gardens and the way they enhance the gardens. Diana Snape attended the Australian Landscape Con- ference in Melbourne and describes some of the presentations. Dryandra Study Group newsletter No 74 April 2018 This issue replicates an article by Liesbeth Uitewaal originally published in the Victorian APS journal ‘Growing Australian’. She describes her winter experiences in growing Australian Dryandras and other plants in containers in her glasshouses modified from cow sheds in Holland. Another member is writing from France with plant identification inquiry. Acacia Study Group newsletter No 140 March 2018 Sad news of the death of Jack Fahey, founder of the Wattle Day association. There is an article by Terry Fewbrell on the history of the Wattle Day that is celebrated every year on the 1st of September. 2018 is the 20th year. The SG display at the ANPSA conference in Hobart is described. The new $50 banknote will feature Acacia humifusa. Fern Study Group newsletter 141 July 2018 Regular monthly activity in Queensland and Sydney. Reports on excursions in Gold Coast Springbrook National Park and Willi Willi Nat. Park near Port Macquarie. Press release on genome sequencing of Azolla that may have global impact for sinking atmos- pheric carbon dioxide, fixing nitrogen in soil and managing insects attacking crops. 

A graphic view of the Strategic Plan (see previous page)

Eucryphia December 2018 8 Calendar for 2018-2019

This Calendar of events is compiled from best available information supplied by Groups and Council but is subject to change. To avoid clashes that may limit opportunities for all members to participate, event organisers are requested to consult this Calendar when finalising arrangements. December 9 Sunday Hobart End of year lunch December 10 Monday North West Propagation : Arboretum December 18 Tuesday North West Christmas gathering December 20 Thursday Northern Working bee HFG December 20 Thursday North West Propagation : Arboretum January 5 Saturday Northern, Hbt Propagation WPC January 9 Wednesday Northern Excursion February Plains January 14, 15 Mon/Tuesday Northern Excursion Surrey Hills January 17 Thursday North West Propagation : Arboretum January 20 Sunday Hobart 50year Anniversary trip– Hartz January 22 Tuesday Northern Working bee HFG February 2 Saturday Northern Propagation WPC February 2 Saturday Hobart Propagation : Arboretum February 6 Wednesday Hobart Kingborough day meeting February 13 Wednesday Hobart General meeting February 19 Tuesday Northern, NW AGM and General meeting February 21 Thursday North West Propagation : Arboretum March 2 Saturday Northern Propagation WPC March 9,10,11 Sat—Monday Hobart Liaweenee weekend March 13 Wednesday Hobart AGM and General meeting March 19 Tuesday Northern, NW General meeting March 21 Thursday North West Propagation : Arboretum March 26 Tuesday Northern Working bee HFG March 30 Saturday All members APST Inc. AGM

Advertising Rates in Eucryphia

Black and white only, up to a quarter page $10.00; half page $20.00; full page $40.00 A discount of 10% is available to financial members and 5% discount is offered for four consecutive insertions of the same advertisement paid in advance. Fees are payable to: The Treasurer, Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc. PO Box 3035, Ulverstone MDC, ULVERSTONE Tas 7315

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Publications David Boyer, Publications Officer

Calendar The 2019 calendar, very capably prepared by Amanda Walker with some assistance from Christine Howells, proved to be a superb publication. This year the photography was carried out at fairly short notice following an offer from Amanda via Sib Corbett, and the resultant calendar was available in early November. It was produced as a service to members and thus provided virtually no profit for APST. Eighty five calendars were printed and sold at $16 each. A decision has now been made by Council that it is worthy of wider distribution, and Amanda has agreed to repeat the exercise next year, and in future years if APST are interested, and her printer contact continues to provide a service. Amanda has now started photographing flowers and plants with the intention of having a calendar available in time for the Blooming Tasmania Flower Show in late September. Calendars will be available to members as before, but also marketed more widely.

Letter to the Editor:

I read in the September edition of Eucryphia that the Wrigley & Fagg book is no longer in print. Your readers might be interested to learn that there are currently two copies available for loan from the Tasmanian State Library.

Regards Lesley Southwell

Redbreast Nurseries

Eucryphia December 2018 10 A Not-So-Recent Name Change Dick Burns Euryomyrtus species I was sparked into looking back through The Census of Tasmanian Vascular Plants the day I was being shown through Rosemary and Alf Verbeeten’s wonderful new garden. One of the many plants that Rosemary had recently planted was Euryomyrtus parviflora. I checked in my Tasmanian Census when I got home, and there it was – listed in 2017. 2016 was the year that I was recovering from all those anaesthetics and morphine de- rivatives, so I can always blame a befuddled brain for missing that new name. Compounding the issue is that Euryomyrtus ramosissima is one of my favourite plants, catching my eye in spring in many parts of the state. I have many photos of many variations but the only success in my garden has been a dense mat-forming, ground-hugging, white- flowered form that Philip Milner introduced into propagation. I attempted to register it as ‘White Dazzler’ since it occurs on the eastern side of the Dazzler Range. Curtis and Morris, in Part 1 of The Student’s Flora of Tasmania (2nd edition) list three species of the genus Baeckea on pages 198-9, namely Baeckea ramisissima, B. gunniana and B. leptocaulis. I noted in my copy that the 1999 Census of Tasmanian Vascular Plants listed two subspecies of B. ramosissima, subsp. ramosissima and subsp. prostrata. The subspecies prostrata had been first described in a paper by G.W. Carr, a Victorian botanist, in 1980. The best field distinction between the two subspecies is that subsp. ramosissima holds its flowers erect while the flowers of subsp. prostrata are described as nodding. In 2001, M.E. Tudgeon of the Western Australian Herbarium examined some species of Baeckea from south-western and south-eastern Australia and re-assigned them to the genus Euryomyrtus, a genus that had been described in 1843 by Johannes Schauer, a Ger- man botanist who described many Australian plants, notably many from Alan Cun- ningham’s collections. Schauer developed the genus name from the commonly spreading growth habit of what is now Euryomyrtus ramosissima: eurys = broad, myrtus = myrtle. Tudgeon recognised E. ramosissima subsp. prostrata. Baeckea gunniana and B. leptocaulis remain as Baeckea. The taxon E. ramosissima subsp. prostrata was described and named in 1856 or 1859 by Dutch botanist, Friedrich Miquel, as Euryomyrtus parviflora, a name suggested by Ferdinand Mueller of the Victorian Herbarium; this is acknowledged in the name, sometimes shown as Euryomyrtus parviflora F. Muell. ex. Miq. This species name is now recognised as a syno- nym of E. ramosissima subsp. prostrata. Distinctions between the two species: Floral properties: E. ramosissima E. parviflora Flower held erect Flower nodding Hairiness (trichomes): Some hairs between petals Hairs between petals absent or few Number of stamens: 10 5 – 10 Gland behind anthers: club-shaped small, spherical Distribution: Tasmania-wide; sea-level to 500 m alt. East and north; sea-level to 250 m alt.

All of my photos and memories are of flowers standing erect, so I cannot recall ever seeing Euryomyrtus parviflora. Miguel de Salas at the Tasmanian Herbarium was of great help with this article.

Main refernces: G.W. Carr, ‘Baeckea ramosissima A. Cunn (Myrtaceae) a Taxonomic and Ecological Study’ in Telopea volume 10(1), pp 409-420, 1980. ME Tudgen, ‘Reinstatement and Revision of Euryomyrtus (Myrtaceae) in Nuytsia volume 13(3), pp 543-566, 2001. Alan Gray et al., ‘Myrtaceae’ in Flora of Tasmania on Line, in press.

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Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc Annual General Meeting will be held on 30 March 2019 at 11.00 a.m. at the Windsor Park Complex, Riverside

Agenda:

1. Welcome 2. Attendance and apologies 3. Confirmation of minutes of 2018 AGM 4. Business arising from the minutes 5. President’s report 6. Financial report 7. Election of council officers a. President b. Vice President c. Treasurer d. Secretary e. Public Officer f. Membership Officer 8. Appointments a. Auditor f. Eucryphia Editor b. Website Liaison Officer g. Newsletter Dispatch Officer c. Study Group Liaison Officer h. ANPSA Delegate d. Publications Officer i. ANPSA Delegate 2 e. Nomenclature Officer j. APJ Liaison Officer 9. General Business 9.1 Any motions on notice 10. Next AGM 25 March 2020 hosted by North West Group.

11. Closure

Mary Slattery, Secretary

Eucryphia December 2018 12 A Weekend Of Gardens Jill Clark

Looking at other peoples’ gardens is definitely time well spent, as it makes one realise that even members of the Australian Native Plant Society have exotics as well as natives, and it really doesn’t matter if there are a few weeds here and there. But best of all it generates ideas and showcases a wealth of different plants. Many thanks are due to Daphne and Peter Longman, Margaret and John Hosford, June and Ross Mezger and Rosemary and Alf Verbeeten, who invited members of Northern Group to come and stroll around their lovely gardens on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th October. The first three are very steep and huge by my standards, being around the two-acre mark, and com- manding fabulous views of the Tamar River. Rosemary’s new garden is a little smaller, has access to the Supply River and is landscaped to perfection. It is amazing what has been accom- plished in 18 months, the potting shed being the latest acquisition, created by Alf from pre- dominantly recycled materials and completed the previous weekend. Every garden contains a vegetable patch, some large some small, and the first three have an assortment of fruit trees, bushes and canes. Ross had to build a large fruit cage in their garden to protect the fruit from the attentions of the local deer population. The work involved in maintaining the gardens is phenomenal, with ride-on mowers a ‘must have’. Some owners are finding energy levels are dropping and it is perhaps time to downsize, a thought that comes to me with increasing frequency! Spring is of course the very best time to visit any garden, with many plants in full flower. The challenge is to find some that bloom in Autumn and Winter in order to satisfy the birds. This activity proved popular, with a few new members coming along, and although some regulars were away the overall attendance showed it would be something worth repeating. 

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 J.Clark

N.group garden visits Top: Northern visit to the garden of Rosemary and Alf Verbeeten

Middle: In the garden of Daphne Longfellow

Right:: the garden of Ross and June Mezger  K. Pallet

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Top and middle: at the garden of John Tabor. Bottom: The short walk at Narawnatpu

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2018 Get-

Left and middle:

Bluewater Crescent

Below:

In the garden of Jessie Vonk

Bottom:

Morning tea at Boevink’s

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 J.Macintosh  R. Tomlinson Above and below: Above: The often overlooked Flag Exploring the garden of Jessie Vonk Iris, Diplarrena moraea

Below: Signs for the Tasmanian section at the Arboretum.

Bottom: The stand of Wollemi Pine at the Arboretum.

 J.Macintosh  J.Macintosh

 J.Macintosh

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Eucryphia December 2018 19

Flies in the Pollen: Part Two Phil Watson

Bee Flies – cryptic camouflages, long proboscis, specialised flower feeding Our look alike cousins, the bee flies (Bombyliidae), have large, stout and hairy bodies allowing them to easily mimic wasps or bees. Many bee flies are out and about early in the season and in cold weather they are key pollinators of many spring wildflowers. Some are highly specialised feeders having coevolved with their plant partners. They employ astound- ingly long proboscis permitting them to suck up nectar from flowers with deep floral tubes. Over the millenniums evolution has resulted in gradual proportional lengthening of the floral tubes and the bee fly proboscises. As the lengths of the flower tube and the bee fly’s proboscis converge, it has produced a remarkable degree of specialisation. The plants have come to being nearly fully reliant on these bee flies for pollination, as most other proboscis- bearing insects cannot reach the deep nectar pools.i Remarkably, as the bee flies’ wings continue their high frequency buzz; their front legs grip the flower allowing their long rigid beaks (?) to suck up the nectar. To avoid predator spiders or ambush bugs (cryptically hiding within the flowers), they do not actually land on the flower, but instead just barely touch the flower allowing small amounts of pollen to stick to their furry coats. Some of the deep floral tubed flowers include members of the geranium family, Gerani- aceae, including storksbills Pelargonium sp., and cranesbills, Geranium sp., as well as the long floral tubed members of boronia and native heath families, such as long bell flowers of Correa sp. and Epacris sp. Additionally the long proboscises are ideal for reaching the nectar- ies of old garden favourites such as the eye-catching primroses Primulaceae, ubiquitous for- get-me-nots, Myosotis sp., honesty Lunaria sp. as well as the native iris wildflowers (Iridaceae) such as white flag iris Diplarrena sp., blue purpleflag Patersonia sp. and pretty grassflag, Liber- tia sp. Many of South Africas’ floral gifts to the world including the highly scented Freesia sp., cape tulip Homeria sp., delightful Ixia sp. and the classic English perennial border plants of the Gladiolus sp. and Iris sp. are also keenly targeted by our long proboscis bee flies. Scaringly for many insects our bee flies have gruesome larvae which survive by parasitis- ing wasps and bees and other ground dwelling insects. Once their pupae rise to the surface they sit on the ground while they expand their wings to emerge as big adult bee flies. At this time, because they are at high risk of predation by spiders, lizards and birds they employ various forms of camouflage. One type of camouflage involves matching the colours of the background that they’re sitting on. Often they develop brownish colourations and commonly sit unobtrusively on sandy paths. Others have slightly different types of camouflage where the outline of their body is broken up with disruptive colourations so that the outlines of their abdomens are very diffi- cult to detectii. Mega–nosed flies use suction pumps to increase nectar flow. Arguably our most amazing fly cousins are the South African, tangle-veined flies (Prosoeca ganglbaueri). Like Pinocchio, they have a bizarre appearance brandishing the longest mouthparts of any known fly. They protrude prodigiously as much as five centimetres from their head, this being some five times the length of its bee-size body. In flight these ungainly appendages dangle between the flies legs and trails far behind their bodies. To an airborne fly, a stretched out proboscis might seem a stark handicap (imagine wan- dering around with a ten metre straw dangling from your mouth). This handicap is

Eucryphia December 2018 20

well worth its aerodynamic impact. The bizarre proboscis gives the mega-nosed fly access to nectar pools in long, deep flowers that are simply out of reach mostly to all other insects. This ensures that the flowers pollinated by long-nosed flies benefit from a near- exclusive pollen carrier service. It also guarantees that pollen is carried to the right ‘addresses. Fortunately as long-nosed flies cannot survive on the nectar they get from servicing just one plant species, they visit a few other deep flowers to gather the energy they need (Johnson and Steiner)iii Long tongued flies benefit from their own suction pump Although it could be expected that our long tongued flies would be very slow to suck up the sticky nectar through their narrow straw-like tongues, surprisingly this is not the case. In fact they easily out compete flies with just normal sized nectar-sipping mouth parts. Actually they can suck up most of the available nectar in just one go, due to their own highly effective suction pumps. For example, the extremely long, thin proboscis of the South African Prosoeca (Nemestrinidae) flies, use their suction pumps to produce a pressure gradient along their proboscis, which enables sucking up of nectar. They can even slurp up the most viscous sugar-rich liquids using their highly efficient two-part suction pumps. These pumps are powered by strong head muscles which have evolved to increase in size in proportion to their proboscis length. These flies are able to sip up more nectar in a single visit than other flies thereby gaining advantage over other flies with average length tubes. Our biting March and stable fly’s cousins give us a bad name! Mostly in the summer months, our biting fly cousins are renowned for their painful bites and annoying habits. Within Australia, the biting flies of greatest significance are our horse flies or March flies (Family Tabanidae) and our stable flies (Muscidae), as well as our biting midges or sand flies (Ceratopogonidae) and the ubiquitous mosquitoes (Culicidae). There are about 400 species of March fly (Tabanids) in Australia, and the name ‘March’ is not really to do with the seasons in the southern hemisphere, as they occur throughout the summer months. Rather it is more to do with their annoying arrival in northern hemisphere countries in early spring time (around March). While the male March fly simply feeds on flower nectar and pollen, the majority of females prefer to pierce our skin at meal time but fortunately they do not transmit disease to humans. They use the proteins in their blood meals to basically develop eggs and give rise to the next generation. That's why they're so insistent on getting at your blood. After mating, the females disperse, travelling many kilometres in search of blood meals. March flies have a short life span but they have a long lifecycle. They lay their eggs in sheltered areas such as moist sand or twigs. Within a week the eggs hatch into larvae which feed on rotting vegetation or aquatic materials. The larval stages last for at least three months, during which time they go through between six and nine instars stages. Adult March flies usually emerge after rain and live for about one month and characteristi- cally display two large prominent eyes. Females are armed with two large blade-like mouthparts, which are used to pierce and slash skin. They inflict an annoyingly itchy and painful wound which will continue to ooze blood long after the mouthparts are extracted as a result of the anticoagulants in their saliva. Some animals can lose up to 300 ml of blood per day due to attacks by these flies, resulting in serious blood loss. Surprisingly it's not only the soft or furry animals that March flies pursue as they often feed on crocodiles in North Queensland. In some places they're known as horse flies worrying horses to such a degree that horse riders may lose control of their steeds. March flies mostly get preyed upon by all the usual flying insect eaters, like birds and spiders, but a swift human hand can also

Eucryphia December 2018 21

strike the big, black flies. Interestingly March flies have important cultural significance for the Wardaman Aboriginal Nation from NW of WA. When the adult March fly appears at around the end of September it heralds the arrival of their wet seasoniv. The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans is a vicious biter with piercing and sucking mouthparts that can easily penetrate socks and stockings. Stable flies are much smaller and less robust than March flies but have longer lives. Both sexes of the stable fly search for blood meals, often twice a day and can engorge on blood up to three times their own body weight. Fortunately these flies are seldom found in urban situations (except where horse stables or major composting areas are nearby) and are more often associated with rural properties and domestic animals; they are also common on some beaches where they breed in seaweed. Conclusion Not only are we key pollinators of a rich diversity of species in our wildflower understoreys but we are now becoming more and more valued for our pollination services in a range of horticultural crops and ornamental landscapes and gardens. Critically, pollination of tree orchards such as mangos and avocados have traditionally relied on the service of usual pollinating agents such as bees, beetles, wasps, moths and butterflies.v Unfortunately orchardists are noticing a steady decline in production levels as a con- sequence of reduced honey bee and beetle populations. To overcome this problem they are working towards attracting the pollination services of a rich diversity of fliesvi. In the case of avocado orchards, their usual flowering physiology makes them tricky to pollinate when relying completely on bees because the flowers not only open as male one day and female the next, but are also only open just a few hours a day and frequently during cold nights. Fortunately we are ideally suited as alternative pollinators because we are active at night and we can work in the cold and rain. If gardeners, bush carers and orchardists understand our life cycles they can ensure we will help sustain wildflower under-storeys and floral landscapes as well as boost or- chardist’s yields. Primarily we require the right breeding habitat and insect prey located either within the landscape or in close proximity to orchards so that our larval stage can flourish. Our larva love munching aphids and other pests found in grassy under-storeys or on orchard trees, thus delivering a double benefit of pollination and pest controlvii.

References i http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_robbers/BOMBYLIIDAE.htm iihttp://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Find+out+about/Behind+the+Scenes/ Museum+Experts/Biodiversity/Bee+Flies#. iii http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/htmlsite/master.html?http://www.naturalhist iv www.bom.au/iwk/calenders v https://phys.org/news/2015-03-flies-key-pollination.html#jCp vi http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2016-08-30/flies-play-role-in-avocado- pollination/7796976 vii www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2015-06-12/new-study-shows-flies

Eucryphia December 2018 22 Australian Novels Arising From Plants And The Environment Dick Burns

I have immersed myself in novels since high school. The first good novel I read was the one set for study for my NSW Leaving Certificate, Wuthering Heights. The bleakness of the Yorkshire moors affects and controls the mood of both the story and the way the characters behave. And those moors still infect modern novels of the area (God’s Own Country), film, and TV (Inspector George Gently and Vera). But has the Australian environment influenced our writers? I recently read Wood Green by Tasmanian-born Sean Rabin, his first novel. Wood Green is a fictional town in wet sclerophyll forest on the slopes of Mt Wellington, regu- larly enveloped in fog, rain or snow. When the ‘hero’ of the novel visits the eastern shore, you get the feeling that the sun is shining. The enclosing fog-bound environment in Wood Green affects the inhabitants, both long-term and itinerant, leading the storyline towards its fantastical ending. The other Tasmania-based novels I have read have been historical, led by the late Christopher Koch, with a bit by Hal Porter etc., or David Owen’s detective series. Environmental issues run through Hook’s Mountain, a 1982 novel by Ulverstone-born James McQueen; Lachlan Hook is an ex-army man trying to protect the mountain of the title from pine plantations. When I arrived in Tasmania, the Lake Pedder fight was in full swing. The various fictions coming from politicians and public servants were neither novels, nor novel. On the mainland, the increasing dryness and drought are making their way into literature. Perhaps it is the idea of the dying land that has caused authors to base murder mysteries there. Peter Temple (the Jack Irish series) raised thriller fiction to a higher standing, with crime novels winning literature awards. Three recent reads, all set in a drying environment, have been Jane Harper’s The Dry, Mark Brandi’s Wimmera and Scrublands by Chris Hammer. Because they are thrillers, I am loathe to talk about plot, but The Dry involves family shootings and a police investigator, Wimmera centres on two boys and a strange neighbour and the last book solves the mystery of why a young priest shoots dead five of his parishioners. With the death of Christopher Koch, and the apparent retirement of David Malouf from novel-writing, I am left waiting for the latest book from Christos Tsiolkas, Tim Winton or Richard Flanagan. Tsiolkas is concerned mainly with inner city families but Winton centres on Western Australia: the ocean, the beach and coastal environments play a central role in a lot of his work. I read his Dirt Music while in Italy and it brought on reminiscences of the Australian environment. Richard Flanagan has a wide range of sources for inspiration but as I read his first novel, Death of a River Guide, I recognised a writer who knew the Tasmanian bush. That novel came from Flanagan’s involvement with the fight to save the Franklin River. We seem to have a larger and better reading list with environment-inspired novels than the source I wrote about last time. In fact, the recent novel inspired by the life of Georg Forster, Resolution, that I didn’t like was in remainder lists about the time that the previous Eucryphia was issued. Our Nobel Prize winner Patrick White released novels with plants in their title, The Hanging Garden, The Tree of Man and A Fringe of Leaves but White was more concerned with the human condition. When I was leading botanical tours, conversation would sometimes drift towards good Australian novels involving the Australian environment and flora. At the top of my (Continued on page 26)

Eucryphia December 2018 23

News from the Groups

Northern Group Kay Pallett

These months have been the busiest of the year with guest speakers, excursions around the state, Blooming Tasmania participation and a get-together with the NW Group at Camp Banksia. The last weekend in October saw four members' gardens being visited by fellow members. What a treat to wander around, appreciate and enjoy these. (Photos in our December newsletter.) Members have been busy at the Heritage Forest garden and at Windsor Park where our propagation and potting benches are looking bare following the successful Spring plant sale. Attendance at propagation sessions has been very good, especially as new members are becoming regulars at these sessions. Nursery manager Janet Hallam and her efficient team are seeking a greater range of cutting material and planning ahead to have plants well suited for the next sale. More bench space has made Windsor Park effective for our purposes. Ian Thomas was the September guest speaker. His presentation, 'Paleobotany of NE Tasmania', provided us with captivating material gathered over an extensive career which enabled him to collect pollen and spore data from many parts of the world. He spent time working in the area between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea and also in the Yangtze delta where he researched the origins of rice agriculture and in the process, uncovered a lost city. However, the focus of the night was on his data gathering in NE Tasmania. This data provided details of the paleobotany of places such as Waterhouse Point which 10,000 years ago was open woodland. Then there followed a change over the next 3,500 years first to Eucalyptus forest and then to Allocasuarina dominated heathland. Such amazing details from the reading of pollen and spores was fascinating to hear and just a small sample of the material so clearly presented to us on the night. Southern Connections: The Flora of Patagonia, was the title of the October presentation given by Dr Fred Duncan and his wife, Mercedes. They guided us on a journey which extended our knowledge on links between the two countries. Not just on flora, it included links to historical figures such as Darwin and Drake. We were asked to make a link between Drake and the Tasmanian Mountain Pepper. Family Winteraceae provides the link between the tree, Drimys winteri and Tasmannia lanceolata. The soft bark of Drimys winteri was used to prevent scurvy.) However, the flora of Patagonia was the star of the presentation, well illustrated with informative diagrams and great photos, featuring scenes of sweeping Nothofagus forests, close-ups of Eucryphia cordifolia which is so closely related to our Eucryphia lucida that it can be hybridised. There was the magnificent Fitzroya cupressoides, tall and long-lived (3,600 years old) and linked to a fossil record of Fitzroya tasmanensis. There were lomatias, species of ferns such as Gleichenia, Blechnum penna-marina and many more examples presented by our guides who were happy to share their expert knowledge with us. Dr Sue Murphy spoke of her experiences in seed propagation in her talk, Raising rarity: exploring the horticultural potential of rare and threatened Victorian wildflower species. A detailed, carefully documented account of the process showed the difficulties that were encountered as she collated material on twenty two species using seed from the Victorian seed bank. There was considerable success but also many issues which meant that success was not always commercially viable and more research was needed. For example the germination rates varied with some plants such as stylidium (lobelia was another one) taking up to three to four months to germinate. Too long for a commercial market. In other examples the range of plant sizes, produced during the (Continued on page 27)

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Hobart Group

Mark Geeves

Well, here in the South of the state spring has well and truly sprung, with one of the best growth and flowering seasons in both bush and garden that we have seen in a long time. While many areas of the state and the big island experience drought or very dry conditions, southern Tasmania is green and lush. If you have a chance to visit Hobart a trip up the mountain and a walk around the base of the Organ Pipes will provide you with an outstanding floral display. A lot has happened at the Hobart group with garden visits, excursions and excellent guest speakers at our meetings, which have been well attended. For those of you who are coming to meetings can I encourage you to bring a friend, or a member who hasn’t been for a while, to our next meeting. We are working at the committee level to streamline processes and plan for 2019. We have been on a floral walk to the Tasman Peninsula with those attending well re- warded with scenery and wildflowers. We have had several excellent guest speakers talking on a variety of subjects that have proved very popular. At our last meeting Amanda Walker and Paul Richardson presented 'Maatsuyker Island'. Amanda worked as an office manager for various NGO’s until five years ago, when she returned to University to study art and photography. Paul has been a fisherman for 35 years. Both are keen and experienced bushwalkers, and when the opportunity for a care-taking role on Maatsuyker Island came up they embraced it with enthusiasm. From March to September 2015 they spent a long winter on the island, carrying out mainte- nance on the 1890’s buildings and providing a presence on this outpost of the World Heritage Area. Their book ‘Maatsuyker through our eyes’ resulted from this adventure. Their presentation was inspirational and supported by beautiful pictures and their passion for the island was clearly conveyed. The Kingborough Day meeting continues to provide members with a focus on gardens and plants. Their display tables are a sight to behold. We recently conducted a very successful plant sale. Thanks to the nursery team for all their hard work. Our next event is the Christmas lunch to be held at Randalls Bay on Sunday 9th of December. We have some exciting things planned for 2019 including a 50th anniversary day trip to Hartz Mountain, the site of our first excursion in January 1965. On Saturday January 19 we are meeting at the Kermandie Hotel, Port Huon at 10.00am. Everyone is welcome. We are also planning a weekend in the field in the beautiful Central Highlands on the March long-weekend, staying at Liawenee and visiting Lake Augusta and other sites in this fabulous area. Again, all are welcome. 

Don’t like driving at night? Prefer a daytime meeting? Why not try the Kingborough Day Meeting? All welcome.

Eucryphia December 2018 25

North West Group Riitta Boevink The NW group has moved! The NW group used to hold monthly evening meetings in the Devonport library meeting room. As part of its urban renewal project a new Civic Centre called Paranaple, containing the new library, was completed this year. The old library building was closed. As the library was not available in August, we held our August meeting as a daytime meeting at the Arboretum Education Centre. This is a good venue for an occasional daytime gathering, but unsuitable for evening meetings. In September and October we were able to use a meeting room in the new library. After the second meeting in Paranaple there was a consensus that this new facility with all the high tech features posed too many problems, and does not suit our needs. We have found a new venue at St Pauls Anglican church hall in East Devonport. We will have our first meeting there in November. At the August meeting Matt Rose gave a talk about his work as a land conservation- ist over twenty years. Originally from South Australia, Matt transferred to Tasmania and worked with National Resource Management. Now he has his own consulting business and lives off grid near North Motton, on land managed for conservation and recreation. His objectives are to provide environmental solutions for a range of clients, add value to a restorative environmental service, prove we can transition to a green economy, educate and inspire people to make change and reduce their impacts, bring about positive change in local communities and give future generations hope. The last objective is evidenced by the educative roles Matt has undertaken, and the long-term interest he has had in providing younger generations with knowledge and opportunity to care for the environment. At the October meeting Riitta (that’s me) gave a presentation on the Bluewater Crescent roundabout as we planned to visit it during the Members’ Get-together in November. This was a brief presentation made at the last national conference in Hobart in January under the title ‘Small Grassroots Projects’. Our plant table floral display was colourful as always in October. The Port Sorell Spring Fair in October was a good opportunity to promote natives and APST. We did not bring a large stock of plants to sell as our plants at the Arboretum were slow to get going in the spring. We chose plants that were attractive in pots, preferably with flowers. The stock we had sold very quickly. The main attraction was the floral display in the display vases we have on loan from the Hobart group. Most people not familiar with natives were surprised by the range and beauty of the flower specimens. We prepared a quantity of pretty posies and they all sold thanks to the enterprise of Joanna and Judith. Many thanks to those members who gener- ously gave their time and effort. John Tabor and I gave a presentation at the Port Sorell Garden Club focusing on information on the NW group as well as the plants from our gardens. This was very well received by the group of about 33 garden club members. We also did a presentation for 22 at the Bunnings Garden Club. Although we had to share with tomatoes there was plenty of interest.

Websites

APST Inc. www.apstas.org.au ANPSA Inc. Northern Group anpsa.org.au www.apstasnorth.org

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Group Programmes Northern Group Below are links to: APST Northern Group website, programme page and newsletters http://apstas http://apstasnorth.org/pages/program.html http://apstasnorth.org/pages/newsletters.html Dec 18 Tuesday 9.30 - 11.30 Working Bee Native Garden, HFG, Mow- bray Jan 9/23? Excursion February Plains – Final date/details, by email Jan 14&15 Excursion Surrey Hills with Louise Gilfedder Jan 22 Tuesday 9.30 - 11.30 Working Bee Native Garden, HFG, Mowbray Feb 2 Saturday 1 - 3 pm Propagation APST Nursery, WPC, Riverside Feb 19 Tuesday 7.30 pm AGM & General Meeting, Max Fry Hall Feb 26 Tuesday 9.30 - 11.30 am Working Bee Native Garden, HFG, Mowbray March 2 Saturday 1 - 3 pm Propagation APST Nursery, WPC Riverside March 19 Tuesday 7.30 pm General Meeting, Club night, Max Fry Hall March 26 Tuesday 9.30 - 11.30 am Working Bee Native Garden, HFG, Mowbray March 30 Saturday APST Inc. AGM, Windsor Community Precinct, Riverside Hobart Group Dec 9 Sunday 12 for 12.30 End of Year Lunch, Randall’s Bay. Bring bathers! Jan 5 Saturday 1.30 Propagation Jan 20 Sunday 50year Anniversary trip to Hartz Mountain. Feb 2 Saturday 1.30 Propagation Feb 6 Wednesday 2.00 Kingborough Day Meeting Feb 13 Wednesday 7.30 Group Meeting March 13 Wednesday AGM North West Group New meeting venue: St Paul’s Hall, Church St. East Devonport Dec 10 Monday 10am. Propagation, Arboretum

Australian Novels Arising From Plants And The Environment (Continued from page 22) list was always Eucalyptus by Murray Bail. At the centre of this wonderful book is the old fable of a man with a young daughter, who decides that she should marry the man who can complete a series of tasks a la Hercules, Scheherazade and Turandot. This time the challenge is botanical: the man has established an arboretum of all Eucalyptus species and the man who can identify the lot wins the daughter’s hand. Of course it is the man whom the daughter wants wins out (for a while, the aging Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman had the film rights and were going to play the leads, but thankfully the plan fell through; I cannot imagine a successful film adaptation of Eucalyptus.) The novel is so much more than the basic fable, with each chapter carrying the name of a eucalypt species. Some- times the chapter will advance the story, tell of the failure of other suitors or divert to tales based on the species name, etc. It is a novel full of invention and originality and highly recommended.

I am sure I have missed lots of novels. What are your favourites? 

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A Special Invitation to All Members

Join the APST Councillors for a visit to Macquarie Point, Davey Street Hobart on

Wednesday 13th February 2019 at 10:30am

presentation by CEO Mary Massina followed by a site tour.

Lunch at the Botanical gardens – BYO or purchase at café.

And then at 1:30pm a visit to

Government House

to visit the native and other gardens.

So that we can plan numbers please RSVP to

[email protected] by Jan 31st.

Northern Group report (Continued from page 23) germination process, needed to be more even if they were to suit market needs. The presentation was most interesting and an important reminder of the need to actively find ways to preserve our rare and threatened species. Jill Clark shared photos and information on a striking Richea drachophylla, the Sep- tember Plant of the Month specimen that she has growing in a pot. It is an erect, sparsely branched shrub usually 2 metres high, having attractive white flowers in large terminal spikes. November Plant of the Month was Boronia molloyae, researched by Julie Nermut who shared her interest in not just the plant but also the history of its discovery. It was not until 1970 that Georgina Molloy was finally acknowledged for her meticulous work from the 1830s. Boronia molloyae is a 1-3m shrub with aromatic foliage and cup-like, pink-red flowers. It grows in the south west of WA but is successful in Tasmanian gardens if it is well mulched and continually moist. The first of the excursions was a joint effort with the NW group in mid-September. to a property at Glengarry It was a steep walk uphill to reach native bushland. Understorey plants seen included several Acacia species, Epacris impressa, Comesperma volubile, Indigofera australis and one tiny orchid, possibly Pterostylis nana. It was a bit early for some plants to be in flower so a future excursion to this property is a possibility. In mid-October the two day excursion to the east coast enabled members to visit Helen Tait's property near Tooms Lake which has a cover of Eucalyptus pulchella and a colourful under-storey dominated by Acacia mucronata. On Day 2 the group walked into the Bluff River Gorge via a plateau which was rich in a variety of species such as Oxylobium ellipticum, Boronia anemonifolia plus several others. In the gorge it was a surprise to see Carpobrotus rossii clinging to the cliff face a long way from its usual coastal habitat. 

Eucryphia December 2018 28 APST Directory COUNCIL Postal address P. O . Box 3035, Email: [email protected] Ulverstone MDC, Website: www.apstas.org.au ULVERSTONE TAS 7310 President: Margaret Killen 0409430665 ANPSA Delegate Riitta Boevink 6428 6909

Vice-President Mark Geeves 0408031917 Hobart Councillor Bruce Champion 6294 6970 Secretary Mary Slattery 0402784086 Hobart Councillor David Boyer 6293 1113 Treasurer Rosemary Verbeeten 6394 4600 Hobart Councillor Jenny Boyer 6293 1113 M’ship Officer Frances Taylor 6376 1338 Northern Councillor Jill Clark 6327 2899

Public Officer Mary Slattery 0402784086 Northern Councillor Lynne Mockridge 6331 6106

Publications Officer David Boyer 6293 1113 North West Councillor Riitta Boevink 6428 6909

Journal Editor Mary Slattery 0402764986 North West Councillor Dick Burns 6437 2474

GROUPS

Hobart Group

President Mark Geeves 0408031917 Vice President Sib Corbett 6239 1275 Meeting place/time: Secretary Christine Corbett 6239 1904 General meetings: Treasurer Jenny Boyer 6293 1113 Kingston Primary School Library Contact Officer : Second Wednesday of the month 7.30pm Bruce Champion except January, June, July and August. 6294 6970 For winter meetings, www.apstas.org.au/calendar

Postal address: Kingborough Day meetings: GPO Box 1353K, 2pm Centacare Units Meeting Room, left off Hobart Tasmania 7001 Balmoral Rd. Kingston. Northern Group

President Louise Skabo 0467199602 Postal address: 45, Osborne Avenue, Vice President Roy Pallett 0438392041 Trevallyn, Tas. 7250 Email: [email protected] Secretary Peter Dowde 6344 2277 Meeting place /time: Treasurer Rosemary Verbeeten 6394 4600 Max Fry Hall, Gorge Rd, Trevallyn 7.30 pm Eucryphia Liaison Kay Pallett 0400097025 Third Tuesday of the month (except January). Website: www.apstasnorth.org North West Group

Postal address: PO Box 3035 President Joy McIntosh 6426 2657 Ulverstone MDC, Vice-President John Tabor 6428 6512 Ulverstone Tas 7315 Secretary Drew Thomas 6437 1802 Email: [email protected] Treasurer John Boevink 6428 6909 Meeting place/time: Eucryphia Liaison North West Councillors Mersey Regional Library, Devonport 7.30 pm, Third Tuesday of the month. except January and July

Eucryphia December 2018 29

 J. MacIntosh  K. Pallett

Above left: Riitta introduces native plants to the Bunnings Garden Club

Above right: Northern members in the garden of Rosemary and Alf Verbeeten

Below: The APST North West stall at the Port Sorell Spring Fair

 R. Boevink

at Narawntapuat Thelymitra ixioides Right: Left Crinia signifera common (brown) froglet Conservany finds: Extreme left Blooming Tasmania Above Patersonia fragilis

: : APSTthe at stall : :