ISSN 1445!9493" NUMBER 13" NOVEMBER 2008 Isopogons & Petrophiles

The Australian Native Society’s Isopogon & Study Group Newsletter

Petrophile shuttleworthiana, Badgingarra, WA September 2007. (See page 3 for more information about this species.)

Contents 2 EDITORIAL 3 PETROPHILE SHUTTLEWORTHIANA MEISSNER 4 PETROPHILE MACROSTACHYA. R. BR. 5 MEMBERS’ LETTERS & EMAILS 7 KARRIKINS, A BURNING MYSTERY. 9 MEMBERSHIP LIST & BALANCE SHEET 7 GLOSSARY & REFERENCES ISSN 1445!9493" NUMBER 13" NOVEMBER 2008

EDITORIAL

Hello to all you Petropogonophiles out in the Albany area. We were able to see a there. I hope that spring has been good for number of Isopogon and Petrophile species, you and that there has been a fantastic some of which were in wonderful flower, flowering in a garden or bushland near you. and others that had finished for the season. The gardens of the southeast corner of the The country over there was looking in good mainland continue to struggle with over a condition after some winter rains. I plan to decade of below average annual rainfall. have an article about the trip ready for the Even drought hardy indigenous are next edition. feeling the pinch and look very stressed on A very big thanks to everyone who has even mildly warm days. I am not looking contributed to this issue. I had a number of forward to runs of 40° days, especially as letters and articles from members and some Melbourne is likely to ban all mains of these will be held over until next time. outdoor watering in the near future. I am As usual I have included some excellent hoping to have some tanks installed in the photos from members and I have been not too distant future, which will help to given permission by the Friends of King’s some extent if it actually rains (come on SE Park and Botanical Garden to reproduce an Queensland, don’t hog all the rain- send article from their newsletter, “For People and some south towards us!). Plants” about the active pro-germination On a happier note I did have some good chemicals in smoke. flowering from , The featured species this issue are Petrophiles I.!formosus, I.!mnoraifolius, I. trilobus, Petrophile shuttleworthiana and macrostachya. These two biloba and P.!filifolia. A single flower graced related species have similar flowering habits my grafted , its first and and overlap in geographical area. I think the hopefully will lead to many more in the articles will help you to be able to future. Both I.!sphaerocephalus and I. divergens distinguish them. budded up but then, as in recent years, I hope you enjoy it and all the best. failed to progress to flowering. Losses of Isopogons and Petrophiles have been limited to David Lightfoot ! those trampled on by children and tradesmen, a few of which I managed to take cuttings from prior to their demise and, so far, they are looking good in the green house. I was lucky enough to have some work in Perth in October and took the opportunity to tour some of the Great Southern with my father, Paddy. We visited Margaret Pieroni who was a marvellous host, (Thanks heaps Margaret) showing some of the wonderful bush near her place as well as Petrophile acicularis near Albany

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PETROPHILE SHUTTLEWORTHIANA MEISSNER Petrophile shuttleworthiana is a medium through to cream and yellow, and appear in sized shrub that is widely distributed in the September to October. This plant flowers sandplain heaths north of Perth. It was first prolifically and the flowerheads are very well described in 1848 and was named after the 19th displayed above the shrub. Their narrow shape, century English botanist , Robert J. Shuttleworth size and configuration give the plant its common (1810-1874). name of candle stick Petrophile. After flowering n a r r o w l y o v o i d w o o d y c o n e s develop that are up to 6 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. Within the a number of 5 mm nuts are h e l d . T h e s e a r e smooth on the inner In open country P. shuttleworthiana can a s p e c t w h i c h reach heights of 2 metres, but is often smaller differentiates them and tends to have a relatively dense foliage in a from the fruit of rounded form. The branches and new growth are P. macrostachya, Fruiting cones glabrous (as opposed to the hairy/tomentose new which are covered in growth of the closely related Petrophile hairs. macrostachya, see page 4 of this issue). P. shuttleworthiana is The glabrous leaves are up to 7 cm long and found from just north of although sometimes pinnate, are usually divided Perth (Moore River) to into three deep lobes about 2.5-10 mm wide and Kalbarri and inland as 2-4 cm long. These far as Wongan hills. It is a r e s o m e t i m e s generally found in heath d i v i d e d a g a i n or in mallee scrublands, towards their ends where it grows on a wide (see photo on page range of soil types 6 of issue 6 for a including sandy loam, specimen with this sandy clay, gravel and leaf configuration). over laterite. In the wild Each leaf lobe ends it is frost and drought tolerant. in a pungent tip. This species is not known in cultivation but New foliage can be is very attractive, especially when in flower. It rusty to red in can be grown from seed, and cuttings. Cuttings colour. should be firm new growth and may be slow to The cylindrical inflorescences are held form roots. I have not seen this plant grafted. For terminally or in the upper leaf axils. They are up best results I would pick a really well drained to 6.5 cm long, consisting of individual flowers position in full sun and give it a good prune after up to 1.2 cm long, and can be pedunculate or flowering. I would like to know if anyone has, or sessile. The flowers vary in colour from white has seen, this plant growing in cultivation.

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PETROPHILE MACROSTACHYA R. BR. Petrophile macrostachya is a small to inflorescences up to 6cm long. The flowerheads medium sized shrub, up to 1.5m high and wide, are sometimes clustered and are profuse and that shares many similarities with Petrophile very conspicuous. After flowering the woody shuttleworthiana. The specific name is from the fruit develop. These are narrower than P. Greek macro meaning large and stachyus shuttleworthiana’s (usually less than 1cm) and meaning spike and relates to the long thin flower hold a number of 5mm nuts. These nuts are spikes and fruiting cone. The species was first tapered and hairy on both sides. collected in 1827 and described 3 years later. It The size, naturally dense habit, prominent is found from Gingin, just north of Perth, to inflorescences and interesting fruit make this a Kalbarri and is not found as far inland as fine ornamental species. It is, however, rarely P. shuttleworthiana. It is found mainly on the found in cultivation. sandplains, amongst heath Propagation is from seed and sometimes in open or cuttings of semihard shrubland and Jarrah new growth. I am not woodland. sure whether smoke P. macrostachya has a t r e a t m e n t a i d s rounded, dense habit with germination. As with quite hairy new growth. most western species of The branches become Petrophile, well drained glabrous as they age. The deep green leaves are similarly hairy when new and age to hairless. They are 3 to 8 cm long, with well defined veins, and are divided into 3 broad segments. These are often divided further into a number of shorter pungently tipped lobes.

Leaves! P. macrostchya

Leaves! P. shuttleworthiana

soil is essential and flowering will be enhanced by a sunny position. It resents a climate with a The leaves help distinguish this species from wet summer. The species is drought and frost P. shuttleworthiana, which has duller foliage, hardy and so would be worth trying if you have much finer/more deeply divided lobes and less the appropriate soil and climactic conditions. prominent veins. The yellow to cream flowers, which appear in July to November, are about 9mm long. They are held in sessile, narrow terminal or axillary

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MEMBERS’ LETTERS AND EMAILS From Phil Trickett, Belconnen, ACT Ahhhhhh tradesmen, they love to step on plants and dump July 2008 rubbish in the garden. I think that its universal. Hope its survived and flowered over spring. Ed. Hi David, Thanks for another great newsletter. Over the last From Barbara Rye, Perth, WA 12 months I have been grafting a number of WA August 2008 Isopogons and Petrophiles, including I. trilobus (all onto I. anethifolius). So far I'm very pleased with the re- Hi David sults, with the grafted plants seeming much more The latest news from Western Australia is that the vigorous than the ungrafted versions. I only have Petrophile brevifolia R.Br. complex is now being ex- I.! trilobus and I. tridens in the ground so far and amined in an honours project by Natalie Murdoch both are growing really quickly. I have a range of (UWA), with information on the habit, habitat potted versions which are also looking very prom- and, molecular sequencing, flowering time differ- ising - I. cuneatus, I. divergens, I. baxteri, I. formosus, ences as well as morphology helping to determine I.! sphaerocephalus, I. asper, I. adenanthoides and how many species etc. should be recognised in that I.!teretifolius. It's still early days but I'll let you know difficult group.! There is also a paper in prepara- how they progress. tion by myself, Mike Hislop, Kelly Shepherd and Regards, Phil Chris Hollister entitled “A review of the sectional classification of Petrophile () and descrip- Wow Phil, that’s an impressive list with some very spectacu- tion of new taxa in south-western Australia” in lar and difficult to keep going species. Apart from I. cunea- which three new species and a new subspecies are tus, I have not heard of others grafting those taxa. Please being described.! We are hoping to be able to keep us informed as to how well they flower and do over submit this paper before the end of the year. summer. Ed Best wishes, Barbara. Hi Barbara, Thanks for the update. I must say that Petrophile brevifolia seems to be a variable taxa with a huge distribution area and so I will watch eagerly for its revision. I will try to report on the new species and subspe- cies in a newsletter when your paper is published. Ed From Bob O’Neill, Wandin North, Vic August 2008 Mostly Well At Katandra Gardens. A couple of well developed Isopogon cuneatus have thrown in the towel and I have pulled out an I. formosus, otherwise all seems well. Two I. cuneatus are budding up well and a P. biloba will be a stun- ner. A quick check showed that P. shuttleworthiana, P. squamata, P. scabriuscula, P. macrostachya and Grafted Isopogon adenanthoides P.!linearis will all perform well this spring. I. fletcheri is also looking happy. The garden on the whole is From Lynne Bilston, Ashfield, NSW looking very good. Rainfall to this point is down August 2008 on average, but currently conditions are very moist on the surface and the air is chill, a good time for Hi David the shed, at the computor or out visiting. I have buds, but not flowers yet on my Isopogon I seem to be able to have good to fair success with cuneatus in the front yard. Have been watching cuttings, sometimes I just have to try again or wait closely but it's not out yet. It seems to have sur- a little longer. The overall knack seems to be to vived the tilers dumping stuff all over it (sigh). have garden sites that are well drained yet moist Lynne and a good deal of sun once you have the plants ready for the garden. The biggest problem that we

Isopogons & Petrophiles" Number 13" Page 5 ISSN 1445!9493" NUMBER 13" NOVEMBER 2008 have is to source new plant species or cutting ma- but once it has a name, I can send you higher terial. If anyone is happy to engage in a little barter resolution ones. then I would be delighted. We have other interest- My garden is going okay, haven't lost much and we ing genera here as well, such as Verticordias, if that get occasional showers but I would dearly love sev- is relevant. Bob O'Neill eral hundred mms to soak the ground properly. Just have to keep on going I dare say. Bob has an amazing variety of plants in his garden, and I would encourage anyone interested to contact him about a My reply was “I think your mystery plant is P. plumosa. plant material swap. I would love to see more species being Can you give me an idea of the length of the leaves and a grown in more gardens. Ed. closer photo of the different leaf forms please,just to be sure?” Ed From Ken Patterson, Perth, WA I think you August 2008 a r e e x a c t l y Hi David right on the I have over the past three years preparing an inter- name - Pet. active Web-browser-based photographic flora for plumosa rings a Kalamunda National Park. This afternoon I found b e l l f r o m and photog raphed w h e n I Petrophile seminuda in bought it and full bloom and while I checked it in entering a description Wrigley and into my ‘flora’ won- Fagg and the dered at the meaning description, behind the use of the especially of epithet ‘seminuda’. For the leaves and each of the nearly 400 perianth parts species so far studied I matches. My have been entering the leaves are a meaning of the names little shorter used in each species than the "up t o 4 0 m m " description since it Petrophile plumosa helps a reader to make they suggest, sense of the name. 25-30mm, but Petrophil! seminuda While the meaning of some leaves are pointed and others are divided into seminuda is pretty 3 lobes at the tip. These last look for all the world obvious, I wonder if you can help to explain why it like leaves from D. tridentata while the entire leaves was used. are like a larger version of D. carlinoides - good evidence that all these plants are related through Hi Ken, The meaning is half bare and is thought to refer to family Proteacea. the bracts of the flower, which are half smooth and half covered in hairs. Ed From Tony Cavanagh, Ocean Grove, Vic September 2008 Now I have a mystery for you. I bought this Petro- phile from Phillip Vaughan a couple of years ago but the birds have got the label and I don't know what it is - perhaps something like P. sericea but am not sure. The leaves are very much like Dryandra carlinoides in shape but are silky with lots of hairs. Flower heads are globular and a pale yellow. These Petrophile plumosa are small resolution pictures, not cropped or edited

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KARRIKINS, A BURNING MYSTERY DR. DAVE NELSON, RESEARCH SCIENTIST, ARC CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN PLANT ENERGY BIOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

This article is reproduced from the Winter after 'karrik,' the first recorded Nyungar 2008 edition of For People & Plants, the quar- word for smoke in the Perth area. Research terly magazine of The Friends of Kings into how karrikins can be applied in agricul- Park, with permission. ture and conservation efforts is currently be- ing explored at King's Park. With the recent opening of the ARC Centre of Excellence in For seeds, timing is everything. While a seed P l a n t E n e r g y B i o l o g y a t U WA is itself quite tolerant to harsh conditions and (www.plantenergy.uwa.edu.au). a new avenue can survive for many years dormant in the for understanding how karrikins actually soil, once committed to germination the work has become available. emerging seedling is vulnerable to its envi- The scientists at the Centre use Arabidopsis ronment. To ensure the seedling has the best thaliana, commonly known as mouse-ear chance of surviving and ultimately reproduc- cress, to explore the molecular mechanisms ing, the seed perceives many factors such as underlying all plant growth and physiological light, temperature, and nutrients and inte- responses. Arabidopsis thaliana is known as a grates these cues into an informed germina- model organism, as are species such as the tion decision. While on the surface a bushfire fruitfly (Drosophila melanogaster), nematode is devastating, for the buried seeds of many (Caenorhabditis elegans), mouse (Mus musculus), Australian species it is just the event they and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevzsiae). All of these have been patiently waiting for. A few model organisms share some common at- months later when the rains begin, smoke tributes: small size, ease of growth, short residue is washed down into the soil. A flush generation times, and fecundity. They are of new growth soon appears as seeds detect useful for dissecting complex phenomena in the smoke, germinate, and begin competing a manner that may not be technically feasible for the open canopy space and nutrients left otherwise, and what is learned can usually be by the fire. applied to more relevant species. For in- In an ongoing collaboration between the Bo- stance, the mouse model system has been tanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA), used to study human diseases like cancer and Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Murdoch diabetes. The principal idea underpinning the University and The University of Western use of model systems is that all cells share Australia, for several years scientists have common ways of accomplishing certain been exploring the mystery of smoke- tasks, whether it be moving proteins from stimulated germination. Early work focused one place to another, communicating within on sifting through the thousands of different or between cells, replicating and growing, or molecules in smoke to identify the specific even just knowing what time it is. The genes components that were triggering germina- encoded in DNA are the key to making these tion. In a 2004 breakthrough, Dr. Gavin processes happen. There are many genes that Flematti discovered the primary active com- are shared widely across organisms. While pound in smoke: 3-methyl- 2H-furo[2,3-c] the sequence of the genes may be slightly pyran-2-one. Since then, he has found three different, the function of a gene in one or- similar molecules in smoke that are also po- ganism is very often similar to that of its tent germination stimulators. It was decided counterpart in another species. Thus deter- to name this family of compounds karrikins mining that a particular gene is involved in

Isopogons & Petrophiles" Number 13" Page 7 ISSN 1445!9493" NUMBER 13" NOVEMBER 2008 repairing damaged DNA in yeast can give us germination. Many mutants with defects in a very good idea of what a similar gene is germination or dormancy have mutations in doing in humans. Arabidopsis thaliana is itself genes that regulate the absolute levels or sen- just a simple weed, but it has become the tool sitivity to these hormones. of choice for thousands of researchers Dr. Nelson's work has uncovered a critical worldwide interested in how plants work. role for GA in the karrikin response. While The discoveries made with it are applicable to mutants with low GA levels still respond agriculture, conservation, and now in the positively to karrikin, those that are unable to emerging biofuels industry. make any GA cannot germinate even after a Dr. Dave Nelson joined Prof. Steve Smith's karrikin treatment. To identify genes that are group in the Centre in 2006 to begin studies specifically involved in karrikin response, Dr. on the mode of karrikin action, after finish- Nelson has begun screening for Arabidopsis ing his graduate work in the Genetics de- mutants that are insensitive to karrikin. These partment at the University of Wisconsin in mutants will then be analyzed to determine the United States. He was drawn to the re- which genes have been altered. He is also tak- search position by the potential real-world ing advantage of a recent technological ad- impact of this novel molecule, and that so vance, microarrays, which allow scientists to little was actually known about it. Dr. Nelson detect changes in the level of expression of hopes to identify the genes involved in per- over 22,000 Arabidopsis genes. He has ceiving the karrikin signal and translating that treated dormant seed with water or karrikin, into a decision to germinate. To do this, he is and then compared the changes caused by taking advantage of the powerful genetic the karrikin exposure at different time points tools available in Arabidopsis. As many, but using microarrays. The genes with the not all, species show a germination response strongest karrikin-induced expression to karrikin, it was first necessary to demon- changes provide important information strate that Arabidopsis is indeed a suitable sys- about how karrikin might be working. In ad- tem for studying karrikin perception. Next he dition, mutants in a subset of these genes are began examining the responses of different being examined for their ability to respond to germination mutants to karrikin. karrikin. If they don't respond well, they are Mutants are essential tools of a geneticist's likely to have a role in karrikin perception or work. They share almost identical genomes signal transduction. with a normal plant, except for a change in Using genetics and other approaches, the sci- the DNA sequence of one gene which ren- entists at UWA will someday uncover how ders it defective. The resulting observable karrikin causes dormant seed to germinate change in size, shape, or response to a treat- and interacts with other plant hormones. Ul- ment provides clues to the function of the timately, the model developed in Arabidopsis gene. By mutating seeds, identifying those will be tested in other plant species, and con- that can no longer germinate properly, and tribute to our understanding of dormancy, then tracking down the underlying DNA al- germination, and seed interactions with the teration that has occurred in each of those environment. As global warming continues, mutants, scientists have found many genes we may expect an expanding role for fire and that are involved in the germination process. karrikins in shaping the landscape. Two plant hormones known as abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellic acid (GA) have emerged as key regulators of dormancy and germination. ABA is required for seed dor- mancy, while GA counteracts ABA to induce

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MEMBERSHIP

Lynne Bilston, Ashfield, NSW Betty Denton, Eltham, Vic Barbara Buchanan, Myrrhee, Vic Phil Trickett & Catriona Bate, Belconnen, ACT Murray Fagg, Canberra, ACT Jan & Julie Aamodt, Clare, SA Cas Liber, St Pauls, NSW John Nevin, Armidale, NSW Paddy Lightfoot, New Lambton, NSW Rodger Elliot, Heathmont, Vic Bob O'Neill, Wandin North, Vic Ross & Elaine Sutherland, Shepparton, Vic Margaret Pieroni, Denmark, WA Ken Arthur & Gwen Bakker, Tower Hill, Vic John Wrigley, Coffs Harbour, NSW Kevin Sparrow, Warrnambool, Vic Maryanne and Ashley Kopania, Macleod, Vic Ian Cox, Kenthurst, NSW Tony Cavanagh, Ocean Grove, Vic Marlee Petrie, Glen Waverley, Vic Marina Tyndale-Biscoe, Braidwood, NSW Jennifer Towell, Mullengandra, NSW Lloyd Carman, Eden Hills, SA Robin McKeown, Watson, ACT Peter Olde, Illawong, NSW Ray Purches, Wangaratta, Vic Graeme Downe, Endeavour Hills, Vic Fiona McCallum, Greta West, Vic Patricia Lightfoot, Taringa, Qld Graeme and Denise Krake, Brogo, NSW Rosemary Whish-Wilson, Hillwood, Tas Phillip & Julia Rose, Armidale, NSW Don & Joy Williams, Badgingarra, WA Dan Ossedryver, Dee Why, NSW Paul and Barbara Kennedy, Strathmerton, Vic

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GLOSSARY REFERENCES Axil- the upper angle between a leaf stalk or A new species of Petrophile (Proteaceae) branch and the stem or trunk from which it is from south-western Australia. RJ Cranfield growing. & TD Macfarlane Nuytsia 17: 153-158 Ellipsoidal- elliptical in cross section. (2007). Glabrous- without hairs, smooth Volume 16 Elaegnaceae, Globose- ball or globe shaped. Proteaceae 1. Melbourne: CSIRO Australia Inflorescence- a group of flowers arranged as a distinct entity Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants suitable Laterite- a reddish clay like mixture of iron and for cultivation by W. Rodger Elliot and aluminium oxides and hydroxides formed from David L. Jones the weathering of basalt. Ironstone. Lignotuber- a swelling at the base of the stem, For People & Plants, The magazine of the often underground, that contains dormant buds Friends of Kings Park, Winter 2008 edition and energy stores. If the top of the plant is de- stroyed, it can regrow from the lignotuber.

Lobe- a leaf segment, usually rounded, that is Study Group Leader & Newsletter Editor not divided all the way to the midrib. David Lightfoot Ovoid- elliptical in shape with the base broadest 36 Arundel Cres Peduncle- the stalk bearing a flower or fruit, or Surrey Hills the main stalk of an inflorescence. Vic 3127 Pedunculate- having a peduncle Email [email protected] Pinnate- has an appearance like a feather. The description of compound leaves where the leaf- lets arise from a spine and give this appearance. Pungent- a stiff, sharp point Sessile- borne without a supporting part e.g. directly from a branch without a stem Taxa- (plural of taxon) comes from taxonomy, which is the science of classifying organisms into groups. A taxon is a group of plants shar- ing a relationship and so are categorised to- gether. It is a unit of taxonomy. Terete- circular in cross section Terminal- at the end of a shoot. Tomentose- covered in a felt like downy hairs. The covering being called the tomentum.

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