Autumn 2012 Issue No 91

The Clematis

Quarterly Newsletter of theBairnsdale & District Field Naturalists Club Inc A0006074C 1 BAIRNSDALE & DIST FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB INC. A0006074C List of Office Bearers for 2012

President: Pat McPherson ph. (03) 5152 2614 [email protected] Vice President: Andrew Bould ph. (03 51566494 [email protected] Secretary: Fran Bright ph. (03) 5152 2008 [email protected] Treasurer: Margaret Regan ph. (03) 5156 2541 Correspondence to: The Secretary, P.O. Box 563, BAIRNSDALE 3875 Web Site: www.eastgippsland.com/bdfnc

General meetings take place at: Noweyung Centre, 84 Goold Street Bairnsdale General meetings take place: as per program at 7.30pm sharp Committee meetings take place: at members homes, at 4.00pm (see program) Group Co-ordinators: Botanic Group: James Turner Ph. (03) 5155 1258 Fauna Survey Group: Jenny Edwards Ph. (03) 5157 5556 Bushwalking Group: Noel Williamson Ph. (03) 5152 1737 Newsletter Editor: Pauline Stewart Ph. (03) 5152 1606 80 Bengworden Rd. Bairnsdale. 3875 email: [email protected]

All articles for Winter Clematis must be in by June 1st.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE 1. To further the study of natural history in all its branches, promoted by periodical meetings, field excursions and other activities. 2. To observe and strengthen the laws for the preservation & protection of indigenous flora and fauna and habitat and important geological features. 3. To promote the formation and preservation of National and State Parks and Reserves.

2 RULES TO OBSERVE ON FIELD TRIPS: 1. Excursions are cancelled on days of TOTAL FIRE BAN. 2. Participants to keep a visual on the car in front and behind. 3. When making a turn, give signal, and stay at intersection until following car has also turned. 4. If separated from other cars, stop, and stay with your car. Other members will return to find you. 5. The Car Pooling Cost Calculator is used to assist drivers and car pool passengers to share fuel costs.

SUBSCRIPTION FEES

Family membership $30 Single membership $20 Mid-year fee (new members only) $10

Responsibility for the accuracy of information and opinions expressed in this newsletter rests with the author of the article.

LIBRARY INFORMATION - Librarian - Dot Prout Phone: 5153 1303 • Books are generally borrowed for one month - however you can write on the sign-out sheet if you wish to have it longer. • Should any library materials need maintenance, please make me aware of same. • If you wish to recommend a book, this can be done by writing a short recommendation for the Clematis. This information could be from our library books or from other books that you believe our library could look at purchasing.

CONTENTS

Mellick Munjie 6-8 Cann River 8-18 Clinton Rocks Track 18-21 Gelantipy 22-24 Native Dog 24-31

3 CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS and email address’s for meetings and field trips. Andrew Bould 51 566494 [email protected] Fran Bright 5152 2008 [email protected] Pat McPherson 5152 2614 [email protected] Margaret Regan 5156 2541 Pauline Stewart 5152 1606 [email protected] James Turner 5155 1258 [email protected] Jen Wilkinson 51401258 [email protected] Noel Williamson 5152 1737 [email protected]

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY FOR BUSH WALKS Easy Flat, good firm track. Moderately easy Mostly flat, track in good to fair condition Moderate May be undulating, track in good to fair condition Mod. difficult May be some steep sections, track may be rough in places Difficult May have long steep sections, track may be non existent at times Walks vary in distance from 6 to 14 km. Contact the leader of the walk for a rating if it’s not included in the program.

Please take note of safety procedures in your Bairnsdale & District Field Naturalists Club Inc. ‘RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY’ booklet.

The Clematis is printed and supported by Dept. of Sustainability and Environment, Bairnsdale.

Front Cover: Little River Falls (see page 22 for article)

Photo by John Saxton

4 PROGRAM MARCH TO JUNE 2012

It is your responsibility to contact the co-ordinator of each field trip to notify them of your intention to participate. The co-ordinator can then notify you if the trip has to be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.

MARCH Frid. 16th. General meeting, 7.30pm at the Noweyung Centre. Speaker: John Hutchison, “Birds of South America”. Sun. 18th. Monthly excursion, meet at 9.00am at the Bridge Club for a trip to the Canni Creek area. Contact: Margaret Regan Sun. 25th. Bushwalk, meet at 9.00am at the Bridge Club for “The Junction”, Lower Dargo. Contact: Jen Wilkinson APRIL Thurs. 12th. Committee meeting, 4.00pm at Pat McPherson’s home. Frid. 20th. General meeting, 7.30pm at the Noweyung Centre. Speaker: Grant Kuseff, “Cicadas”. Sun. 22nd. Monthly excursion, meet at 9.00am at the Bridge Club for the Fernbank area. Contact: James Turner Sun. 29th. Bushwalk, meet at 9.00am at the Bridge Club for the west side of the Mitchell River National Park. Contact: Noel Williamson

MAY Thurs. 10th. Planning meeting and Committee meeting at 4.00pm at Pauline Stewart’s home. Frid. 18th. General meeting, 7.30pm at the Noweyung Centre. Speaker: Geoff Lay “Fungi”. Sat.19th. Extra fungi excursion Leader: Geoff Lay Contact: Andrew Bould Sun. 20th. Monthly excursion, meet at 9.00am at the Bridge Club for a fungi trip to the Lake Tyers area. Leader: Geoff Lay Contact: Andrew Bould Sun. 27th. Bushwalk, meet at 9.00am at the Bridge Club for the Avon Channels. Contact: Noel Williamson

5 Committee meetings and General meetings will now cease for the winter.

JUNE Sun. 17th. Monthly excursion, meet at 9.00am at the Bridge Club for Kenny Forest. Contact: James Turner Sun. 24th. Bushwalk, meet at 9.00am at the Bridge Club for the Fairy Dell area. ☺

MELLICK MUNJIE - 23 October 2011 by Margaret Regan

Travelling NW of Buchan along Nunnett Road we turned onto Glenmore Road, then after a few km we stopped for the not-to-be-missed morning tea. One of the overhead trees was Gippsland Peppermint (Eucalyptus croajingolensis) which has rough fibrous bark, linear blue-grey leaves with a peppermint smell when crushed and clusters of up to 20 rounded stalked fruits. Shrubs were Snowy Daisy-bush (Olearia lirata); yellow and brown-flowered Hop Bitter-pea (Daviesia latifolia) whose large leaves have prominent venation; yellow Prickly Bush-pea (Pultenea juniperina) which has hairy pods; Fringed Beard-heath (Leucopogon collinus) whose leaves have finely toothed margins; and Heath Pink-bells (Tetratheca bauerifolia). Smaller herbaceous plants were mauve and white Ivy-leaved Violet (Viola hederacea), blue Love Creeper (Comesperma volubile), the daisies yellow Button Everlasting (Helichrysum scorpioides) and blue Coarse Dairy (Brachyscome spathulata), white Small Poranthera (Poranthera microphylla) and the Broad- leaf Rush (Juncus planifolius) whose flowering stalk is taller than the leaves and bears numerous dark flowers. Orchids were what most field nats were looking for and we found Musky Caladenia (Caladenia gracilis), Pink Fingers (C. carnea), Tall Greenhood (Pterostylis melagramma) where the exposed labellum has a dark central stripe, and Common Bird Orchid (Chiloglottis valida). Birds heard were Spotted Pardalote, Golden Whistler and Kookaburra, and seen were the fascinating social White-winged Choughs.

A little further along the road was Mountain Greenhood (Pterostylis al- pina). In the flower of the Mountain Greenhood the free ends of the lat-

6 eral sepals are swept upwards and back either side of the hood, almost completely enclosing the labellum. There were two buttercups, Strawber- ry Buttercup (Ranunculus collinus) with glossy deep green leaves and flowers with up to 11 petals, and the other Common Buttercup (R. lap- paceus) which has hairy leaves and five-petalled flowers. There were also Pale-fruit Ballart (Exocarpos strictus) which is a broom-like shrub with tiny leaves and pale pink-lilac fruit; and the introduced annual herb white Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium glomeratum).

On to Mellick Munjie Falls, and near the creek was the orchid mauve Wax -lip (Glossodia major) and purple Showy Violet (Viola betonicifolia). The falls were spectacular, being tall and narrow, and because of the recent rains, lots of icy water was cascading down over the rock walls. The vegetation around included Mountain Grey Gum (Eucalyptus cypellocarpa), Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon), Hazel Pomaderris (Pomaderris aspera); Tree Hakea (Hakea eriantha) and the tree daisy Blanket Leaf (Bedfordia arborescens), so named because the large shiny green leaves have a very woolly underside. Beneath these large plants were cream Bootlace Bush (Pimelea axiflora), the yellow daisy Austral Bear’s-ear (Cymbonotus preissiana) with a rosette of toothed leaves, yellow Common Billy Buttons (Craspedia variabilis) and the tiny spreading Necklace fern (Asplenium flabellifolium) which has pinnate fronds with the sori along the veins. Along a log was a shiny round mid-orange slime mould. This bizarre group of organisms have a creeping slimy mass called a plasmodi- um. This behaves like a giant amoeba consuming bacteria, fungi and de- caying organic matter. When the food supply has ended, or when some condition changes, the organism transforms its body to form a sporangi- um, producing spores. The orange body we saw must have been at this stage as there were tiny egg-like structures on the surface. A Red-bellied Black Snake was seen. These snakes are dangerously venomous, are livebearing with 5-18 young borne enclosed in membranous sacs, and mostly feed on frogs. In a pool above the falls, and under the water were a Gippsland Water Dragon and a 12cm fish.

The track just north of that, which leads to the Mellick Munjie Falls, is Mt Stewart Track. Along this track beneath White Stringybark (Eucalyptus globoidea) among the Poa tussocks were the peas mauve Austral Indigo (Indigofera australis) and the tiny yellow Creeping Bossiaea (Bossiaea prostrata) with circular leaves, pink Grass Trigger-plant (Stylidium gram-

7 inifolium), white Prickly Starwort (Stellaria pungens) with pointed leaves and divided petals, and Creamy Candles (Stackhousia monogyna). The orchids here were Nodding Greenhood (Pterostylis nutans), the Hybrid Sharp Greenhood (P. X ingens), Common Bird Orchid, Pink Fingers and Mountain Spider-orchid (Caladenia montana). A Golden Whistler was heard. A little further along this track was a huge eucalypt with the bark spiral- ling around the trunk and branches. There was the slender purple pea Twining Glycine (Glycine clandestina) and the purple herb in the lavender family Lamiaceae Austral Bugle (Ajuga australis). Our orchids were Large Sickle Greenhood (Pterostylis falcata) which only grows in wet areas and sometimes flowers in water, and hybridises with Nodding Greenhood to form Sharp Greenhood; Mountain Greenhood and Slender Greenhood (P. foliata). Further down along Glenmore Road was an area with white Daphne Heath (Brachyloma daphnoides) which has a strong, slightly sickly sweet odour. Other plants were again Austral Bugle, the pea Matted Bossiaea (Bossiaea buxifolia) also with rounded leaves, and Austral Stork’s Bill (Pelargonium australe) with pink striped flowers. Our orchids found were Maroonhood (Pterostylis pedunculata), Common Ruddyhood (P. squamata), Tiger Or- chid (Diuris sulphurea) and Small Spider-orchid (Caladenia parva) which only grows to 15cm. Other orchids were Dainty Wasp-orchid (Chiloglottis trapeziformis) whose single flower is held up to 80mm, and whose trapeziform labellum has a central group of dense sessile calli; and the Hybrid of this with Common Bird Orchid, the Bronze Bird-orchid (C. X pescottiana). Another fascinating day, thank you James. ☺

CANN RIVER - 29 October to 1 November 2011 by Margaret Regan Friday 29 October After travelling to Cann River in the morning and settling in to our vari- ous accommodations, we set out exploring in the afternoon. South-east of Cann River along the Coast Road we stopped near a swamp on the right hand side of the road. The day was hot and humid. Many of the oversto-

8 rey trees were White Stringybark (Eucalyptus globoidea). Most members were keen to search for orchids, and first spotted was Black-hooded Sun- orchid (Thelymitra atronitida). This blue sun-orchid has a glossy black- hooded post-anther lobe with a yellow tip. There were also some very tall Large Duck Orchid (Caleana major), with one large group being very photogenic. The bizarre flower of this orchid is upside-down and the hinged labellum is humped with a “beak’, which with the backswept lateral sepals, makes the flower appear like a minute flying duck. Other orchids were Red-beaks (Pyrorchis nigricans) which has sometimes enormous, leathery ground-hugging ovate leaves, and red and white striped flowers; Hairy or Bearded Midge-orchid (Corunastylis morrisii) where the dorsal sepal, petals and labellum have long hairs along their margins; Pink Fingers (Caladenia carnea); and yellow Tiger Orchid (Diuris sulphurea). Another plant seen about was Blue Dampiera (Dampiera stricta). This genus was named for William Dampier, who collected plants in north- western Australia in 1699. There was a Thyme Guinea-flower (Hibbertia serpyllifolia) with short rough leaves and stalk-less flowers; Showy Parrot -pea (Dillwynia sericea) with hairy leaves and flowers in dense inflorescences; and Broom Spurge (Amperea xiphoclada), a leafless shrub with tiny white flowers in clusters on the stems. A lily which we also saw all weekend was Milkmaids (Burchardia umbellata). Other lilies was the much more uncommon mauve Rush Lily (Sowerbaea juncea), whose single flower stem has a terminal cluster of flowers, and the tiny blue Dianel- la sp. with black anthers longer than the bright yellow filaments. The swamp was full of Spear Grass-tree (Xanthorrhoea resinosa). Spear Grass-tree is an East Gippsland plant, which is trunk-less, and produces a resin from its leaves that was used by the aborigines to glue spear heads to the shafts. A ground cover seen often was the tiny Screw fern (Lindsaya linearis). Two attractive grasses were Soft Spear-grass (Austrostipa mol- lis) and Oat Spear-grass (Anisopogon avenaceus). We heard Brush and Pallid Cuckoo, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Spotted Pardalote, Superb Fairy-wren and Grey Fantail calling.

We went via Ghost Camp Road to Teds Track and onto Saint Georges Plain which is a flora reserve, and which was filled with Spear Grass-tree and the shrub Scrub She-oak (Casuarina paludosa) with some Paperbark Teatree (Leptospermum trinervium). The plain had been burnt in an early 2010 wildfire, with all but two of the grass-trees seeming to have flowered after that, and having spikes with seeds set. Two in the whole plain had

9 fresh flowers. The spaces between the shrubs were filled with wildflowers. A charming delicate blue lily was Blue Stars (Chamaescilla corymbosa). In the foxglove family Scrophulariaceae was mauve Eyebright (Euphrasia collina). We often saw Leafless Globe-pea (Sphaerolobium vimineum), mostly in seed with little round pods up the stem. The hunted-for treas- ures were blue Heathland Sun-orchid (Thelymitra improcera); blue Spot- ted Sun-orchid (T. ixioides); Slender Sun-orchid (T. pauciflora); Blue Star Sun-orchid (T. holmesii); Short-lip Leek-orchid (Prasophyllum brevila- bra) with a bright white folded back labellum; Tailed Leek-orchid (P. appendiculatum) with pink and green flowers with pointed labellums; and the miniature (to 12cm) Yellow Onion-orchid (Microtidium atratum) which seemed to grow only in the wettest depressions. New birds were Rufous Songlark (which is a summer visitor), Fantail Cuckoo and Dusky Woodswallow.

Down Saint Georges Track, where along the road was Scented Paperbark (Melaleuca squarrosa) with cream bottlebrushes and dense decussate leaves, and yellow Hop Goodenia (Goodenia ovata). The Scented Paper- bark was indicative of a wetter area, with a large Red-fruit Saw-sedge (Gahnia sieberiana), also a damp-lover. There was a smaller swamp on the right. Here was a mass of the scrambling Pouched coral-fern (Gleichenia dicarpa) which has pouched pinnules, each containing two sporangia. Other plants were pink Heath Milkwort (Comesperma ericinum), the delicate lemon creeper Common Apple-berry (Billardiera scandens) and purple Hairy Fan-flower (Scaevola ramosissima). Two new orchids were mauve Wax-lip (Glossodia major) and blue Great Sun- orchid (Thelymitra aristata) which can grow to 95cm with up to 40 large flowers. A Button Quail on the track was disturbed by the vehicles and an Olive-backed Oriole was heard singing.

Backtracking along the Coast Road were lots of small white Common Rice-flower (Pimelea humilis), Slender Rice-flower (P. linifolia), white Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpos pinifolius), tiny Woolly Xanthosia (Xanthosia pilosa), Hairy Pink-bells (Tetratheca pilosa) and the prostrate red pea Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata). The orchids were Red- beaks, Large Duck and Small Duck (Paracaleana minor), Pink Fingers and pink Spotted Sun-orchid. There were a couple of plants of the unusual primitive fern Rough comb-fern (Schizea asperula) which has forked rough fronds and broad ‘combs’ where the spores are borne.

10 At the corner with the road to the Cann River tip were the small yellow daisy Shiny Buttons (Leptorhynchos nitidulus), with orchids being Pink Fingers, Spotted Sun-orchid, Slender Onion-orchid (Microtis parviflora) and the hybrid between the Spotted Sun-orchid and Slender Sun-orchid, Hybrid Sun-orchid (Thelymitra X truncata).

Saturday 28 October Today we went north east of Cann River along the Monaro Hwy to Rifle Range Track and thence onto Cemetery Track. Our first stop was filled with species. Overstorey trees were Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus tricarpa) and Black Sheoak (Casuarina littoralis). Orchids found were Pink Fin- gers; Mantis Orchid (Caladenia tentaculata), one of the spider-orchids; Common Ruddyhood (Pterostylis squamata) which grows to 30cm with up to 10 reddish flowers whose labellums have hairy margins; Purple Beard-orchid (Calochilus robertsonii); an Onion-orchid (Microtis sp.); Brown-beaks (Lyperanthus suaveolens); and Tiger Orchid. There were plenty of other species. Small plants were Milkmaids, mauve and white Ivy-leaved Violet (Viola hederacea), purple Austral Bugle (Ajuga australis), Common Rice-flower, a Bluebell (Wahlenbergia sp.), and the gor- geously perfumed Sweet Hound’s-tongue (Cynoglossum suaveolens) whose leaves are shaped like a dog’s tongue. The daisies included Yellow Billy-buttons (Craspedia variabilis), Brachycome aculeata and B. spathulata, and Pale Everlasting (Helichrysum rutidolepis. The most common small shrub was Peach Heath (Lissanthe strigosa) with prickly leaves and scented tubular white flowers. Birds around were Eastern Whipbird, Spot- ted Pardalote, Rainbow Lorikeet and Superb Fairy-wren.

Further along Cemetery Track was Slender Sun-orchid, finished plants of Midget Greenhood (Pterostylis mutica) and in bud two leek-orchids, East- ern Leek-orchid (Prasophyllum sp.aff. odoratum 9) and Forest Leek- orchid (P. sylvestre). A common ground cover was Spiny-headed Mat- rush (Lomandra longifolia) with Sheep’s Burr (Acaena echinata). Birds at this site were Pallid Cuckoo, Red Wattlebird, Cicadabird, Golden and Ru- fous Whistler and Olive-backed Oriole.

Somewhat further along beneath Red Ironbark, White Stringybark and Coast Grey Box (E. bosistoana) was blue Peppertop Sun-orchid (Thelymitra brevifolia) whose hooded post-anther lobe is reddish.

11 Now on Magazine Track was mauve Twining Fringe Lily (Thysanotus patersonii) with its fringed petal margins. Orchids were Musky Caladenia (Caladenia gracilis) whose white flower parts have their exteriors covered with brownish glandular hairs; Pink Fingers; and our old friend, the Nod- ding Greenhood (Pterostylis nutans). There were some specimens of an earth star where the outer star was brown, and the round soft central ball had a pointed cap with radiating pores from which the spores could es- cape.

Back on Cemetery Track, the first stop presented Blunt Greenhood (Pterostylis curta), whose upright flower has a protruding labellum with a twisted apex; Common Ruddyhood; and Small Spider-orchid (Caladenia parva) where the tips of the sepals have yellow clubs. Just a little further on was the lovely blue Tall Lobelia (Lobelia gibbosa) and white Lance Beard-heath (Leucopogon lanceolatus). Here the members of the family Orchidaceae were Blunt Greenhood, Common Ruddyhood (which we now saw often), Green-comb Spider-orchid and Peppertop Sun-orchid. There was a buttercup (Ranunculus sp.) with very hairy trifoliate leaves, mostly in a basal rosette, but with a few small ones up the floral stem. A grass was Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra). Broad-leaf Rush (Juncus planifolius) had its fruits grouped, as in a raspberry, at the end of the stem. There was also the herbaceous annual Yellow Sebaea (Sebaea ovata); and the two weeds, Lesser Quaking-grass or Shivery Grass (Briza minor), and Striped Rush-leaf or Blue Pigroot (Sisyrinchium iridifolium), a member of the iris family Iridaceae. A Pied Currawong was heard to call.

Our lunch spot was up the road near an assemblage of rocks. Here we found Notched Onion-orchid (Microtis arenaria) which has a notch at the end of the labellum, and the lateral sepals are curled underneath. Other orchids were Brown-beaks and a Leek-orchid in bud. Other flowering plants were the rare mauve daisy Brachyscome salkiniae with a basal rosette of leaves; Forest Germander (Teucrium corymbosum), a small herb in the mint family Lamiaceae, with clusters of white flowers; a buttercup, Hop Goodenia, Creamy Candles, and the blue herb Native Flax (Linum marginale), the inner bark of which was used by aborigines to make twine for nets. There was the call of the Noisy Friarbird.

A little further on at the corner of a small track amongst many lovely green tussocks of Poa were Nodding Greenhood, White Fingers

12 (Caladenia catenata), Notched Onion-orchid and Slender Sun-orchid. There was also Hairy Pink-bells, Fringed or White Everlasting (Chrysocephalum baxteri) and Button Everlasting (Helichrysum scorpioides). The birds were Olive-backed Oriole and Red Wattlebird. Just past Leslies Track were many plants of Leafy Purple-flag (Patersonia glabra- ta) which has leaves on the flowering stalk and slightly hairy flower- bracts; Leafless Globe-pea and the orchid Brown-beaks.

We then moved through bucketing rain across the Cann River to the corner of Noorinbee Tower Road and Reed Bed Road. Here was the attractive purple Hairy Fan-flower, Blue Dampiera, Nodding Blue Lily (Stypandra glauca), white Twiggy Daisy-bush (Olearia ramulosa) and Blue Star Sun-orchid in bud. New birds were Crescent Honeyeater and Sacred Kingfisher.

Further south on Reed Bed Road were Red Beard-orchid (Calochilus paludosus) whose long labellum has a naked apex, but the rest is covered with long coarse reddish hairs; and Copper Beard-orchid (C. campestris) whose labellum has two basal purple shiny plates and dense purplish hairs with the naked apex tucked underneath. The Copper Beard-orchid is much taller (to 60cm) with up to 15 flowers, whilst the Red Beard-orchid only grows to 35cm with up to 9 flowers. One of the Copper Beard-orchids had a yellow and black wasp on the side of the flower. Was it a pollina- tor? Further south along the same road was Silvertop Wallaby-grass (Joycea pallida) whose bright orange-red anthers are very distinctive; white Hairy Mitrewort (Mitrasacme pilosa) which is also prostrate; and a tiny Rosy Sundew (Drosera spathulata) with rosettes of bright red leaves with red flower stalks and pink flowers. Two Sun-orchids (not open, of course, in the overcast weather) were Hybrid Sun-orchid and another pos- sible hybrid between Peppertop and Spotted. We heard a Pallid Cuckoo.

Sunday 30 October Today we drove east almost to Genoa, turned down Genoa Creek Track and searched about beneath the power-lines. Birds were Pallid and Fantail Cuckoo, Rufous Whistler and Superb Fairy-wren. A new orchid was Pur- ple Diuris (Diuris punctata) with Tiger Orchid, Tailed and Short-lip Leek- orchids and Large Duck-orchids. There was both pink and white Common Heath (Epacris impressa), pink Heath Milkwort, Blue Dampiera, Scrub Sheoak, Crimson Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus), Prickly Teatree

13 (Leptospermum continentale), the lilies Wire-lily (Laxmannia sp.) and Blue Stars, Silky Purple-flag (Patersonia sericea), the peas yellow Com- mon Wedge-pea (Gompholobium huegelii) and Leafless Globe-pea, the grasses Kangaroo Grass and Oat Spear-grass. Climbing over many plants was a small Dodder-laurel (Cassytha sp.).

Along the track down to the creek area more birds were heard including Shining Bronze-cuckoo, Grey Shrike-thrush and Mistletoebird. An overstorey tree was Apple Box (Eucalyptus bridgesiana) with Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata) beneath. Orchids were Wax-lip, Tiger Orchid, Spot- ted Sun-orchid and Large Duck-orchid. Several peas with mainly yellow with red flowers (“egg and bacon”) were Common Aotus (Aotus ericoides), Showy Parrot-pea (Dillwynia sericea) and Smooth Parrot-pea (D. glaberrima), and Hop Bitter-pea (Daviesia latifolia). Another pea was red Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata). Two heaths were Swamp Heath (Epacris paludosa) and Woolly-style Heath (E. lanuginosa). Both these heaths have white tubular flowers and grow in damp areas. Woolly-style Heath has its flowers in leafy terminal spikes, while those of Swamp Heath are in clusters at the end of branchlets. Other plants were Fringed or White Everlasting (Chrysocephalum baxteri), Showy Fan-flower, Small Poranthera (Poranthera microphylla) and Many-flowered Mat-rush (Lomandra multiflora) which is very well named for its multitudinous blooms. There were so many flowers, that after the rain, the flowering stems were bent over to the ground. There was also two non-flowering species, Swamp Selaginella (Selaginella uliginosa) and Screw fern (Lindsaya linearis).

Down near the Genoa Creek was the alarm call of the Eastern Whipbird, which we assumed was nesting in the dense undergrowth near the creek. A Brush Cuckoo call was also identified. Large shrubs or trees were Saw Banksia (Banksia serrata) and Scented Paperbark (Melaleuca squarrosa). The only orchid was Brown-beaks. There were Trigger-plants (Stylidium graminifolium) with very pale pink flowers, and Woolly Grevillea (Grevillea lanigera) which has hairy leaves, and red and cream flowers. We followed the track up the hill away from the creek and saw Creamy Candles and Button Everlasting. Two delicate climbers were Common Apple-berry and Twining Fringe-lily. New plants were Prickly Geebung (Persoonia juniperina) with green berries, gorgeous pink Forest Boronia (Boronia muelleri) and all-white Wedding Bush. The single orchid spe-

14 cies was Forest Leek-orchid. Some of the plants had cuckoo spit on their branches which apparently is deposited by an insect which shelters within.

James had been asked to run his expert eye over the abandoned Old Genoa Recreation Reserve which is found to the east of the Genoa River. Along the Princes Highway we saw a car stopped with major damage to the front. On the opposite side of the road was the body of a large ?male Sambar Deer with a huge span of antlers. We assumed the two had met, to the detriment of both. Why are these enormous destructive animals not being eliminated from our environment? We also saw examples of their brows- ing damage in the rainforest adjoining the caravan park at Cann River. The recreation reserve was incredibly overgrown and it was difficult to know just where the boundaries were. We found some traces of the old fence around the oval itself. Some of the area to the west was a swamp (probably outside the reserve), and we headed up stream into the trees on the side of a hill. Near the oval was Wax-lip, Pink Fingers, an Onion- orchid, Slender, Salmon and Twisted Sun-orchids (Thelymitra flexuosa) which has up to 4 tiny yellow flowers on a zigzagged stem. Some of the overhead trees were Rough-barked Angophora (Angophora floribunda) and Black Sheoak (Casuarina littoralis). Shrubs were Prickly Teatree and Burgan (Kunzea ericoides). There was Silky Purple-flag, Milkmaids and Twining Fringe-lily. Bell Miners pealed. We moved into the swampy area with the shrubs Slender Teatree (Leptospermum brevipes) with reddish drooping branches; White Kunzea (Kunzea ambigua); Dagger Hakea (Hakea teretifolia) with nasty round pointed leaves, and fruits with a long beak; and Crimson Bottlebrush which was at its most magnificent everywhere to the delight of the honeyeaters. Everywhere our Shire floral em- blem was glowing brilliant red. Smaller plants were Spiny-headed Mat- rush; Ivy-leaved Violet; Hairy Pink-bells; Broom Spurge; Common Wedge-pea; the prostrate mauve herb Swamp Mazus (Mazus pumilio); yellow Prickly Guinea-flower (Hibbertia ascicularis); pink Heath Milk- wort; Common Rice-flower; Rush Fringe-lily (Thysanotus juncifolius); Short Purple-flag (Patersonia fragilis) whose flowering stems are shorter than the leaves; Leafy Purple-flag and Screw fern. Orchids in here were Wax-lip and Pink Fingers. Eastern Whipbird called. Into the tree cover which included White Stringybark, Yellow Stringybark (Eucalyptus muel- lerana) and Black Sheoak, we waded across the stream which had swathes of squishy Sphagnum moss. Up the slope beneath the trees were Copper Beard-orchid and Rough Guinea-flower (Hibbertia aspera).

Further east we turned onto the Wallagaraugh Road and near the begin- ning beneath Rough-barked Angophora in a very dry environment, we saw Brown-beaks, an Onion-orchid, Genoa Spider-orchid (Caladenia ancylosa) on the side of the road, Thick-lip Spider-orchid, Red Beard-orchid, Purple Beard-orchid and quite a few specimens of an albino Purple Beard- orchid.

Returning back towards Cann River just up the East Wingan Road were Large Duck-orchid and nearby a swamp well under water. Keen Field Nats with gumboots ventured in and identified Black-hooded Sun-orchid and Great Sun-orchid. A little further along the road with white Paperbark Teatree (Leptospermum trinervium) were again coloured and albino Purple Beard-orchid, Red Beard-orchid, the bright green rush Curly Wig (Caustis flexuosa) with ultimate branchlets coiled in almost a complete circle; and Sour Currant-bush (Leptomeria acida), a broom-like shrub with edible green fruits (check out the specific name first!). On the north side of the highway off Upper Wingan Road was a very wet extensive swamp seem- ingly ripe for orchid hunting, but only Spotted Sun-orchid was seen after much bush-bashing! Again there were pretty plants of Short Purple-flag in bloom and Golden Whistler serenaded us.

Monday 31 October We set off to search the rainforest along the Cann River behind the Cann River Caravan Park. We were looking for two epiphytic orchids, the But- terfly Orchid (Sarcochilus australis) and the Tangle Orchid (Plectorrhiza tridentata). Both these orchids are very small and difficult to see, alt- hough they seem to prefer to grow on the branches of Prickly Currant- bush (Coprosma quadrifida), which does somewhat cut down the search- ing spots. This rainforest grows beneath huge old Coast Grey Box and Gippsland Blue Gum (E. pseudoglobulus) with underneath Lilly-pilly (Acmena smithii), Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon), Black Wattle (A. mearnsii), Hazel Pomaderris (Pomaderris aspera), Musk Daisy-bush (Olearia argophylla) and Mutton-wood (Rapanea howittiana) which had been heavily grazed by Sambar Deer. Below these were White Elderberry (Sambucus gaudichaudiana) and Forest Nightshade (Solanum prinophyl- lum) with fewer spines than in drier areas. Some of the birds were Black- faced Cuckoo-shrike, Golden Whistler, Rufous and Grey Fantail. We managed to see the Butterfly Orchid, but could not discover specimens of

16 Tangle Orchid. Butterfly Orchid produces short stems with several flat leathery leaves and long thin roots which anchor the plant to the host tree. Sprays of tiny (to 15mm) yellowish green flowers with white labellums with purplish markings, hang down from the plants.

List of orchids seen: (42)

Great Sun-orchid (Thelymitra aristata) Black-hooded Sun-orchid (T. atronitida) Peppertop Sun-orchid (T. brevifolia) Twisted Sun-orchid (T. flexuosa) Blue Star Sun-orchid (T. holmesii) Heathland Sun-orchid (T. improcera) Spotted Sun-orchid (T. ixioides) Slender Sun-orchid (T. pauciflora) Salmon Sun-orchid (T. rubra) Hybrid Sun-orchid (T. X truncata) T. brevifolia X T. ixioides Tailed Leek-orchid (Prasophyllum appendiculatum) Short-lip Leek-orchid (P. brevilabre) Eastern Leek-orchid (P. sp.aff. odoratum 9) Forest Leek-orchid (P. sylvestre) Wax-lip Orchid (Glossodia major) Notched Onion-orchid (Microtis arenaria) Slender Onion-orchid (M. parviflora) Yellow Onion-orchid (Microtidium atratum) Butterfly Orchid (Sarcochilus australis) Blunt Greenhood (Pterostylis curta) Midget Greenhood (P. mutica) Nodding Greenhood (P. nutans) Common Ruddyhood (P. squamata) Copper Beard-orchid (Calochilus campestris) Red Beard-orchid (C. paludosus) Purple Beard-orchid (C. robertsonii) white Purple Beard-orchid Large Duck-orchid (Caleana major) Small Duck-orchid (Paracaleana minor) Brown-beaks (Lyperanthus suaveolens) Red-beaks (Pyrorchis nigricans)

17 Hairy Midge-orchid (Corunastylis morrisii) Pink Fingers (Caladenia carnea) Genoa Spider-orchid (C. ancylosa) White Fingers (C. catenata) Musky Caladenia (C. gracilis) Small Spider-orchid (C. parva) Mantis Orchid (C. tentaculata) Thick-lip Spider-orchid (C. tessellata) Purple Diuris (Diuris punctata) Tiger Orchid (D. sulphurea)

☺

CLINTON ROCKS TRACK

by James Turner

On the 31st of October, on the last day for most after the long weekend spring camp at Cann River, our walks leader organized a trip to Clinton Rocks. They are situated on the coast some 7 km west of Point Hicks. Our walk was to be via the old track from Fisherman’s road. It had been an old 4WD track.. Put there long ago before this area became part of the Croajingolong Nat Park. We thought it would be closed off as it had been before and just for walkers only. But low and behold when we arrived at the gate we were surprised to find it open! A notice informed us it was now under seasonal winter closure and 4WDs were allowed this time of year. To some of us this was just too good to be true, as the distance to the coast was estimated at over 8 km. The driver of the first vehicle (not the leader), couldn’t wait to head off . After about 4 km he thought he had better pull up as this was supposed to be a walking trip. Besides he had just driven past a number of very prominent rare Mauve-tufted Sun orchid Thelmitra malvina without seeing them. However they were admired on the return journey, but unfortunately they were closed as the day was cool and cloudy. The first part of the track consisted mainly of Silvertop Ash Eucalyptus sieberi and Saw Banksia B. serrata forest with a thick heathy understorey,

18 most of which was in mass flower creating a continuous wall of colour for most of the way to the coast. Nearer the coast though, the main Eucalypt was Southern Mahogany Eu.botryoides

In the more sandy areas were species such as Wedding bush Ricinocarpos pinifolius Parrot peas Dillwynia glaberrima and D. sericea. Slender Rice Flower Pimelea linifolia Blue Dampiera D. stricta Bright red Correa Cor- rea reflexa. With the biggest fattest bells any one had seen. Overhanging sprays of Slender Teatree Leptospermum brivipes, Rusty Bush –pea Pultenaea hispidula.and Common Aotus A. ericoides.

In several places were two rare shrubs only found in this part of Victoria. Clustered Darwinia Darwinia camptostylis covered in small yellowish green flowers and Olax Olax stricta a slender shrub with bronzy foliage and creamy flowers. Darwinias by the way are named after Dr Erasmus Darwin, English physi- cian and poet. Not his grandson Charles Darwin the famous naturalist. [J Jeanes, Flora Vic]. At several locations were stands of Paperbark Teatree Leptospermum trinervium. Some were obviously of a great age, because of their enormous size. The ground is often more open underneath in these places leaving room for small plants such as the small Pink fingers orchid Caladenia carnea and Milkmaids Burchardia umbellata. A few plants of Erect Violet or Lady’s Slipper Hybanthus vernonii with the one large well developed mauve petal had found a place here too. In lots of places were smaller shubs also flowering at their best, the Guin- ea-flowers being well represented with Bundled Guinea-flower Hibbertia fasciculata var. prostrata, Prickly guinea-flower Hibbertia acicularis and Thyme Guinea-flower Hibbertia serpyllifolia The leafless flattened branches of Sword Bossiaea Bossiaea ensata with their small pea flowers and bright yellow Common Wedge-pea Gompholobium huegelii were also noticed..

As we passed a sandy bank at the edge of the track, a tiny bird shot out. This of course was a Spotted Pardalote. It called, then we saw it. As we examined the bank its tiny nest burrow could plainly be seen. A Pilot Bird was also heard calling and the twittering of the White-browed Scrub-wrens and New Holland Honey-eaters were heard in many places.

19 Along the track, the orchids too were well represented, in particular the large Duck Orchid Caleana major which was scattered all along the edge of the track and sometimes even in the middle. The Small Duck Paracaleana minor, at first not noticed because it was only in bud, was also in good numbers . In some places Beard Orchids were admired The main 3 all present Calochilus robersonii C. campestris and C paludosus.

Spear grass plains, well known in this part of East Gippsland, were next to the track in a couple of places. Spear Grass-tree Xanthorrhoea resinosa the main species .But Dagger Hakea Hakea teretifolia also. As were masses of bright pink flowering Heath Milkwort, Comesperma ericinum, White Blunt-leaf Heath Epacris obtusifolia, and Woolly-style Heath E.lanuginosa Tufted Blue Lily Thelionema caespitosum and Pink Swamp- heath Sprengelia incarnata were common Also near the edge of the track tufts of Hairy Mitrewort Mitrasacme pilosa var.stuartii found a place. Apart from the Hakea and the Spear grass, all in full flower, producing a mass display of pink mauve white and blue. Sun orchids were noticed by the edge of the track here. A couple with loose petals were blown open and proved to be Thelymitra ixioides and T. brevifolia. Some wet low lying places with Scented Paper-bark Melaleuca squarrosa covered in their pale yellow flowers were passed. Here also were patches of very large Tall Sedge Gahnia clarkei up to 4metres or more high, plus thickly entwined Wiry Bauera Bauera rubioides, covered in its cupped pink flowers. and Bushy Club-moss Lycopodium deuterodensum, looking like a lot of mini Cyprus trees. Before long the sound of the sea could be plainly heard. It sounded rough. We now entered the zone of the Coast Teatree Leptospermum laevigatum A few Musky Caladenia Caladenia gracilis and Pink Fingers orchids were here as well. And some that were very small, were they C.mentians? We couldn’t decide. Mostly finishing, Nodding Greenhood Pterostylis nutans were in good numbers, while up a side track were a few Tall Greenhood Pterostylis melagramma The last part of the track before the Beach is a steep drop. Maroonhood Pterostylis pedunculata were here down the bank, as well as the large

20 leaves that could only be of the Pink Fairies orchid Caladenia latifolia. The sprawling branches of Sea Box Alyxia buxifolia were passed. As were Creamy Candles Stackhousia monogyna, and Ivy-leaf Violet Viola hederacea . As is most often the case, front line Trees and shrubs to the sea are low growing being trimmed by the constant salt spray. Low Boobialla My- oporum insulare common, while here and there were several plants of Na- tive Dune Thistle Actites megalocarpus with the Grey rounded clumps of Coast Cushion Bush Leucophyta brownii Right near the end of the track a large sprawling bush of Dune Fan Flower Scaevola calendulacea in full bloom was admired and photo- graphed This species is considered vulnerable in Victoria. Further along were rounded bushes of White Correa Correa alba. We continued on to Clinton Rocks themselves they are of granite formation and could now be seen several hundred metres along the coast to the west. On arrival a pair of Pied Oyster catchers were noticed on the rocks . On examination with binoculars it could be seen one had leg bands with a number displayed. This information will be forwarded to the Victorian Wader Study Group . In the corner out of the strong cold wind was a great spot for lunch under over hanging Coast Banksia Banksia integrifolia, with a view across the bay and the rough sea to Point Hicks. After lunch and a rest we then made the return journey to the cars, for the trip back to Cann River, all of us feeling we had had a great day even if some felt rather tired. ☺

Pied Oyster catcher photo by John Saxton

21 GELANTIPY - 20 November 2011 by Margaret Regan

Our first stop was by the W Tree Falls at the newly declared Dawson – Murrindal Conservation Reserve. These pretty little falls are in warm temperate rainforest with some rare shrubs. Common plants were Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii), Hazel Pomaderris (Pomaderris aspera), Com- mon Cassinia (Cassinia longifolia) and white Christmas Bush (Prostanthera lasianthos), while the rarer plants were Grey Everlasting (Ozothamnus obcordatus) and Slender Teatree (Leptospermum brevipes). Grey Everlasting is a shrub to 2m with yellow flower heads and heart- shaped leaves, and grows on shallow stony soils. The scientific generic name is derived from the Greek: ‘ozo’ is Greek for smell, and ‘thamnus’, a shrub – alluding to the fragrant or pungent odour. Slender Teatree is a 2- 4m shrub with slender reddish drooping branchlets.

Much further on, past the locality of Gelantipy, and beneath power-lines, where the vegetation had been slashed, was a Red-necked Wallaby grazing. The orchids found here were an Onion Orchid (Microstis sp.), yellow and brown Tiger Orchid (Diuris sulphurea), and cream and pink Musky Caladenia (Caladenia gracilis). There was also blue Tall Sun-orchid (Thelymitra media) which has up to 30 flowers with striped tepals, and a column with a black collar and yellow apex; and Purple Beard-orchid (Calochilus robertsonii) whose striking labellum is covered with long wiry reddish-purple hairs. There were Bluebell (Wahlenbergia sp.), Creamy Candles (Stackhousia monogyna), the pea mauve Austral Indigo (Indigofera australis), Hop Bitter-pea (Daviesia latifolia) and Common Bog-rush (Schoenus apogon), a tufted plant to 25cm with the inflorescence being a cluster of up to 16 spikelets. Other plants were a Butter- cup (Ranunculus sp.) with trifoliate toothed leaves and narrow petals; and the daisies Rough Burr-daisy (Calotis scabiosifolia) which has rough hairy leaves with flower heads with mauve ray florets and yellow central disc florets; and a Brachyscome sp. with a fleshy rosette. On a fallen branch were tiny (c.0.7cm across) orange translucent gilled fungi attached by a lateral stalk. A Pied Currawong called.

A little further north we stopped by Boundary Creek for lunch. Despite it being late November, in this sub-alpine country it was bitterly cold. Some of the birds we noted while dining were Sacred Kingfisher, Kookaburra,

22 Fan-tailed Cuckoo and White-eared Honeyeater. A dominant tree was Candlebark (Eucalyptus rubida) whose bark sheds to reveal new white bark with reddish patches, and the buds are borne in 3s. Orchids were Tiger Orchid, Wax-lip (Glossodia major), Common Bird Orchid (Chiloglottis valida), Musky Caladenia and Sickle Greenhood (Pterostylis falcata). New interesting orchids were Black-tongue Caladenia (Caladenia congesta) which has small bright pink flowers whose dark pink labellum is covered with a dense array of black calli; and Cinnamon Bells (Gastrodia sesamoides) in bud. Cinnamon Bells is a terrestrial leafless epiparasitic orchid. This means it derives its nutrients from another plant via a parasitic fungus. Cinnamon Bells can have a flowering stem to 120cm with up to 70 perfumed, bell-shaped, white-tipped cinnamon flowers. The common ground cover was a Poa tussock grass. Shrubs were the daisies white Sticky Everlasting (Ozothamnus thyrsinoides), a dark green shrub to 2m with narrow resinous leaves; and white and yellow Dusty Dai- sy-bush (Olearia phlogopappa) with grey-green leaves; white Common Heath (Epacris impressa); Daphne Heath (Brachyloma daphnoides); a Beard-heath (Leucopogon sp.); Prickly Bush-pea (Pultenea juniperina); Dwarf Boronia (Boronia nana), a low sprawling semi-shrub with single axillary white or pink flowers with hairy staminal filaments; and Silvertop Wallaby-grass (Joycea pallida), a perennial grass to 1.8m with distinctive orange-red anthers.

Just up the Seldom Seen Road we stopped again below the power-lines in a rocky slashed area to see Plain-lip Spider-orchid (Caladenia clavigera). The flowers of these specimens were yellowish-green to reddish with the labellum mid-lobe dark red. Plain-lip Spider-orchid has a smooth edge to the labellum. Other orchids were Cinnamon Bells and Musky Caladenia in two colours, fawn and pink. Here we also saw Early Forest Gentian (Gentianella polysperes), and heard a Superb Fairy-wren.

We now set off for the Little River Falls and on the way is a superb dam beside the road. A quick survey (it was very cold and windy – how dedi- cated were we???) noted White-eyed, Mountain and Pacific Black Duck, Chestnut Teal, Hoary-headed and Australasian Grebe, Magpie and Nan- keen Kestrel. Once out of the farmland and into the native vegetation we paused to investigate. As usual there were some orchids – Leopard Orchid (Diuris pardina) which is similar to Tiger Orchid, but has many more reddish brown blotches; Red Beard-orchid (Calochilus paludosus) where the

23 hairs on the labellum are reddish-brown and the naked tail of the labellum is clearly seen; and a spider-orchid, Mantis Orchid (Caladenia tentaculata) with sepals to 80mm long. There was also yellow Grey Guinea-flower (Hibbertia obtusifolia), the yellow pea Mountain Mirbelia (Mirbelia oxy- lobioides), Dwarf Boronia and the rare prostrate red and yellow Low Bush -pea (Pultenea subspicata) forming a lovely ground cover. There was an absolutely gorgeous small moth (Viridalis) with shimmering turquoise body and wings. We stopped at the picnic area for the Little River Falls, and walked to the falls. On the way were two herbs Dwarf Skullcap (Scutellaria humilis) and Austral Bugle (Ajuga australis), both in the lavender family Lamiace- ae, with square stems, opposite scented leaves and often purple flowers with two-lipped corollas. Other plants were the daisies yellow Hoary Sun- ray (Leucochrysum albicans) and Narrow-leaf New Holland Daisy (Vittadinia muelleri); Spur Velleia (Velleia paradoxa) which has yellow pansy-like flowers with a nectary spur at the base of the petals; the gor- geously perfumed Sweet Hound’s-tongue (Cynoglossum suaveolens); Woolly Grevillea (Grevillea lanigera) with soft hairy leaves, and red and cream flowers; Diggers’ Speedwell (Derwentia perfoliata) which is wide- spread on dry rocky slopes, particularly gold-bearing areas, hence the common name; and the lilies yellow Bulbine Lily (Bulbine bulbosa) and Tasman Flax-lily (Dianella tasmanica) which has stunning bright blue berries. The falls are 31m high and from a lookout we could see at the base of the falls, a Red-necked Wallaby grazing on blackberries. This main drop of 31m is the start of the great gorge the Little River carved through volcanic rock and sandstone on its 610m descent over a distance of 14km to its junction with the Snowy River at an elevation of 122m above sea level. Despite the chill, another great day, thank you James. ☺

NATIVE DOG - 6-9 January 2012 by Margaret Regan Friday 6 January We drove to Wulgulmerang and then west along the Limestone Black Mountain Road. Our first stop was west of Wombargo Creek in the Al- pine National Park. Here the main search was for orchids, and those found were Notched Onion-orchid (Microtis arenaria) with a spike to 60cm with up to 100 tiny greenish flowers, whose labellum is deflexed

24 and has a bilobed apex; creamy green rare Mountain Summer Spider- orchid (Caladenia aestiva) whose sepals have flattened clubs and the labellum margin has short teeth; finished Highland Leek-orchid (Prasophyllum sp. aff. odoratum 11) and Summer Greenhood (Pterostylis decurva) which has a sharply decurved hood or galea. There was Kanga- roo Grass (Themeda triandra); the deep pink trigger-plant Stylidium armeria; Common Fringe Lily (Thysanotus tuberosus); Black-anther Flax-lily (Dianella revoluta) agg.; Bluebell (Wahlenbergia sp.); the pea blue twining Glycine (Glycine clandestina); and Creamy Candles (Stackhousia monogyna). The daisies were the shrubs white Silky Daisy-bush (Olearia myrsinoides) whose flower heads have usually just two ray florets; and white Common Cassinia or Dogwood (Cassinia aculeata) which has both long and short leaves; and the herbs Coarse Daisy (Brachyscome spathulata); yellow Button Everlasting (Helichrysum scorpioides); and yellow Clustered Everlasting (Chrysocephalum semipapposum). There was also the weak trailing annual introduced herb Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis). James found a female Mountain Grasshopper. The females are flightless and fat, with bright orange, aqua and black stripes on the body, mostly hidden beneath the brown and warty wing covers. The legs were also striped.

We set up camp at Native Dog by the lovely little Buchan River headwa- ters beneath the Black Sallee (Eucalyptus stellulata), small dark trees with star-like clusters of pointed buds. After lunch we backed up the road to Cobberas Trail to go to the Playgrounds (where did the name come from???). The trail follows Native Dog Creek for much of the way with some attractive camping sites. It was in pretty bad condition even for 4WDs. Before Playgrounds we made a stop at a wet slope to see Montane Greenhood (Pterostylis monticola) which has large erect leaves up the stem, and the darkish green labellum protrudes from the sinus; and the very rare Alpine Sun-orchid (Thelymitra erosa subsp. 2) whose blue flowers are striped. There was yellow Alpine Bottlebrush (Callistemon pity- oides); white Swamp Heath (Epacris paludosa); pink Mountain Milkwort (Comesperma retusum); Pale Vanilla-lily (Arthropodium milleflorum); Alpine Trigger-plant (Stylidium montanum); purple Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris); yellow Spur Velleia (Velleia paradoxa) similar to Goodenia, but with a superior ovary; the tiny lily Golden Weather-glass (Hypoxis hygro- metrica); and in the dampest areas, the gorgeous purple Fairy Aprons (Utricularia dichotoma). Fairy Aprons are carnivorous herbs that grow in

25 wet situations. In this environment nitrogen is difficult to obtain, so these plants have bladder traps which catch and digest small aquatic animals. The flowers are two-lipped with the lower lip much larger. White-eared Honeyeater and Striated Pardalote called, and there was a gold and black- striped buzzing hover fly. Hover flies are covered in dense fine hairs and generally mimic the warning colours of bees and wasps. Adults are com- monly seen near flowers. Their larvae prey on aphids, and feed on detritus and fungi. We walked down through a hanging swamp to the Playgrounds area at Native Dog Creek. In this swampy area was Large Alpine Leek-orchid (Prasophyllum sphacelatum). Large Alpine Leek-orchid grows to 38cm with up to 20 perfumed green to reddish-brown flowers whose lateral sepals are parallel. Other plants were a Willow-herb (Epilobium sp.), and down by the creek yellow Alpine Podolepis (Podolepis robusta). This large daisy has flower heads whose outer florets have conspicuous lobed rays. Closest to the stream were Fairy Aprons and blue Veined Sun- orchid (Thelymitra cyanea) where the top three tepals are prominently striped. In this area was also a tiny red sundew (Drosera sp.). Other plants above the creek were Small-fruit Hakea (Hakea microcarpa); white aromatic Mountain Heath-myrtle (Baeckea gunniana); Mountain Milk- wort; yellow Common Billy Buttons (Craspedia variabilis); purple Showy Violet (Viola betonicifolia); small Mountain Gentian (Gentianella muel- leriana) which has cup-shaped white flowers with thin blue stripes; the rare white Wedge Oschatzia (Oschatzia cuneifolia), a tiny herb with 5- petalled flowers; blue Native Flax (Linum marginale); and other orchids Mountain Golden Moths (Diuris monticola); Common Bird Orchid; and Montane Greenhood. Further up the Cobberas Trail beneath Mount Cobberas No 1 was an ex- closure built to protect an alpine peatland. Nearby we found Alpine Swan Greenhood (Pterostylis sp.aff. cycnocephala) which has a flowering stalk to 30cm with up to 20 tiny crowded flowers. In the open flower, the labellum has a darker green appendage with a prominent spur. There was also Summer Greenhood which has a single flower.

Saturday 7 January We travelled back east again to an area which once held a stockyard where cattle were loaded onto trucks for transport. This was prior to cattle being removed from the Alpine National Park. A bushfire has removed all traces of the stockyards, but the trunks of two huge eucalypts that arched the

26 loading ramp still remain. Many of the huge trees were Mountain Gum (Eucalyptus dalrympleana) with striking pale trunks. Nearby were the re- mains of a brumby. Throughout the excursion we saw constant evidence of the presence of many brumbies with tracks, pugging in damp areas, and piles of manure everywhere. At night we heard the horses whinnying and galloping up the road. Unfortunately the areas most affected are the wet- lands where many of the rarer orchids are found. We walked down to Rocky Plains Creek and along the way found Summer Greenhood; Dark- tip Greenhood (Pterostylis atrans) where the hood is red-brown towards the apex; Common Bird Orchid; Large Alpine Leek-orchid; and the truly bizarre Elbow Orchid (Thynninorchis huntianus). The Elbow Orchid is another of the leafless saprophytic orchids. It lives in the leaf litter rather than soil. The plant only grows to 15cm with up to eight flowers. These flowers are pollinated by male thynnine wasps. The hinged mobile labellum is covered with hairs and warty calli, and resembles a female wasp. The male wasp alights on and attempts to copulate with the labellum, which swings back against the column, where the male picks up the pollen packet which is later transferred to another flower (hopefully on another plant). Other plants were the lilies, yellow Bulbine Lily (Bulbine bulbosa) and Golden Weather-glass; white Snow Daisy (Brachyscome nivalis) with glossy fern-like leaves; Stinking Pennywort (Hydrocotyle laxiflora); the white or pink pea Austral Trefoil (Lotus australis) and purple Self-heal.

Near the creek were white Mountain Teatree (Leptospermum grandifoli- um) with fairly large leaves and woolly fruits; Alpine Bottlebrush; and River or Long-leaf Lomatia (Lomatia myricoides) whose long leaves have sparse coarse teeth. Most of the group climbed the rocky hill on the far side of the creek and discovered the buds of Blue-tongue Greenhood (Pterostylis oreophila). This endangered greenhood only grows in a small area along watercourses beneath thickets of Mountain Teatree. Birds were Crimson Rosella, Striated Pardalote, Red Wattlebird, Superb Fairy-wren, Grey Currawong, Magpie, Pallid Cuckoo, Fantail Cuckoo, Sacred King- fisher, Grey Shrike-thrush and Bassian Thrush. After lunch we moved a little further back west on the road to a dense Mountain Teatree swamp where the really intrepid orchidologists searched beneath the Teatree for the elusive Blue-tongue Orchid. None were seen at this time. We did find the ferns Mother shield-fern (Polystichum pro- liferum) and Alpine water-fern (Blechnum penna-marina). Other plants were Alpine Bottlebrush, white Mountain Baeckea (Baeckea utilis); Silky

27 Teatree (Leptospermum myrsinoides); Tufted Sedge (Carex gaudichaudiana); Hill Daisy (Brachyscome aculeata); and the small blue herb Veronica sp. 1 with 2 stamens to the side and 1 style.

At Square Plain there was more brumby damage with tracks through the wet plain. Again we saw Veined Sun-orchid, Common Bird Orchid and Summer Greenhood. There was also white Mountain Milkwort; Fairy Aprons; white Swamp Heath with tiny leaves and clusters of flowers at the ends of the branches; and the daisies Hill Daisy, Snow Daisy and blue Coarse Daisy; white and yellow Camomile Sunray (Rhodanthe anthe- moides); and also tiny pinkish Alpine Trachymene (Trachymene humilis). Another daisy which is a weed was yellow Flat-weed (Hypochoeris radi- cata) which was everywhere in the alps where humans had encroached.

Sunday 8 January Unlike the warm Saturday, Sunday was cold and drizzling. Today we went to Cowombat Flat Track which runs along the western side of the Cobberas Range, eventually leading to the Murray River and the NSW state border some 10km away. Our first stop was at an open plain on the eastern side, not far from the main road. We walked through the forest at the edge of the plain, then crossed the swampy plain and down the far side. Near the cars was Mountain Beard-heath (Acrothamnus hookeri) with glistening red berries and yellow Yam-daisy (Microseris sp.). The thickened roots of the Yam-daisy were an important source of food for the Aborigines. Here among the Poa tussocks were Large Alpine Leek- orchid, Summer Greenhood and Montane Greenhood. The lilies were Golden Weather-glass; Bulbine Lily; and Pale Vanilla-lily (Arthropodium milleflorum). There was also Alpine Trachymene; Stylidium armeria; Ear- ly Forest Gentian (Gentianella polysperes); and the VROT white to pale yellow daisy Lanky Buttons (Leptorhynchos elongatus) which has a very tall flowering stalk (to 45cm). Down on the wet plain were tiny Stylidium montanum; Pale-fruit Ballart (Exocarpos strictus), a broom-like shrub with tiny scale leaves and pale pinkish ripe fruit; the daisy yellow Showy Podolepis (Podolepis jaceoides); blue Swamp Isotome (Isotoma fluviati- lis), a low creeping perennial; orange Delicate Bush-pea (Pultenea ten- ella), a wiry trailer with tiny pointed leaves in threes; and Fairy Aprons. The orchids were Veined Sun-orchid; Mountain Golden Moths; and El- bow Orchid. On the far side we were admiring the profuse flowering of the Snow Gum with bunches of huge cream flowers. A prevalent weed

28 here was the grass Yorkshire Fog (Holcus lanatus), a softly hairy tufted perennial which is now abundant in the cooler areas of Victoria. In the stream running from the wet plain was a shoal of hundreds of the fish Mountain Galaxia. Edging the stream by the road bridge was Red Wattle (Acacia silvestris) which has feathery foliage; Alpine Bottlebrush; the daisies Coarse Daisy and yellow Scaly Buttons (Leptorhynchos squamatus) whose inflorescence only has disc florets; and a native Plantain (Plantago sp.) with a rosette of large lush leaves and tall spikes. Birds around were Fantail Cuckoo, Satin Flycatcher, White-eared and White-naped Hon- eyeater, and Dusky Woodswallow. Further along the road we visited another plain on a slope to the west. Here we heard Grey Shrike-thrush, Brush Cuckoo, and Superb Fairy- wrens were seen with a baby. There was the orchid Cinnamon Bells (Gastrodia sesamoides); large Yam-daisy and Mountain Milkwort. Two interesting finds were Dwarf Sour-bush (Choretrum pauciflorum), a small shrub to 100cm with leaves reduced to scales, tiny white flowers and round dry fruits; and the VROT pea Mountain Leafless Bossiaea (Bossiaea bracteosa), a shrub whose leaves are also reduced to scales and the flattened branches act as the photosynthetic organ (cladodes). There was a very hairy caterpillar, unfortunately burdened with four bright red mites!! Further on was a gate closing the road leading to a Wilderness Area to all but walkers. Unfortunately we were aware that two horse-riders with their dog had passed through. Nearby were Cinnamon Bells, Lanky Buttons and of course Flatweed. The following information was on a board at this gate:

RESEARCH IN WILDERNESS Walkers travelling in the Cobberas Wilderness to Cowombat Flat will en- counter several small fenced areas. The fenced area is an important part of a larger project initiated and funded through the volunteer group Friends of the Cobberas, who are involved in environmental and conservation pro- jects in this part of the Alpine National Park. The project is also supported by the Alpine Brumby Management Association and the Mountain Cattle- men’s Association of Victoria. The fences are vegetation monitoring plots which exclude all grazing activity by brumbies (feral horses) and will sci- entifically measure and monitor the impacts of these animals on sub-alpine flora communities.

29 The first horses are believed to have arrived in the high country in 1843 when 70 mares and two sires were brought to Black Mountain in Victo- ria’s high country by O’Rourke. The horses were released and never mus- tered after he died and the present horse population in the Cobberas region is thought to be descended from these animals. Feral horse populations in Victoria are presently estimated to be between 1000 and 3000 animals, the majority of which occur within the Cobberas – Tingaringy unit of the Al- pine national Park (Dyring, 1990). Other smaller populations are found in the Bogong, Buenba, Beloka, Da- vies Plain and Moroka areas of the Alpine National park, as well as throughout Kosciuszko National Park. Numbers are thought to be slowly increasing and a separate study of feral horse population ecology is cur- rently being undertaken. The grazing exclusion plots will, in the long term, provide the Australian Alps park management agencies with valuable information about the na- ture and extent of feral horse impacts on specific vegetation communities in the alpine environment. This project will monitor and evaluate grazing pressure so that environmental and biodiversity changes are captured and recorded to assist future management of protected alpine areas. For more information about this project on brumbies, or how you can sup- port Friends of the Cobberas, please contact Parks Victoria on 131963. From the Cowombat Flat Track we went east again to see the Rocky Plains Creek Falls. The rock outcrops in this area are a pink volcanic rhy- odacite and with a reasonable amount of water the falls tumbling down the tall cliff were very attractive. Some of the interesting plants near the top of the falls were a Kunzea sp., which looks a Burgan, but isn’t; Woolly Grevillea (Grevillea lanigera); lots of yellow Bulbine Lily; Stylidium armeria; Scaly Buttons; Golden Weather-glass; Diggers’ Speedwell (Derwentia perfoliata) with grey waxy opposite leaves and terminal sprays of pale purple flowers; pink Austral Stork’s-bill (Pelargonium australe); prostrate yellow Ivy Goodenia (Goodenia hederacea); and the rare Austral Toad-flax (Thesium australe). Austral Toad-flax is a yellowish lax perennial herb with minute green flowers which is semi-parasitic on other herbs or grasses. The only fern was Narrow rock-fern (Cheilanthes sieberi) whose frond is narrow with the pinnae widely spaced. There were some amazing very old trees Mountain Gum (Eucalyptus dalrympleana) with many hollows. One particular large outcrop of rock carried a huge variety of lichens and mosses. One lichen was tall (about 7cm) and bright white, with many pointed fingers. On this rock was also the lime green

30 cushion Twin-flower Knawel (Scleranthus biflorus) whose two flowers are paired on the one stalk. Suspended in the grass on the plains areas were ant nests made from dried leaves and seed capsules. Some of the group crossed Rocky Plains Creek above the falls, near Mountain Baeckea, to visit another plain where they saw three black brumbies and a pale green Large Alpine Leek-orchid.

Monday 9 January On our way home we diverted down McKillops Road to Little River Junc- tion to meet Lucy Clausen from DSE who is monitoring the rare Yellow Hyacinth Orchid (Dipodium hamiltonianum). This orchid can grow to 80cm with up to 25 yellowish-green flowers with deep pink spots. The deep pink labellum has many white hairs at the tip. It grows here in an incredibly dry rain shadow area beneath White Box (Eucalyptus albens). It’s amazing that anything can survive under these brutal conditions. Eight plants were found, most not in very good condition. There was also a few Purple Hyacinth-orchid (D. punctatum) which is uncommon in eastern Victoria. There was plenty of bare ground, but also the very prickly red Cranberry Heath (Astroloma humifusum); yellow Cottony Fireweed (Senecio quadridentatus); and in the shade Kidney-weed (Dichondra re- pens), a mat-forming perennial with kidney-shaped leaves and tiny cream flowers. Two introduced plants were the daisy Tall Fleabane (Conyza al- bida), an erect herb to 1m with a terminal pyramidal inflorescence; and Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) which has a basal rosette of woolly leaves and a spike with yellow flowers. Back up the road about 500m we searched again and found six Yellow Hyacinth-orchids; but also Pale Vanilla-lily; Peach Heath (Lissanthe strigosa), a much-branched prickly small shrub with pinkish scented flowers; the daisy Indian Weed (Sigesbeckia orientalis) which is not a weed, and has usually toothed opposite leaves and yellow inflorescences on long stalks; the pea Large Tick-trefoil (Desmodium brachypodum); and a tiny Yellow Burr-daisy (Calotis lappulacea). Indian Weed, Large Tick-trefoil and Yellow Burr-daisy all have burr-like seeds that stick to your socks!!! Great dispersal mechanism – presumably they stick to fur just as well!! There was a really hairy small narrow rock-fe, Bristly cloak-fern (Cheilanthes distans). There were also enormous (nearly 2m across) meat ant nests. Meat ants are well known ground nesting, red and black forag- ers which dominate more arid landscapes. A wonderful camp, thank you James. ☺

31 P.O. Box 563, BAIRNSDALE. Vic. 3875 If return please undelivered to: Inc. Club Naturalists Field District & the Bairnsdale of Newsletter The