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Home , Acacia jibberdingensis, Beaufortia sparsa, Chloanthes, Dasymalla, Grevillea thyrsoides, Lachnostachys

Australian Society Yarra Yarra Group Inc (Incorporation No. A0039676Y) Newsletter April 2019 General Meeting: April 4th at 8pm Claire Farrell & John Rayner : Melbourne Woody Meadows Project Claire Farrell is a Senior Lecturer in Green Infrastructure, based at the Burnley Campus of The University of Melbourne. Her main research interest involves using plants to make cities more liveable. Claire has a PhD in ecology and for the last 9 years her research has focused on developing green roofs for Australian conditions. As green roofs are difficult places for plant to survive, much of her research has focused on the drought tolerance and water use strategies of native Australian plants, including granite outcrop vegetation. This world leading research has been published internationally and key recommendations have also influenced policy and practice. Other research includes plant selection for green façades, rain gardens and low maintenance plantings.

John Rayner is an Associate Professor and Director of Urban Horticulture at the University of Melbourne. His research and teaching is focussed around the design and use of plants in the landscape, including green roofs and walls, climbing, shrub and ground cover plants and therapeutic landscapes. Based at the Burnley Campus, John is a passionate educator, has published widely and regularly acts as a landscape and horticultural consultant. He is a keen gardener and in his spare time gains great joy from nurturing and torturing plants on his 1 ha garden in the Dandenong Ranges.

VOLUNTEERS PLEASE FOR GARDEN VISIT Saturday April 13th PLANT SALE Sunday 14th April 2 pm

We need volunteers for the Plant & Book Sale on Rosanna Parklands with APS Friday afternoon(12th April) from 3pm to 6.30pm to help set up trestles and help growers carry in Maroondah. their plants. And also for Saturday from 7.30am to Led by Margaret James. 10am, 10-12noon, 12-2pm, and 2-4pm.

See final page, p10 for more details See P 2 for more detail.

Website: apsyarrayarra.org.au Facebook: facebook.com/APSYarraYarra Email: [email protected] | 1 More Garden Visits, APS YY matters & Diary Dates

More Speakers: 27-31 March, Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS). APS Vic has a stand & Ben 2 May. Simone Louwhoff. Lichens. Hutchinson a garden (check number!)

8 June. Zac Walker. Alpine Flora and Samba 13 April - APS Yarra Yarra Native Plant & Book Sale. Deer. At Eltham Senior Citizens Centre, 903 Main Road, 8 July. John Harris. Wildlife Experiences P/L Eltham from 10 am to 4 pm. 1 Aug. AGM & APS YY Grand Flower Table 27 April – APS Geelong Australian Native Plant Sale 5 Sept. TBA at ‘Wirrawilla’, 40 Lovely Banks Road, Lovely Banks. 3 Oct. TBA (Mel 431 D6). 7 Nov. Grand Flower Table 4 May - APS Mornington Peninsula Plant Sale, from 5 Dec. Members Slide Night & Xmas Party 10 am to 3.30 pm, at Seawinds in Arthurs Seat State Park, Purves Rd, Arthurs Seat 3936. For further details call 0428 284 974. Sunday 14th April 2 pm Garden Visit to Rosanna Parklands with APS Maroondah. Led by 4 May – Cranbourne Friends Annual Lunch in Tarnuk Margaret James. Room, Australian Garden. Guest Speaker is Dean This area, previously a golf course of 101 Stewart. acres, was doomed to be fully subdivided in the late 1960›s but strong objection by residents 11 May APS Melton & Bacchus Marsh Plant Sale at resulted in half being left as parkland. Merchant St Andrew’s Uniting Church, Gisborne Road, Bacchus Builders was chosen to develop the other half Marsh. From 9 am to 1 pm. with a unique cluster housing development. The architects aimed at linking housing with the 15 June – APS Geelong host Committee of natural environment so the courts ended with Management meeting. easy access to the parklands. It was the first housing estate to have underground wires, no 14 & 15 September - APS Yarra Yarra Australian concrete footpaths, lawns to the kerb. House Plants Expo, Eltham Community & Reception Centre, design and landscape were crucial to achieve an 801 Main Road, Eltham. 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. overall unified appearance. ANPSA 2019 Conference – Blooming Biodiversity – Ellis Stones was commissioned to design 30 September to 4 October, hosted by Wildflower each garden and Bev Hanson supervised the Society of Western Australian in Albany, WA. construction of some. The plants were to be all Comprehensive background and conference outline Australian. Ellis was also retained by the then fills the whole edition of Australian Plants, Spring Heidelberg Council to landscape the park and was successful in overturning the MMBW intention of 2018, vol 29, No 236. For more Details www. barrel draining Salt Creek which runs through the bloomingbiodiversity.com.au. Bookings NOW open park. for conference and Pre & Post Tours. Several Tours are now fully booked. Be quick. We meet at the home of Margaret James, APS member and long time resident. After a brief introduction, we’ll take a walk into the park to view the memorial garden designed by Bev Hanson and the new landscaping under the railway bridge, which recently replaced the boom gates on Lower Plenty Rd. We’ll return to Margaret’s house for afternoon tea.

2 | APS Yarra Yarra News -April 2019 Meeting Report, March 7 - Mint Bushes and Allied Genera

APS Yarra Yarra will host the 13th FJC Rogers Seminar Eucalypts, with late afternoon shade. Lasianthos in October, 2020. Our topic is Mint Bushes and Allied means fine hairs, the flowers are coated inside and Genera or in scientific parlance subfamily out with them, a distinctive feature of this particular ( see inset, p 4 for detail). The and very beautiful species. Lamiaceae family is huge with many highly aromatic Many of the most commonly cultivated species hail species and so we have chosen a particular subfamily from NSW and include Pros ovalifolia, rotundifolia within which the Mint Bushes, has & incisa. These occur in several colour forms which the greatest constituency with over 90 species and include purple, pink and sometimes white. They counting. The FJC Rogers Seminars are held every also come in varied sizes. has some two years in honour of Fred Rogers, a passionate 35 species which include Pros melissifolia, cuneata advocate for Australian Plants who was instrumental and the rare, endemic and stunning Prostanthera in increasing interest and numbers within APS galbraithiae (named in honour of the late Jean Victorian groups. The Seminars are intended to be Galbraith) from East Gippsland. One of two educational with the aim of improving our scientific remaining populations of this species were recently understanding of the plants. burnt. We hope to have plants for sale from our East NSW has the greatest number of Prostanthera Gippsland source. species with over 65 species occurring there. The Cradle of Incense by George Althofer was published The species within Prostanthera can be divided into by APS NSW in 1978 and remains the bible of the two sections or types based on differences in flower fraternity with detailed descriptions of Mint Bushes morphology, particularly the corolla & calyx. (An from all over . The updates since aside: it is the two-lipped calyx that distinquishes then are ongoing with many more species becoming Prostanthera species from which have 5 more clearly defined with research. This book lips). In Prostanthera section Prostanthera the corolla however remains an important guide and makes for tube is short, narrow at the base and widening into entertaining reading. a bell shape. The upper lip is erect & broad with two lobes and is shorter than the lower lip which is three- The , Prostanthera was named by Jacques- lobed with the middle larger e.g. Pros lasianthos, Julien Houtou de Labillardiere, a French Botanist cryptandroides, cuneata. In Prostanthera section on the Bruny D’Entrecasteux voyages around Klanderia the corolla tube is thinner, elongated, with Tasmania in 1972-73. From the Greek prostheke – the upper lip concave and the lower lip similar in an appendage & anther refering to an appendage length e.g. Pros aspalathoides, calycina & walteri. on the anthers of many (but not all) Prostanthera These two sections/types are predominantly flowers. was the first named pollinated by bees and birds respectively with some and the type specimen. It is the largest of the mint intermingling of both. More recently a third type bushes (from 2 to 10 M) with the widest distribution, – pollinated by beetle & fly has been recognised from southern Qld to Tasmania, coastal to sub-alpine Wilson et al (2017). levels. While it likes moist shade it will grow in full sun but is best as an understorey to Wattles and Image: Prostanthera lasianthos, showing the fine hairs that cover the flowers & an insect visitor.

Email: [email protected] | 3 Meetng Report: Mint Bushes etc by Miriam Ford

While many mint bushes like shaded moist conditions many have broader tolerances as mentioned for Pros lasianthos. There are a number of mint bushes that thrive in dry, hot conditions such as Pros aspalathoides, the Scarlet Mint Bush (also orange, yellow and white forms) from the semi-arid regions of NSW, VIC and SA; Pros magnifica, the stunning mauve-purple corolla with gorgeous burgundy shield-like calyx form the hot dry northern wheatbelt of WA and the striking striped Pros striatiflora from the semi-arid woodlands of NSW, SW, WA, Qld and NT and the handsome, long flowering Pros eckersleyana, also northern sandplains, WA. We are propagating all of these species for sale at the seminar. Several will also be available in grafted form from Phil Vaughan. A distinctive feature of many of the mint bushes is their minty aroma which arises from the volatile oils released from the many glands present on leaf and calyx surfaces when one brushes past a plant. There is a lot of interest in the essential oils of Prostanthera species both with a view to commercial applications (natural product discovery research) and also with regard to their taxonomic utility. Recent studies show that fine detailed analysis using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy reveals unique species markers that will assist, along with DNA studies, in the Images: Prostanthera teretifolia (top)& striatiflora systematics of species within the Genus. This is an exciting time to be growing and propagating Prostanthera and for disseminating knowledge and plants more widely. We are doing our bit for the preservation and cultivation of a quintessential and most redolent Aussie. Let us know if you can assist us with the organisation of the seminar and/or propagation.

Inset: There are 17 genera within the Prostantheroideae subfamily: Brachysola – – – – – – – Hemiphora – – – Muniria – – – – Prostanthera – – Westringia. Many you may not have heard of these before, I hadn’t. Many of them have small numbers of species, with spectacular flowers and are endemic to WA with very specific growth requirements, one might even say fusspots when away from home. Some examples include Brachysola, 2 species WA, Cyanostegia,(Blue Tinsel Flower, WA mostly & NT) , Dasymalla 5 species (Includes Dasymalla terminalis, native foxglove), WA; Dicrastylis, > 30, WA mostly; Hemiandra, 6 including Hemiandra pungens; Newcastelia, 10 species WA & Pityrodia, 20 species, WA. We will be doing our best to source some of these plants but our focus will be Prostanthera and Westringia. Ajuga and Plectranthus while Lamiaceae, are not within this subfamily. 4 | APS Yarra Yarra News -April 2019 La Trobe Wildlife SanctuaryTwilight Tour, Feb 28 by Peter Smith

On a warm February evening, a keen group of increasing algae blooms and reducing water quality. members were fortunate to experience a night of “learning and discovery.” Rick, our host, made us As we moved on, the sugar gliders were doing welcome and talked to us about the recent (50 their thing. Rick reminded us of the importance of years) history of the sanctuary and establishment hollows in the old trees and the use of nest boxes. of LaTrobe University. He spoke of the preservation He took us by a large recently fallen redgum – a and re-generation of some 30 hectares of former long story, then some impressive old river reds. farmland and recreation ground on the floodplain There were microbats flitting about & we met of the Darebin Creek — remnant River Redgum Old Man Emu, a sole remaining survivor of a pair Grassy Woodland. The initial aim was to create placed into the sanctuary some time ago. We a space for the filtration and retardation of learned of the delicate balance and the intricacies stormwater from the surrounding areas, then of introducing various new species into this fragile the creation of the sanctuary, increasing the environment. biodiversity within with protection of the animals The people at the LaTrobe Wildlife Sanctuary and on the inside and the facility as an educational Indigenous Nursery and the volunteers who help resource. them have achieved a great deal and continue As we set off, we were told of the foxes’ to reach out to teach all of us of the importance determination to break into the larder and the of maintaining the ecosystems threatened by eventual construction of an impressive predator Melbourne’s development. They encourage us to proof fence. We spotted Eastern Grey Kangaroos, do our combined bit to increase biodiversity. We Possums with ring and brushy tails. We paused by need to support them and encourage others as now drying-up wetlands. No frogs tonight…perhaps well. Volunteers are always welcome. a tree frog? Rick told us of the pest Gambusia fish (Image: by Anita Bourke, imagine night has fallen and the group is lined up on the bridge looking over the water, introduced into our waterways in the mistaken watching & listening. Inset: Microbat nesting box and belief that it would control mosquitos & instead Microbat, from La Trobe WS website) decimating fish, frog and other animal populations,

Email: [email protected] | 5 MarchFlower Table - by Jill Lulham & Miriam Ford

Thanks to Mike Williams and Miriam for presenting. shrub to 3m, sessile, linear, Flowers axillary, Ben for photos, and also Rob on the Doc Camera. often crowded towards ends of branchlets, Large with prominent calyx. NSW Vic, Qld. Full sun/ part shade, FAMILY: sparsa (growing in good drainage) sand garden. Bright orange flowers at this time of year. From Mike W’s garden) ssp sericea (Erect shrub, 1 – 2m X 1m. Leaves greyish, terete to 1.5 cm long. Foliage and PITTOSPORACEAE FAMILY : Marianthus bicolor (WA, stems white, flowers large axillary lavender. From WA 1-2m, spreading shrub or climber, flowers Dec to near Albany. Full sun/ part shade, good drainage) May. From Mike W’s garden) Prostanthera scutellarioides (A small to medium shrub RUTACEAE FAMILY: Correa ‘Warrandyte Wonder’ 1 X 1m. Leaves linear, acute up to 1.5 cms long. Flowers axillary, small deep purple. NSW Qld. Full sun/ part (Mike’s plant going well. Originally collected by Noel shade, good drainage) but his died. From Mike W’s garden) (Variable spreading shrub, highly FAMILY: jibberdingensis (long aromatic,1 – 2m, Leaves toothed, light green, flowers in flowering medium shrub, eye catching. From Mike short racemes, pale mauve. From NSW. Full sun/ part W’s garden) shade, good drainage) FAMILY: thyrsoides (long . (Aromatic very compact, dense scapes with scrappy flower at end, lovely foliage. Do shrub. 1m X 1m, Leaves bright shiny green, flowers not be tempted to prune off flowers. From Mike W’s axillary and crowded, large white with violet or purple garden); G. ‘Peaches and Cream’, (long flowering, spots. Tolerates variety of conditions, shade to full sun bunch from Lee’s garden); G. hybrid ‘Cherry?’ but not hot western sun. Good drainage) (pteridifolia X formosa X . From Lee’s Prostanthera aspalathoides: Red form. (Aromatic small garden); G. ‘Moonlight (meant to be something heath like shrub, upright to 1m. Leaves linear-terete, else, a grafted plant from Phil with only the graft crowded on small branches. Flowers axillary, scarlet surviving. Communicated to Phil. From Rob D’s or red. From NSW, Vic, SA. Full sun/ part shade, good garden) drainage) formosa (Mountain Devil. NSW, 2m, full Prostanthera teretifolia: Blue form. (Aromatic bushy sun, part shade, good drainage, has lignotuber. From shrub 1–2m X 1m. Leaves greyish, crowded, terete to 1.5 Mike W’s garden) cm long. Flowers large from violet to royal purple. From NSW near Torrington, granite outcrops. Full sun/ part APIACEAE FAMILY Actinotus helianthi (Flannel shade, good drainage) Flower. Self seeds in sand garden and this is best Three of the above were Raffle Plants: P. way to grow so that you keep it going as otherwise aspalathoides, teretifolia, ovalifolia variegata. difficult to propagate. From Mike W’s garden) LAMIACEAE FAMILY: Please note - the following detailed plant notes are provided for those who purchased the Mint bushes at the General Meeting

Prostanthera ovalifolia (Erect medium shrub. 2 - 4 m. Leaves dull green, ovate, lanceolate, Profuse flowers in short terminal racemes. Corolla purple, sometimes pink or white. NSW, Qld. Part-shade to full sun but not hot western sun. Good drainage) , variegata (Aromatic medium shrub. 2 – 4m. Leaves deep green with cream outline, ovate, lanceolate, Profuse purple to mauve flowers in short terminal racemes NSW, Qld. Spectacular even when not in flower. Part -shade to full sun but not hot western sun. Good drainage) (Snow White form. Tall bushy Images from Ben: Above :Acacia jibberdingensis, & see 6 | APS Yarra Yarra News -April 2019 p 10 for Beaufortia sparsa, Images from Ben Eaton (top 2)& Rob Dunlop (lower 4)

Images clockwise from top left - , Grevillea Lee J, G. Moonlight, Marianthus bicolor & G. thysoides Email: [email protected] | 7 Report: APS Vic Committee of Management Meeting: Saturday March 2nd.

Banks Solander 2020 Commemoration. The year 2020 marks the 250th anniversary of the exploration of the east coast of Australia in 1770 by Captain James Cook on the Endeavour. The extraordinary abundance & unusual nature of the diverse flora collected by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander excited the botanic world and ultimately led to settlement of the new colony. Alex Smart & Dallas Boulton have proposed a wonderful commemorative display to be held during Autumn 2020 at the Federation Estate building in Ringwood. The Melbourne Herbarium will loan six original Banks herbarium sheets and up to 30 high resolution photos of other Banks herbarium sheets for display. APSV will pay for the framing of the photos and will also request that they be made available for APSV to use from time to time. There will also be several other displays and a talk by Professor Tim Entwistle of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Online membership: APS Vic web administrator, each District Group and more can be supplied on John King demonstrated a potential on-line request. membership management system which would operate through the APS Vic website. There is There will be 2 speakers on the main stage in the the potential to greatly reduce the workload for Great Hall – Glen Yearsley on Thursday 28th from membership officers at both DGs and APSV and 11.30am to 12.30pm and A B Bishop on Saturday increase the flexibility of the system. There was 30th from 3.30 to 4.30pm. It would be good if general enthusiasm for the idea although many members attending the show could be there for one details need to be sorted out. The sub-committee of these presentations, especially to ask questions. formed at the December 2018 meeting will continue to develop the system until it is ready for a proposal I reported on our progress with regard to the to be put to the COM. FJC 2020 on 24 & 25 October at the Eltham Conservation Report: Neil Marriott reported Community and Recreation Centre. I expressed on the ever increasing rate of loss of rare and some concern about the large amount of work endangered plants across the country, especially in involved and the need to protect volunteers from the high country, as a result of increased extreme burn out as it is usually the same small group of weather events. The loss is further exacerbated by people. I acknowledged the advice provided by indiscriminate roadside clearing, especially in WA Royce on a number of issues. I had produced a new From the Growing Australian Newsletter Editor: promotional video which was played before I spoke. The PDF version of the March issue of Growing From Chris Long’s notes: The video was of excellent Australian is available on the website and can be quality and well received. downloaded from the members’ area using your : Saturday, password. Lachlan appealed for more contributions. Future COMM meeting dates and host June 15th, 2019, hosted by APS Geelong, November As a guide a full page needs about 500 words 2019, hosted by APS Bendigo Incorporated, Saturday depending on how much space is taken up by March 28th 2020, hosted by APS Maroondah, Spring photos. If they do not have enough material they 2020 hosted by APS Warrnambool. will cut back the number of pages. APS Vic is looking for District Groups to volunteer MIFGS 2019: Dallas Boulton reported that plans are to host meetings for August/September (including well underway. The display will be similar to last AGM) 2019 and two meetings in 2020. year. They have new fridge magnets to hand out instead of leaflets. 3 magnets were distributed to

Banksia serrata, one of the first species discovered at Botany Bay and the Herbarium sheet on the species

8 | APS Yarra Yarra News -April 2019 APS YY Financial Matter - Mike Ridley

As many of you will know the group require a couple The job is no more complex than managing your of members to fill financial positions – one for the everyday household finances. FJC Rogers seminar and one for the Treasurer of the group. The FJC Rogers seminar requires financial The group as a whole will have to bear the costs of assistance right now. The Treasurer’s position outsourcing to a bookkeeper so the membership requires a group member at the next AGM in a few fees are likely to rise; this has to be put before the months’ time. membership at a formal meeting or at the AGM. If an external bookkeeper is used then this only To encourage a whole host of applicants the partially solves the problem of the Treasurer’s Committee intends to change the positions to position - whatever happens, the group is simplify the roles. constitutionally bound for a member to hold the Treasurer’s position. The committee intends to outsource the data entry, financial reporting and administration to a bookkeeper. In other words the role of the Treasurer Ed: This is now a matter of some urgency. We will does not require any computer skills, no software be outsourcing to a bookkeeper if no one comes package knowledge necessary the role is now to: forward. Even with the assistance of a bookkeeper • Take overall responsibility for the finances we will still need a person in the position of and to liaise with the bookkeeper. treasurer in the committee taking care of tasks as detailed per the dots points above. • Sit on the main steering committee and contribute to the financial decisions. I would also like to add that we are hugely indebted • Handle the cash transactions i.e. monthly (metaphorically speaking) to Mike who has been in sales and door entry cash; April and the treasurer’s role for 5 years and prior to that was September plant sales transactions and Secretary. His work has been exemplary. Thank you monitor the bank account. Mike!

The Eltham North Primary School Sale: APS YY Growers were invited and we took along some plants from La Trobe as well. We sold around 90% of our plants & some 40 tubes for La Trobe. We tried out our new PayPal system which worked well so we can be confident of it at our April 13 Sale. Images: Clockwise from the top - Suzie, Sonia and Miriam amongst the plants with their lovely signs by Jill & Jo , Suzie champion at reversing down the narrow access, Sonia with paper daisy bouquets by Jenny, popular giveaways.

Email: [email protected] | 9 Committee, Newsletter Contributions & General Meeting matters The APS Yarra Yarra Committee: Contributions to the 2019 May APS YY News to Miriam by 19 April please •Miriam Ford (President, Newsletter Editor, COM delegate, Propagation Gp) M 0409 600 644 •Mike Ridley (Treasurer & Multi-media Tech guy) Email: [email protected] OR post to 0418 322 969 Newsletter editor APS Yarra Yarra PO Box 298, Eltham 3095 •Joanne Cairns (Secretary & Co-editor of website & Facebook page, Propagation Gp) 0425 760 325 Thank you to Peter Smith, Jill Lulham & Mike •Carmen Cooper (Membership Officer, Propagation Ridley for articles, Jill and Joanne for proof reading, Gp) 0413 012 045 Ben Eaton, Rob Dunlop for images. Editor (MF) for all other images & articles other than where •Adrian Seckold (Minutes Secretary & meeting plant acknowledged from the net. sales) 0431 071 503 We wish to acknowledge the major sponsorship of *Peter Smith ( Garden Visits) 0425 798 275. our Expo by Hume Bricks & Pavers Pty Ltd. Some APS YY Committee Meeting Dates: Thank you to Vicki Ward’s Office for printing General APS YY Com Meeting:9 April, Mike R’s

Next FJC 2020 Com meeting:21 May, Miriam’s Image below: Beaufortia sparsa (Ben Eaton)

13 April Plant Sale Early Saturday jobs will be erecting marquee (4 people), taking all excess chairs and tables out under marquee and covering with tarpaulins if needed, bringing in flowers to put in tubs for display, helping growers bring in plants to their stalls. We ideally need at least 7 people on each 2 hr slot from 10am to 4pm - 2 on books, 2 on YY plant sales, 2 to help customers, and 1 on door to direct customers and take sample of postcodes etc. We will have a volunteer sheet at April meeting, but members can also email [email protected] OVERDUE LIBRARY BOOKS: A request from or phone Joanne Ph 94320409 to be put on roster if our librarian Jenny Hedley to please return you aren’t at the meeting. your overdue books - there are still some outstanding from last year.

Meeting Particulars: Visitors always welcome

When: 8 pm 1st Thursday each month (except January). Doors open 7.30 pm. Come early for plant sales. Venue: Orana building, Araluen Centre. 226 Old Eltham Rd,Lower Plenty. Guest Speaker:Learn more through talks and discussion by expert speakers Audience etiquette: No interruptions to the speaker during the talk, questions (one only per person) at the end when requested. Flower Table Specimens: Bring along your flowers, labelled if possible Plant Sales: Members may buy or sell their own plants, unusual varieties are often available Chairs: Members please help set up chairs from 7.30 onwards and put away again after the meeting. 10 | APS Yarra Yarra News -April 2019