S CIENCE in the G a RDE N S R E S E a Rching, Understanding, Conserving and Communicating the Diversity of Plants
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S CIENCE IN THE G A RDE N S R e s e a rching, understanding, conserving and communicating the diversity of plants 1998–99 Annual Report of the Plant Sciences Branch, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney Plant Sciences Branch Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney 2000 Tel (02) 9231 8111 Fax (02) 9251 4403 Web Site Address:http://www.rbgsyd.gov.au Gardens Offices 8.30 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday Mount Annan Botanic Garden Mount Annan Drive, Mount Annan NSW 2567 Tel (02) 4648 2477 Fax (02) 4648 2465 The Garden is open all year except Christmas Day. Hours 10 am–4 pm April to September; 10 am–6 pm October to March. Mount Tomah Botanic Garden Bells Line of Road via Bilpin NSW 2758 Tel (02) 4567 2154 Fax (02) 4567 2037 The Garden is open all year except Christmas Day. Hours 10 am–4 pm March to September; 10 am–6 pm October to February. Copyright © Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney 1999 Published by: Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney Mrs Macquaries Road Sydney 2000 Editor: Penny Farrant Photography: Jaime Plaza Cover photo: L to R, Dr Peter Weston, Honorary Research Associate Dr Barbara Briggs and Dr Adam Marchant examine a lotus flower. The lotus flower family formed part of an intriguing story that Gardens’ scientists told to visitors during Science Week — a story about the most exciting new theories on the classification of flowering plants for 250 years. 3 Horticultural Research (cont) Contents Mycological research on the Wollemi Pine 21 Waratah bud borer 21 Armillaria 21 ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS SYDNEY Fusarium 21 Our vision,mission, values & corporate themes 2 Plant Conservation 22 Rare and threatened species 22 PLANT SCIENCES BRANCH Species recovery plans 22 Part 1: Overview 1998–1999 3 Conservation committees 23 Plant Sciences Review 4 Biodiversity strategy 24 Performance measures 5 Bryophytes 24 Conserving plant diversity 5 Wingecarribee Swamp 24 Plant selection 5 Fostering Cooperation 24 Herbarium curation 6 Collaboration with other organisations 25 Collaborative linkages 7 UNE Memorandum of Understanding 25 Teaching and training 7 Supervision of postgraduate students 25 Science promotion 8 Honorary Research Associates 25 Scientific publications 8 Australian Botanical Liaison Officer 25 Customer information and advisory services 9 International and national cooperation 26 Part 2: Individual reports 10 International Code of Botanical Nomenclature 26 Plant Systematics Research 10 Cooperative projects & exchange of information 26 Annonaceae 11 Advisory committees 27 Apiaceae 11 Communicating Science 27 Araceae 11 Scientific journals 27 Asteraceae 11 Books and booklets 27 Caryophyllaceae 11 Electronic information 28 Casuarinaceae 12 Technicians workshop 28 Cycadophyta 12 Monocots II — International Conference 29 Cyperaceae 12 Lectures and talks 29 Ericaceae (subfamily Epacridoideae) 12 Information and Advisory Services 29 Fabaceae: Faboideae 12 Botanical information 30 Fabaceae: Mimosoideae 13 Inquiry statistics 30 Ferns 13 Incoming plant collections 30 Freshwater algae 14 Public Reference Collection 30 Lamiaceae 14 Forensic identification 31 Lichens 15 Library 31 Marine algae 15 Managing the collection 31 Meliaceae 15 Library annexe 31 Myrtaceae 15 The Herbarium Collections 32 Orchidaceae 16 Incoming plant collections 33 Poaceae 16 Herbarium specimen database 33 Proteaceae 17 Electronic data exchange 33 Rafflesiaceae 17 Specimen curation 33 Restionaceae 17 Methodology to assess curatorial standards 33 Rosaceae 17 Integrated pest management 34 Rutaceae 17 Loans and exchanges 34 Vitaceae 18 Living collections vouchers 34 Systematic methodology 18 Specimen mounting program 34 Ecological Research 18 Volunteers 34 Sydney region vegetation 18 Herbarium collections summary of statistics 35 Northern Tablelands 18 Part 3: NSW Biodiversity Strategy Report 36 An overview of the vegetation of NSW 19 Part 4: Appendices 39 Ecology of Sydney Plants 19 A: Plant Sciences Branch Staff 39 Ecological monitoring 19 B: Plant Sciences Branch Volunteers 40 Horticultural Research 19 C: Representation on external committees 40 Flannel Flowers 20 D: Publications available from the Gardens 41 Waratahs 20 E: Research grants 42 Wollemi Pine 20 F: Overseas travel 42 Potting mix improvements 20 G: Cooperative research 43 Plant Disease Diagnostic Unit 21 H: Student supervision 44 Integrated pest management at Olympic sites 21 I: Plant Sciences Branch publications list 46 4 – Our Mission 1998 99 To work with the community to increase the knowledge and appreciation of plants and their critical role in the sustainability of our natural and urban environments, and to manage our open spaces as inspirational places for recreation,cultural events and celebration. Royal Botanic Gardens Syd n ey S Y D N EY • DOMAIN • MOUNT A N NAN • MOUNT TOMAH • NAT I O NAL HERBA R I U M Our Vi s i o n Our Corporate Themes To be recognised by the community, the • Controlling our Destiny: What Do We Want the RBG Government and our peers as a centre to be like in 10 to 20 years? of excellence in: • Conserving Plant Diversity: Playing our part in • Management of public open space of influencing plant conservation in NSW,Australia and high cultural, heritage and aesthetic across the world significance • The Millennium Events: Showcasing our gardens to • Botanical and horticultural research the world while managing the threats and taking • Community botanical and advantage of the opportunities horticultural education, information • Our Commercial Activities: Enhancing our core and outreach programs business, while providing services people want • Horticultural practice, display and • Staff, Friends, Volunteers and Visitors: Keeping all of training us safe and healthy • Plant biodiversity and conservation • Customers, Visitors and Clients: More than meeting research and programs their needs • Through these, to be one of the top • The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust: Good five botanic gardens in the world. corporate governance • Botanic Gardens: Sites of excellence in horticulture, conservation and heritage at the Sydney, Mount Our Va l u e s Tomah and Mount Annan Gardens • Botanical Learning and Knowledge • Plant Sciences: Researching, understanding, conserving and communicating the diversity of plants • Plant Conservation • Community Education: The whole community, inside • Heritage Conservation and outside the walls • Horticultural Excellence • The Sydney Domain: A special place for recreation, • Environmental Responsibility festivities, protest, culture and heritage • Community and Visitor Satisfaction • Corporate Services: Our people, • Staff Safety, Skill, Satisfaction and our money, our businesses, Dedication our information technology, our image and our market • Ethical Management • Cost Effectiveness • Land Custodianship 5 Part 1: Overview 98–99 Plant Scien ces Bra n ch • C O N S E RVING PLANT BIODIVERSITY • R E S E A RCH AND C O L LA BO RATION • P LANT SELECTION • P U B L I C ATIONS • BOTANICAL INFORMATION • P RO M OTING SCIENCE • H E R BARIUM CURAT I O N H i g h l i g h t s ★ PlantNET and world list of cycads launched on our web site ★ Monocots II international conference held ★ Plant Sciences Branch reviewed by external panel ★ G a rdens signs Memorandum of Understanding for new Biosystematics degree course ★ Flannel Flower project recognised in NSW Public Sector Aw a rd s Our perf o rmance R e f e reed publications Botanists Ken Hill and Dr Barry Conn were involved Herbarium specimens databased in establishing the world list of cycads and PlantNET. Meeting our objectives • Science programs reviewed and report submitted • Priority research projects identified • Gardens’ science publication strategy reviewed and promotion strategy being developed • Performance measures drafted R e s e a rch grants ($) • Diagnostic techniques for diseases identification developed • Evalu a ti o n meth o ds for curat orial standards draf t ed • Cultivars and cultivation techniques being tested • Par tne rship Agreeme nt in Cons e rvati o n initia t ed with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 6 Plant Sciences Program Review Is the Plant Sciences Branch of the Royal Botanic Gardens making an effective contribution to the conservation of biodiversity in New South Wales, Australia and overseas? Is it, as stated in the Gardens’ mission statement, increasing people’s knowledge and appreciation of plants? Is it providing the right sort of knowledge in the right sort of packaging? To answer these questions, and to affirm the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney’s place as a leader in plant sciences in Australia and internationally, the current activities and possible future directions of the Plant Sciences Branch were reviewed by an expert panel. The panel was chosen to include a mix of international and Australian expertise, university, herbarium and management experience, and State Government knowledge, ensuring that the report would have credibility with staff and management. The Chair was the Chi e f Execu tive Officer of the Nati o nal Botanical Ins ti t ute in Sou th Afri c a , Profes s o r Brian Hun t l e y. Oth e r memb ers were Profes s o r Pieter Baas (Dir ector, Rijk s h e rba r ium / H ortus Bot a n i c u s , The Neth e rla n d s ) , Profes s o r And r ew Bea t t ie (Dir ector, Cent re for Biod i versi t y and Bio res o u r ces , Macqua r ie Uni versi ty ) , Ass oc i a t e Profes s o r Jenn y McC omb (He a d of Plant Science s , Sch o ol of Bio l o gical Science s , Mur doch Uni versi ty ) , Profes s o r Jeff Doyle (As s oc i a t e Dir ector, Divis i o n of Bio l o gical Science s , Corne ll Uni versi t y, US A ) , Mr David Pa pp s (E xecu tive Dir ector Regio nal Planning, NSW Depa r tme nt of Urban Aff a i r s and Planning). A specially prepared booklet provided a snapshot of the Branch’s major activities, expertise and facilities as of March 1999.