Ref No. ISSN 0725-8755 ISSN No. Ref Newsletter No. 82         issue: this Inside   Association of Societies for Growingfor Plants Societies Australian of Association page for the followingnewsletter.the for page back on deadlines note Please newsletter. the of edition splendid this for chapter Victoria the from Roche Geoff and Marriott Neil to thanks Special       put the Vic chapter into recess until further notice. further until recess into chapter Vic the put decidedto resign from this role and we have decided to been a very disappointing response. As a result Max has get members along to Vic Chapter excursions, there has toMcDowall Max of behalfextensive oneffortDespite (Stawell). [email protected] (Dunkeld), [email protected] at email or 5pm), night–Sun (Fri 2404 5356 (03) (Mon–Fri), 2592 5577 (03) on contact details more For research aquifolium Grevillea Mary’? ‘Hairy is Who australis in reproduction of method unusual An for location Anew subsp. ilicifolia Grevillea for location Anew Revisited Forest State Graytown the in rosmarinifolia Grevillea 30-31st 2008 August TripField report Maryborough 2008 March 20-24th Easter report Bee Working Ridge Panrock 1 Part Names Grevillea of Pronunciation in Central Victoria Central in GSG 2008 Programme VIC Grevillea alpina x dryophylla? x alpina Grevillea (Vic Leader), Leader), (Vic Marriott Neil

Grevillea Grevillea lobata

on (07) 3870 8517. 3870 (07) on P P P P P P S S S S S S V Sunday,February 22 Baxter contact information more For 10.00am. at commence meetings 9.30am, at tea Morning V Sunday,November29 V Sunday,October 25 V Sunday,August30 V Sunday,June 28 V Sunday,April 26 t c e j b u t c e j b u t c e j b u t c e j b u t c e j b u t c e j b u e n o h e u n e e n o h e u n e e n o h e u n e e n o h e u n e e n o h e u n e e n o h e u n e GSG S.E. QLD Programme 2009 ProgrammeS.E. QLD GSG : : : : : : : : : : : :

on (07) 3202 5008 or 5008 3202 (07) on

: : : : : :

120 Avalon Rd, Sheldon, 4157 Sheldon, 120 Rd, Avalon Wilson, Rona & Bernard 87 Daintree Dr. Logan Village, 4207 Village,Dr. Logan Daintree 87 Glazebrook, Jan & Cox Denis 2476 NSW Woodenbong, Mt.Clunie Cabins, Mt.Clunie Road, Standing, Jim & Fran 4133 Reserve, Logan Rd, Loganview 81-81 Hodge, Merv.Olwyn & 4124 Greenbank, Street, Salston 5 & Rathie, Kerry Annabel Howard, Helen 62 Helendale Drive, Helidon, 4352 Helidon, Drive, Helendale 62 (07) 3206 3399 3206 (07) (07) 5546 8590 5546 (07) 51184666 (07) 3322 5546 (07) 0268 3200 (07) ( following wet summer summer wet following grevilleas of survival of Review Growing Grevilleas from seed from Grevilleas Growing Solutions and Diseases Pests, cuttings from Grevilleas Growing roots own their on Grevilleas Growing Hybrids New 07) 4697 7418 (M) 0447 199 462 199 0447 (M) 7418 4697 07) Newsletter No. 82 – February 2009 No.NewsletterFebruary – 82

Beverley Leggett Beverley

Noreen Noreen

Peter Olde

Welcome to the Grevillea Study Group Newsletter for 2009

As indicated in previous newsletter I have decided not to hold the Autumn Plant Sale this year. I may revive it when time permits me to organise it in Illawarra Grevillea Park

Editorial the future. It is not simply a matter of organising OPEN DAYS 2009 the event and it is over. Organising means more April, Sat 25 & Sun 26 than a month full time work from me. After it is May, Sat 2 & Sun 3 over, there is more work that continues all year. July, Sat 18 & Sun 19 This includes selling the unsold plants. I have July, Sat 25 & Sun 26 been willing to do this up until now but there has been no relief and very little assistance. September, Sat 26 & Sun 27 Having said that, I would like to acknowledge October, Sat 3 & Sun 4 the people who so generously contributed their Each year the Park is open on the last full time, especially Gordon Meiklejohn. There were weekend in April, first weekend of May, many others. last two full weekends in July, last weekend in September and first I have a number of serious projects to complete weekend in October that are beginning to overwhelm me through Opening hrs are 10am – 4pm the delays encountered by organising activities within the Study Group. Some of the projects Location I want to complete include taxonomic studies, The Park is located at the rear of Bulli a history project and a book on the hybrids Showground, Princess Highway, Bulli. that keeps getting interrupted by extraneous (Turn at the Woonona-Bulli Sports Club) activities. As a result of these pressures, I have Admission decided to close all activities of the Study Group $5 adults, children accompanied by in New South Wales. If someone wishes to adults are free organise and run them I have no objection but Barbeque and picnic facilities available unfortunately I do not have the time at present. Bring your lunch and make it Frankly I do not think the interest is there either. a family day! Only six people turned up on our annual field trip last year even though this was well publicised The park is open from 10am to 4pm. beforehand. There was a reasonably good turn- For more information email up to the Christmas Party. Meeting numbers [email protected] generally though are well down and it seems that most people would rather be somewhere else. The study group in New South Wales will now revert to a newsletter group, which was the original intention of study groups anyway. There are so few enthusiasts that I am beginning to wonder whether anything has been achieved. Where are all the eager new faces? Very few, I am afraid. I want to congratulate the Queensland group for the continuity and ongoing enthusiasm of their members. They are an inspiration. Great credit is due to the organisers and leaders and I hope to occasionally attend their meetings. My own real interest is less about the garden than the wild and I have decided to focus there for a while. I hope you will all understand.

February 2009 Grevillea Study Group No. 82 2 Max McDowall

Pronunciation of Grevillea Names Part 1

At the request of Peter Olde, co-author of Examples: acanthifolia, acrobotrya, acuaria, The Grevillea Book (P. Olde and N. Marriottt, adenotricha, adpressa, agrifolia, albiflora, Kangaroo Press 1994 and 1995) and for those annulifera, arenaria, aspera, aspleniifolia, who wish to learn and use the reformed Latin brachystachya, brachystylis, calliantha, pronunciations for Botanical names (see my candicans, capitellata, ceratocarpa, crassifolia, articles in Newsletters 79 and 81), I plan to (G. rigida subsp.) distans, fasciculata, fastigiata, Taxonomy produce a systematic series of short instructive glossadenia, haplantha, incrassata, lanigera, articles, each describing some aspect of the latifolia, leucadendron, nana, pachylostyla, reformed academic Latin pronunciations for the paniculata, parallela, parallelinervis, paradoxa, Grevillea names. These articles are needed in patulifolia, phanerophlebia, pinaster, the interest of consistency because, while many polyacida, prasina, pythara, rara, ramosissima, of the published pronunciation guides given in rosmarinifolia, saccata, sarissa, scabra, scabrida, the individual species’ monographs in Volumes 2 scapigera, sphacelata, stenostachya, synaphe- and 3 conform, at least in part, to the reformed ae subsp. pachyphylla, tripartita, variifolia. pronunciation, other analogous pronunciation It is helpful to practice saying these names guides are anglicised. aloud. Understandably, in some descriptive I have avoided the style of quasi-phonetic plant names, we will tend to pronounce a representation used there for the pronunciations like the a in cat by analogy with common of the species’ names with idiosyncratic English English words of similar meaning. e.g. alpina syllables of up to three letters (like ‘you’ and ‘eye’ or magnifica. However, by conscious correct used to represent the sounds for U and I, etc.), practice, one can easily rid oneself of the habit. because then the pronunciations of the individual Note that initial a including the negative prefix a- names have to be learned one-by-one. I prefer should be pronounced likewise and not like the instead to set out instructive general rules English long A and that c should be pronounced which can be applied to large groups of names like k. having common features. Of course, some of the names listed have more than one issue with the Examples: acerata, acerosa, aneura, apiciloba, pronunciation, and will need to be considered aprica. again in later articles. (Note: Letters with normal Treat similarly the following new names published bold font represent the standard English vowel since the Grevillea Book: acropogon, agrifolia, sounds, with upper case for the long sounds, amplexans subsp adpressa, angustiloba, while those in bold italics represent the reformed bipinnatifida subsp. pagna, callichlaena, Latin sounds). commutata, cratista, dilatata, divaricata, Pronunciation of simple ‘a’ ecarinata halmaturina, (hookeriana subsp.) digitata, humilis subsp maritima, ilicifolia subsp In Latin words, the letter a is invariably lobata, irrasa, (juniperina subsp.) amphitricha, pronounced as either a long or short ‘ah’ sound macrodonta, (manglesioides subsp.) metaxa, as in aria, extra, father, sonata, can’t, & about. metamorpha, monslacana, nematophylla subsp. This Latin pronunciation is also customary in supraplana & planicosta, oxyantha, pallida, Australia for plant names ending in -ana, -ara, parvula, synapheae subsp. latiloba, tripartita -ala, -alis, -aria (not as in area), -aris, -ata, and subsp macrostylis, (victoriae subsp.) nivalis. indeed in all English words with final a, and in many words with a before r. Note: Grevillea names derived from Personal or Geographic Names have not been included in Examples: commutata, corrugata, costata, this article. Their pronunciations should not be intricata, miniata, montana, pythara, sulcata, latinised but should follow those of the original rivularis, striata, umbellulata, uncinulata. names, except for the Latin endings. Some other The letter a should be pronounced likewise in exceptions, and issues such as the pronunciation the stem (the preceding syllables) and in certain of a in diphthongs will be discussed in later other endings which tend to be anglicised. articles.

February 2009 Grevillea Study Group No. 82 3 Neil R Marriott

Panrock Ridge Working Bee, Easter 20-24th March 2008

Participants: Neil and Wendy Marriott, Monday morning: Left for home – Neil and Max and Regina McDowall, Craig Dodgson Wendy for Dunkeld. Craig remained for a while with his chainsaw. to complete hanging of the gates. This event was scheduled in response to During the weekend, we enjoyed a tour of the continuing expressions of interest since the Panrock Ridge property, garden visits to the previous event in November 2006. However, beautiful gardens of Neil & Alison Macumber and notwithstanding the promise of provided meals, Craig & Sharon Beeching near Pomonal, and then most of the usual participants were unable to on to dinner at the Hall’s Gap Hotel, joined by the attend or had to withdraw for family and health Macumbers and Beechings. Despite the small reasons. Others have explained that Easter and turnout a huge amount of work was achieved Field trip report Melbourne Cup weekends are unavailable for and a number of new grevillea seedlings were them but that they would like to come at some discovered coming up in the ashes of dead other time in the future. grevilleas. One exciting discovery was an area of several dozen wonderful young plants of We hope that we will be able to arrange some time Grevillea magnifica – both subspecies that have in 2009 that would suit these others if they should sprung up on the ridge above the Grevillea volunteer, and then invite the regular participants Garden – these will be a spectacular sight in a to come as well. All previous participants have few years, with one plant already in bud at less thoroughly enjoyed these events with associated than 2 years of age! guided tours of the Panrock Ridge venue, experiencing Neil’s and Wendy’s hospitality and Our deepest thanks to Max and Regina and their knowledge of the Flora, participating in field Craig for their wonderful work. The Grevillea trips to the nearby Grampians, workshops and collection is gradually getting back on its feet, visiting other gardens and nurseries in addition and with a good wet winter we will now be in a to the working bee activities. position to begin replanting the many grafted and struck plants we have ready to go in. Friday: Max went out before breakfast with his pruning saw and cut down many dead branches of small trees in the Eucalyptus & Acacia arboretum alongside the driveway . We all continued after breakfast, Craig with his chainsaw and Neil with his trailer and removed dead trees from both sides of the driveway near the Grevillea Garden exclosure. We then proceeded to the Grevillea garden and cut regenerating suckers Direct deposits can be made into and saplings of Acacia implexa, treated the the Grevillea Study Group account stumps with Glyphosate weedkiller, and removed some dying trees. BSB 112-879 Account Number 016526630 Saturday: We cut down many dead trees in (St George Bank). the Rain Forest Garden, pruning old or dead branches from shrubby grevilleas and particularly Please notifiy the Treasurer from a large Grevillea magnifica subsp. remota of transfer by email in the Grevillea Garden. Craig and Neil also ([email protected]) began to hang gates at all the 5 entrances to The Grevillea Garden. or by post to Grevillea Study Group, Sunday: Continued hanging gates. Clearing of dead branches of Grevilleas etc. on the slopes PO Box 275 Penshurst NSW 2222 west of the house.

February 2009 Grevillea Study Group No. 82 4 Neil R Marriott

Maryborough Field Trip, 30-31st August 2008

Participants: Geoffrey Roche, Bob & Beth We then headed off to book in to our overnight Stewart, Brian & Caroline Hendrickson, Eileen accommodation at Moonlight Inn –a wonderful & Lyall Courtney, Max & Regina McDowall, Bob spot with wonderful hosts and rather reminiscent O’Neill, Peter Smith, Neil Marriott, Ian Evans. of Fawlty Towers!! Once checked in, we returned to Bob’s and Beth’s for a superb tea of lovely hot Following a number of discussions with Max soup and casseroles provided by Beth and the McDowall, Bob Stewart and myself, Geoff Roche other participants. We had a superb evening of decided to organise an impromptu weekend to discussions on everything before we all headed check out as many of the Grevilleas as we could back to our accommodation. in the Maryborough – Bendigo district. Despite the fact that Max had just stood down as convener of Sunday morning and the weather had cleared as Field trip report the GSG Vic Group, he immediately got stuck into we returned to Bob and Beth’s, where we not only contacting as many of the Victorian members as admired their lovely garden, but also Bob’s huge he could to promote the weekend. On the ground, collection of tropical fish, including populations Geoff and Ian Evans got out and checked as many of most species of Australian Rainbow Fish. Bob sites as they could to organise a fabulous itinerary and Beth have a good range of grevilleas and a for us. Despite the short notice, we finished up large collection of hakeas as well as lots of other with around 15 participants – better than we often beauties. We then moved on again to the next get for well promoted trips! neighbours, Brian and Caroline Hendrickson, for another wonderful treat – Brian and Caroline have On Saturday morning we met at Beaufort and beautifully landscaped their large garden and it is proceeded to Waterloo where we met up with absolutely full of rare and unusual grevilleas as our leaders Bob Stewart, Geoff Roche and Ian well as a host of other plants. One of these was Evans. We then proceeded up into the hills to find the largest Hakea francisiana plant in full flower several populations of Grevillea floripendula and that I have ever seen! Grevillea micrantha, pale pink form. Sadly, due to the drought, many of the Musical Gully plants were After dragging ourselves away from the beautiful dead and gone, however, a few beautiful yellow gardens, we departed for the Muckleford area east flowered populations of Grevillea floripendula were of Maldon along ‘Pipeline Track’ near where where found further south along the Musical Gully Track. ‘Donkey Farm Track’ (north of the Castlemaine- We then proceeded to Battery Dam in the Craigie Maldon Road) crosses the Maldon-Castlemaine State Forest where we met up with several more railway line. Here we searched for and found participants. Despite the drought we were looking the locally rare Grevillea micrantha. Sadly, here for shelter from rain that set in for much of the day!! too much of the population has died out with the drought. Fortunately we did not meet up with the After lunch Geoff lead us to various sites close cranky old bloke who abused us for being on the to Maryborough where they have found several rail reserve the last time we visited the site!! populations of a distinctive form of what looks superficially like a Grevillea rosmarinifolia/lanigera We then drove on through a heavy shower hybrid? This unusual small grey-green shrub was toward Bendigo via the Calder Freeway to the unfortunately not in flower, but appears intermediate vicinity of the Sandhurst Reservoir east of railway, between the above two species, despite the fact where Ian Evans led us to a superb colony that neither parent grows in the district!! It cannot of free-flowering Grevillea alpina (Goldfields be of garden origin either as the garden form of Race) and Grevillea dryophylla (yellow- Grevillea rosmarinifolia and its progeny have a flowered form) growing beside the railway line. robust habit and green leaves. The population After much admiration and photography, we appears uniform and occurs in at least four continued on to Marilyn Spragues’ superb locations around Maryborough. We then went on ‘Goldfields Revegetation Nursery’ at Mandurang. to Geoff’s garden at 36 Brown St. for a garden visit. We had barely arrived before a wild storm sent Geoff has spent many hundreds of hours digging us rushing for shelter. Marilyn organised mugs out wonderful gardens amongst the rock on his of hot tea and we had lunch as the storm property. These are planted with many grevilleas passed over. and other shrubs and include practically every population of all grevillea species in the region. continued >

February 2009 Grevillea Study Group No. 82 5 After lunch the weather cleared rapidly and rosmarinifolia. Several were in flower and the best Marilyn lead us on a tour of her wonderful garden, with bright red flowers drew much admiration. full of central Victorian grevilleas and nearly every From here we drove a short distance south where other goldfield, grassland, wetland and riparian Ian showed us a population of tall Grevillea alpina plant that occurs in the region. We then plundered – Goldfields Race with very large orange flowers. the nursery, filling our cars with rarities before Unfortunately, we also found a large number heading on our way. Thank you Marilyn for your of hybrids between the indigenous Grevillea wonderful hospitality. Sadly, Marilyn’s nursery alpina and nearby garden escapees of Grevillea is under threat of closure due to the local water rosmarinifolia – common garden form. This is authority’s failure to guarantee a supply of water now a serious weed across much of Victoria and for the coming summer! is swamping the gene pool of many indigenous grevilleas by hybridising with them. We pulled up We then continued along Mandurang South Road

Field trip report as many as we could but several were too large to where the road runs near and parallel to Coliban to remove. Main Channel where we found a few remnants of the once beautiful suckering population of Grevillea At a final brief late afternoon tea stop near a rosmarinifolia and Grevillea rosmarinifolia x alpina. railway cutting south of the Pyrenees Highway, Further south along Sutton Grange Road we found we searched in vain for another population of a free- flowering population of tall Grevillea alpina Grevillea rosmarinifolia-Chewton/Mandurang (Goldfields Race) and low Grevillea dryophylla as form before saying our farewells and heading off well as a host of other shrubs including Hakea on our separate ways. All in all it was a wonderful decurrens subsp. physocarpa, Hardenbergia weekend from which we gained several new violacea, Acacia lanigera, Philotheca verrucosa members for the Study Group. Huge thanks and Hovea linearis. must go to Geoff, Bob and Ian for all their work in organising this trip. Thanks also to Max for We then proceeded to the Calder Highway at his promotion of the trip and to everyone else Elphinstone where Ian lead us to an amazing involved in one way or another. population of vigorously suckering Grevillea

Geoff Roche

Grevillea rosmarinifolia in the Graytown State Forest revisited

Having a special interest in Victorian Grevilleas My first attempt at finding Darroch’s Road, off and having a reason to travel regularly between the Graytown-Rushworth Road, was a disaster. my home in Maryborough in central Victoria and I didn’t realise that Max’s directions were from Albury, I was very interested in the McDowalls’ Jan Shepparton and I ended up on the wrong end 2007 report on this unique form. Max describes of the road – no Grevilleas! For my next try, I the population as ‘young, open bushes, 50-80 x enlisted the company of Bob Stewart and we In the wild 50-80cm. Flower colour ranged from deep red headed off with clearer directions. We eventually through scarlet and orange to cream with a green found 15-20 plants. Unfortunately, most were not stigma. Mature foliage was bright to dull green, in flower, but there appeared to be a green form, pungent, ascending; margins entire, hairy, 50- and what has been described as ‘burnt orange’, 90% revolute on terete, hairy branchlets.’ This though it appears to me to lack orange, burnt or form seems to share many characteristics with otherwise. There were a number of quite healthy the so-called ‘Whipstick form’ of G. rosmarinifolia. plants up to 80cm high. We took some cuttings (This form would be more accurately described as for Marilyn Sprague at Goldfields Revegetation the ‘Bagshot form’. According to recent reports, Nursery to strike for us, and headed home, quite the remaining population of this interesting form, chuffed that the plants were doing reasonably from which Grevillea ‘Limelight’ was selected, well in the drought-ravaged, stony clay in which has been destroyed by development, and is now they grow. extinct in the wild.) continued >

February 2009 Grevillea Study Group No. 82 6 An interesting feature of this population was some of this area fenced off, or I am afraid that described by Max. On his first visit in 2000, he this interesting G. rosmarinifolia form may be lost found plants ‘confined to an area NE of the road to us in the wild. and not at all on the SW side.’ Max revisited the location in 2005 and ‘failed to find any of * Just a few further comments on Max’s report. He the original plants on the NE side... but... more did not see any G. alpina for ‘several kilometres’. plants were located, mostly on the SW side, There are a number of low, quite old plants along 2–2.5km from the junction.’ Bob and I only found the western edge of Darroch’s Rd, close to the original G. rosmarinifolia site. This form is very In the wild plants from 2.5km from the junction, with a few plants along Four Mile Road to the south of similar to the Rushworth form – white/blush pink. Max’s location. On a subsequent visit in 2008, I This is a little unusual as the two populations discovered that most of the plants that Bob and I are separated by the ‘Whroo’ form – green and had found had disappeared – not died, vanished! white. I found no evidence of the supposed G. I found no plants along Darroch’s Rd but only alpina x rosmarinifolia hybrids reported from this along Four Mile Rd. These plants seem to ‘move’ area. However, beside the Graytown-Rushworth quite regularly. I strongly suspect that wallabies Rd. at ‘Whistle Stop’, near Whroo, there are are the culprits. They will eat virtually anything in plants which do appear to be this hybrid. these very tough times. It would be nice to see

Geoff Roche

A new location for Grevillea ilicifolia subsp. lobata in Central Victoria

Following up on our interest in local Grevilleas, and surrounds, quite close to Bealiba. We had Bob Stewart and I were fascinated by this most some doubts about this locality as this land easterly form, commonly referred to as the has been subdivided and ‘developed’ in recent ‘Dunolly Form’ near Archdale. This plant has times. Our doubts were confirmed – we could been described by Max McDowall and Neil only find a few remnant specimens of Grevilla Marriott in a report of the GSG Field Trip after alpina along Newitt’s Lane -1m tall with pink and the F.J.C Rogers Seminar on Grevillea as ‘a white flowers. spreading mat, (up to) 0.5m high and up to 2m A little frustrated, Ian suggested that we explore across. Flowers have a bluish perianth with a nearby narrow unmarked track between two yellowish-apricot styles.’ overgrazed paddocks. Less than 50m in, Bob Bob and I visited this population at Erskine’s spotted a small plant of Grevillea ilicifolia growing No.2 Reserve in early 2008 and found 20-30 right beside the track. Further investigation plants growing relatively healthily in sandy soil revealed a population of some 20 plants. Ian in very dry conditions. In May there was no found a beauty about 0.5m high and about 1.5m evidence of flowering other than some signs across. These are similar to the Archdale form, that they had recently shed seed and that some though in some plants the leaves are significantly insect was eating the seeds in the pods before greener. Some plants in this population also have they ripened. New flowers were forming. On very long lobes. We again found evidence of subsequent visits to this Archdale population intermittent flowering and seed shedding. A good we have seen signs of successful intermittent deal of seed had been shed just before a recent flowering. Is this ‘natural’ or a drought response? visit in Jan 2009. There were also many buds On a recent visit in January 2009 we found a and one flower-style was a dusky pink. It seems good deal of evidence of seed shedding and to be similar to those at Archdale as described by further budding up. Pursuing our interest in this Max and Neil. Should we describe this form as plant, we enlisted the support of the wonderfully the ‘Bealiba form’ rather than the ‘Dunolly form’, knowledgeable Ian Evans to help us explore as there are often reports of it from nearby? We old reports of this species from Newitt’s Lane will explore further!

February 2009 Grevillea Study Group No. 82 7 Neil R Marriott A new location for Grevillea alpina x dryophylla?

Following recent discussions with Max McDowall Grevillea ‘Bendigo Beauty’. It is currently very I discovered that Max and Regina had found a uncommon in cultivation, however it is available new population of Grevillea alpina x dryophylla. at Goldfields Revegetation Nursery, Mandurang. This is extremely significant as this natural It is a very free flowering dense rounded and hybrid, originally discovered by Ian Evans near beautiful plant worthy of far wider cultivation in Bendigo, and now extinct at that site, is one of dry and well drained areas. It will be interesting In the wild the few examples in the Grevillea genus where to see how it varies from the population that Max quite separate groups have crossed. Current has discovered if we can ever relocate it. DNA analysis may even result in some of these A number of years ago a good friend found and groups becoming separate genera, so this sort photographed a beautiful natural hybrid between of cross may in fact be an inter-generic hybrid. Grevillea steiglitziana and Grevillea chrysophaea This is uncommon but can occur occasionally, in the Brisbane Ranges. Unfortunately he for example Myoporum x Eremophila hybrids are collected no live material and sadly when he known and several are in cultivation. returned the plant had died. If any members Max and Regina found a small population of EVER find an unusual hybrid between different this hybrid swarm around the intersection of the groups in the genus they should immediately Sunraysia Highway and Horse Paddock Road let myself or Peter Olde know so it can be about 2km south of St Arnaud. As soon as the photographed, GPS’d and material collected. weather cools down I will be going over to try and relocate these grevilleas. However recently Geoff Roche searched the site and could not relocate any hybrids which does not bode well for this unusual plant. On working on our new book on Grevillea Hybrids we have found that there are a number of natural hybrids in cultivation that need to be registered with the Australian Cultivar Registration Authority. As a result we are doing this and have given the

Bendigo Grevillea alpina x dryophylla the name Grevillea ‘Bendigo Beauty’

Neil R Marriott An unusual method of reproduction in Grevillea australis

With the ongoing drought come climate change is a photo of the cut stems on two of the plants. many grevilleas and other plants are dying in our Has anyone else noted this in any other grevillea gardens here in the Black Range. Included in this species or hybrids? If so let us know. last summer were two plants of the decumbent form of Grevillea australis from the Victorian Alps. As I began to remove the dead plants I noticed that on both specimens there were some surviving branches that had layered where they ran along the ground. I have noticed this in other genera including Prostanthera, Correa and Eremophila but never before in Grevillea. I carefully cut the dead plants away from the live branches and now 12 months later all are still alive and growing well. I find it strange that the original plants died yet the layered branches have survived!! Below New Grevillea australis plants growing from layers

February 2009 Grevillea Study Group No. 82 8 Geoff Roche

Who is ‘Hairy Mary”?

Although according to some authorities, Grevillea Maryborough. (Good luck if you try to locate lanigera does not grow in Western Victoria, species populations from this website!) there have been reports of its existence in 2. I assume that the southerly report refers to the several locations in the West – one of these from Brisbane Ranges. The ‘Friends of the Brisbane my home town of Maryborough. These reports Ranges’ website has Grevillea lanigera on its have generally been dismissed as Grevillea

In the wild plants species list for the Brisbane Ranges. rosmarinifolia crosses – arising from garden escapees. May I, with no botanical expertise, beg 3. The late Cliff Beauglehole, in his ‘Flora Survey to differ with this explanation? I base my view of North Central Victoria’ which was completed purely on historical research, observation of the and published in 1982, cites it from Maryborough plants and their surroundings and extensively and the Brisbane Ranges. Cliff stayed with the on the knowledge of local Maryborough Field Courtneys while he did the survey of the local Naturalist legends, Lyle and Eileen Courtney. populations. It was the Courtneys who first showed me the 4. The four local sites are spread all around local populations of ‘Grevillea lanigera’. This Maryborough – too much of a coincidence that was the stimulus for the recent grevillea crawl as G. rosmarinifolia could hybridise with the local described by Neil in his account in this Newsletter. G. alpina to produce ‘Hairy Mary’? Neil describes the plant (affectionately referred to locally as ‘Hairy Mary’ – hairy alluding to the hairy 5. There is no local form of G. rosmarinifolia branchlets and leaves typical of G. lanigera, and within 50km of Maryborough-Tarnagulla to the ‘Mary’ as short for Maryborough) as a ‘distinct north and Castlemaine to the east. form of Grevillea rosmarinifolia/lanigera hybrid?, 6. Local populations of ‘Hairy Mary’ precede which appears intermediate between these two any housing development and are situated in species’. The leaves of Hairy Mary are quite relatively isolated bushland. Lyle Courtney has terete and nothing like those of local Grevillea known of it’s existence here for over 50 years. alpina forms. Obviously, we need to examine this plant in more detail once flowering material 7. It was growing on the Courtney’s bush block well becomes available. Cuttings have been taken and before any houses were built in the area. Lyle we keep our fingers crossed, as populations of can remember populations of dozens of plants. this plant are rapidly declining. 8. ‘Hairy Mary’ has pink flowers. There are a number I present the following reasons for being skeptical of local G. alpina colour forms,but none is pink. about the Grevillea rosmarinifolia influence in 9. To our knowledge, there are no garden G. ‘Hairy Mary’: rosmarinifolia plants in the area. I sincerely hope 1. The National Herbarium has long listed Grevillea that this provides food for thought. We will certainly lanigera as growing in three areas of Western be investigating other possible sites and will keep Victoria. The website cites one population you informed of our progress. Is it possible that North of Maryborough, and another South of ‘Hairy Mary’ is its very own species?

Neil R Marriott

Holly-leaf Grevilleas Grevillea aquifolium research

Gareth Holmes continues his Post Graduate PhD Trisha Downing also a Post Graduate researcher phylogeny work at Melbourne University into the from Melbourne University is in the middle of SE Australian holly-leaf group of Grevilleas. extensive research into Grevillea aquifolium for I hope to provide an up to date report on this her PhD. She has just returned from an extensive important work for the next newsletter. collecting trip through western Victoria and SE Sth Research

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February 2009 Grevillea Study Group No. 82 9 Australia collecting as many clones of this species way from Horsham to Halls Gap, we collected in as possible (197 collections all up!!). It turns out the Deep Lead reserve (at the Stawell-Deep Lead that the population we collected in the Woakwine Rd, East-West rd intersection). Collected a whole Range on our SA field trip last year had never been bunch of plants over a rather wide area – along recorded before and there were no specimens the nature walk, around the dam at the picnic area in the SA Hebarium. This property has recently and on the other side of the road to a beekeeping been sold to Forestry SA and the rare plants will area. Spent so long there that my plan to Research be well looked after. This property is now called collect at Stawell got pushed to the next day :) the Bray Junction Native Forest Reserve. Trisha Instead, we collected between the 1st and 2nd also collected the species from the Bagdad Forest Wannon Creek bridges on the Grampians Rd while Reserve northeast of Robe, on the advice of the trying to find the weir – we had some general info Forestry SA contact she had – these were similar from the hotel owner, but nobody really seemed to the Woakwine population. It would be good if to know about it. Anyway, after finding another members travelling in this region could keep an checkpoint area for the pipeline and a track that eye out for this population. While on the trip Trisha parallels the Grampians Rd thru the swamp-ish also collected her new Grevillea angustiloba ssp areas to the Wannon creeks, we did eventually wirregaensis from a number of new localities in SA. find the weir! Unfortunately, no 6 m plants – that Here is Trisha’s email report on her trip: area got burnt in 2006 and the area below the weir is choked with bracken and the Incense “We collected 205 specimes (8 were G. angustiloba Plant (Calomeria amaranthoides), although that ssp wirregaensis, from near Wirrega; the rest were is at least 2-3m tall. We did find 6-10 seedlings in G. aquifolium) – herbarium vouchers and DNA roughly the area you mentioned, they are only 20- samples on silica gel for all, and attempted to 40cm tall, but their leaves are different. And, due to have at least one wet collection form each site. All the really tall undergrowth, it is easy to understand indiviual plant collections were gps-ed separately why the plant was 6m tall! Seedlings were found (to do with population genetics later on). both above and below the weir on both sides of the We collected from Carpenter Rocks in the mostly dry creek. The track is not marked, so the conservation park (used to be Neville Bonneys biggest threat would be from maintenance crews. HA area/ bush block) – these were either totally Next day we collected at Stawell at the London prostrate or almost so, using other plants as Rd site near the rail line. Then we collected on support. Leaves are different, still holly shape, but Redman Rd and found loads of seedlings. Actually smaller. Also, went to the Woakwine property – now almost everywhere we went we found seedlings, owned by Forestry SA and called the Bray Junction including some of the places we visited in 2006 native forest reserve. Collected from the northern (was showing Mum the devastation from the fires, and central areas, between the pine plantation and the extent of regeneration in the 2 years blocks – plants were different to Carpenters, more since). We also collected at the Sundial carpark like typical G. aquifolium. Also collected from the and along Serra Rd and Henham Track. We found Bagdad forest reserve northeast of Robe, on the 2 leaf forms at one site on Redman Rd as we advice of the Forestry SA contact I had – these got closer to Mt Cassell (did not go up onto the were similar to Woakwine. mountain) – the more typical form and one plant Collected G. angustiloba ssp wirregaensis from more similar to those on Mt William. near the silos on the rail siding near Wirrega just The following day we collected along the Victoria off the Dukes Hwy in the rail reserve (on the word Range, both more in the valley and foothill area of a conservation seed guy from DEH) – these are (Red Hill Rd), along the Glenelg River Rd (Victoria to be used in the molecular phylogeny, as Gareth valley Rd), along Goat Track and the Victoria didn’t have any samples to use. Range Rd, near the Cave of Hands (Manja shelter) From Horsham, we collected from near Cooack rd and at the junction of Syphon Rd and Serra Rd in the Little Desert, both near the junction of Cooack (closed section) in the valley. Along the range road Rd with Salt Lake track, and along the southern we found one rather woody plant that was 2.7m tall firebreak, north east of Cooack Rd. We had a look – tallest we have seen. We then travelled around at Mt Arapiles, and managed to find some very the bottom of the Grampians and headed north small seedlings at the Bluff picnic area, but had to Balmoral, collecting on the Natimuk-Hamilton no luck at the base near the campground. On the continued >

February 2009 Grevillea Study Group No. 82 10 Rd (we always find it before we get to where we on (clonal?). The plant/s were right on the edge of plan on going) and at the entrance to the Fulham the 3m high really dense wet Melaleuca heath and streamside reserve. We also collected on the Black will be wiped out if they widen the firebreak (which Range Rd and Stubgate Rd in the Black Range is planned). Anyway, Dave Pitts from DSE and state park, and on the Glenisla Crossing road, Dave Ryan from Parks Vic Nelson office now know between the Henty Hwy and Brimpaen Rd. These where it is, and Dave Ryan has promised to keep plants had flowers with either red or yellow/yellow- and eye out for it and send me samples if he finds Research green/ yellow-pink styles, and some plants had it anywhere else. It wasn’t in flower, but had spent bi-coloured inflorescences. inflorescence stems and very early buds. So there is the trip – the DNA samples will be worked on Finally, we went to Portland (and the rain followed). next year, and I hope at the very least to work out No luck at Mt Richmond as you said, but I tried in whether the Kentbruck population is clonal :)” the Kentbruck heath in the Lower Glenelg national park. Apparently a local field nat came across it Sadly, like us Trisha could not re-locate the distinct a few years back west of the reference area (our population of Grevillea aquifolium from the foot of consensus was that he walked into it – they are Mt Richmond so it looks like this one is now extinct. very prickly!). Any way, the field nat had pointed it Is there anyone left with this in their garden?? If out to a bloke from DSE and he led us to it. Great! so please contact me urgently. Of similar concern, – except that its only in an area maybe 4m long and is the one remaining population in the Kentbruck 1-2 wide and the area is earmarked for ecological Heath that is proposed to be destroyed for a burning at any time. I collected 3 specimens, but firebreak!! I thought National Parks were to protect am not sure (could not tell), whether there was 3 species!! Silly me. or more plants, or just one large clump hanging

Seed Bank Matt Hurst 37 Heydon Ave, Wagga Wagga 2650 NSW Phone (02) 6925 1273 Please include a stamped self addressed envelope.

$1.50 + s.a.e. Free + s.a.e.

Seed bank Grevillea armigera Grevillea monticola Grevillea banksii Grevillea leucopteris Grevillea aurea Grevillea nudiflora – grey leaf form Grevillea longistyla Grevillea baileyana Grevillea paniculata Grevillea banksii Grevillea ‘Moonlight’ Grevillea candelabroides Grevillea petrophiloides – red tree form Grevillea ‘Moonlight x Grevillea drummondii Grevillea polybotrya Grevillea banksii Ivanhoe’? Grevillea excelsior Grevillea pulchella – red prostrate Grevillea petrophiloides Grevillea decora Grevillea refracta Grevillea Bon Accord Grevillea plurijuga Grevillea floribunda Grevillea superba Grevillea caleyi Grevillea robusta Grevillea glauca Grevillea teretifolia Grevillea floribunda Grevillea ‘Sandra Gordon’ Grevillea johnsonii Grevillea tetragonoloba – ex The Rock NSW Grevillea superba Grevillea leucopteris Grevillea triloba Grevillea johnsonii Grevillea treueriana Grevillea longistyla Grevillea wickamii ssp Grevillea johnsonii ‘Orange’ Grevillea wilkinsonii Grevillea magnifica ssp aprica magnifica Grevillea wilsonii Please note: seed from hybrid -substitute -cultivated plants does not necessarily come true to type.

Fresh stocks of garden seed are desparately needed as most species are almost out of seed. Can members asking for seed please give an alternative list in case some species are no longer in stock. It is preferred if requests are sent with a small padded post pack. It costs less to send at approx $1.50 per letter than padding an envelope at $2.00 each or more so the seed will survive the trip down the sorting rollers. It’s a good idea to send extra stamps with requests as extra postage is usually needed to be paid with almost every request. Leftover stamps would be sent back with your seed.

February 2009 Grevillea Study Group No. 82 11 Financial Report – February 2009 Email Group

Income This email group was begun by John and Ruth Sparrow from Queensland. Free membership. Subscriptions $231.71 To subscribe, go to groups.yahoo.com and register, Plant sales 2,458.80 using the cyber-form provided. You must provide Donations 10.00 a user name and password as well as your email Interest 57.70 address to enable continuing access to the site Seeds 7.50 which houses all emails and discussions to date. $2,765.71 You will receive a confirming email back and then you are able to access the site wherein you

The back page Expenditure can select the groups to which you would like to Newsletter publishing $240.00 subscribe. In this case search for ‘grevilleas’ and Printing 144.95 then subscribe. Postage 141.75 Following this you will receive the latest emails Stationery 29.25 regularly in your email to which you can respond. This is a good way to encourage new growers $555.95 and those interested in the genus. Amount in Interest Bearing Deposit till 30/6/09 Postmessage: [email protected] $22,779.13 Subscribe: [email protected] Balance in Current Account 9/2/09 Unsubscribe:[email protected] $8,835.63 List owner: [email protected] Balance in Business Cheque Account 26/1/09 URL to this page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ $10,711.27 grevilleas

Online Contact Office Bearers 1. President’s email address [email protected] Leader 2. The email group Peter Olde [email protected] 140 Russell Lane, Oakdale NSW 2570 3. URL for Grevillea Study Group website Phone (02) 4659 6598 http://users.bigpond.net.au/macarthuraps/grevillea%20study%20group.html Email [email protected] Deadline for articles for the next newsletter is Treasurer and Newsletter Editor 30 September 2008, please send your articles Christine Guthrie to [email protected] before this date. PO Box 275, Penshurst NSW 2222 Phone / Fax (02) 9579 4093 If a cross appears in the box, your subscription Curator of Living Collection of $5.00 is due. Neil Marriott Please send to the Treasurer, Christine Guthrie, PO Box 107, Stawell Vic 3380 PO Box 275, Penshurst 2222. Please make all cheques payable to the Curator of Grevillea Park Bulli Grevillea Study Group. Ray Brown 29 Gwythir Avenue, Bulli NSW 2516 2008 2009 Phone (02) 4284 9216 Curator of Seed Bank Matt Hurst 37 Heydon Ave, Wagga Wagga 2650 NSW If a cross appears in both boxes Phone (02) 6925 1273 this will be your last newsletter.

February 2009 Grevillea Study Group No. 82 12