DOCSLIB.ORG

Wollemia Nobilis Wollemi Pine

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Wollemia Nobilis Wollemi Pine MULCH Much Useful Learning Concerning Horticulture VOL.22 No.1, January, 2016 Castlemaine & District Garden Club Inc. Wollemia nobilis Wollemi pine Castlemaine & District Garden Club P.O. Box 758, Castlemaine 3450 [email protected] http://castlemainegardenclub.wordpress.com COMMITTEE Wollemia nobilis President Judy Uren 5470 6462 Vice-president Judy Eastwood 0417 149 251 Secretary Sally Leversha 0437 683 469 [email protected] Treasurer Alan Isaacs 5473 3143 Committee Members Marion Cooke Jan Gower Heather Spicer Sue Spacey Wollemi Pine: Kew Gardens Newsletter Editor Tom Comerford 5470 6230 Wollemia nobilis is a conifer in the [email protected] plant family Araucariaceae. The Webmaster discovery of the Wollemi Pine in Judy Hopley 5472 1156 1994 created great excitement in the [email protected] botanical community due to its resemblance to conifer fossils like Dillwynites and Agathis jurassica. Wollemi Pines are restricted to approximately 40 adult and 200 juvenile Wollemi Pines growing in the Wollemi National Park of New South Wales, 200 km north-west of Sydney. The rare nature of the I really look forward to Monday Wollemi Pine has seen it listed as morning—it gets me back to work endangered. The Wollemi Pine is a tree, which about striking the Wollemi Pine is can grow up to 40 m in the wild with that cuttings taken from the top of a trunk diameter reaching up to one the tree will produce a vertical metre. The bark of the tree is bubbly growing plant, whilst cuttings taken in appearance, chocolate brown from the bottom of the tree will colour in colour. It is monoecious, produce horizontal growth. meaning that each plant has both Wollemi Pines can be grown male and female sexual outdoors in most climates of reproductive cones. These cones Australia. Given the size of adult appear at the end of branches, the trees it is not recommended for female cone always growing above small yards unless it is grown in a a male. The Wollemi Pine has two pot. In the first couple of years it types of branches, one that grows should be grown in half shade upright looking like a trunk arising however after this time period it can in most cases from the base of the be grown in full sunlight. Sandy soil tree, and another that grows with good drainage is laterally and bears sessile leaves. recommended. Be wary of One amazing characteristic of the waterlogged soil, either through Wollemi Pine is that of every plant over watering or poor drainage. growing in the wild has the exact Watering should be increased in the same DNA, making the species summer months especially when the even more special. tree breaks (opens it new leaves) The cultivation of the Wollemi Pine around November-December, is similar to other conifer species. although this may vary depending Plants can be grown from seed or on your location in Australia. The struck from tip cuttings. If growing Wollemi Pine can handle frosty plants from cuttings then a strong conditions and in the wild breeding hormone is recommended occasionally has to cope with (5,000-10,000 gms/litre) to promote snowfalls. The tree can be fertilized root growth. Striking plants can be once a year with any general placed in cells or tube pots filled fertilizer such as Aquasol. Fungal with river sand. Most plants will infection can occur, especially take six months to strike but this is Phytophthora, this is more likely variable depending on type of stock when grown in a pot. plant, season, and growing The Wollemi Pine was first released environment. Once the plant has to the general public in 2006. struck, pot it in a standard conifer mix (70-80% pine bark; 20% river Adapted from Wollemia nobilis sand) and water it in accordance to W.G.Jones, K.D.Hill & J.M.Allen the time of year. An interesting note to pick and in the morning it was PRESIDENT’S bare. They stripped the apricot as MESSAGE well, but I didn’t mind that so much as it was the first year it had hardly any fruit. The nectarine tree is full of fruit so I have netted it and we will see how that fares. My grandchildren are very disappointed that there will be no plum and raspberry jam this year. I would like to wish everyone and their families a Happy New Year and may it be safe, healthy and as Greetings from the very hot hill in productive as you wish it to be. Castlemaine. The weather does Until next time. remain a fascinating subject even Judy Uren though it is summer and we are living in central Victoria we still remain surprised at how hot and dry it is. The upside of the hot weather is you get to do all those things you have put off all year as you potter in the garden, such as cleaning cupboards, sorting out your wardrobe, mending and in my case finishing off a number of quilts that have been awaiting my attention for some time. My garden and many around Castlemaine appear to be faring quite well with the heat and so far I haven’t lost anything, however the tomatoes are not doing very well possibly because of the humidity, but the roses have been wonderful. The Cockatoos are doing nicely, also. They managed to strip my We sit in other people’s gardens, plum tree virtually overnight. I had why not in our own been watching the plums, had Mabel Osler: A Gentle Plea for Chaos decided tomorrow would be the day (1989) OUR HISTORY 2016 20 YEARS AGO Applications close Monday, 23rd January 1996 February 22, 2016 Club Gathering in the Botanical Enquiries and application forms: Gardens: 5470 6230 Office Bearers Conditions of the Bursary award President: Jenny Howe Vice President: Leanne Farrell the student is a resident of the Mount Secretary: Barbara Maund Alexander shire or is apprenticed in Treasurer: Lachlan Anderson an horticultural activity within the Public Officer: Jean Lorenz Mount Alexander Shire Committee: Sue Grimes, Dianne the award is given on merit and Thomson subject to interview the award money must be used to purchase reference materials not to 10 YEARS AGO offset fees the award of the Bursary is for the January 2006 current year Floral Inspiration: Elaine applications for the award must be Speight made annually. Award winners may A teaspoon of dried jasmine re-apply. flowers, shaken into a 110gm preference may be given to a first year packet of oolong tea leaves, makes student/apprentice an aromatic drink, perfect when the recipient of the Bursary will served with scones filled with lilac provide a report of their year’s jelly and cream scented with progress at the completion of the geranium leaf. Spice up a barbeque academic year. with aromatic red roses petals; It is anticipated that for 2016 the simply snip off their bitter white Bursary amount will be $500. bases and sprinkle them over lamb kebabs before grilling. JANUARY 2016 FEBRUARY 2016 26th General Meeting Botanical 23rd General Meeting Gardens: Speaker- Katie Finlay MA Fruit Be there from 6.30pm. Gardens New Year Get together Sun28th – visit to MA Fruit Gardens Botanical Gardens BBQ Area Subscriptions due! Bring your own food & drink Fri 12th Committee Meeting And don’t forget a chair Sue Spacey’s (And a table) if you have one. 11th MULCH deadline MAY 2016 JUNE 2016 24th General Meeting 28TH General Meeting Speaker- Barry Lacy- Bonsai 6PM Fish ‘n Chips 25th – Visit to Barry’s Garden Castlemaine O/N trip 30th May & 1st June to Hospital Auditorium Cranbourne Gardens & Cloudehill Speakers Jo Wedgewood & Pam Dandenongs Adams Prep for Spring, worm RSVP 26/4/16 farming&pruning- visit to garden 12th MULCH deadline TBA th Fri 10 Committee Meeting Sally Leversha’s 16th MULCH deadline SEPTEMBER 2016 OCTOBER 2016 27TH General Meeting 25TH General Meeting Speakers: Speaker: Richard Lay Irises Judy Uren & Heather Spicer Visit to Richard & or Harvey Jacka’s “Establishing new gardens” October Weds 26th Gary Sobeys 10 am car pool Octopus -Tuesday 6th Sept “Orchids”- Butterfly House ASQ Kyneton Daffodil Festival & lunch to Fri 14th Committee Meeting follow Alan Isaac’s 15th MULCH deadline 13th MULCH deadline Friday 28th SHOW PARADE MARCH 2016 APRIL 2016 22nd General Meeting 26th General Meeting Speaker- Neutrog- fertilizers Speaker: Lynne Kelly – “Spiders” 23rd- Visit to Burnley Horticultural Sat9th – Car Trail- Lambley Nursery College –Julie-Anne Webster Car pool Octopus 12.30pm- afternoon tea RSVP 17th Isaacs Fri 8th Committee Meeting 10th MULCH deadline Jan Gower’s 14th MULCH deadline JULY 2016 AUGUST 2016 26THAnnual General Meeting 23RD General Meeting AGM Speaker: Dianne Thomson Speaker: Damien Kelly- Birds. Composting, propagation & pruning Rose Pruning Demonstration at prep for Spring SallyLeversha’s or Botanical Gardens Fri12th Committee Meeting date TBA Judy Eastwood’s 14th MULCH deadline 11th MULCH deadline NOVEMBER 2016 DECEMBER 2016 22ND CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION 6.30pm for 7.00pm. Venue TBA Nov 25th Maryborough Garden Club Merry Christmas hosting Interclub get together & Safe & Happy New Year. Sunday 6th GARDEN MARKET DAY 10th MULCH deadline. NEW YEAR FEBRUARY RESOLUTIONS DIARY Marie Harrison, an Keep up watering Master Flower Show Trim summer-flowering shrubs Judge, instructor of as they fade horticulture for Take softwood and semi- National Garden hardwood cuttings Clubs, and a Master Gardener made Watch out for fungal diseases the following resolutions. Do they Order spring flowering bulbs match with yours? Spray apple and pear trees with I resolve to wear sunscreen and carbaryl every three weeks to protective clothing when I work in protect against codling and light the garden.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Plant Mobility in the Mesozoic Disseminule Dispersal Strategies Of
    Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 515 (2019) 47–69 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/palaeo Plant mobility in the Mesozoic: Disseminule dispersal strategies of Chinese and Australian Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous plants T ⁎ Stephen McLoughlina, , Christian Potta,b a Palaeobiology Department, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden b LWL - Museum für Naturkunde, Westfälisches Landesmuseum mit Planetarium, Sentruper Straße 285, D-48161 Münster, Germany ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: Four upper Middle Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous lacustrine Lagerstätten in China and Australia (the Daohugou, Seed dispersal Talbragar, Jehol, and Koonwarra biotas) offer glimpses into the representation of plant disseminule strategies Zoochory during that phase of Earth history in which flowering plants, birds, mammals, and modern insect faunas began to Anemochory diversify. No seed or foliage species is shared between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere fossil sites and Hydrochory only a few species are shared between the Jurassic and Cretaceous assemblages in the respective regions. Free- Angiosperms sporing plants, including a broad range of bryophytes, are major components of the studied assemblages and Conifers attest to similar moist growth habitats adjacent to all four preservational sites. Both simple unadorned seeds and winged seeds constitute significant proportions of the disseminule diversity in each assemblage. Anemochory, evidenced by the development of seed wings or a pappus, remained a key seed dispersal strategy through the studied interval. Despite the rise of feathered birds and fur-covered mammals, evidence for epizoochory is minimal in the studied assemblages. Those Early Cretaceous seeds or detached reproductive structures bearing spines were probably adapted for anchoring to aquatic debris or to soft lacustrine substrates.
    [Show full text]
  • Late Jurassic) Near Gulgong, New South Wales
    DOI: 10.18195/issn.0312-3162.23(1).2006.043-076 Records of the Western Australian Museum 23: 43-76 (2006). The leptolepid fish Cavenderichthys talbragarensis (Woodward, 1895) from the Talbragar Fish Bed (Late Jurassic) near Gulgong, New South Wales 1. B. Bean Dept of Earth and Marine Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia e-mail: [email protected] Abstract - "Leptolepis" talbragarensis Woodward, 1895, is the most common fish species in the Talbragar Fish Bed near Gulgong, New South Wales. The genus Cavenderichthys Arratia, 1997, has this species as its type. The three species originally proposed by Woodward (1895) for "Leptolepis" are a single species. A detailed comparison of Cavenderichthys talbragarensis with members of the genus Leptolepis, and also with the Late Jurassic forms Tharsis dubius and Leptolepides sprattiformis, indicates that Cavenderichthys talbragarensis is most closely related to Late Jurassic members of the Family Leptolepididae. Analysis of zircons for geochronology showed that the sediment just below the richest fish layer has a youngest component of 151.55 ± 4.27 Ma, corresponding to the Kimmeridgian Stage of the Late Jurassic. Thin sections of the upper prolific fish layer show preservation in tuffaceous sediments, indicating that the fish population was killed by ash falls of felsic tuff that filled the pond they inhabited. INTRODUCTION partly on his own observations, but also on the Fossil fishes were first discovered at Talbragar work of Cavender (1970) who compared about 30 km northeast of Gulgong by Arthur Lowe coregonines and other salmonids with some of the of Wilbertree, NSW in 1889 (Woodward 1895).
    [Show full text]
  • Revision of the Talbragar Fish Bed Flor (Jurassic)
    AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS White, Mary E., 1981. Revision of the Talbragar Fish Bed Flora (Jurassic) of New South Wales. Records of the Australian Museum 33(15): 695–721. [31 July 1981]. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.33.1981.269 ISSN 0067-1975 Published by the Australian Museum, Sydney naturenature cultureculture discover discover AustralianAustralian Museum Museum science science is is freely freely accessible accessible online online at at www.australianmuseum.net.au/publications/www.australianmuseum.net.au/publications/ 66 CollegeCollege Street,Street, SydneySydney NSWNSW 2010,2010, AustraliaAustralia REVISION OF THE TALBRAGAR FISH BED FLORA (jURASSiC) OF NEW SOUTH WALES MARY E. WH ITE The Australian Museum, Sydney. SUMMARY The three well known form-species of the Talbragar Fish Bed Flora-Podozamites lanceolatus, Elatocladus planus and Taeniopteris spa tu lata - are redescribed as Agathis jurassica sp. nov., Rissikia talbragarensis sp. novo and Pentoxylon australica sp. novo respectively. The minor components of the assemblage are described and illustrated, and in some cases, reclassified. Additions are made to the list of plants recorded from the horizon. INTRODUCTION The Talbragar Fish Beds are characterised by their beautifully preserved fish and plant remains which occur in great profusion throughout the shale lens which comprises the Beds. The ochre-coloured shale is ferruginous, with impressions of plants and fish, white in colour, standing out dramatically. The weathering of the outer layers of blocks of the shale has resulted in contrasting bands of iron-rich stain framing many of the specimens and enhancing their appearance. Specimens are much prized by collectors. The fossil locality is the valley ofthe Talbragar River, about twenty miles due North of Home Rule Mine in the Cassilis District, "on the southern boundary of Boyce's selection" (Anderson 1889).
    [Show full text]
  • Vanuata Vegetation
    Plant Formations in the Vanuatu BioProvince Peter Martin Rhind Vanuatu Mixed Lowland Rain Forest Up to about 600 m altitude lowland rain forest is the natural vegetation on the southeastern, windward sides of all Vanuatu islands. Important trees are Antiaris toxicaria, Castanospermum australe, Intsia bijuga and Kleinhovia hospitat. Endemic species include Alangium vitense (Cornaceae). On old volcanic ash, rich in plant nutrients, trees can reach more than 30 m in height with large crowns. Typical sub canopy trees include Diospyros acris, Garcinia pancheri and Syzygium species, while endemic small trees include various Veitchia palms, Calophyllum inophyllum (Clusiaceae) and Trilocularia pedicellata (Balanopsidaceae). These forests are best developed on the northern islands of Malakula and Espiritu Santo, and are structurally similar to forests on the Solomon Islands. However, many are in various stages of recovery following disturbance from hurricanes. Vines and epiphytes are numerous and certain areas are covered with lianas. The undergrowth includes various shrubs, and typically there is an herbaceous ground layer comprising genera such as Geophila and Homalomena and ferns like Asplenium, Microsorium and Pteris, but tree ferns are usually absent. Of endemic species, however, many seem to be specific to certain islands or island groups. On Aneityum, for example, there are endemic trees such as Boehmeria anisoneura (Urticaceae), Canarium aneityensis (Burseraceae), Couthovia neo-ebudica (Loganiaceae), Cryptocarya wilsonii (Lauraceae), Cupaniopsis
    [Show full text]
  • A Living Fossil and Evolutionary Enigma Andrew A
    “VITAL ARTICLES ON SCIENCE/CREATION” April 2006 Impact #394 Wollemia nobilis: A Living Fossil and Evolutionary Enigma Andrew A. Snelling, Ph.D.* When discovered in August 1994, the Wollemi pine was hailed as the “botanical find of the century,” like “finding a small dinosaur still alive on earth.” It was found by New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service ranger David Noble during a weekend bushwalk into a remote 500–600 meter deep narrow sandstone canyon in the rugged and densely forested Wollemi National Park only 200 kilometers (125 miles) northwest of downtown Sydney, Australia (figure 1). Thus this strange tree from the “ancient” past, a new genus, was formally named Wollemia nobilis (figure 2). Features of the Trees In the first grove discovered there were only 40 trees in a 5,000 square meter area—23 adults, 16 juveniles, and the largest, a fallen tree 40 meters long with a girth of three meters. Botanists were at first puzzled by the strange features of this pine, a unique member of the *UHDW “monkey puzzle tree” family $UWHVLDQ %DVLQ . Araucariaceae. Conifers have dark :ROOHPL 3LQHV green foliage, but the Wollemi pine OLYLQJ has bright lime green fern-like 7DOEUDJDU leaves on younger foliage varying )LVK to a yellow-olive green on mature %HG NP IRVVLOV PLOHV trees. The mature, dense, waxy foliage is arranged in rows of four. %OXH 0RXQWDLQV 6\GQH\ GRZQWRZQ The tree trunks have a distinct 3ODWHDX GLVVHFWHG 6\GQH\%DVLQ knobby, spongy, cork-like bark that makes them look like they are coated with bubbly brown $XVWUDOLD *UHDW $UWHVLDQ chocolate.
    [Show full text]
  • Underground Signals Carried Through Common Mycelial Networks Warn Neighbouring Plants of Aphid Attack
    Ecology Letters, (2013) doi: 10.1111/ele.12115 LETTER Underground signals carried through common mycelial networks warn neighbouring plants of aphid attack Abstract Zdenka Babikova,1,2,3 Lucy The roots of most land plants are colonised by mycorrhizal fungi that provide mineral nutrients in Gilbert,2 Toby J. A. Bruce,3 Michael exchange for carbon. Here, we show that mycorrhizal mycelia can also act as a conduit for signalling Birkett,3 John C. Caulfield,3 between plants, acting as an early warning system for herbivore attack. Insect herbivory causes systemic Christine Woodcock,3 John A. changes in the production of plant volatiles, particularly methyl salicylate, making bean plants, Vicia faba, Pickett3 and David Johnson1* repellent to aphids but attractive to aphid enemies such as parasitoids. We demonstrate that these effects can also occur in aphid-free plants but only when they are connected to aphid-infested plants via a com- mon mycorrhizal mycelial network. This underground messaging system allows neighbouring plants to invoke herbivore defences before attack. Our findings demonstrate that common mycorrhizal mycelial networks can determine the outcome of multitrophic interactions by communicating information on herbi- vore attack between plants, thereby influencing the behaviour of both herbivores and their natural enemies. Keywords Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, broad bean (Vicia faba), common mycelial networks, induced defence, multi- trophic interactions, parasitoid wasp (Aphidius ervi), pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum), plant volatiles, plant-to- plant communication. Ecology Letters (2013) gene expression in healthy tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) INTRODUCTION connected to plants infected with leaf early blight (Alternaria solani). Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form symbioses with many her- This finding suggests that interplant transfer of pathogenic fungal baceous plants, including important crop species, have a near global disease resistance signals via these networks could be occurring.
    [Show full text]
  • Section II: Periodic Report on the State of Conservation of Fraser Island
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL PERIODIC REPORT SECTION II Report on the State of Conservation of Fraser Island --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Periodic Report 2002 - Section II Fraser Island 1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I.1. INTRODUCTION a. State Party Australia. b. Name of World Heritage property Fraser Island. c. Geographical coordinates to the nearest second Between latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere 24 degrees 41 minutes 39 seconds South and 25 degrees 48 minutes 12 seconds South, and longitudes 152 degrees 55 minutes 54 seconds East and 153 degrees 21 minutes 42 seconds East. These coordinates are based on Fraser Island plus a 500m buffer seaward of the high water mark. The Fraser Island World Heritage Area covers approximately 184,000 hectares in total and also includes a number of small islands off its west coast including Stewart, Dream and small un-named islands between Dream Island and the mouth of Yankee Jack Creek and including Boonlye Point. The boundary on these smaller islands also includes 500 metres seaward of the high water mark on these smaller islands. d. Date of inscription on the World Heritage List Inscribed at the Sixteenth Session at Santa Fe, USA, 7–14 December 1992. e. Organisation(s)
    [Show full text]
  • The Egg and the Nest: Obtaining Information About the Reproductive Biology of Apteryx Spp
    Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. The Egg and the Nest: Obtaining information about the reproductive biology of Apteryx spp. (Family: Apterygidae), a cryptic avian taxon, through eggshells A Thesis is partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology At Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand David Vieco Gálvez 2019 Cover painting: The Haywain Triptych by Hieronymus Bosch. Circa 1516 Museo del Prado, Madrid. Back painting: The Concert in the Egg by a follower of Bosch. Circa 1561. Palais des Beaux-Arts, Lille. Engraving from Stultitia Laus by Hans Holbein, 1511 Abstract The amniotic eggshell is a bioceramic that can endure the passing of time without major alteration to its physical structure. Not surprisingly eggshells have been found in numerous paleontological excavations around the world and have been used to identify the presence of major taxa and furthermore, to propose hypotheses on how extinct amniotes lived and nested. In the past decades the information that has been obtained solely through eggshells, ranges from inferences of a specie’s habitat, to diet, and nesting behaviours. This information can be obtained using techniques such as microscopy, stable isotopes, ancient DNA, allometry, physics and biochemistry. The possibility of making inferences about an organism’s biology using its eggshells make them an invaluable asset in biological research, as we can obtain information about species that are difficult to observe otherwise, that are endangered, or that are not even alive anymore.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 3: the Age of the Earth, the Fossil Record and Noah's Flood
    Chapter 3: The age of the earth, the fossil record and Noah’s flood. A week later, Xiao Wang and Xiao Li returned to Professor Ho‘s office, arguing heatedly as they entered. ―Good afternoon boys!‖ Professor Ho greeted them happily, standing up behind his desk, which was strewn with books as always. ―What is it you‘re discussing?‖ Xiao Wang nodded in greeting and launched in: ―Professor Ho, I‘ve been researching what you‘ve discussed with us. I have to admit, I‘m something of an ‗intelligent design‘ theorist now. But I still have a big problem with your Bible cr- eationism. Scientists have found fossils in rock layers which show evolution happened for millions of years—‖ Xiao Li cut in: ―I already told him, Professor Ho, that that just means God used evolution! Evolution is God‘s tool- box.‖ Xiao Wang shook his head. ―That‘s ridiculous! I‘ve read the book of Genesis and it doesn‘t look in the least bit like evolution. The fossil record of evolution is a long, bloody process of struggle, death and change. If there was evolution, you don‘t need a God as a Creator!‖ ―You‘d still need a Creator!‖ countered Xiao Li. ―Life didn‘t start by itself, and animals wouldn‘t change into new forms by themselves by accident. Professor Ho proved that to us already. You still need God to drive evolution for- ward.‖ ―If there‘s a ‗god,‘ behind evolution, then he‘s sloppy and cruel. The fossil record looks nothing like the story of the Garden of Eden!‖ Xiao Li forced a look of patient wisdom onto his face.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution of Australian Biota Study Day
    Evolution of Australian Biota Study Day 2013 The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan session Evolution and adaptation of Australian natives Student Activities Illustration: Southern conifer forests, Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust. Evolution of Australian Biota List of plants Wollemi Pine Wollemi nobilis Podocarp (Mt Spurgeon Black Pine) Prumnopitys ladei Kauri Pine Agathis robusta Bunya Pine Araucaria bidwillii Hoop pine Araucaria cunninghamii Cycads Cycas revolta, Zamia integrifolia Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba Tree fern Dicksonia antarctica Skeleton Forked-Fern Psilotum nudum Ferns, Mosses, Liverworts, Algae various Wait-a-while Palm Calamus muelleri Tree waratah Alloxylon flammeum Rose silky oak Darlingia ferruginea Sandpaper Fig Ficus coronata Macadamia Macadamia integrifolia Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora Ribbonwood Idiospermum australiense Bolwarra Eupomatia laurina Grevillea Grevillea spp. Coastal Banksia Banksia integrifolia Kangaroo grass Themeda australis Community Education Unit Living fossils – Australian native plants past and present This exercise requires you to measure and record your observations of the following parts of Australian conifers to compare the extinct Agathis jurassica with its modern relatives. Fill in the table using the words below. plant part Ancient Kauri Pine Modern Kauri Pine Wollemi Pine Agathis jurassica Agathis robusta Wollemia nobilis leaves cone other features of interest habitat: distribution: long and narrow not evident 40 m tall sedimentary rock Gondwana fossil fish “chocolate crackle” bark male and female widespread warm – cool temperate rainforest shallow lake parallel veins warm and wet 100 trees smooth bark protected environment coppicing Community Education Unit Landscapes of Gondwana Jurassic Period 165mya • Great southern continent of Gondwana formed as it separates from the north • Climate warm and wet • Even climate across Gondwana with no dramatic seasonal changes • Vegetation lush.
    [Show full text]
  • Living Fossil’
    In 1941, Chinese botanists collected specimens of the Dawn Redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, growing in the mountains of Sichuan and Hubei Provinces of China. This species had previously only been known from the fossil record, so you can imagine the excitement at the discovery of this ‘living fossil’. However, in Australia in 1994, David Noble, a field officer from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and two companions, on a lonely trek through the wilderness of steep canyons of Wollemi National Park, north-west of Sydney, discovered yet another ‘living fossil’, the tree we now know as the Wollemi Pine, Wollemia nobilis (Wollemia after Wollemi National Park, nobilis after David Noble). Noble’s discovery was not initially met with enthusiasm. In fact, it was dismissed as a garden escape – a conifer from China and Myanmar, Cephalotaxus fortunei – common in parks and gardens of the upper Blue Cephalotaxus fortunei Mountains. However, two determined Wollemia nobilis botanists, Wyn Jones and Jan Allen, were sure that this was a new – and unique – species. They set about a careful, detailed review and after months of work even the sceptics agreed that this was not only an extraordinary discovery of a new genus and species Wollemia nobilis, but the discovery of yet another living fossil. The Wollemi Pine bore a remarkable resemblance to fossils of Agathis jurassica (Araucariaceae) which had long been known from the Jurassic Talbragar Fish Beds¸ north-east of Gulgong. Moreover, here at Macquarie University, the fossils have been used for decades for teaching palaeontology and plant evolution. Now, before we get carried away, we should reconsider the term living fossil and remember that the Wollemi Pine is not a fossil, rather a modern day descendent of those ancient trees.
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolution of Seeds
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by DigitalCommons@CalPoly The evolution of seeds Ada Linkies1, Kai Graeber1, Charles Knight2 and Gerhard Leubner-Metzger1 1Botany ⁄ Plant Physiology, Institute for Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Scha¨nzlestr. 1, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany (http://www.seedbiology.de); 2Biological Sciences Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, USA Summary The evolution of the seed represents a remarkable life-history transition for photo­ synthetic organisms. Here, we review the recent literature and historical under­ standing of how and why seeds evolved. Answering the ‘how’ question involves a detailed understanding of the developmental morphology and anatomy of seeds, as well as the genetic programs that determine seed size. We complement this with a special emphasis on the evolution of dormancy, the characteristic of seeds that allows for long ‘distance’ time travel. Answering the ‘why’ question involves proposed hypotheses of how natural selection has operated to favor the seed life-history phenomenon. The recent flurry of research describing the comparative biology of seeds is discussed. The review will be divided into sections dealing with: (1) the development and anatomy of seeds; (2) the endosperm; (3) dormancy; (4) early seed-like structures and the transition to seeds; and (5) the evolution of seed size (mass). In many cases, a special distinction is made between angiosperm and gymnosperm seeds. Finally, we make some recommendations for future research in seed biology. Think of the fierce energy concentrated in an acorn! You 2008; Pennisi, 2009).
    [Show full text]