AUSTRALIAN NATIVE SOCIETY

CANBERRA REGION (INC)

Journal Vol. 19 No. 09 March 2019 ISN 1447-1507 Print Post Approved PP100000849 Contents President's Report Ben Walcott 3 President's Report President's Report 2017–2018 Lucinda Royston 4 ANPSA News 6 Loss of Mature Native Trees Geoff Butler and Sarah Sharp 8 By BenWalcott All the Wednesday Walks reports Searching for Orchids at Smokers Flat Roger farrow 12 Welcome to 2019. I would like to have been uploaded onto the new What to Buy? Masumi Robertson 17 thank you all for your patience as we website and are now in the process Propagation Group, How We Work Nola McKeon 22 of being organised. get used to our new membership What else does the Propagation Group do? Nola McKeon 25 system. There have been numerous There will be a place for Field Trips Return to 'Ballyhooly' Margaret Ning 27 challenges to get it to fit our needs reports as well as other items Pollination of the Endangered but generally it is working well. members may request. It is going Merimbula Star-Hair (Astrotricha sp. Wallagaraugh) Roger Farrow 30 to take some months, perhaps Experimenting with pedunculata Janet Russell 36 The previous system was a manual several years, to get the website fully Native Cherries are a bit mysterious Greg Muller 38 one that took constant attention populated with what we want. Study Group Notes Brigitta Wimmer 41 by the membership secretary and ANPS Canberra contacts and membership details inside back cover involved many steps to maintain. It is important to remember that the The new system is much more website isn’t just for us, it is our face Cover: Clematis leptophylla, Sutton, NSW; Photo: Gail Ritchie Knight automated and will require much to the public. We want it to be useful to them and encourage the use of less effort to maintain. native plants in gardens. The new website is still a work I would remind members that 16 The deadline dates for submissions are 1 February (for in progress. We decided that the Journal articles March is our autumn sale and The Journal is a forum for the exchange of members' March edition), 1 May (June), 1 August (September) membership system had priority we will need lots of help setting up and others' views and experiences of gardening with, and 1 November (December). and now we can add the other propagating and conserving Australian plants. Send articles or photos to: on the Friday before and then on the essential material. day. All contributions, however short, are welcome and Journal Editor may be accompanied by photographs or drawings. Gail Ritchie Knight We are planning a whole section These sales are important because The editor reserves the right without exception to edit 1612 Sutton Road of the site for Plants, (we are still they get lots of native plants into all articles and include or omit images as appropriate. Sutton NSW 2620 looking for an appropriate name), gardens and provide significant Submit photographs as either electronic files, such e-mail: [email protected] which will have information on interaction between the public and as JPEGs, or prints. Set your digital camera to take tel: 0416 097 500 specific plants that do well in our members of our Society. Please help high resolution photos. Please send JPEGs separately Paid advertising is available in this Journal. Contact region and how to plant, prune, out. and not embedded in a document. If photos are too the Editor for details. propagate, purchase and generally large to email, copy onto a CD or USB drive and send Society website: http://nativeplants-canberra.asn.au look after plants. it by post. Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed Printed by Elect Printing, Fyshwick, ACT envelope if you would like your prints returned. If you There will be a section on plants http://www.electprinting.com.au/ have any queries please contact the editor. in bloom this month, as well as people’s favourite plants. Original text may be reprinted, unless otherwise indicated, provided an acknowledgement for the source is given. Permission to reprint non-original material and all drawings must be obtained from the copyright holder. The views and opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily the views and opinions of the Society. Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 3 provides jointly funded scholarships The next Biennial Conference is in and fellowships under which we have Albany, WA in November 2019. donated an initial payment of $10,000. President's In September, with the stock of our This year we have agreed to support book Australian Plants for Canberra two projects: region gardens and other cool climate areas down to 300+ we have reprinted Report •• Michael Cleland via Charles Sturt another 1000 copies. We printed 2000 University to investigate biodiversity copies in 2015 and again in 2016. 2017–2018 benefits from re-instating fire into long unburnt temperate grassy We ran two plant sales again this year. ecosystems; and At the March Autumn Plant sale we had By Lucinda Royston, President, ANPS At the November AGM, Life Membership •• Dr Ken Hodgkinson to research the nearly 15,000 plants and sold 11,000; Canberra Region 2017–18 was awarded to Lyndal Thorburn roles of soil properties in the survival at the October Spring Plant sale we of planted native forbs, germination/ had xxx plants, and again sold 11,000. This is a joint Presidents’ report as and Tom Jordan thus acknowledging establishment of native species and Feedback from customers says that Ben Walcott and I shared the role of their long-term and broad-range competition between forbs and most get information about our sales President while I was away for the contribution to ANPS and to its aims and values. grasses of exotic native species. from Facebook and electronic means second half of 2018, travelling to and and from our roadside signs. in Western . As the position A question was raised this year on The Capital Region Landkeepers Trust of Vice-President was vacant, Ben as whether the current ‘member grower’ aims to contribute to the management We have expanded the membership Treasurer took on the President’s role. system may be in conflict with our of this region’s landscape by investing in of the Plant Label Database Team from people and projects. three to 11 members following the Once again, our memberships have Constitution, specifically that no member shall receive or acquire any review of the Plant Label Database and remained at about 300 members with Under advocacy, Council put in Standards Committee in 2107. individual and family memberships. Our financial advantage as a consequence of submissions to: membership fees have remained the their membership. Unfortunately, there was no Autumn •• the ACT Government on the Weed Swap event this year as funding same too. Accordingly, Council sought Molonglo River Reserve Draft from the ACT Government (with professional legal advice that In April, Council was very pleased to Management Plan; and money needed for plants) was in confirmed we were not in breach of have Garth Chamberlain volunteer to •• the NSW Minister for Environment doubt/not confirmed until it was too the Associations Incorporation Act 1991 be Secretary, after more than a year of expressing our dismay that late to hold the event as planned. though recommended we make a this position being vacant. No Council feral horses are being protected Council had decided not to provide the change to our Constitution to make it meeting was held in June as a number with disregard for fragile alpine funding instead. Fortunately, the ACT consistent with the Act. This was done of council members were away or ecosytems. government did later commit to funding unavailable. with a unanimous vote at the Special We also provided comments to the and Weed Swap was held in November. Meeting held with the September In August, Council decided that there ACT Parks and Conservation Service on members’ meeting. This year, Council has focussed on having would be a benefit to having the Journal a possible PlantSure program aimed a website that meets our needs and is Editor and Bulletin Editor on Council This year, Council decided to donate at reducing invasive species sold in more usable and appealing, particularly and both accepted Council’s invitation $10,000 to the Canberra Nature Map nurseries. to those outside the Society. After and joined Council. Project to support the developing and In January this year the ANPSA Biennial approaching five professional web design implementing of a Weed Location App, Council is developing a Conflict of Conference was held in Hobart. Ben and brand management companies as a component of the Project. Interest policy for the Society and it is Walcott, as ANPSA Vice-President, and about redeveloping our website, we currently out with our sub-groups for We have a partnership with the two other ANPS members represented selected Giraffe based on their quote and them to consider and comment on. Capital Region Landkeepers Trust that us as Delegates at the business meeting. our discussions with them.

4 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 5 In April, Giraffe created a lite version of monthly Daytime Activities, biannual With all the elected officers the tele- The four objects (should perhaps be our website for us to trial and comment plant sales and Weed Swap. conference included 17 participants. objectives?) specific to ANPSA as stated on as they continue to develop our final •• activities that keep the society Time differences ranged from 5pm in in the Bylaws are: website. There is a redirect from the old running — monthly Council WA to 8pm in the eastern states with •• To further collaborate between website to the new website (https:// meetings, the plant label database, daylight saving time. It brings home autonomous member societies nativeplantscbr.com.au). our website and our IT facilities, what a big country Australia is! •• To promote all aspects of the the monthly meeting book sales, The new website is intended to contain At the AGM, the previously discussed horticulture of Australian plants all ANPS databases that are essential for membership database, quarterly •• To promote the conservation of Journal and monthly Bulletin. changes to Rules and Bylaws were the Society — membership, plant labels ratified. The main alteration was to Australian plants and their habitats etc as well as information. All these activities and events are simplify the appointment of officers •• To speak with one voice for member We subsequently asked Giraffe to look at organised and maintained by members such as Newsletter Editor by not societies at a national level. redesigning a new logo as well. Giraffe volunteering. Every bit of assistance a specifying their titles. This eliminates Conservation member can contribute is appreciated/ have developed a logo, pitching the the need to formally change the Bylaws Eddy Wajon, as the ANPSA conservation worthwhile. design to a younger demographic, of every time it is found expedient to officer, has led action on three major stylised Eucalyptus polyanthemos leaves Our thanks and appreciation go change or discontinue a role. conservation issues in the past year: and with the words ‘native plants society’ to all the coordinators and team One of the motions adopted at the •• the threat to the bushland reserve prominent. We have asked members to members and to those who volunteer, Biennial meeting was the publication surrounding the Jandakot airport in provide us with their comments. participate and support the Society by of the Rules and Bylaws on the ANPSA We have had another busy year of: being members. It has been another successful year. website. •• the continuing damage caused by brumbies in the Kosciusko National •• regular members’ activities — What is this national body with the 13 December 2018 Park monthly members’ meetings, field cumbersome acronym ANPSA? It is not trips, Wednesday walks, propagation, a peak body in the usual sense: it does •• and the ever-increasing threat to not dictate policies to the member Australian plants by the spread of myrtle rust. societies in each state and territory, which are independent. A delegation from WA and ACT took the Jandakot airport issue to various It creates an opportunity to present a federal government representatives in ANPSA News united front of many members across Canberra. They were received favourably Australia to promote our aims. Matters but final decisions will take up to 18 can be brought to the attention of months. Alternative solutions continue politicians at the federal level. to be proposed at the local level. By Riitta Boevink, two delegates, each member society President, ANPSA is represented by one delegate. The Top End Native Plant Society from the On the 27th of November was an apology, the second Australian but all other member societies were Native Plants Society Correction represented by their delegate. Australia (ANPSA) On Page 15 of the December 2018 issue And on page 21 of the same issue, the meeting was held as a teleconference If you have any questions or concerns of the Journal (Vol 19 No 8) the caption caption of the photo was also incorrect. preceded by the Annual General about conservation issues that you think of the top right photo was incorrect. It It should read: 'Wahlenbergia gloriosa'. Meeting (AGM). Except for the would be of interest at the national should read: 'Jean at Mt Franklin in the Annual meetings, when there are level, contact your delegate. Brindabellas, 1965'.

6 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 7 Loss of Mature Native Trees Declared a Threatening Process ACT Finally Acts!

By Geoff Butler and Sarah Sharp Obviously, vegetation clearance was required as Europeans established their Prior to the European invasion of production needs from the country. The what was to become Australia, the ‘bush’ must have seemed endless at that first peoples had quite extensively time. modified various Australian landscapes (primarily by the use of fire) over some But one often wonders, if the first 60,000 years to enable their successful settlers and planners had access to the habitation of the continent. knowledge we have today, would the clearing have been done somewhat Australian landscapes as they existed differently, ensuring corridors, retention at the time of the invasion were well Photo: Sarah Sharp of mature trees (especially those with described by early European observ- hollows) and appropriate representative ations and good examples of these were ecosystems, some where the only real •• Throsby — removal of 46 mature samples of all ecosystems were published in Bill Gammage’s tome The remnants are the ancient scattered trees in known breeding area for conserved as development proceeded? Biggest Estate on Earth — how Aborigines mature trees, many with hollows and Superb Parrot; made Australia (Allen & Unwin 2011). Current generations are not the first to many over 300 years old. As these trees •• Williamsdale Solar Farm — removal question clearing regimes in this country. However, with the European invasion, senesce and die, there is little probably of 156 mature trees, a high As far back as the 1860s, some people far greater and devastating impacts of any recruitment to take their place. percentage with hollows. Ministerial were aware of the amount of clearing. were to be wrought on the ecosystems They are still subject to removal for call-in powers were used to enable of Australia. Indeed, wholesale clearing Louisa Atkinson (1834–1872) was aware intensive agriculture, development removal of these trees. of native vegetation started on day of the impact of European agricultural projects, firewood and ‘cleaning up’, and •• Crace — 80 to 100 mature trees one of European settlement as clearing practices on native flora and fauna. On removals still occur in the ACT. desirable for retention removed at was undertaken in Sydney Cove (Semi- numerous occasions, she commented request of ACT Planning Authority Despite legislation designed to protect Circular Quay/Cove as it was then) on the impacts of clearing eg ‘It needs no for solar access. around the Tank Stream where the fertile imagination to foresee that in, say, mature trees in the urban landscape, in recent years there have been substantial These recent large-scale ACT removals settlement was to be established. half-a-century’s time, tracts of hundreds were the ‘straws that broke the of miles will be treeless’ (Biography of removals of these woodland sentinels in Since that day, wholesale clearing camel’s back’, and stimulated the Louisa Atkinson, Wikipedia 2018). the ACT. Some examples are: has never really faltered, and has had Biodiversity Working Group (BWG) of unremitting consequences for our We now have extensive areas of •• Antill St, Watson — removal of 42 the Conservation Council ACT Region ecosystems and their inhabitants. highly modified woodland/grassland trees, 25 with hollows; into action. Other State jurisdictions

8 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 9 had previously addressed removal of hollow-bearing trees) and a lack of The proof will be in the pudding — Department of Sustainability and hollow-bearing trees as a Threatening recruitment as a Threatening Process though we believe that the notifiable Environment, , 2003 Process (eg NSW Office of Environment under the Nature Conservation Act 2014 instrument is a step in the right https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/__ & Heritage 2011 and Department of section 90C (Conservation Advice). direction. data/assets/pdf_file/0025/32488/Loss_ Sustainability and Environment, Victoria, of_hollow-bearing_trees_from_Victorian_ The notifiable instrument can be located The only additional item we would 2003). native_forests.pdf Loss of hollow-bearing at: https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/ like to have considered is that when trees from Victorian native forests and The Friends of Grasslands and Australian ni/2018-536. The authors recommend a mature tree (especially one with woodlands. Action Statement No 192. Native Plant Society Canberra Region examination of this document. The hollows) has to be removed, that it is relocated to an area where it may Le Roux, Darren 2018. Barrer Hill: Restoring representatives on the BWG prepared conservation advice is a good summary Box-Gum grassy woodlands for remain as functional habitat in other a draft nomination for hollow-bearing of the nomination and the required wildlife. News of Friends of Grasslands, trees which was discussed and refined actions are clear. nature reserve areas, rather than be cut September–October 2018. by members of the BWG. up or mulched! We are disappointed, however, that the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage 2011 Placement of such trees within Molonglo The Canberra Ornithologists Group protection actions remain weak (page https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ offset areas have proved that this is a determinations/lossofhollowtreesktp. representative provided extra 16 of the notifiable instrument under very successful way of providing habitat htm Loss of Hollow-bearing Trees — key information on two threatened bird Protection Actions); actions to mitigate species used as examples of threatened at a range of fauna (le Roux 2018). threatening process final determination; against the loss of mature native trees NSW Scientific Committee 2011. fauna when requested by the ACT include: References Scientific Committee (ACTSC) who were October 2018 •• Restrict, as far as possible (our Biography of Louisa Atkinson, Wikipedia assessing the nomination. 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ emphasis), clearing of: The BWG was pleased that the Louisa_Atkinson • ACTSC came back at an early stage • Mature eucalypts over 50cm of assessment advising they were diameter at breast height examining the nomination to also cover •• Mature native trees that contain mature trees and recruitment to the nest hollows nomination, which we were obviously •• Native trees (other than happy to support. eucalypts) that have reached The revised nomination, submitted approximately 67% of their in April 2017 under the Conservation maximum diameter. Council – ACT Region, Australian Native •• Promote (our emphasis) retention Plants Society Canberra Region, Friends of standing dead trees wherever of Grasslands, Canberra Ornithologists possible. Group and Field Naturalists Association •• Encourage (our emphasis) retention of Canberra, can be found at https:// of non‐mature native trees across www.legislation.act.gov.au/View/ urban and rural landscapes to ensure ni/2017-198/20170428-65895/ a future supply of mature trees and PDF/2017-198.PDF avoid lag times. On the 20 September 2018 the ACT It is acknowledged that there will always Minister for the Environment and be times when mature trees may be Heritage, Mick Gentleman MLA, signed removed, and wording around support off on Notifiable Instrument NI2018–536 for retention of mature trees is always Loss of Mature Native Trees (including difficult. Bursaria spinosa, Sutton, NSW; Photo: Gail Ritchie Knight

10 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 11 Searching for Orchids at Smokers Flat, Corin

Large Mountain Greenhood (Pterostylis monticola)

Text and photos: Roger Farrow David Jones published the description of a new species, D. interaneum, for the In early January, Christine and I joined inland populations, while retaining three members of the orchid group, D. hamiltonianum for the coastal namely Jean and Bill Egan and Eyal populations. Lebedinsky, to check on the status of the orchids known from Smokers The main difference is its smaller purple Flat, Corin. The weather was cool markings on the compared with Inland Yellow Orchid ( interaneum) [left]) and Hyacinth orchid () and overcast, quite a relief from the the large blotches in D. hamiltonianum. preceding hot weather. After a steep climb, we found the spot Square Rock. But the orchid people Arthropodium milleflorum, away from but no orchids, however, we were circumnavigate the swampy flats to the pigs, but no orchids were seen. Before we arrived at the Flats, we rewarded with several D. punctatum on the north of the road where the orchid checked out the Hyacinth orchids We then entered a strip of woodland our return. Both species are saprophytic locations are well known. on a granite-based woodland slope and a creek towards the second flat and are usually found near the base of near Birrigai. Jean knew the exact The first Flat we entered is close to where we found several patches of our eucalypts. spot for the Inland Yellow Hyacinth the road. Unfortunately, it is heavily first greenhood, Pterostylis monticola, Orchid, Dipodium interaneum, its I have been to Smokers Flat with the impacted by feral pig diggings, some with its black labellum. Needleless to only known location in the ACT. Wednesday Walkers several times in as recently as the night before our say, we received several warnings about Most readers will know this orchid as past years. We used to undertake the visit, after the rain. However, there was not tripping the labellum from our D. hamiltonianum. But in January 2019 Smokers Flat Loop and the walk to a spectacular display of Vanilla Lily, orchid friends.

12 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 13 Pig damage Vanilla Lily (Arthropodium milleflorum)

Channelled Leek Orchid (Prasophyllum caniculatum)

In the second and smaller flat, we Also seen here was the large bird discovered Prasophyllum caniculatum orchid, Chiloglottis valida, whose flowers among the Poa tussocks plus spent were largely spent, but some plants flowers of Diuris monticola and Diuris sp. showed the unusual elongating stems supporting the seed capsules. Our next objective was to find the special sun orchid that grows in hanging Our next target was the sickle Large Mountain Greenhood (Pterostylis monticola) swamps of sphagnum, Baeckea and greenhood, P. falcata. We returned Leptospermum above the Flats. across the flat to the creek that divides the two flats and eventually found After a bit of scrub bashing, Eyal located a small patch of this species on the a substantial patch of veined sun orchid, creek bank. This large greenhood is Thelymitra cyanea, with a few open characterised by its green labellum. flowers. Note the curious spiral twist of Large Mountain Greenhood (Pterostylis monticola) the arms.

Red-stem Cranesbill (Geranium neglectum) Also seen nearby was a large potato orchid, Gastrodia sesamoides, in seed. There was a fine display of fringe lily, Thysanotus tuberosus, in this woodland while the white flowers of red-stem Cranesbill, Geranium neglectum, stood Fringe Lily (Thysonotus tuberosus) out in the swamps. Veined sun orchid (Thelymitra cyanea) Sickle Greenhood (Pterostylis falcata)

14 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 15 We also kept a lookout for the small potato orchid stems, Gastrodia sp., at mountain greenhood, P. anoema, that is the base of several gum trees. known from the Flats, but we did not see it. Besides the flower display in the Flats, We returned to the road and did a short there were , day-flying moths roadside walk looking for hyacinth and other in abundance and What to Buy? orchids. Eyal quickly located the only we were inevitably pursued by blood- specimen of D. roseum growing high on seeking March Flies. Unfortunately, we the bank. There were also many spent did not see any pollinators visiting the orchids, but this requires a much longer, time-consuming effort and patience.

Rosy Hyacinth Orchid () Australian Native Plants Canberra Region plant sale

Anisynta dominula (Hesperidae) 2-branded grass Text and photos by Masumi Robertson But there are other considerations. feeding at Hypoxis. Our autumn plant sale is on this month and autumn is the best time to plant many native plants, when the soil is What about frosts? This is the most still warm for good root growth so that frequently asked question, is it frost plants can settle in before the winter. hardy? It is assumed that a plant is frost Also the days are kinder to gardeners hardy to -7C when there is no mention and plants; plants are less likely to die of a need for frost protection on our from thirst and the scorching sun. So labels. More on this later. what to buy? Phalaenoides tristifica (Noctuidae: Agaristinae) Where are they from? There is a detailed guide to choosing When deciding on a species, I generally plants for a designed garden in our try to plant a [LOCAL] species, if book, pages 18 through to 22 of possible. These are plants propagated Australian Plants for Canberra region using seeds and cuttings of plants garden and other cool climate areas, originating within a 50km radius from 5th edition. Basic information such as the Canberra GPO. As such they are the plant size, growth habit, leaf and flower most adapted to our climate. They may colours, when it flowers, and soil and be endemic (unique to our region) or sun/shade requirements, is on the indigenous (growing locally and also label, as well as in our book to help you Unidentified Male Ichneumon wasp perched on a elsewhere). Euphyia perornata (Geometridae) Vanilla Lily choose a plant.

16 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 17 This difference is important because Endemic plants are more But the climate for the area inside and some species occur across Australia, uniform outside the 50 km radius for these especially when they occur in species is very similar to Canberra, if The local forms are not as essential for and/or the Northern anything, colder, so for these endemic some endemic plants, such as Grevillea Territory. plants, a choice between local and non- diminuta and G. iaspicula. Brindabella local plants probably does not make Grevillea and Wee Jasper Grevillea Variation within a species much difference to how well they do in occur in the Brindabella Ranges and a Now back to frosts. Even though a a Canberra garden. label does not mention the need for small area around Wee Jasper along the frost protection, not all plants of a shores of Lake Burrinjuck, respectively, given species are frost hardy. Some as the names indicate, nowhere else. species have a wide distribution within Australia. Plants sourced from northern Australia, such as Qld and NT, are not Callistemon subulatus likely to be frost hardy. Plants from the coastal areas of the south-eastern states are often damaged by our severe frosts. aemula is a container plant. Grow it as an annual, or for a warm microclimate spot, as stated on our labels. It just cannot survive through our winters. But another coastal plant Callistemon subulatus is hardy and long-lived in Canberra. Bossiaea grayi Grevillea diminuta along a track to Prior’s Hut Conditions for the majority of Australia I know of just one species which are very different to Canberra. Most occurs only in the ACT, thus both plants originating from these areas local and endemic. It is Bossiaea grayi, will struggle to do well in Canberra. a Murrumbidgee pea. It is a newly It is useful to understand their native described shrubby pea growing along conditions (soil, temperature and sun) Chrysocephalum apiculatum the Murrumbidgee River. Some of these and to recreate similar conditions in For example, Chrysocephalum populations were discovered by our our gardens for these non-indigenous apiculatum is a highly variable Wednesday Walkers. plants. groundcover and found throughout How about all those non- Banksias, for example, are among the all states and territories, including the indigenous plants?? best-known native plants. The majority Australian Capital Territory. So it is of this species occur in WA, often in The majority of plants are non-indigenous. indigenous, but not endemic. deep sand. Only one species is native to But plants growing in a similar climate Distribution of G. diminuta; the ACT, B. marginata. Local forms are much more reliable area as the Canberra region are expected Photo: The Australasian Virtual Herbarium and there is even an Australian Cultivar to do well in Canberra. Plants originating In addition to B. marginata, Banksias Registration Authority (ACRA) cultivar The society sells local and non-local from relatively cold and dry areas of NSW, from the eastern states, such as called ‘Canberra Carpet’, listed in our forms of these species. I presume Tas, Vic and SA are better suited than B. ericifolia, B. integrifolia, B. serrata and Plant Label Database as C. a. (green non-local forms were propagated from those from northern NSW, Qld, NT and B. spinulosa are hardy, but none of the suckering) [LOCAL]. plants just outside the 50 km radius! most of WA. WA species is, so they do need much

18 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 19 This is most apparent for Eucalypts; their young plants show juvenile leaves and flowering plants adult leaves. Plants such as Banksias and Hakeas often take a number of years before a plant is ready to flower. For example B. spinulosa var spinulosa may take eight years to flower. If your plants have not flowered for a number of years, they may have been grown from seed.

Are clones identical? Shade [left] and sun [right] grown plants Species can be variable, some quite a bit. But cultivars and special form sheltered conditions of a plastic tunnel plants are the same, at least so we have or shadehouse and these plants are not as sturdy. Choose dark green, strong- Banksia marginata in Namadge National Park been told. Cultivars and special forms are clonally propagated by cuttings looking plants, even when they are or divisions (a form of cuttings), so shorter. Remember, you are not buying the form of the propagated plants is spinach, as Gwyn and Geoff used to say. supposed to be identical to the source Spindly, weak-stemmed plants are less (not the parent) plant. Their genetic likely to survive when planted out in the Rooted cutting makeup is the same, so the plants garden. should grow the same. This is indeed do produce seeds. This is to maintain You can find out where a plant occurs often the case. the plant size, flower colour etc of the naturally in our book, or look it up source plant. And the seeds of some of However, there is variation within a in the Australian Plant name index these are very difficult to germinate. clone. The same cultivar responds (APNI) (https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/ Others, such as Acacias and Eucalypts, differently to Canberra garden services/apni) or the Australian Virtual are usually propagated by seeds, conditions when brought back from a Herbarium (AVH) https://avh.ala.org.au/ because it is difficult for these cuttings plant sale, including our plant sales. I search/#tab_simpleSearch. Or just look Banksia ericifolia to root. Seed grown plants are variable have found that plants grown locally for plants with [LOCAL] on their labels at as they contain genetic diversity. are of hardier stock, probably because our plant sales. care in the ground or need to be grown these plants are propagated from in containers. Many WA species will not For woody species which can be plants performing well in local gardens. propagated by cuttings or seeds, I try grow here at all. In contrast, plants grown in milder to buy cutting-grown plants because of climates are not acclimatised to our Seed vs cutting grown the additional time needed for seed- conditions and it may take a season or grown plants to flower. Some seed Native plants may be propagated by two for them to settle in and survive our grown plants, especially shrubs and seed or by cuttings and divisions. climate. trees, may take several years. Cutting- Many of the plants at our plant sales grown plants are usually already in Plants grown in full sun on benches, are propagated by cuttings such flowering mode, so they flower right as they do at Greening Australia and as Callistemons, Correas, Croweas, away, but seed-grown plants need Yarralumla Nursery for hardy natives, Eremophilas, Grevilleas, Melaleucas to go from their vegetative to their are ideal. Some plants at our plant and Westringias, even though they reproductive phase. sales are grown continuously in the Snow on Canberra-grown plants

20 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 21 Propagation Group How we work

Neither of these regular propagation activities happens without a significant amount of preparatory and follow-up work. The materials used for our cutting mix need to be bought, transported, mixed and placed in punnets. Baskets of these punnets have been Text: Nola McKeon; Photos: Masumi The punnet is given a label that records: prepared and brought to each cutting Robertson unless otherwise stated name of plant, source of the cuttings, bee by one of our members for many ANPS Canberra has been growing plants date of the cutting bee, hormone used years along with hormone, pencils, for the last forty years or so. This is an and number of cuttings in the punnet. secateurs. Similarly, other members outline of how the current Propagation have been purchasing, transporting and All this information is also recorded on Group produces plants. storing the materials for our potting mix. the cutting sheet of the day, to be later We are about 16–18 regulars, and others entered into our propagation database. At the beginning of each monthly less regular, who turn up most months activity, tables are set up; water, buckets, to cutting or potting bees. These are Punnets are watered and placed in the mixes, pots and trays are readied. At the held in members’ yards; mainly, but not hotbed — which maybe a few metres or end of each session, of course, members always, in yards that house one of our many kilometres away. shade houses or hot beds. clean up and pack away all these Potting up sessions are normally held Potting up, obviously, involves tipping materials and do a stocktake of the day’s When a cutting bee is scheduled in the yard of a shade house to avoid rooted cuttings out of their punnets and output. people bring along cuttings from too much heavy lifting and moving. At placing each into individual pots. We their gardens or from potted plants then record how many cuttings reached Most, who can, stay after the session present the Society owns two shade they’ve recently bought. We share the potting up stage. That information is and we enjoy a shared meal which can cutting material with each propagator houses. We use a third that has been later added to the database. Potted be quite a surprise depending on who preparing one species at a time and generously built and made available to plants then sit in the shade house under brings what on the day. No coordination placing the cuttings into the prepared us by one of our members who also is the watchful eye of a minder while they goes into this but it is always quite a punnet of cutting mix. the minder for that shade house. become established and grow. relaxing, enjoyable time.

22 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 23 What else does the Propagation Group do?

Text: Nola McKeon; Photos: Masumi •• maintaining the capillary matting by Robertson unless otherwise stated keeping it swept of spilled cutting mix, The Group looks after shade houses •• adjusting the temperature settings and hot beds. These are housed within with seasonal changes. members’ yards. We currently have one of each looking for a new home. What is involved in: •• Hosting one of these facilities, and •• Being a ‘minder’. A ‘minder’ is the member/s who looks after the facility and the plants within. Hosting/Minding a Hot Bed The hot bed takes up an area 2.5m X 90cm, typically against a north- or Cuttings in punnets on a hot bed east-facing house wall. Although the Hosting a Shade House one currently on the south is quite The shade house takes up an area of successful. It needs to be out of direct 6.25m X 3.4m and needs access to both sunlight and requires access to mains electricity and water. You would cast an water and electricity. The host will eye over the automatic watering system normally be the minder also. to see that all sprayers are working and adjust it seasonally as to accommodate This means: changing weather and plant needs. Enjoying a shared lunch; Photo: Lyndal Thorburn •• checking punnets about once a week to make sure the system is Shade house minder Also enjoyable is the shared experience If you are new to propagating and working, that the balance of heat A shade house minder is not always of working together, learning about would like to learn more, we are holding the same person as the host.The th and water is correct, the plants we can grow locally. There an instructional session for our 7 April minder watches for signs of over/ is an amazing amount of plant and cutting bee. Watch the Bulletin for •• removing any dead cuttings, under watering, disease and pests propagation knowledge within the group details. •• soaking misters regularly in vinegar (caterpillars), weeds, treats for growth that members are very happy to share. to remove mineral deposits, of moss/lichen, prunes when necessary,

24 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 25 automatically during daylight hours and The hotbed needs to be cleaned about also trickles onto a wet mat underneath once a year as moss and liverwort like to the punnets and above the heat mat. grow in the damp and warm conditions. Very little water escapes the hotbed itself. If you are considering hosting/ The person hosting the hotbed is also minding a hot bed or a shade house usually the hotbed minder. Punnets please contact our Propagation need to be checked about once a week Group coordinator, Nola McKeon: to make sure the system is working, that [email protected] for more the balance of heat and water is correct information. and to remove any dead cuttings.

Return to 'Ballyhooly' Maureen taking stock for the autumn sale, Queanbeyan shadehouse; Photo: Ian Tranter

bed or a shade house is covered by an annual payment from the Society. ANPS Council has also funded the move to Cook shadehouse; Photo: Nola McKeon and installation of facilities at a new site. fertilizes, advises if plants need potting Assistance is also available for technical on, prepares the list of plants for the problems that may arise over time. Society’s autumn and spring sales, The shadehouse is surrounded with orders plant labels, inserts labels and plastic sheeting which can be lifted organises transport to the sale. along one edge for access. It needs to be out of direct sunlight or to be able Other members of the Propagation to be screened from direct sunlight, Group are available to help with these particularly in autumn when the sun can jobs in the lead-up to the sales and at be quite strong and there is a chance of other times when needed eg when the wilting cuttings. minder takes holidays. Mains water is plumbed in and The group about to start off, with our host (taller than the rest of us); Photo: Andrew Zelnik Shade house and hot bed controlled by a 12V controller which hosts requires an external powerpoint. Power By Margaret Ning We headed north for over a kilometre is also needed to run the heatmat which Shade house and hot bed hosts would [In October 2018] twenty visitors went to the top of a saddle where our hosts is sited under the plants and keeps the also need some space to allow for setting on a morning walk for a couple of hours thought we had the most chance of setup at about 21° Celsius. up tables for a propagation bee either at ‘Ballyhooly’, south-east of Bungendore seeing an orchid. They were right! A one, two or three times a year. The cost Water is sprayed over the top of NSW, the property of the Mossops, pretty pink Caladenia carnea greeted of electricity and water for running a hot the punnets on a timer which runs Friends of Grasslands members. us. Over the next 50 metres or so we

26 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 27 However, Rod Pietsch expressed doubts about Koalas and Gliders in this area and suggested the bark chewers may be Brushtail Possums. [Andrew Zelnik advised that Rod Pietsch has later indicated the bark damage could have been caused by cockatoos or galahs, not possums_ed]. With Roger Farrow, there were diversions to insect happenings, like Wattle Tick Scale Beetle. Andrew Zelnik’s photo shows the Wattle Tick Scale Beetles Cychramtodes murrayi (black) doing biological control of the wattle Caladenia carnea; Photo: Brigitta Wimmer tick scale, as can be seen by the scale Leucopogon fraseri; Photo: Janet Russell. managed also to see the leaves of marks on the left. For Roger, finding Greenhoods, Parsons Bands and Donkey these beetles made his day! Orchids. Heading back we continued to add to the species list. After a very civilised break in the middle of the day to have lunch, ten of us went out again for another couple of hours’ walking, in a different direction, along a spring-fed drainage line this time. The property consists mainly of open forest, with occasional more open areas Leucopogon fraseri, showing its size compared to a with patches of grassland forbs. It was 5c coin; Photo: Andrew Zelnik obvious that in a good year it would be Bark damage on eucalypt; Photo: Roger Farrow a magnificent sight in spring. We must We saw a Brittle Gum with extensively visit again in such a year. For today, the damaged bark. Roger’s query about it to Wattle Tick Scale Beetles Cychramtodes murrayi weather was perfect, with no rain but a Dr David Lindenmayer at ANU produced (black) controlling wattle tick scale; couple of slightly misty patches. this response: Photo: Andrew Zelnik The kangaroo lawn effect, this time, ‘Hi Roger — three things can do this: meant we saw slightly fewer species than on our last visit, because a dozen grass •• Yellow-bellied Glider — but the trunk species were too short to be identifiable! is not well incised to bleed the eucalypt The kangaroos are even eating the Red- sap; anthered Wallaby Grass (Rytidosperma •• Koalas sometimes do this — searching pallidum) around the house. Although for extra salts; Button Everlasting Coronidium scorpioides; Photo: Andrew Zelnik the property is the driest it’s been in 15 •• Cockatoos can do this — part of beak years, we still managed to add 25 species health. This seems too extensive for This article was previously published in the to their plant list. that, but still plausible.’ Notechis scutata, Tiger Snake; Photo: Janet Russell News of Friends of Grasslands, Nov-Dec 2018

28 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 29 South Coast Atlas of Life. The object of the day’s activity was to determine how many insects pollinate flowers of the Insect Pollination of the Merimbula Star-Hair in the Tura Beach reserves and whether this is a factor in any threatening processes affecting the Endangered Merimbula Star-Hair survival of this species. (Astrotricha sp. Wallagaraugh) Background Insects visit angiosperm flowers to feed on pollen and nectar and sometimes petals and . In doing so pollen A slender bee fly, Geron sp, (Bombylidae) feeding grains adhere to their body parts and on pollen of the Star-Hair. Its hairy body is covered may be transferred to other flowers in pollen grains on the same plant, to flowers on other plants of the same species and to flowers of other plant species. For most angiosperms, insect transfer of pollen is the principal method of cross- fertilisation and plants adopt different strategies to attract insects to their flowers in terms of visual appearance (structure, colour and patterns) and scent. Insects vary in their effectiveness as Spotted amber ladybird, Hippodamia variegata, cross-pollinators. Those with hairless (Coccinellidae) feeding on nectar. Its smooth body bodies carry little pollen (eg some surface is largely free of pollen grain beetles) whereas those covered with bristles or those that transport pollen to species, one of which is the threatened their nests (eg some beetles, flies and Merimbula Star-Hair. This is confined bees) may carry many pollen grains. to three localities in NSW, namely Tura Some nectar feeders may not even Beach, Middle Beach at Merimbula, touch the anthers when feeding and and the Wallagaraugh River. There are Volunteers, including Christine Kendrick, searching for insect pollinators on a magnificent, but some populations in nearby parts of vulnerable Star-Hair growing up against a suburban fence and bordered by a cleared firebreak do not carry any pollen grains (eg some Victoria. The largest populations are moths and butterflies). Text and photos: Roger Farrow coastal woodland and forest at Tura found in the Tura Beach area where where they are under threat from The Astrotricha belongs to the they occur in remnant patches of open Last November I volunteered to assist habitat destruction by urban expansion. family Araliaceae (the Ivies) which is eucalypt forest that are threatened by in a workshop and field study of allied to the sister family Apiaceae clearing for urban expansion. There is an potential pollinators of the endangered This plant is being studied by staff of (carrots). The only other local member additional small population nearby at Merimbula Star-Hair Astrotricha sp. the Threatened Species Unit of the of the family is the familiar Elderberry Middle Beach on Long Point. At Tura, the Wallagaraugh at Tura Beach north of NSW Department of Environment and Panax, Polyscias sambucifolia. There Star-Hairs occur in bracken-dominated Merimbula. The largest populations Heritage, ably assisted by a team of local are 11 described species of Astrotricha understory among scattered Banksia, of this undescribed species occur in volunteers, most of whom belong to the in NSW plus at least five undescribed Kunzea and Leptospermum species.

30 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 31 Field Observations specimens were subsequently identified The volunteers visited several different by myself and colleagues. populations of the Star-Hair in the Tura RESULTS Beach area over a period of about three Table 1 presents a combined list of hours on November 24 and recorded insects seen visiting the inflorescences the different insects visiting the flowers of the Astrotricha that day, what they by photography, direct observation and were seeking (pollen or nectar or both) capture. and an estimate of their effectiveness as The weather was relatively cool and pollinators (a pollination transfer rating windy with a maximum temperature of poor

Pollination Transfer Order Family Genus & Species Food Among other factors affecting the survival Rating of Merimbula Star-Hair populations is HEMIPTERA Pentatomidae Shield bugs Cermatulus nasalis Nectar Poor its level of natural regeneration and the Bugs Ocirrhoe unimaculata Nectar Poor efficacy of seed production from insect- Rhyparochromidae Seed bugs Dieuches sp ?Nectar Poor mediated cross-pollination. The Plant COLEOPTERA Buprestidae Jewel beetles Diphucrania sp Nectar & Mod Pollen Merimbula Star-Hair is a multi-stemmed, Beetles Cerambycidae Longhorn beetles Syllitus sp Nectar Poor straggly bush from one to two metres in height with each branch terminating Chrysomelidae Leaf beetle Adoxia benallae ?Pollen Poor in a compound inflorescence. Individual Coccinellidae Ladybirds Hippodamia variegata Nectar Poor Typical umbel of the Merimbula Star-Hair plants may carry a few to up to hundred Coccinella transversalis Nectar Poor or so inflorescences. Scymnus sp Nectar Mod Curculionidae Weevils Meriphus ?humeralis Pollen Mod The small cream-coloured flowers of this Astrotricha (photo above) are arranged Lycidae Net-winged beetles Porrostoma rhipidium Pollen & Good Nectar in umbels with three to four orders of branching panicles, consisting of several Melyriidae FPoorer beetles Carphurus sp Pollen Mod hundred individual flowers that are Dicranolaius sp Pollen Good tightly compressed within each umbel. Mordellidae Tumbling fPoorer beetles Mordella sp Pollen Mod The flowers are quite visible to potential Tenebrionidae Darkling beetles Lepturidea sp Pollen & Mod insect visitors. Individual flowers are Nectar protandrous, that is, the anthers mature Unknown Sp Pollen Mod first followed by the bifurcate styles. The flowers appear to secrete nectar and Anther-bearing stage on left, style-bearing stage on right have a faint but pungent odour.

32 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 33 Pollination However, the diversity of visitors was Transfer high. Forty different insect species Order Family Genus & Species Food Rating belonging to 32 families were recorded DIPTERA Asilidae Robber flies Sp None Poor visiting flowers in three hours (Table 1). Flies Bombylidae Bee flies Geron sp Nectar Good These comprised 13 species of beetle Bibionidae March flies Sp Pollen Mod (Coleoptera), 10 species of fly (Diptera), Calliphoridae BPoor flies Lucilia cuprina Pollen Mod five species of bee (Hymenoptera; Apidae) and a few species of bug Lauxanidae FPoorer flies Sapromyza Pollen Good (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), wasp Muscidae House flies Sp Pollen Mod (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), ant Platysomatidae Broad –headed flies Rivellia sp ?Pollen Poor (Hymnepotera Formicidae), BEETLES — Tumbling Flower Beetle, Mordella sp, Sarcophagidae Flesh flies Sarcophaga Sp Pollen Mod and moth (). pollen and nectar feeder Syrphidae Hover flies Melangyna sp Pollen Good Of these 40 species, only 10 could be Tachinidae Bristle flies Sp Pollen Good regarded as good pollen vectors, namely, the five bees, four of the six flies and HYMENOPTERA Apidae Bees Apis mellifera Pollen & Good only two of the 13 beetles (Table 1). The nectar butterflies, moths and bugs are considered Ants, bees Exoneura sp Pollen Good moderate to poor pollen vectors. wasps Colletidae Bees Leioproctus Pollen Good launcestonensis Leioproctus Pollen Good FLIES — Flower Fly, Sapromyza sp, pollen feeder ?thornleighensis The faint but pungent scent (to Halictidae Homalictus urbanus / Pollen Good humans) from the flowers would be holochlorus more attractive to flies and beetles Formicidae Ants Camponotus nigriceps Nectar Poor than bees and this is borne out by the Myrmecia sp Nectar Poor observations. Compound inflorescences, Vespidae Wasps Eumeniinae Nectar Mod such as these, tend to be pollinated by Thynnidae Flower wasps Rhagigaster ephippiger Nectar Mod BUGS — Shield Bugs Cermatulus nasalis, nectar feeder crawling insects rather than insects that fly directly to individual flowers, such LEPIDOPTERA Hesperidae Skippers doubledayi Nectar Poor as the larger species of bee and the Butterflies & Lycaenidae Blues Zizina otis Nectar Poor introduced honey bee, Apis mellifera, Moths was rarely seen at the flowers. Cosmopterigidae Sp 1 Nectar Mod Conclusions Sp 2 Nectar Mod We can conclude from this preliminary Zygaenidae Pollanius subdolosa Nectar Mod study that seed production in the Good pollinators in red Merimbula Star-Hair is unlikely to be with the numbers of insects seen on restricted by the lack of effective insect The overall visitation rate on the the flowers of adjacent Kunzea and pollinators. Like many native species, Astrotricha flowers during the Leptospermum shrubs. This suggests it has a generalist pollination strategy approximately three hours of obser- that the latter were more attractive BEES — Burrowing Bee, Leioproctus attracting a wide range of different insect vation was quite low, compared sources of pollen and nectar. launcestonensis, pollen collector species that feed on its pollen and nectar.

34 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 35 While Pterostylis sp. are not the most spectacular of flowers, having them accessible encourages you to look at Experimenting with the terrestrial them more carefully as you pass by. The delicacy, colour and detail are easier to orchid Pterostylis pedunculata appreciate. However, as time has passed, the indoor as an indoor plant plants have withered and faded while the outdoor orchids have mostly remained robust and still a rich maroon colour. This year I placed the outdoor orchids Text and photos by Janet Russell out of the sun, but still with access to At one of the Australian Native Plants light, because the leaves usually start Society (ANPS) biannual sales, when I looking dry and distressed before the was on duty at the information tent, a flowers fade. They have had a long young man asked whether I knew of any flowering and even now they are looking native plants that would grow indoors. fresh except for two or so. He had just moved into an apartment. However, I thought that they are also We had only just moved into our own looking spindly. The tallest one is 28 cm apartment and I had to confess I had which is taller than the average height of no idea. I suggested that he experiment them: say, 22 cm. According to NSW Flora and write and tell us how he got on. The Pterostylis pedunculata in a 30 cm diameter pot on online they can grow to a maximum of 25 idea of growing native plants indoors has our balcony in 2016. cm so perhaps most are not spindly after all exercised my mind since. One of our indoor flowering P. pedunculata, about and they are in the perfect spot outdoors. This was in the nature of an experiment We bought the Maroonhood, Pterostylis 10 cm tall. * eg http://fog.org.au/Newsletters/2012- pedunculata, at the ANPS plant sale to see if they could live in our heated 05newsletter.pdf p.7; http://fog.org.au/ in 2008. It is a Canberra plant. I have apartment. They do get respite from tend to face outwards. I suppose that Newsletters/2016-01newsletter.pdf p.12; written about them before under the the heat when the heating is turned off makes sense if they are looking to get http://fog.org.au/Newsletters/2016- at times during the day and overnight. guise of Pterostylis curta or simply their flowers pollinated by a gnat or other 09newsletter.pdf p.10. Apart from whether they survived or Pterostylis sp* until I found out from an flying insect. It may not be something This article was previously published in the not, I wanted to see whether they would expert what species they were. immediately obvious in the field because News of Friends of Grasslands, Nov-Dec 2018 grow towards the light. they often do not flower We had 40 plants by 2012. I have lifted One pot is on a table about a metre together in large numbers. them several times since, and when we from the window. These orchids have had too many plants for the pot last year Some of the plants were grown straight as ramrods without a I transferred some into four smaller pots flowering and others nod towards the light, and all three that which have been sitting on the balcony. were on their way when I are flowering face different directions. I had no idea how many plants I had brought them in, but there None face south towards the light; all are transferred to each pot as the corms is one pot where all the facing away from each other towards the sometimes may be no bigger than a plants are still only at the other three points of the compass. particle of soil. The four pots all sprouted leaf stage and they have leaves, I gave one pot away and brought I checked the larger pot outside, which remained so with no signs the other three inside. has more flowers, and the flowers do all of a stem. The flower stems vary considerably in height

36 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 37 orienteering maps, since they are in a cartographic Goldilocks zone: obvious, Native cherries are a bit just numerous enough to make them useful, but not so many as to clutter the map. mysterious, and possibly That was until Australia held the World Orienteering Championships in the inside-out mid-1980s, when the standardisation of Australian orienteering maps for overseas competitors led to the cherry By Gregg Müller, Lecturer in Natural ballart becoming an early victim History, La Trobe University of internationalisation — at least cartographically speaking. People don’t like parasites. But there’s a local Aussie tree that’s only a little bit Its utility also extended to the timber. parasitic: the native cherry, or cherry Among the uses of its 'close-grained and ballart. handsome wood' are tool handles, gun stocks and map rollers (although the last It’s what we call hemiparasitic. It can is probably a niche market these days). photosynthesise, but gains extra nutrients by attaching its roots to host Indigenous Australians ate the fruit, plants. used the wood for spear throwers and reportedly used the sap as a treatment The native cherry, Exocarpos for snakebite. They called it Tchimmi- cupressiformis, might be our most dillen (Queensland), Palatt or Ballot widespread root hemiparasite tree, but (Lake Condah, Victoria) and Ballee we’re not quite sure — root-parasitic (Yarra). shrubs and trees are a bit of a research Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière’s blank spot. We are not even really sure description of the native cherry. Voyage in search Grow baby, grow! who all the hosts of cherry ballart are. of La Pérouse Despite producing large quantities of fruit and seed, no one seems to be Although other parasites — like Jacques seems to have been a bit able to get native cherry to germinate mistletoes — have a more direct , and across to the Eyre cavalier with his record-keeping. reliably. There are anecdotal reports that Christmas association, cherry ballart Peninsula in . feeding the seed to chooks works, but does have an Australian Yuletide Or perhaps it was stolen or misplaced The first European to record it was other growers dismiss this approach. connection: their conifer-like after all his specimens were seized in an Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière, appearance (the species name overlapping series of defections, wars, The edible fruit isn’t actually a true fruit: the botanist on d’Entrecasteaux’s cupressiformis means 'cypress-like') was defeats and revolution as the expedition it’s a swollen stem. It’s reported to have expedition in search of La Perouse. He noted by homesick European settlers, the highest sugar level of any native formally described the species in 1800, tried to return to Europe. The collection who chopped them down for Christmas fruit in the forests of southern Victoria but we have no physical type specimen was eventually returned after the trees. and is much tastier than you’d think a — the botanical type is his illustration intercession of English botanist Joseph stem would be. (It’s also probably an and description. Banks — but no cherry ballart. On the map important nutrient supply for some Cherry ballart grows from the Atherton Maybe he lost his specimen, or disposed Its distinctive shape led to native cherry birds, but that’s yet another thing we are Tablelands in Queensland to southern of it, or thought a picture would do; being marked on early Australian yet to prove.)

38 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 39 specialist host duties with mistletoe widespread and attractive little tree, for some of our most beautiful which has a long indigenous use and butterflies (although mistletoes take was one of the first of our native flora to most of the glory in the scientific be described by Europeans. literature). This article was previously published on My research into our cherry ballart The Conversation 14 December 2018 hopes in part to correct these https://theconversation.com/native- historical slights. I want to set the cherries-are-a-bit-mysterious-and- record straight on this overlooked possibly-inside-out-108760

Study Group Notes

By Brigitta Wimmer, Study Group Liaison Eremophila Study Group Officer, ANPS Canberra Region Newsletter 122 February 2019 Acacia Study Group •• Letter from the Editor Newsletter 143, December 2018 •• Field Trip in 2020 The sweet and delicious fruit of native cherries is actually a swollen stem. Arthur Chapman/Flickr, CC BY-NC •• From the Leader •• What’s New in the Study Group •• From Members and Readers •• Eremophilas in the National Arboretum Terra Australis Garden This odd 'fruit' gives rise to the genus This might be because they modify •• Acacia lineata — Can You Help? their immediate environment. My •• Mis-identification of Eremophilas name (exo = outside, carpos = fruit,) and •• Wattle Tick Scale was often touted by early European research shows they create moderate •• Feature species — E. alternifolia •• Acacia mitchellii writers as another example of the topsy- micro-climates in their foliage, reduce •• The Eremophila Phytochemical •• Acacia paradoxa turvy nature of Australia — 'cherries' soil temperatures, increase soil water Database •• Acacia undoolyana with the pit on the outside went along retention, concentrate nutrients in the •• Chinnock key is in error for soil beneath their canopies, and alter with 'duck-billed playtpus', with •• Acacia purpureopetala E. maculata the understorey vegetation. They also pouches, trees that shed bark rather •• Uromycladium •• More on E. nivea Blue Velvet kill some of their host trees, creating than leaves, and Christmas in the middle •• The Lens of Acacia Seeds •• Know your Eremophila patches with higher concentrations of of summer. •• Acacias and Allergies dead timber. All these probably have •• Pruning of E. acrida Bushy Park •• Acacias and Methane Emissions Despite their oddness, native cherries something to do with their •• And more on the E. maculata yellow in the bush are biodiversity hotspots. attraction, but exactly how is a mystery •• Books •• Eremophila Grey Horizon My camera trap data show they yet to be solved. •• Seed Bank •• Sub-Group meetings preferentially attract echidnas, possums, In addition to their attractiveness to •• Study Group Membership •• Website Image Database foxes, swamp wallabies, white-winged vertebrates, native cherries are required •• Financial Report 2017–18 •• Finding Eremophila Books choughs and bronzewing pigeons. hosts for some striking moths and share •• Seed Bank Listing •• Compendium of Cultivars

40 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 41 •• From Your Letters •• ‘Terra Australis’ opened in November Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc. •• Nescofilm become Parafilm •• From the Post Box The aims of the Society are to foster the recognition, conservation and Membership Fees •• Next Newsletter theme •• Coming ‘Garden’ Events cultivation of Australian native plants. Single or family memberships are the same price. •• Financial report •• Membership Matters Meetings are held at 7.30pm on the second Thursday of each month, Basic membership including Bulletin and Journal — $35 ($18*) February to December, in Canberra. Visitors are always welcome. •• About the Study Group Full membership including Bulletin, Journal and Australian Waratah and Flannel Day and weekend field trips to locations of outstanding botanical Plants — $50 ($33*) interest are organised on a regular basis. Garden Design Study Group Flower Study Group Life member subscribing to Australian Plants — $15 The Society publishes a Bulletin in all months except January, and this Newsletter 106 February 2019 Newsletter 16, November 2018 * Concession rates apply to pensioners (Centrelink), full-time quarterly Journal in March, June, September and December. students and unemployed. •• About the Newsletter & Themes •• Maria writes Website: nativeplantscbr.com.au Membership Secretary: Vacant •• The Editor Comments •• From the members [email protected] •• Extracts from Past Newsletters •• Hybrid Waratah flowers •• Mission Statement, Aims & Logo •• Flower malformation Council Other useful contacts •• What we can learn from City Gardens •• forsythia President Bulletin Editor •• A Salt Lashed Garden •• Flower Knowledge Centre Ben Walcott Lucinda Royston 02 6161 2742 [email protected] •• Queensland Conservation Garden •• Climate Change [email protected] •• Joan Zande Garden •• Arts & Crafts Movement Study Group Liaison Officer Vice President Brigitta Wimmer •• Australian Native Plants Nursery, Ojai •• Sylvan Grove Native Garden John Carter [email protected] Valley, California, USA •• Trickett/Bate garden 02 6231 7055 Booksales •• Planned New Banksia Garden @ •• Checklist of Telopea species and [email protected] Murray Dadds ANBG varieties Secretary 43 MacLaurin Cres •• Fig on a Brick — Bonsai •• Checklist of Actinotus species and Garth Chamberlain Chifley ACT 2606 •• A Glimpse of my Habitat Garden varieties 0417 661 047 0404 870 447 [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer Public Officer Neville Page (for Associations Incorporation Act purposes) 02 6238 1766 Paul Meier [email protected] 7 Robert Lewis Crescent Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Gordon ACT 2906 Geoff Butler 02 6294 6601 (h) 02 6236 9158 All Society correspondence to [email protected] The Secretary Other Council Members ANPS Canberra Region (Inc) Karen Brien PO Box 217 Wurmbea dioica subsp. Greg Quinn Civic Square ACT 2608 dioica, Sutton, NSW; Photo: Gail Ritchie Knight Gail Ritchie-Knight This past spring was not Ian Tranter a good season for Early Brigitta Wimmer Nancies. I counted about half a dozen in all on my property. Back cover: Melichrus urceolatus, Sutton,NSW; Photo: Gail Ritchie Knight

42 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — March 2019 43 www.nativeplantscbr.com.au