Newsletter No. 143 June 2010 Price: $5.00 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010)

AUSTRALIAN SYSTEMATIC BOTANY SOCIETY INCORPORATED Council President Vice President Peter Weston Dale Dixon National Herbarium of Royal Botanic Gardens Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney Mrs Macquaries Road Mrs Macquaries Road Sydney, NSW 2000 Sydney, NSW 2000 Tel: (02) 9231 8171 Tel: (02) 9231 8111 Fax: (02) 9241 2797 Fax: (02) 9251 7231 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Treasurer Secretary Michael Bayly Gillian Brown School of Botany School of Botany The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010 The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010 Tel: (03) 8344 7150 Tel: (03) 8344 7150 Fax: (03) 9347 5460 Fax: (03) 9347 5460 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Councillor Councillor Frank Zich Tanya Scharaschkin Australian Tropical Herbarium School of Natural Resource Sciences E2 building, J.C.U. Cairns Campus University of Technology PO Box 6811 PO Box 2434 Cairns, Qld 4870 Brisbane, Qld 4001 Tel: (07) 4059 5014 Tel: (07) 3138 1395 Fax: (07) 4091 8888 Fax: (07) 3138 1535 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Other Constitutional Bodies Public Officer Hansjörg Eichler Research Committee Annette Wilson Bill Barker Australian Bilogical Resources Study Betsy Jackes Dept of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Greg Leach GPO Box 787 Kristina Lemson Canberra, ACT 2601 Chris Quinn Chair: Dale Dixon, Vice President Affiliate Society Grant applications close: 14 March 2010. Papua New Guinea Botanical Society

ASBS Website www.anbg.gov.au/asbs Cover image: Alloxylon flammeum (Proteaceae), Webmaster: Murray Fagg reproduced with the permission of David Mackay (the Centre for Biodiversity Research artist) and RBG Sydney. Australian National Herbarium Email: [email protected]

Publication dates of previous issue Austral.Syst.Bot.Soc.Newslett. 141 (March 2010 issue)

Hardcopy: 04 June 2010; ASBS Website: 31 May 2010 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010)

From the President It is now only a little over 4 months until the next strengthen our society. ASBS conference, in Lincoln, New Zealand, so The second proposal for a special resolution is to some of us are in the process of preparing our change our Society’s voting rules to make it less travel plans and thinking of things to say there difficult to change the Society’s rules. At present, about the results of our research. I for one am Rule 30(5)(b) of the ASBS constitution requires looking forward eagerly to this conference. I “the vote of at least 75% of those members of the found a number of the presentations by New Society who are entitled to vote” to approve any Zealand botanists at Armidale quite fascinating change to our constitution. Persuading 75% of and the prospect of hearing about a broader range all members to fill in a ballot paper and return it of their botanical projects is very attractive. to the Secretary is extremely difficult, as ASBS When you also have the opportunity of spending Council found back in 2005, when it had to ask a day out botanising in the botanically rich and members to vote for an uncontroversial proposal scenically spectacular Arthurs Pass area, the idea twice because the first, almost unanimous vote of spending a week or so in late November and fell short of the 75% threshold by about 50 votes. early December in New Zealand is pretty hard to My proposal is to change this rule to require “the resist. I hope a good representation of Australian vote of at least 75% of those members of the members is able to make it across the ditch for Society who, being entitled to vote, vote in person this meeting, despite many of us having to obtain or by proxy at the [general] meeting [at which the ministerial approval to travel internationally on vote is held]”. This change, if approved by the duty. membership, would bring our constitution into I had hoped that we would make a symbolic line with the Associations Incorporation Act 1991 change to our Society’s name from Australian of the Australian Capital Territory, where ASBS is Systematic Botany Society to Australasian registered as an incorporated association. Systematic Botany Society before the Lincoln Both of these proposals to change the ASBS rules conference but until recently I had not fully will be discussed at our next Annual General appreciated the formidable obstacles in the path Meeting in Lincoln on 30 November 2010 of such change. As members will have gathered and members will be able to move and vote on by the time they read this column, I have proposed modifications to the proposals then, if they wish. a couple of special resolutions to change the rules If approved there, ballot papers would be mailed of our society. Both were discussed at some to members in December 2010 and voting on length at our last Annual General Meeting, as the proposals themselves would happen in early well as informally at our Armidale conference. 2011. The proposed name change is the first of these. I advocated this enthusiastically in my column Another exciting upcoming event in the ASBS in the December 2009 ASBS Newsletter and I calendar is the International Botanical Congress will re-iterate those arguments only briefly here. to be held in Melbourne from 23-30 July, 2011. The New Zealand flora is, for the most part, a As well as holding an Annual General Meeting specialised subset of the flora of south eastern during the IBC, ASBS Council also plans to and any move to encourage closer ties sponsor an IBC symposium and organise a Nancy and more collaborative research between plant Burbidge Memorial Lecture during the Congress. systematists of Australia and New Zealand will Maria Gandolfo (Cornell University) and benefit our science, in my opinion. When one also ASBS Treasurer Mike Bayly have successfully considers the impressive contribution that New proposed a symposium with the title “Patterns Zealanders have made to both plant systematics and processes in the evolution and biogeography and systematic methodology, especially over the of the Australasian flora” and we are negotiating past thirty years, making this symbolic change to with the Congress organisers to have this welcome more New Zealand members can only explicitly “badged” as an ASBS-sponsored event.

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All symposia have three slots reserved for invited team to devote more of their time to editing the talks and three for contributed talks, and several Newsletter and less to the more laborious tasks of ASBS members have been invited to participate having it printed and mailed out to members. in this symposium. I encourage ASBS members By the time your read this, all members should who have not been invited to give a talk at the have received a nomination form for positions on IBC to consider offering a presentation in this ASBS Council for 2011. ASBS Treasurer Mike symposium, when the call for contributed talks Bayly has indicated that he will be stepping down is made. We are also negotiating to have one of from Council at the AGM in Lincoln and we need to the plenary lectures of the conference badged as a find someone who is willing and able to take on this Nancy Burbidge Memorial Lecture and we hope crucial position in the running of our Society. Mike to be able to provide more details on this soon. assures me that being the Treasurer does involve After publication of our December 2009 a significant workload, especially in processing Newsletter, one of our three editors, Gael membership renewals, but it is a most rewarding Campbell-Young, stepped down. Gael had looked job. We plan to designate the “ordinary member after printing and distribution of the hardcopy positions” on Council as informal assistants to the version of the Newsletter. This is an important Treasurer and Secretary, as a way of spreading the job for a geographically widespread society like workload of running the Society a bit more evenly ours, in which the Newsletter is the principal across Council. Tanya Scharaschkin has agreed to means of communication across the Society, and be the Treasurer’s assistant and Frank Zich to be especially considering that the majority of our the Secretary’s assistant. We hope that this will members still have the Newsletter mailed to them. make the Treasurer’s position more attractive to We are grateful for the work that Gael has done prospective nominees. Can interested members on behalf of the Society and wish her well. We please contact Mike Bayly or another Council are still looking for a replacement for Gael on member to discuss the duties of this position and the editorial team and would be happy to hear any intention they may have to nominate for it? from any members who are interested in taking Members may recall seeing mention of up responsibility for printing the Newsletter and Australia (TaxA) in previous issues of the ASBS its distribution. Gael estimates that this job has Newsletter. TaxA is a peak body of Australian demanded about 8 hours of her time per issue taxonomic societies and organisations, currently and notes that the responsibilities for printing and chaired by my immediate boss, Brett Summerell, distribution could feasibly be split between two in his role as Chair of the Council of Heads of members based in the same city. The Newsletter Australasian Herbaria (CHAH) (see Brett’s article has been printed for some year in Adelaide, so in ASBS Newsletter 134: 5–6, 2008). TaxA’s prospective new members of the editorial team objective is to increase “Australia’s taxonomic would need either to be based in Adelaide or capability by increasing resourcing for taxonomic have access to the services of a suitable printing research and by enhancing opportunities for the company. Interested members should contact training and employment of taxonomists”. In Newsletter Editor Russell Barrett. other words it seeks to obtain more money for This is an appropriate point at which to re-iterate taxonomic work in Australia. ASBS was invited Marco Duretto’s suggestion, made in last year’s to participate in this group when it was formed presidential report, that ASBS members seriously in 2007 and our Society has played an active role consider forgoing the hardcopy version of the since then, sending representatives to most of the Newsletter and instead receive just an email TaxA meetings. The most recent TaxA meeting notification that the latest Newsletter has been was held at the Queensland Museum in Brisbane posted on the ASBS website. As Marco noted, on 5 May 2010, at which ASBS was represented taking this option means that “Society money by me. The agenda mostly consisted of updates can be better spent on things such as conferences from the various member organisations but and student support etc., not to mention reducing several items dealt with general problems facing our carbon footprint”. It also enables our editorial all of us.

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The first of these items was the question of the results reported in them. It seems to me that part extent to which Australian taxonomic publications of the problem here is the archaic way in which ought to be co-ordinated to maximise the many taxonomists cite each other’s work. If plant public profile of our research. This immediately taxonomists cited taxonomic publications using prompted discussion of the implications of the a standard Harvard-style format as used in the Federal Government’s “Excellence in Research introductory sections of taxonomic papers as well for Australia” (ERA) initiative, which is supposed as in almost all other scientific publications, rather to assess “research quality within Australia’s than the impenetrable gobbledygook of BPH-style higher education institutions using a combination referencing, citation rates for plant taxonomy of indicators and expert review” (see http://www. would rise immediately. arc.gov.au/era/). One of the indicators that this Andy Austin, who represented the Society of initiative has so far produced is a league table Australian Systematic Biologists, expressed an of scientific journals or “outlets” as a basis for interest in organising more joint ASBS-SASB “the evaluation of research excellence” in which meetings, a suggestion that I for one think is a good journals are bracketed into four classes: A*, A, B idea. I would like to explore this possibility as an and C. Several participants in the TaxA meeting option for the ASBS conference that follows after expressed exasperation at the results of this next year’s International Botanical Congress. ranking procedure, noting that taxonomic journals were mostly ranked as either B or C rather than A In late August my wife and I fly out of Sydney or A*. Whether there is a bias against taxonomic on our longest holiday ever, a long-service- journals is hard to say without a detailed leave-enabled trip to South Africa and Europe. comparative study of the scores given to the We won’t be back until late October 2010, so I 20,712 journal titles included in the system (see won’t be able to contribute a “From the President” the spreadsheet downloadable from http://www. column to the September 2010 ASBS Newsletter. arc.gov.au/xls/ERA2010_journal_title_list.xls). In my absence, my presidential duties will be In any case, TaxA is likely to take any remaining delegated to the capable hands of Vice President opportunity to argue for higher rankings for Dale Dixon. The next you will hear from me will taxonomic journals in this system. be at the ASBS conference in Lincoln. I hope to see many of you there! Another publication-related problem that was discussed was the generally low citation rates Peter Weston for taxonomic papers, despite the wide use of the Obituaries SURREY WILFRID LAURENCE JACOBS 1946–2009 Dr Surrey Jacobs was never happier than when he without the extensive fieldwork that he did in all was waist-deep in water collecting an interesting parts of Australia. waterlily or standing in red dust collecting and Growing up in Sydney, Surrey dreamt of becoming photographing an inland spinifex grass. a farmer, and he studied Agricultural Science at He was an outstanding Australian botanist, well- the University of Sydney as the first step in that known in botanical circles around the world direction. for his research on grasses, chenopods and However, he developed more interest in waterplants. Locally, he was also well- respected themselves, and moved sideways into an by those involved in understanding and managing ecological project for his PhD, on the spinifex plants in wetlands and grasslands. Fieldwork was grasses that dominate so much of the landscape a major part of his life and work: he would not in arid Australia. This interest in grasses led to have achieved his deep understanding of plants 3 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010)

Surrey Jacobs. Photo by Jaime Plaza (© Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney) Surrey Jacobs and Karen Wilson at Betts Creek, Snowy Mountains, 1985. Photo by: Barbara Briggs.

Surrey Jacobs and Yu Ito collecting Ruppia in South Australia in 2007. Photo by: Gillian Towler.

4 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010) a career as a taxonomic botanist at the Royal popular books and booklets such as ‘Waterplants Botanic Gardens, Sydney, which ended with his of NSW’, ‘Waterplants in Australia’, ‘Grasses recent untimely death from cancer. of NSW’, ‘Australian Agricultural Botany’ and ‘Burnum Burnum’s Wild Things’. Many of He could have had successful careers in these were written with Geoff Sainty, another agricultural science or ecology, but the world’s local waterplant expert and another excellent biodiversity has benefitted from his decision photographer of plants. Both thought nothing of to channel his energies into plant systematics standing in water or lying on a wet bank, ignoring research. As it was, he successfully melded all his leeches and other bitey things in pursuit of a good interests and training during his career. Besides close-up of a flower. But both drew the line in the his extensive systematics studies, he supervised last few years at wading in tropical regions: the several postgraduate students on conservation- crocs are getting too big and too numerous. and agricultural-oriented projects. And he was at ease conversing with and working with anyone The state of Surrey’s office and his usually rather with a common interest in plants: whether it casual dress misled some people initially, but they was another phylogenetic botanist or a wetland soon learned that he was extremely organised in manager or property owner. his work, and both practical and knowledgeable. He had an enquiring mind and a good memory, and Surrey maintained his initial interest in grasses, he was thorough – all good traits for anyone, but but also researched the classification, naming particularly important for a systematics botanist. and relationships of chenopods (saltbushes As a friend remarked recently, Surrey was a non- and similar species in drier parts of Australia), electronic predecessor of Google (a ‘walking waterplants and weeds. His greatest impact was encyclopedia’ in the old hard-copy terminology). probably in waterplants, which were relatively poorly understood before he started his research. He demonstrated time and again his commonsense He received the T.Wayne Miller Distinguished approach to innumerable matters, and showed Service Award from the international Aquatic generosity and patience in imparting his knowledge Plant Management Society in 2009, only the third to others, in fields as varied as photography, recipient of that award. laboratories, statistical analysis, and fieldwork. He was a very thorough, careful worker in the field – Surrey was one of the Botanic Gardens’ most and he had a reputation amongst his colleagues productive botanists, resulting in his promotion to Senior Principal Research Scientist in 2008 – the most senior research scientist rank in the NSW Public Service. He authored over 120 scientific publications, often in collaboration with colleagues here and overseas, and these form a major contribution to our knowledge of the world’s plant diversity. He named over 80 previously unnamed Australian plant genera and species. He was involved in several major international collaborative projects in the last decade or so, and some results remain to be published by his collaborators. He was also very conscious of the need to make research results available to the wider community. So, for example, he often advised on wetland plant management, and provided forensic advice on plants connected with police investigations. He was author or co-author of over 60 extension- oriented publications, including a range of semi- Surrey Jacobs and Leonie Stanberg on a cycad-collecting trip in central Queensland, 2006. Photo by: Jane Dalby.

5 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010)

From left: Peter Hind, Joy Everett, Barbara Briggs, Liz Norris and Surrey Jacobs on an excursion to Mt Kosciuzko after an ASBS conference at Thredbo in 1985. Photo by: Karen Wilson.

Surrey with Wal Whalley and Dorothy Wheeler at the launch of the third edition of ‘Grasses of NSW’ at UNE, Armidale, in May 2003. Photographer unknown.

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Surrey Jacobs and Jason Sonneman monitoring waterplants in the Snowy River, 1997. Photo by: Geoff Sainty. as an excellent camp-cook. He was a mentor after Surrey joined the staff as a botanist, but she and advisor to many younger staff and students, left some years later to have their two children, and was also an excellent listener for those with Ellen and Geoffrey. personal issues. Even when young, their children learnt the Surrey was the second child and only son of scientific names of plants and had no fear of using Wilfrid Jacobs, an industrial chemist at the Federal them. When just two years old, Ellen entered a Match Company in Sydney (ultimately Works WEA plant identification class with her father, Manager there), and Viola née Sundstrom. His pointed to the grass-tree specimen at the front, grandfather Ernest Godfried Jacobs taught botany and said “Look, Daddy, a Xanthorrhoea”. at Sydney Technical College early last century Surrey was very lucky in his choice of life partner: and provided a botanical model for Surrey and he couldn’t have achieved nearly so much without also his older sister Janice (now retired), who had the support of Betty. In particular, they have been a long botanical career in the School of Biological very welcoming hosts to many botanical visitors Sciences at the University of Sydney. His younger from all parts of the world. Botany may have been sister Wendy Innes has kept a link with plants in Surrey’s passion, but he was also a very loving running a family nursery and blueberry business. family man, despite what his family may have Surrey met his future wife Betty Luscombe while thought sometimes given his many field trips and tutoring at the university during his PhD period. long days at work. He named previously unknown Betty graduated as a science teacher, and they species of grasses and waterplants after Betty, married in 1971. She became the first Education Ellen, Geoff, and Ellen’s sons Alex and Luke Officer at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney soon Fussell.

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Surrey relaxed by collecting model trains and cars, who did not seem to realise what he had achieved. and making jams of many kinds, mostly given He once said that he had been in awe of his away to friends and colleagues. He was the jam- predecessor Dr Joyce Vickery for her extensive maker in the family but the jams were labelled as research on grasses. His successors will be equally ‘Mrs Jacobs’ Jams and Jellies’ – as Surrey noted, in awe of Surrey. He has a permanent memorial in ‘Dr Jacobs’ Jams and Jellies’ didn’t have quite the his botanical publications and in the plant species right ring. named by him and after him. Several more will be published in a few months’ time in a special He sublimated his agricultural interests by issue of our journal Telopea dedicated to him. In breeding chooks at the back of their suburban the more public sphere: he was awarded a Public quarter-acre block: bantams, silkies, Light Sussex Service Medal for his contribution to systematic (also known as Surreys) and others. Family and botany in Australia. friends were regularly supplied with fresh eggs of Karen L. Wilson various sizes. National Herbarium of New South Wales, Sydney Surrey was a larger than life character in many Note: A slightly different version of this text was published in ways, but he was also a self-deprecating man, the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ 12 Jan 2010. GEORGE McCARTNEY CHIPPENDALE 18 April 1921–16 February 2010

Botanist, George Chippendale, was a strong proponent of growing Australian Native plants. As well as a career in botany, George also taught his love of botany to all who would listen through talks to children, special interest groups, walks on Black Mountain and more recently through the U3A, both in class and online. George knew the value of planting local native plants in gardens as they would survive local conditions and save water. George was born in Sydney, the eldest of six, and grew up in the suburb of Paddington, a life-long movie buff and South Sydney Rabbitohs supporter. George left school at 14. After a short stint as a draper, his Mother helped him get a job at the Sydney Botanic Gardens in 1936 as the tea boy. George stayed working at the Gardens until serving in the Australian Army during World War II. In 1943 George married Joan. Post war, George returned to the Gardens This photograph of my Father was taken by Canberra personality and due to his army service, was able to Reg Alder (dec) in October 2001 on the 30th anniversary of the study for a Bachelor of Science at Sydney National Parks Association’s Black Mountain walk, lead by my University. George made life-long friends Father. This photo shows my Father in favourite occupations, at the Gardens who mentored him during walking and teaching botany - hence the lens, for plant identification. his university study and future career. Part

8 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010) of George’s work at the Gardens was to identify preference to continue with pure botany rather than plants brought in by members of the public administrative tasks. George’s main specialisation which gave George a broad background in plant became the Eucalyptus. identification. For twelve months during 1972–73 George became In 1954 George moved to Alice Springs with his the Botanical Liaison Officer at Kew Gardens wife and 3 children as the first resident taxonomist, in England where he examined type material of a job which he loved. When George arrived in Eucalypts, also travelling to several European Alice Springs only a small collection of specimens herbaria to examine similar material. This existed, these having being gathered by members helped him prepare a technical note, Herbarium of CSIRO, various veterinary officers and stock Specimens of Eucalyptus Photographed in Europe inspectors of the Animal Industry Branch. No as well as a record of those who had collected the public herbarium existed in the material. at that time and George’s responsibilities extended George contributed to a steady stream of books throughout the Northern Territory. George made either alone or as a collaborator, including: many trips into the bush with colleagues and Eucalyptus Buds and Fruit; Illustrations of assistants to collect plant specimens. These the Buds and Fruits of the Genus the List of specimens were the basis for the present Northern Authentic Specimens from Which the Drawings Territory Herbarium. As an avid plant specimen Were Made (1968) , Eucalypts (1969), The Forest collector and describer, George had eight Trees of Australia (1970), Australian Rain Forest plants named after him: Acacia chippendalei, Trees (1970), Wildflowers of the Australian Bassia chippendalei, Corymbia (Eucalyptus) Capital Territory (1972, with wife Thelma) and chippendalei, Levenhookia chippendalei, Minuria Eucalypts of the Western Australian goldfields chippendalei, Ptilotus chippendalei, Sesbania (and the adjacent wheatbelt) (1973). The Natural chippendalei and Solanum chippendalei. Distribution of Eucalyptus in Australia (1981) George’s work was aimed at benefiting the pastoral was completed with George taking advantage industry, and he secured a special knowledge of the of computer generated illustrations (by Ludek dry country in the Southern half of the Northern Wolf). Using the computer generated illustrations Territory. Despite a fourth child and many trips to show where Eucalypts occurred naturally was into the bush to collect specimens, George found acknowledged by botanists and others world-wide time to write and publish some 25 papers, one of as a first. which was of considerable economic importance George’s final work was completed in retirement, to the region, Topfeed; the fodder trees and shrubs the sole author of book 19 of the Flora of Australia of Central Australia. – Myrtaceae – Eucalypts, Angophora (1988) for In 1961 George and family, travelling to visit which he was awarded a Bicentennial Australia family in Sydney, were involved in a car accident Day Medallion. near Maryborough, Queensland resulting in the George always thought he was lucky – lucky to lose of his wife and youngest daughter. George have had a career accidentally chosen for him, suffered many broken bones, but signed himself for which he was entirely suited and passionate out of hospital to return to Alice Springs to care about. for his three elder children. George is survived by Thelma, 4 children, 10 George married his present wife, Thelma, in grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. 1963 and celebrated the birth of a fifth child prior to moving to Canberra in 1966 to take up References the position of senior botanist in the then Forestry Hall, N. 1978. Botanists of the Eucalypts. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra. Research Institute, which became the Division Northern Territory Herbarium website: http://www.nt.gov.au/ of Forestry Research, CSIRO. George chose nreta/wildlife/plants/aboutus/history.html the position over a possible stint as the Director Joy McMahon of the Botanic Gardens in Canberra due to his Kaleen, ACT

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ASBS Inc. Business Postscript to the ASBS 2009 2002, these standards were specifically adopted Conference and workshop for Soil Scientists. Accreditation involves an application including on “National accreditation relevant qualifications and publications and of providers of biological evidence of at least 50 hours of professional identification” development in the year. Referees are called upon and approval by the CPSS Accreditation 1–3 December, University of New Board needs to be made. A cost for this process is England, Armidale NSW. required by the applicant. There are three stages of accreditation granted, depending on experience and ability to undertake autonomous work. A potential model for A CPSS associate for undergraduate and post graduate students is also available. A successful accreditation of Botanists from candidate is expected to comply to a Code of ASSSI Ethics and with Rules of Conduct. To maintain accreditation, a CPSS needs to make an on- Austin Brown C/- Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne going commitment to keep up-to-date with new knowledge, technology and industry developments At the 2009 Annual Meeting of ASBS in Armidale, with expertise exercised in at least two of five the subject of quality standards for conservation professional capabilities; professional practice assessment, plant survey and collection activities values, communication, management, knowledge was debated. As part of this discussion, potential and or practice of soil science. Evidence of such accreditation of botanists was raised. The Australian is maintained in an OPD (Ongoing Professional Soil Science Society Incorporated (ASSSI) has Development) diary. An auditing process of been engaged in a voluntary accreditation scheme submitted diaries and via interview with referees for soil scientists for some years; the Certified is made every 2-3 years. An online register of Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS) and may serve CPSS is maintained and a complaints process is as a model for ASBS to follow. The scheme arose also in place for any unprofessional behaviour. from a joint development between ASSSI and the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science Further information can be sought from the ASSSI and Technology that provided standards for website for CPSS http://www.cpss.com.au/ Professionals in Agriculture and Agri-business. In Notice of AGM and Council Elections Australian Systematic Botany Society Inc. Nominations for 2010–2011 Please note: ASBS Council Our Treasurer, Mike Bayly, is stepping down. However, he is willing to move to another position Nominations for all positions on the 2010–2011 on Council. Council are now called. Nominations must be in the hands of the Nomination forms have been included on page 15 Secretary by 1st October 2010. of this Newsletter. Please photocopy or print this page from the web version.

10 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010)

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11 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010)

Australian Systematic This round we had a number of excellent applications showing a considerable level of skill Botany Society Inc. and enthusiasm. Two successful applicants were awarded $2,000 each for the following proposals: Annual General Meeting 2010 • Mark Wallace (Kings Park and Botanic The Annual General Meeting of the Australian Garden, ) Systematic Botany Society will be held in Lincoln, The development of low-copy nuclear New Zealand, during the ASBS Conference. DNA markers for the study of Venue: Lincoln University, Lincoln, New hybridisation in Lepidosperma costale Zealand species complex. Time: Tuesday 30th November 2010, 4pm. • Sarah Fayed (Geography and Environmental Studies, University of ) Australian Systematic Understanding the dramatic differences in Heliciinae genera (Proteaceae) using Botany Society Inc. basal Australian taxa. Hansjörg Eichler Research Fund March 2010 Round

ABRS Report Staffing Details can be found on the ABRS website at: Applications have closed for the position of http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/ Director of ABRS, and we hope to have a abrs/funding-and-research/grants/index.html permanent Director by the end of August. In the Churchill Fellowships meanwhile, Annette Wilson is acting in the role. This year ABRS partnered with the Winston We welcome Jo Harding, who has joined us as Churchill Memorial Trust to sponsor 2 Fellowships, Manager of the Bush Blitz project. She will be one for an early career researcher, the other for working with Kate Gillespie and Leah Schwartz an established researcher. We congratulate Dr on this Australia-wide survey program. Further Amber Beavis from the A.C.T., who will travel information on Bush Blitz can be found at: http:// to the U.S.A. to undertake training in integrative www.bushblitz.org.au/ taxonomy as it applies to the Araneae, and Dr We also welcome Erika Alacs, who is working on Paul Doughty from W.A., who will travel to the the Australian Faunal Directory (AFD). U.K. and U.S.A. to examine Australian specimens which will result in a large number of new species Robyn Lawrence has been seconded for 12 months descriptions of frogs and reptiles, particularly to work on communications and IT for the Atlas geckos. Two further fellowships were also of Living Australia project. awarded to systematics researchers: to Professor ABRS National Taxonomy Research Grant Gerry Cassis from N.S.W. for travel to the U.K. Program and U.S.A. to study the systematics, natural history and biodiversity of true bugs (Heteroptera) of Applications for the main round of ABRS grants Australia; and to Dr Rebecca Jones from Tasmania for 2011–2012 open on August 2 and close on for travel to Europe and the U.S.A. to visit centres October 29. There are a variety of grants on offer, of Eucalyptus research to learn techniques for the supporting salaried and non-salaried researchers, analysis of the Eucalyptus genome sequence. and students at Honours, Masters and PhD level.

12 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010)

Recent Publication glossary of technical terms, and represents the first guide for the identification of these fundamentally Algae of Australia: Phytoplankton of Temperate important microscopic algae in the temperate Coastal Waters, is the product of decades of Australasian region. 432 pages, Hardback, ISBN: research by Professor Gustaaf Hallegraeff and 9780643100398, $140.00. Available from CSIRO 11 collaborators, and provides descriptions and Publishing (http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6446. illustrations of 541 species known from the htm) estuarine, coastal and offshore waters of southern Annette Wilson Australia. It includes more than 1100 photographs Acting Director, ABRS and drawings, comprehensive bibliographies and a Book reviews Natural history collecting at Port Essington P.S.Short Northern Territory Herbarium The Top of the Top End: John Gilbert’s should be tempered with an admission of bias: manuscript notes for John Gould on although a plant taxonomist I’ve had a long interest Vertebrates from Port Essington and in much of the subject matter, particularly birds, Cobourg Peninsula (Northern Territory, John Gilbert and John Gould. The interest in birds Australia): with Comments on Specimens started when I was little more than a toddler and Collected during the Settlement Period we fed Spiny-cheeked honeyeaters bread crumbs 1838 to 1849, and Subsequently. By Fisher, and sultana cake outside the front door; and as C. & Calaby, J. 2009. The Beagle, Records a first year university student let loose in the of the Museums and Art bookshops of Adelaide I came Galleries of the Northern across reproductions of plates Territory. Supplement 4. of birds from Gould’s various ISSN 1833-7511. works and subsequently Available for antipodeans delved into his publications from the Librarian, on Australian birds and Museum and Art Gallery mammals, this in turn leading of the Northern Territory, to various articles and books G.P.O. Box 4646, Darwin, on both Gould and Gilbert; as N.T. 0801, Australia. a plant taxonomist I, like many [email protected]; readers of this article, am telephone (08) 89998200; by necessity something of a price AUS$66.00, botanical historian and, having including packing and specialised on the daisy family, economy postage. Also I know that John Gilbert is available from World commemorated in the name Museum, Liverpool, U.K; of the monotypic genus details unavailable. , G. tenuifolia being an everlasting daisy named The latest supplement of from a specimen collected by The Beagle is a marvellous Gilbert in south-west Western Australia. Gilbert is publication for anyone interested in the history also remembered in the names of 13 species from of the discovery of Australia’s flora and fauna. various plant families. All of these species are also It is a meticulously researched, highly readable from Western Australia, a State in which Gilbert and beautifully illustrated work. These are words was considerably active during his two sojourns which I am all too rarely moved to include when in Australia, from 1838 to 1841 and from 1842 reviewing books. It is also a statement which to his death in June 1845 when, as a member of

13 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010)

Leichhardt’s expedition travelling from Brisbane history collecting in the Top End with Gilbert to Port Essington, he was speared by an aboriginal being a stand-out contributor. To quote from the during an attack on their camp near the Nassau book “Gilbert’s Port Essington specimens alone River, Queensland. Gilbert’s specimens from the represent about fifty new species or subspecies Cobourg Peninsula were obtained from July 1840 of birds and animals ... Gilbert also collected to March 1841. many other new forms on the Cobourg Peninsula, particularly fish ..., reptiles, molluscs ..., and The book commences with a Preface by David insects ...”. (It isn’t actually stated but I believe Attenborough, in which he reminisces about the wording is also meant to imply that Gilbert his time travelling in Kakadu National Park collected the type specimens of these taxa.) and meeting with the late John Calaby, an Much credit is also given to John MacGillivray “unpretentious and modest” man and “one of the (aboard H.M.S. Fly and H.M.S. Rattlesnake) outstanding Australian taxonomists of his era and while others of importance include John Lort a particular expert on its mammals”. Following Stokes (H.M.S. Beagle) and Benjamin Bynoe the abstract the 28-page Introduction tells us (H.M.S. Beagle & later H.M.S. Fly), Captain that the aim of the work was to draw together William Chambers and Assistant Surgeon Sibbald information about existing vertebrate specimens of the colony’s ship, Pelorus, and Joseph Beete from Port Essington and the Cobourg Peninsula, Jukes and John Ince (both H.M.S. Fly). I have a with particular emphasis on the collections and minor criticism here in that the major botanical manuscripts pertaining to John Gilbert; the other collector from Port Essington, John Armstrong, specimens referred to include those gathered by is not mentioned among the natural history collectors during the time Port Essington was collectors. Allan Cunningham is mentioned – and occupied from 1838 to 1849, during CSIRO he made the first botanical collections from Port expeditions mounted between 1965 and 1968 – Essington, with Bentham citing no fewer than 12 the results of which were published in Frith & Cunningham collections from this locality in Flora Calaby (1974) –to the present. australiensis – but Armstrong, the settlement’s Much of the Introduction is dedicated to a short gardener, collected hundreds of specimens: history of the Port Essington settlement, one of according to my manuscript notes he despatched several early European settlements in the Top 597 specimens to Kew in February 1840 and a End and the longest-lived, with the climate, further 340 collections from the Port Essington tropical diseases, indifferent management, attacks region in December 1840. No fewer than 190 by aboriginals, poor trade and distance from specimens gathered by him from Port Essington major centres, all factors contributing to their were cited by Bentham in his Flora australiensis disbandment. For the record, the first of these was and at least 30 or so of these are type specimens. the garrison of Fort Dundas on Melville Island, He doesn’t out rank Gilbert but I suspect – if one established in 1824 and officially closed in March must rank them – that Armstrong’s contribution 1829. Fort Wellington on the east side of Raffles to the early knowledge of biodiversity in the Port Bay (Cobourg Peninsula) was established in 1827 Essington region is second only to that of Gilbert. but abandoned in August 1829. It was followed Incidentally, in contrast to his Western Australian by the subject of this work, Victoria Settlement collections Gilbert’s plant specimens from the at Port Essington, which (as noted in the book’s Cobourg Peninsula appear to have excited little subtitle) was established in 1838 and survived attention; I have no idea as to the number gathered until 1849. Incidentally, the name Palmerston was and am aware of just one published record, that of given to another short-lived settlement established the Swamp Bloodwood (Corymbia ptychocarpa) at Escape Cliff in 1864. A mosquito-ridden site which was cited by Bentham in Flora australiensis. north of the mouth of the Adelaide River, it too (As evident from his preface to Flora australiensis was quickly abandoned, only lasting until January Bentham may have had difficulty in accessing 1867. any Gilbert specimens housed at the Botanical Of all these settlements Port Essington figures Department of the British Museum.) most highly in the early history of natural This section includes a reproduction of Gilbert’s

14 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010) letter to John Gould dated 19th September 1840. all the specimens but in so doing stripped many of It reads in part: them of their original labels. This, unsurprisingly, “caused endless problems with identifying ... I have little doubt one tremendous drawback Gould’s bird types, or establishing the data for is the extreme heat of this country, so much as other important individuals.” Mislabelling of that I find it impossible to remain in the Bush other specimens has also caused problems in some between the hours of ten and three, the specimens other holdings but the ANSP collection of Gould’s not only spoil in two or three hours, but I find the specimens is clearly the worst. heat brings on such a degree of lasitude [sic] and weakness, that I have now adopted the plan of The bulk of this work is the listing of vertebrate going out by the dawn of day, and the cool of the species collected from Port Essington. It is evening ... arranged in four parts. Thomas Huxley, aboard H.M.S. Rattlesnake, Part 1 (pp. 31–37) deals with a tad under 40 expressed similar views of the climate to those of species of fish and includes illustrations of five Gilbert: species, including colour photographs of four holotype specimens collected by Gilbert. It is fit for neither man nor beast. Day and night there is the same fearful damp depressing heat, Part 2 (pp. 38–54) opens with a transcript of a producing unconquerable languor and rendering two-page manuscript account by Gilbert of the the unhappy resident a prey to ennui and cold “Reptiles of Port Essington”. It consists of an brandy and water … Port Essington is worse than account of the Frilled Lizard, two live specimens a ship, and it is no small comfort to know that this of which Gilbert kept confined to take back to is possible. England; both died on the homeward passage. Thirteen frogs, one crocodile, six turtles, 26 [Huxley (1935), pp. 148–149.] lizards, 32 snakes are listed in this section. The introductory chapter concludes with a list of Part 3 (pp. 55–74) covers 28 species of mammals acronyms for the museums and libraries holding and opens with a transcript of Gilbert’s specimens and manuscripts relating to natural “Quadrupeds of Port Essington”. I use an extract history collecting at Port Essington; there are 30 from this part – details of four of seven specimens such acronyms, a figure reflecting just how big a cited for the Sugar Glider –to illustrate why I so task it was to bring this monograph to fruition. like this monograph: Indeed, it is noted on p. 211 that it “is the result of intensive ferreting done over the last 25 years in BMNH: 1842.5.26.1 (Fig. 85). F. Skin and order to locate and analyse [Gilbert’s] specimens”. skull (267a). [Collected by John Gilbert] at It was common for specimens from the antipodes Port Essington [1840–1841]. Gould Collection. – and elsewhere – to have been widely dispersed Designated lectotype of “Petaurus” [= Belideus] to interested parties in Europe, both before ariel Gould, 1849 (Thomas, 1922: 128). and subsequent to their formal naming. In part, BMNH: 1846.8.26.13 F. Skin and skull. Collected Gilbert’s specimens may be more scattered than by John MacGillivray at Port Essington, most due to the entrepreneurial nature of Gould, December 1844. Collection of the 13th Earl of but the sale of Gould’s primary collection of Derby. Included on MacGillivray’s field label is Australian birds on which the descriptions of many the remark “Waugai” [the Aboriginal name]. of his new species were based very much added to the difficulty. Gould offered his primary collection BMNH: 1842.1.13.121. F. Skin (poor condition) to the British Museum for the sum of £1,000 but and skull. Collected by Captain William Chambers it was turned down and, with Gould apparently at Port Essington [1839–1841]. Chambers outraged and determined to humiliate the trustees Collection. (Tree 1991), it was subsequently acquired by USNM: 284057. F. Skin and skull. Collected by what is now the Academy of Natural Sciences, David Johnson at Black Rock Point, 25 September Philadelphia (ANSP). The collection was sent to 1948 (Specht, as above). ANWC: M1273. M. the U.S.A. via Paris where taxidermists mounted

15 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010)

Skin. Collected by D.A. Lindner’s dingo between The book ends with an extensive “References” Black Point and reef Point, July 1966 (Frith & and several appendices, including one containing Calaby 1974: 184). “John MacGillivray’s species list from H.M.S. Fly, largely from Port Essington, dated May As well as noting an unusual method of capture 1845.” Finally, there’s an index to species names, these examples illustrate as well as any others both scientific and common. the meticulous recording of specimen data and associated references. Importantly the layout is This work abounds with illustrations, there being such that it is easy for anyone to scan the text 145 figures in total. Almost all are in colour and for persons of interest. For example, I have an of these 60 are of museum specimens, with many interest in the collecting activities of the men of being types. Figures are frequently accompanied H.M.S. Beagle along Australia’s northern shores; by informative notes: one of them was John Edward Dring who I’m Figs 93, 94. Two trays of Wandering Whistling- aware collected the type specimen of Leichhardt’s duck eggs, all collected at Port Essington for Grasshopper. I’ve occasionally wondered just John Gilbert in March, 1841. The clutch of five what else he may have collected and scanning was split into two groups by John Gould, and the this book I noted he obtained a specimen dedicated entrepreneur sold three of the eggs to of Children’s Python from Port Essington. Adolphus Heermann, an American oologist. The Incidentally, I searched for an on-line catalogue five eggs were eventually re-united in the stores of Dring’s collections to no avail. Until such time of the British Museum. Eggs too can be type all herbaria and museums electronically catalogue specimens; all five are probably from the type their specimens and make them readily available, series of Dendrocygne australis Reichenbach, publications such as this will remain important to 1850 and Dendrocygna gouldi Bonaparte, 1865. taxonomists and historians of natural history. The following shows yet again the problem with Part 4 (pp. 75–210), deals with the birds, more the ANSP specimens, it wasn’t just the taxidermists than 200 of them. As with the other lists it is one in Paris who so poorly handled the specimens: in which to dabble to find information about the Port Essington naturalists, their collections, and Fig. 112. Label written by John Gould and still Gilbert’s observations on the birds, as for example attached to the holotype of Athene rufa Gould, his note on the voice of the Silver-crowned 1846, from the Gould Collection in ANSP (ANSP Friarbird: 2552). It is one of the few original labels to survive the regrettable purges of specimen information ... but its most ludicrous and amusing attempt, from the ANSP Gould Collection – first by is when it try’s [sic] to imitate the regular song removal of written labels, then by the junking of of any other bird: while it attempts only single wooden stands with the transferred data written notes or cries, it succeeds so well, that the nicest on the underneath – by 19th and 20th century ear is liable to be deceived; but the moment it taxidermists and curators in Paris and ANSP. attempts any regular succession of notes, its failure is complete, for instead of producing any I also liked this unexpected history lesson: thing like harmony it falls into a most discordant, Fig. 51. Knowsley Hall, near Liverpool in north- and disagreeable, unconnected succession of west England, seat of the aristocratic Stanley unmeaning noises; and as if aware of this, it does family. Sir Thomas Stanley was created as 1st not often try it again more than twice or thrice, Earl of Derby by his stepson Henry Tudor, who when it suddenly changes it to a loud shrill scream was crowned Henry VII in 1845 after the Battle of or croak ... Bosworth Field. During this battle Richard III was The section ends with assorted tables, including killed, and his army defeated, with the help of the one listing the bird species recorded for the Stanley’s private army. Cobourg Peninsula against the collector, and This pencil drawing, dated 1835, was the work of another which lists avian scientific names based the “Nonsense Poet” Edward Lear, who lived at on type specimens that were collected at Port Knowsley in the 1830s with the 13th Earl of Derby Essington. 16 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010) and his family. Lear, an extremely talented artist, other figures which are a splendid addition to was hired by Lord Derby to paint the animals this work. They are full-page illustrations – ten and birds at Knowsley, but became more famous in all – of paintings taken from Jardine & Selby’s for the rhymes he wrote for the Stanley children. Illustrations of Ornithology (1830), Gould’s The Lear’s “The Owl and the Pussycat” was recently Mammals of Australia (1845–1863) and Gould’s voted the most popular children’s poem in Britain The Birds of Australia (1840–1848), the latter in a national competition (The Times, 4 October including plates of both the black-headed and red- 2001). headed forms of the Gouldian Finch. While peripheral to the main story, the information I urge anyone with an interest in northern in this caption is not out of place. As stated in the Australian natural history and the history of book, the wealthy 13th Earl of Derby amassed a collectors and collections to delve into this well- large collection of natural history specimens, produced work. Clemency Fisher, the late John a collection which later founded the Liverpool Calaby and a succession of editors of The Beagle Museum where the senior author, Clemency (Helen Larson, Dirk Megirian, Chris Glasby and Fisher, is based. Furthermore, these collections Richard Willan) have produced a most valuable, also included some of Gilbert’s specimens from accessible reference which is deserving of a wide Port Essington, received via Gould. The 13th Earl audience. also bankrolled John MacGillivray, who was References aboard H.M.S. Fly (Captain Blackwood) when Frith, H.J. & Calaby, J.H. (1974). Fauna Survey of the Port she visited the Cobourg settlement. And, while it Essington District, Cobourg Peninsula, Northern Territory isn’t mentioned, Edward Lear was one of several of Australia. Division of Wildlife Research, Technical artists who painted for Gould. Paper No. 28. Huxley, J. (ed.) (1935). T.H. Huxley’s Diary of the Voyage of If the photographs of dead creatures, types or HMS Rattlesnake. (Chato & Windus: London). Tree, I. (1991). The Ruling Passion of John Gould. A Biography otherwise, are not to your liking then there are of the Bird Man. (Barrie & Jenkins Ltd: London). Museum of Economic Botany David Symon State Herbarium of South Australia The Museum of Economic Botany at the was actively involved in this. The building was Adelaide Botanic Garden – a Souvenir. refurbished in 2009 restoring original features Edited by Peter Emmett and Tony and preserving others (look to the decorative Kanellos. Board of the Botanic gardens ceiling which remains untouched) and within it and State Herbarium, North Terrace, an area designed by Khai Liew was developed Adelaide, South Australia 5000. for temporary exhibitions. In 2006 at the back of 2010. ISBN 978 0 9775608 9 9. the original building (northern side) a roofed and paved area the Schomburgk Pavilion including a The Santos Museum of Economic Botany near the café, bookshop and visitor information centre were centre of the Adelaide Botanic garden is one of built. With two new doors in to the main building the few its kind anywhere. More extraordinary is this has greatly facilitated use of the Museum. the fact that the building and its collection have survived almost intact from its opening in May Now a generously illustrated and attractive 1881. It has escaped being turned into a functions book edited by Peter Emmett and Tony Kanellos centre or lecture theatre. has been published to celebrate its survival and refurbishment. In a forword Steve Hopper The Museum was initiated by Richard describes the Museum as ‘a diverse and surprising Schomburgk, the second director of the Gardens reward to the botanically and culturally aware.’ (1865 – 1891) and the collections were assembled Indeed it is. Few of the public are aware of the and labelled by him. This happened at a time of consequences of the development of agriculture extensive plant introductions to Australia for both ± 10,000 years ago. The wealth of plant material horticulture and agriculture and Schomburgk

17 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010) that supports us, the diversity of work they have recent long serving workers in the Museum. Four generated, the development of cities and the now essays follow on our own ethnobotany. Then dangerous increase in population. there is a detailed account of the restoration of the building and an illustrated list of the contents Peter Emmett and Tony Kanellos (and his small of the museum. Finally under “objects Speak” staff) have done a tremendous job in researching, there is a fascinating collection of 17 essays retrieving and displaying the original contents, by artists, writers and craftsmen each inspired including more than 500 papier mache models of by single items in the collection. These essays fruit and fungi made in Germany in 1866–1890 are personal, unexpected and wide ranging and many still with original labels. include a quote by the late These inspire Gay Bilson to Claude Levi-Strauss on his admire the craftsmanship visit to an Indian market. which produced these and The splendid illustrations many other objects in the display the contents very collection, e.g. the worked well. wood and the weaving. We hear a lot about Thekla Reichstein and protecting our Heritage Claire Bockner give stories these days and here’s a of their experience of good example, not only working in the Museum. the building of Victoria They tell of the Museum’s origins, its unexpected wayward history, of ‘lost’ contents no less important material discovered when to us now than they were, the entire contents were but from which so many bundled into storage city people are alienated. in preparation for the So like Gary Warner in complete refurbishment the book, visit Adelaide and give credit to E.S. in its timewarp trapped- Booth who undertook, in in-amber evocation of Victorian sensibilities, 1940’s and 50’s, the relabelling and restaging of and like Steve Hopper find this book of diverse an extensive carpological collection. and surprising rewards for the botanically and The principal chapters of the book cover the culturally curious. importance of plants to mankind, a short history This book is available from the Botanic Shop at of the now Santos Museum of Economic Botany, the Adelaide Botanic Garden. sources of the collection and recollections of two A note of clarification on two volumes on Nicotiana David Symon State Herbarium of South Australia

Illustrated book of the genus Nicotiana, forerunner of the 1994 edition. Japan Tobacco Inc., Plant breeding and I am unable to read Japanese but the forewords Genetics Research Laboratory; 1990. are different and the English version in the 1994 In the ASBS Newsletter 114 (March 2003) I edition (lacking in the 1990 version) does not reviewed a copy of a book entitled The genus say that it is a second edition. The 1990 edition Nicotiana Illustrated dated 1994. A colleague has contains 234 pages (cf. 294 in 1994) and many recently received as a gift the Illustrated book fewer illustrations. In both cases the bulk of the of the genus Nicotiana, dated 1990. Although text in is Japanese with some commentaries in the titles are different the contents are much the English. The 1994 edition contains one extra same and the 1990 edition would seem to be a species, No. 67 N. x affinis. The literature cited is

18 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010) similar but the 1994 edition has an added list of superior to the 1990 volume An enquiry some Nicotiana names and synonyms. years ago into the deposition of any voucher specimens obtained no response. However the 1990 edition contains a 17 page account of the collecting in North and South Both of these volumes published by the commercial America with 4 maps of routes taken and collecting company Japan Tobacco Inc., have no ISBN sites for the species, as well as brief comments number, nor a standard distribution organisation. in Japanese of the species. This is followed by This has complicated tracing them. I have been “The results of the Genus Nicotiana Scientific confused in the past by seeing the two slightly Expeditions in South America” in English. These different titles cited in the literature and I hope are absent from the 1994 edition. that this item has contributed some clarification. The 1994 edition has many extra field photographs; Footnote. Once a fully owned government company responsible since in only one case is there a reduction by two. The the late 1800s for salt and tobacco production in Japan, extra photos are spread throughout the volume, Japan Tobacco was privatised and incorporated in 1985, but the number for the Australian species has but still wholly owned by the Japanese government. Since more than doubled (from 84 to 218). In addition then JT Inc. has diversified into the food, beverage, and pharmaceuticals industries and is now only partially owned many of the photos of the seeds (all species) have by the Japanese Government. been replaced so that the 1994 volume is certainly Practical phylogenetic techniques Russell Barrett Kings Park and Botanic Garden The phylogenetic handbook. A practical field of research. The large size of this volume approach to phylogenetic analysis and reflects well on its coverage of the topics, with hypothesis testing. Second Edition. twenty one chapters providing both theoretical By Lemey, P., M. Salemi, and A.-M. and practical reviews of phylogenetic analysis Vandamme (eds) 2009. Cambridge methods and issues. University Press, Cambridge. 723 pp. A larger range of progams are now included, with ISBN: 9780521730716 (paperback). practical tutorials and web references on how to $87.95. Available in analyse your own datasets. hardback, paperback Progams covered include: (http://www. BLAST, FastA, Clustal, cambridge.org/uk/ T-coffee, Muscle, DAMBE, catalogue/catalogue. Tree-puzzle, Phylip, MEGA, asp?isbn=9780521730716) PAUP, IQPNNI, CONSEL, or as an ebook (http:// ModelTest, Prottest, PAML, www.cambridge.org/ HYPHY, MrBayes, BEAST, uk/catalogue/catalogue. LAMARC, SplitsTree and RDP, asp?isbn=9780511513039 with chapters often contributed ($47 USD)). by the original authors of the A brief review is provided here software program. to draw attention to this useful For those new to the field of reference book. Following phylogenetic analysis, this on from the successful first book is an essential starting edition of this book (Salemi point and contains and & Vandamme 2003, 430 pp.), extensive glossary to ensure the present edition features six students can fully understand entirely new chapters, with the content. For those already significant revision of the text of the remainder active in the field, it provides a useful review and to account for the changes in this rapidly moving

19 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010) some essential information on newer programs For those who do not undertake molecular and techniques that may not be so familiar. The phylogenetic research, but do want to understand second edition provides an increased focus on the papers written by others, and objectively hypothesis testing in order to increase the rigor of consider their conclusions, the theory sections of analyses and conclusions. this book will prove invaluable. Reviewers and editors of journal articles will find this text to be an The book covers the literature up to 2006, with essental reference for checking the appropriateness some references from 2007, so bear in mind of the analysis methods and conclusions drawn in the lag between completion of the chapters and phylogenetic papers. final publication and be sure to check for more recent papers when using the latest methods, but This and subsequent editions are sure to be a for the most part, this book will provide all the standard text for many years to come. information you need to successfully analyse your Reference molecular data using one or more of the programs Salemi, M., and A.-M. Vandamme (eds) 2003. The phylogenetic included here. handbook. A practical approach to DNA and protein phylogeny. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Books for review Review copies of the following books are on offer Rainforest Restoration Manual for South-Eastern Australia from CSIRO Publishing. Please contact Russell (http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/20/pid/5268.htm) Barrett if you would like to review one. Algae of Australia: Phytoplankton of Temperate Coastal Waters (http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/20/pid/6446.htm) Wetland Habitats (http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/21/ pid/6349.htm) Plant Families Website Recognition of Australia’s of Australia (e.g. east coast, south west corner, tropical savannas) and also overseas, as several of largest plant families the largest plant families are cosmopolitan in their Geoff Burrows distribution. School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Leisure activities such as bushwalking/gardening Australia can be more rewarding as ‘you’ are actually [email protected] observing more. The ability to recognise plant families ‘on sight’ is The website (go to: http://www.csu.edu.au/ a very useful skill. Its advantages include: herbarium/ and click on ‘Australian Plant Family If an unknown specimen is encountered when Recognition’) features an illustrated tutorial and identifying plants for a species list, biodiversity 5 interactive tests consisting of 20 images each. survey, quadrat assessment, etc. it is more efficient The tests feature high quality images and optional to start keying out at a known family rather than hints to the main features of the flowers. As starting at the very start of a key. noted above, recognition of plant families is a very useful skill and listed below are some other In illustrated floras it significantly reduces the websites that can be useful to explore: number of images that need to be examined http://www.colby.edu/info.tech/BI211/Families.html and thus markedly improves the efficiency of http://academic.reed.edu/biology/courses/BIO332/quiz/index. identification. html http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/courses/plb102/quiz/ Environmental science, agronomy or horticulture quiz_by_family.html students can work more efficiently in most parts Feedback and comments are most welcome.

20 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010)

Chapter Conveners Adelaide Darwin Robyn Barker Philip Short State Herbarium of South Australia Northern Territory Herbarium Department for Environment and Heritage Parks and Wildlife Commission of the NT PO Box 2732 PO Box 496 Kent Town, SA 5071 Palmerston, NT 0831 Tel: (08) 8222 9348 Tel: (08) 8999 4512 / Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Armidale Marco Duretto Jeremy Bruhl Tasmanian Herbarium Department of Botany Private Bag 4 University of New England Hobart, Tas. 7001 Armidale, NSW 2351 Tel: (03) 6226 1806 / Email: [email protected] Tel: (02) 6773 2429 Melbourne Email: [email protected] Frank Udovicic Brisbane Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Laurie Jessup Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, Vic. 3141 Queensland Herbarium Tel: (03) 9252 2313 / Email: [email protected] Mt Coottha Road Perth Toowong, Qld 4066 Kristina Lemson Tel: (07) 3896 9320 Plant Systematics and Conservation Email: [email protected] Centre for Ecosystem Management and School of Natural Sci- Canberra ences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup WA 6027 Vacant Tel: (08) 6304 5369 / Email. [email protected] Cairns Sydney Mark Harrington Hannah McPherson James Cook University National Herbarium of NSW PO Box 6811 Mrs Macquaries Road Cairns, Qld 4870 Sydney, NSW 2000 Tel: (07) 4042 1338 Tel: (02) 9231 8111 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Contacting Major Australian Herbaria and Systematics Institutions From outside Australia: add the country code 61 and omit the leading zero of the area code AD HO MEL NSW tel: (08) 8222 9307 tel: (03) 6226 2635 tel: (03) 9252 2300 tel: (02) 9231 8111 fax: (08) 8222 9353 fax: (03) 6226 7865 fax: (03) 9252 2350 fax: (02) 9251 7231 www.flora.sa.gov.au www.tmag.tas.gov.au/ www.rbg.vic.gov.au/ www.rbgsyd.gov.au/conservation Herbarium/Herbarium2.htm _research/herbarium_&_services CANB BRI DNA PERTH tel: (02) 6246 5108 tel: (07) 3896 9321 tel: (08) 8999 4516 tel: (08) 9334 0500 fax: (02) 6246 5249 fax: (07) 3896 9624 fax: (08) 8999 4527 fax: (08) 9334 0515 www.anbg.gov.au/ www.epa.qld.gov.au/hebarium www.nt.gov.au/pwcnt http://science.dec.wa.gov.au/ herbarium/ QRS MBA NT Australian University Herbaria tel: (07) 4091 8800 tel: (07) 4048 4745/4743 tel: (08) 8951 8791 Contact CHAH representative: fax: (07) 4091 8888 fax: (07) 4092 3593 fax: (08) 8951 8790 Murray Henwood, University of Sydney Council of Heads of Austral- ABRS Australian Botanical Liaison Officer (ABLO) asian Herbaria (CHAH) tel: (02) 6250 9417 Position Vacant Chair: Dr Brett Summerell fax: (02) 6250 9555 Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (NSW) brett.summerell@ email: [email protected] Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB England rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au or www. www.environment.gov.au/ tel: 44-20-8332 5270; fax: 44-20-8332 5278 chah.gov.au/ biodiversity/abrs/ email: [email protected]

21 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010)

ASBS Publications History of Systematic Botany in Australia Edited by P.S. Short. A4, case bound, 326 pp. ASBS, 1990. $10; plus $10 postage & packing. For all those people interested in the 1988 ASBS symposium in Melbourne, here are the proceedings. It is a well presented volume, containing 36 papers on: the botanical exploration of our region; the role of horticulturalists, collectors and artists in the early documentation of the flora; the renowned (Mueller, Cunningham), and those whose contribution is sometimes overlooked (Buchanan, Wilhelmi). Only a few copies left!––available only from the Treasurer.

Systematic Status of Large Genera Austral.Syst.Bot.Soc.Newslett. 53, edited by Helen Hewson. 1987. $5 + $1.75 postage. This Newsletter issue includes the reports from the February 1986 Boden Conference on the “Systematic Status of Large Flowering Plant Genera”. The reports cover: the genus concept; the role of cladistics in generic delimitation; geographic range and the genus concepts; the value of chemical characters, pollination syndromes, and breeding systems as generic determinants; and generic concepts in the , Chenopodiaceae, Epacridaceae, Cassia, Acacia and Eucalyptus.

Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter Back issues of the Newsletter are available from Number 27 (May 1981) onwards, excluding Numbers 29, 31, 60–62, 66, 84, 89, 90, 99, 100 and 103. Here is the chance to complete your set. Cover prices are $3.50 (Numbers 27–59, excluding Number 53) and $5.00 (Number 53 and 60 onwards). Postage $1.10 per issue, apart from $1.75 for the Large Genera issue (Number 53).

Evolution of the Flora and Fauna of Arid Australia Edited by W.R. Barker & P.J.M. Greenslade. Peacock Publications, ASBS & ANZAAS, 1982. $20 + $8.50 postage. This collection of more than 40 papers will interest all people concerned with Australia’s dry inland, or the evolutionary history of its flora and fauna. It is of value to those studying both arid lands and evolution in general. Six sections cover: ecological and historical background; ecological and reproductive adaptations in plants; vertebrate animals; invertebrate animals; individual plant groups; and concluding remarks. Also available from Peacock Publications, 38 Sydenham Road, Norwood, SA 5069, Australia. To obtain this discounted price, post a photocopy of this page with remittance.

Ecology of the Southern Conifers (Now out of print) Edited by Neal Enright and Robert Hill. ASBS members: $60 plus $12 p. & p. non-members $79.95. Proceedings of a symposium at the ASBS conference in Hobart in 1993. Twenty-eight scholars from across the hemisphere examine the history and ecology of the southern conifers, and emphasise their importance in understanding the evolution and ecological dynamics of southern vegetation.

Postage rates: Those quoted apply only within Australia. Please email for prices to other locations. Send orders and remittances (payable to “ASBS Inc.”) to: Helen Thompson ASBS Sales ABRS GPO Box 787 Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia Or fax credit card details to: Helen Thompson Fax: (02) 6250 9448 Contact details. Email: [email protected]. Tel: (02) 6250 9445. Fax: (02) 6250 9448.

22 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010)

AUSTRALIAN SYSTEMATIC BOTANY SOCIETY INCORPORATED The Society The Australian Systematic Botany Society is an incorporated association of over 300 people with professional or amateur interest in botany. The aim of the Society is to promote the study of plant systematics. Membership Membership is open to all those interested in plant systematics. Membership entitles the member to attend general meetings and chapter meetings, and to receive the Newsletter. Any person may apply for membership by filling in a “Membership Application” form, available on the Society website, and forwarding it, with the appropriate subscription, to the Treasurer. Subscriptions become due on 1 January each year. The ASBS annual membership subscription is AU$45; full-time students $25. Payment may be by credit card or by cheques made out to Australian Systematic Botany Society Inc., and remitted to the Treasurer. All changes of address should be sent directly to the Treasurer as well. The Newsletter The Newsletter is sent quarterly to members and appears simultaneously on the ASBS Website. It keeps members informed of Society events and news, and provides a vehicle for debate and discussion. In addition, original articles, notes and letters (not exceeding ten published pages in length) will be considered. Citation: abbreviate as Austral. Syst. Bot. Soc. Newslett. Contributions Send copy to Russell Barrett and Peter Jobson at the addresses given below. They preferably should be submitted as: (1) an MS-DOS file in the form of a text file (.txt extension), (2) an MS-Word.doc file, (3) a Rich-text-format or .rtf file in an email message or attachment or on an MS-DOS disk or CD-ROM. Non-preferred media such as handwritten or typescripts by letter or fax are acceptable, but may cause delay in publication in view of the extra workload involved. Formatting of submitted copy. Please use Word in formatting indents, bullets, etc. in paragraphs and for tables. Do not format primitively with tabs, which change with the Normal style sheet. If embedding tables or references or other Objects from other software (Excel, bibliographic software, etc.) ensure that these are converted to Word tables or paragraphs. Letters in abbreviations of Australian States (SA, WA etc., but Vic.) and organisations (e.g. ASBS, ABRS) should not be separated by full-stops, but initials should be (e.g. W.R. Smith, not WR Smith). Images: their inclusion may depend on space being available. Improve scanned resolution if printing your image is pixellated at a width of at least 7 cm (up to a 15 cm full page). Contact the Editors for further clarification. The deadline for contributions is the last day of February, May, August and November. All items incorporated in the Newsletter will be duly acknowledged. Any unsigned articles are attributable to the Editors. Authors alone are responsible for the views expressed, and statements made by the authors do not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Systematic Botany Society Inc. Newsletter items should not be reproduced without the permission of the author of the material. Advertising Advertising space is available for products or services of interest to ASBS members. The current fee is $100 per full page, $50 per half-page or less. Flyers may be approved for inclusion in the envelope for products or services of interest to ASBS members. The current fee is $100 per flyer, plus the cost of inserting them (usually roughly $25–30). Flyers are not part of the Newsletter and do not appear with the Newsletter on the ASBS Website. A 20% discount applies for second and subsequent entries of the same advertisement. Advertisements from ASBS members are usually exempt from fees but not the insertion costs in the case of a flyer. Contact the Newsletter Editors for further information. Editors Russell Barrett Peter Jobson Kings Park & Botanic Garden (ENV Australia) Fraser Ave 29 Montreal Road West Perth, WA 6005 Woodbridge Tel: (08) 9480 3640 WA 6056 Fax: (08) 9480 3641 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Contents Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 143 (June 2010)

From the President ...... 1 Obituaries Surrey Jacobs ...... 3 George Chippendale ...... 8 ASBS Inc. Business Postscript to the ASBS 2009 Conference and workshop on “National accreditation of providers of biological identification” A potential model for accreditation of Botanists from ASSSI . . . . . 10 Nominations for 2010–2011 ASBS Council ...... 10 Annual General Meeting for 2010 ...... 12 Hansjörg Eichler Research Fund March 2010 Round ...... 12 ABRS Report ...... 12 Book reviews Natural history collecting at Port Essington ...... 13 Museum of Economic Botany ...... 17 A note of clarification on two volumes onNicotiana ...... 18 Practical phylogenetic techniques ...... 19 Books for review ...... 20 Plant families website ...... 20