Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) Inc. ACACIA STUDY GROUP NEWSLETTER Group Leader and Newsletter Editor Seed Bank Curator Bill Aitchison Victoria Tanner 13 Conos Court, Donvale, Vic 3111 Phone (03) 98723583 Email: [email protected] No. 119 December 2012 ISSN 1035-4638 Contents Page There are some other items in the Newsletter where you may be able to assist us – including a request for photos of Vachellia species, an invitation to assist in planning a Study From the Leader 1 Group display at next year’s ANPSA Biennial Conference Welcome 2 and an invitation to send us a photo as part of an initiative From Members and Readers 2 suggested by Victoria Tanner. Regenerating Acacias 3 The Victorian members of our Study Group will be aware Kath Alcock’s Watercolours 4 that Stage 2 of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne was Acacia alcockii 4 formally opened a few weeks ago. The new section of the Acacia podalyriifolia 5 Gardens is very large and spectacular, and from an Acacia Acacia stricta 6 point of view it is quite exciting that there has been a Vachellia species in Australia 6 significant increase in the Acacia collection. Based on a list A New Book 6 I saw of Acacias in the Gardens, there are now about 76 Some New Acacia Selections 7 different varieties to be found. For anyone visiting ANPSA Biennial Conference 7 Melbourne, a day at the Cranbourne Gardens is well A Competition 8 worthwhile. Germination of Acacia Seeds 8 Seed Bank 9 Thank you to all members who have paid their membership Study Group Membership 9 renewals for the 2012/13 year. If you have not already paid Seed Bank List 10 your subscription, it would be appreciated if you could attend to this (or let me know if you do not wish to renew). As we come to the end of another year, I would like to extend best wishes to all for the festive season and for a safe From The Leader and healthy 2013. Bill Aitchison Dear Members There are a few items included in this Newsletter that I would particularly like to draw to your attention. An updated Seed Bank List is included on pages 10 and 11, and also a note on the operation of the Seed Bank on page 9. In some parts of Australia, this is now an excellent time of year for collecting seed, so if you are in a position to collect seed, perhaps you can donate some to our Seed Bank. Acacia Study Group Newsletter No. 119 Page 1 “Also, one of your correspondents mentioned that A. Welcome suaveolens (and A. terminalis) should not be hit with boiling water to hasten germination. As one of about 24 species, all A special welcome to the following new member to the receiving the same addition of boiling water, A. suaveolens Study Group. responded very well with a high percentage of germinated seeds and wonderful resulting seedlings. In fact, these Mike Ridley, Montmorency, Vic seedlings were by far the most attractive and if judged by appearance alone, they win hands down over the others. I have to say it, A. dunnii is just amazing with huge From Members and Readers (relatively) cotyledons and delightful seed leaf pinnae.” Further to our report on Fireblight Beetles in our September ******** Newsletter, I have received a further note (17 October 2012) Phil Hempel (Diamond Creek, Vic) writes (20 November from Julia Franco (Nillumbik Shire Council). Julia writes: 2012) about a variegated Acacia that he has in his garden: “I just had a report from a landowner who has been “I grew this plant from seed about six years ago and it monitoring this situation. He emailed me with the always had yellowish leaves. I assumed it had some following: deficiency in the soil but all the other plants nearby were normal. At times I wasn’t even sure if it was a Hakea or an "We have been following the life cycle of these beetles. Most Acacia due to its odd appearance. At the end of every caterpillars went into the ground about a month ago (about summer the leaves would seem to become greener. The 1-2cm deep). Last week the beetles started to emerge and bush is growing in full sun and is never watered. This year are starting to feed on what wattle leaves are left. It will be for the first time it started to flower and it was obvious it interesting to see if there are enough leaves left in autumn was indeed an Acacia. It was flowering very late in for the beetles to deposit their eggs on." November. I keyed it out and it appears to be Acacia jennerae. As well as flowering for the first time the leaves We haven't seen any recovery yet, but are keeping our eyes have changed slightly to be variegated. It stands out open. One of the properties I have seen that was pretty growing in front of dark green leafed plants.” severely affected, with majority of the foliage gone, but I didn't observe any beetles.” ******** Harry Franz (Kingaroy, Qld) notes (30 October 2012) that “as always we have enjoyed the wattle season – we have some majestic ones locally, Acacia pustula and Acacia leucoclada’. ******** Michael McCuaig (Wurtulla, Qld) comments (2 December, 2012) on Acacias that won’t flower for him (following comments in our recent newsletters): “I have three species of Acacia which will not flower here. The first is Acacia baileyana which is worth growing for the lovely purple leaves. I was told it would not flower and another person told me to place ice at the base of the shrub as this encourages flowering. This is yet to be demonstrated. The second is A. cultriformis which I well Variegated Acacia jennerae Photo: Phil Hempel remember from my Canberra days. The plant grows beautifully and once again I think it is worth it just for the Our thanks to John Nevin for pointing out that the photo phyllodes. The plant produces floral initials but they don’t labelled Acacia pruinosa on page 5 of our September become the flowers. Finally I have a few plants of A. newsletter was in fact Acacia decurrens. We saw both of floribunda which also grow very well, produce floral buds these plants on our recent field trip, both growing on the which don’t open, but the plants are acting as great screens. southern side of Emmaville. The Acacia decurrens was You can’t have everything.” actually a foreigner, probably a garden escape, as it does not occur on the Northern Tablelands (it is a beautiful wattle, Michael also commented as follows: albeit one that gets very big). Acacia Study Group Newsletter No. 119 Page 2 Regenerating Acacias by Warren and Gloria Sheather, Yarrowyck, NSW Our garden west of Armidale on the Northern Tablelands of NSW is now close to 17 years old. The property, Yallaroo, was originally a sheep property and over many years was grazed to within an inch of its life. Many areas were almost bare with thistles the only vegetation. Sheep were removed when we purchased the property. A large area, around our house, has been densely planted with a wide range of native plants. The rest of the 60 hectares has been left to regenerate. Over the years there has been a satisfactory return of the original vegetation with acacias in the forefront of regeneration. Three species have been very prominent in restoring the property to something like its original appearance. Acacia neriifolia Photo: W & G Sheather Acacia viscidula, a Sticky Wattle, is an erect, slender shrub Acacia implexa has reappeared in large numbers. There are reaching a height of about two metres. There were only literally hundreds of specimens scattered throughout scattered specimens, of this species, when we purchased Yallaroo. There is the complete size range from trees to Yallaroo. Now there are clumps of Acacia viscidula seedlings and everything in between. We are very fond of scattered throughout our regenerating bushland. In spring our Acacia implexa population. Their main flowering their branches are covered with pale yellow globular period occurs in December and January when our garden flowers. This is another species that has regenerated along and surrounding bushland shines with masses of cream, the road to Armidale due to roadworks. globular flowers. Sporadic flowering sometimes occurs at other times. Acacia viscidula Photo: W & G Sheather Acacia implexa Photo: W &G Sheather Acacia dawsonii is not native to Yallaroo but occurs along the Waterfall Way, east of Armidale. This small wattle has Acacia neriifolia, sometimes known as the Oleander Wattle, an upright growth habit and small, yellow, spring flowers. is another native of Yallaroo that has made a comeback over Twenty years ago there was a small population about 20 the past 17 years. Although not as prolific as Acacia kilometres from Armidale. Once again due to roadworks implexa there has still been satisfactory return of this tall we have noticed that Acacia dawsonii is marching west species. Their grey-green foliage contrasts with the bright towards Armidale. There are now many more populations, yellow, spring blooms that add to the blaze of colour from along the road, than there were twenty years ago. Some our other acacias. Recently there has been extensive native plant growers do not think very highly of this species. roadwork outside Yallaroo and we have noticed that the soil We find that Acacia dawsonii is a cheerful small plant that disturbance has triggered a proliferation of Acacia neriifolia is used as a foreground specimen in our dense shrubberies.