Australian Plants Society Grampians Newsletter1

September 2017 Grevillea dimorpha

Tuesday 19th September7:30 Pomonal Hall

SHOW PREPARATION

7th and 8th OctoberFLOWER SHOW

Tuesday 17th October 7:30Stawell Neighbourhood House

Graham Woods: Banksias

Next MeetingSUPPER ROSTER: A TO K.

(Note change from previous rosters. It makes the numbers more even.)September 19th meeting is all about the Flower Show preparations. Come prepared to volunteerenergy and time. Details of pre-show activities will be explained and rosters available to be filled in.We will also have the usual flower table. Bring along anything you need identifying ready for theshow.

For those unable to attend the meeting on 19th, please let Andrea know by email atapsgrampiansgroup@gmail.com if you are able to help out on Thursday 5th October forsetting up tables and filling jars with water etc. Friday 6th for picking flowers at members’gardens, putting plants in jars on Friday afternoon and other tasks. There will be a list on thewhiteboard! Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th tasks include being present at the entry table, book table (time slotsare morning, lunch time and afternoon), roaming the hall talking to visitors and checking on themandala display, taking photos and cleaning up after the show.

From the Editor.....Well I’m home at last after a wonderful holiday but plunging into freezing winter weather has been abit of a shock!My first impression on returning to Pomonal was absolute delight, seeing the marvellous job thegroup has done with Jane’s garden. Thank you so much.Many thanks to Peter Shelley who has managed the newsletter while I’ve been away.Ahead is our busiest and most exciting time with our gardens bursting into flower, THE SHOW andour weekend away in SA to look forward to. In this newsletter is the last of our series of articles on Rutaceae by Neil Marriott.

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August MeetingMargo Sietsma was our Speaker for the evening. She spoke about her recent visit to the AustralianNational Botanic Gardens in Canberra.

The purpose of the gardens is to inspire, inform and connect people with Australia‹s diverse andspecular flora she told us. The gardens are set up to showcase Australian environments. Paths takeyou through the Rainforest Gully, Eucalypts lawn, grassy woodlands and the recently completedRed Centre garden. The desert garden is complete with red sand, rocks and a thorny devil and is aspectacular sight, she said. The themed walks can be explored using a map but the best way toexperience the gardens is by having a free guided tour. The very enthusiastic and knowledgeablevolunteer guides will add to your experience of visiting the gardens.As well as numerous plants to find, there are many birds, lizards, water dragons and even adinosaur to spot. The botanic gardens are more than a beautiful display of native plants, there is aherbarium and national seed bank on site. Staff are involved in many conservation projects andcultivating plants threatened in the wild. A visit to the discovery centre which has regular great exhibits and the well-stocked book and giftshop, was recommended by Margo. So, next time you are visiting Canberra, spend a day visitingthe Australian National Botanic Gardens.

General Business* The election of the Treasurer’s position for 2017-2018 was held. Danielle Chipier has beenelected.* Linda gave out flyers for the Flower show to members willing to distribute them to local andregional places, places where tourists hang out. * David suggested that anyone growing plants for the Flower show display; give them a boost offertiliser to encourage them to produce flowers for the display.* David asked members to consider buying and caring for rainforests plants for the 2018 display.* A thank you was given to Jenny Keir for her work in getting the Flower show data base finished.This is a list of all the plant specimens that have been shown at past flower shows and details oftheir flowering times.* Kevin Moulynox was thanked for making the six plinths to be used for displaying our nativeflowers at the show. Thanks to Linda, Carole and Ena for the raffle prizes.

Reminders* Neutrog orders are due by September 20th. Payment may be made when submitting order or onpick up, by direct deposit, cheque or cash.

* Membership fees are now due. Please see Danielle on the 19th, pay by EFT or send renewal toapsgrampiansgroup@gmail.com

*Keep collecting seed pods, interesting leaves, nuts etc. for the mandala. Can bring to nextmeeting or before the show. If possible could you bring in a bag or container and have a label ofwhich plant they are from.

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August Flower Table

Ena GrahamAcacia leprosa yellowHakea multilineataThryptomene calycinaEucalyptus tricarpa

Neil MacumberAcacia boormaniiGrevillea lissopleuraWestringa linifolia

Joan PitaroAcacia lanigeraCorrea ’not Gwen’Correa ’Gwen’Correa ’Linda’s peachEremophila maculata

Linda HandscombeCorrea ’Manii’Correa ’Coconut Ice’Correa ‘Gwen’Correa ’Safeway’Cryptandra scortechiniiGrevillea lanigera

Thank you to Wayne for recording names; Ena, Neil, Joan and Linda forbringing the plants in and Peter for the photos.

A leprosa H multilineata

E tricarpa

C scortechinii

Correa ‘Gwen’

Book Review Discovering Australian Flora - An Australian National Botanic Gardens Experience by Fanny Karouta Manasse.This is a beautiful book full of photos of native plants taken by the author while walkingaround the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra. I borrowed this from theArarat Library to view after Margo’s talk. This would be a lovely addition to anyone’s library.If anyone else has or knows of a good book that you think other members would like to knowabout. Write a review and send to either Phil Williams or to secretary atapsgrampiansgroup@gmail.com.

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Jane’s GardenI would like to thank all those who turned up at the Working Bee on August 19th .With the many hands turning up, some weeding, others shifting gravel mulch, we were able tofinish the job and have a cuppa before lunch.The garden now looks much better for the makeover and should last at bit longer, we nowneed to replace some of the old plants and fill in the gaps.Again many thanks to all those who turned up on the day, and to those who did somepreliminary work, making the day easier for the workers.Kevin

And a personal thank you from me. Jane would have loved it!Phil

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The Rutaceae Family: Phebalium, Nematolepis and LeionemaNeil Marriott

We have learnt a lot about the wonderful Rutaceae family over the last few months and thismonth we will look at these three small and closely related genera.

PhebaliumA genus almost endemic to Australia (one species in New Zealand), we have approximately 50species across the country. The name Phebalium comes from the early Greek name for myrtle, asthe botanist Ventenat who originally described the genus, placed Phebalium in Myrtaceae.

Phebalium occurs in every state in Australia, but not in the Northern Territory. Following therevision of the genus by Paul Wilson in 1998, a number of species were transferred to the genusNematolepis, while others were transferred to the new genus Leionema. A number of WA specieswere also transferred to the genus Rhadinothamnus.Phebaliums range in size from small shrubs to small trees, and occur naturally in a range ofhabitats from heathland through to forests. In Victoria and NSW, many species occur in rockyareas. In Victoria, there are now 6 species, Phebalium bullatum, P festivum, P glandulosum, Plowanense, P squamulosum and P stenophyllum. Phebalium bullatum is a superb showy smallshrub from the mallee of NW Victoria. Sadly, due to its difficulty in propagation it is rarelycultivated even though it is quite easy to grow in the garden in a warm sunny site in a sandy soilif you can ever get one. Phebalium lowanense is a rare species from the western edge of the BigDesert and into the deserts of South Australia.

Phebalium glandulosum ranges from 1-2.5m in height and occurs in NW mallee on sands aswell as in the Snowy River gorge on stony soils. Small forms make lovely garden plants given awell-drained sunny site.

Phebalium squamulosum ’Forest Phebalium’ is a shrub to 3m with 4 subspecies, naturallyconfined to eastern Victoria. There are more subspecies interstate. Commonly cultivated, allsubspecies make good garden plants in areas with dappled shade and some summer moisture.

Phebalium stenophyllum ’Narrow-leavedPhebalium’ is also found primarily in thefar west of the state, but also recordedin the Victorian herbarium at Mt Zeroand Mt Abrupt in the Grampians. Ifthese records are correct, it is ratheramazing for the plant to be confined tothe northern most tip of the Grampiansand almost the southernmost tip! Thisplant thrives in local gardens, proving tobe highly drought tolerant, compact andextremely showy.

Phebalium stenophyllum at ’Panrock Ridge

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There are many other Phebalium species in other states, and one that we have been growing withgreat success is the spectacular pink-mauve flowered P canaliculatum. This species is confined to

semi-arid regions of WA such as aroundSouthern Cross and east to aroundCoolgardie. Years ago I was fortunate tocollect some cuttings from SW of Coolgardieand these were propagated and are stillgrowing and flowering superbly here in theBlack Range. Sadly, it has proven to be ratherdifficult to strike from cuttings.

Other commonly cultivated Phebalium includeP dentatum, P elatius, P lamprophyllum, thesuperb pink flowered P nottii, the spectacularbut touchy P whitei and P woombye. PhilVaughan has lovely grafted plants of P whiteifor sale.

NematolepisNematolepis can be separated from Phebalium by examining the anthers - in Nematolepis they areversatile, which means that they swing freely about their point of attachment. In Phebalium on theother hand they are attached firmly at the base and have a gland at the tip. Phebalium also hasinsignificant bracteoles at the base of the pedicel (the stalk of the flower), while in Nematolepis thebracteoles are at or above the centre of the pedicel.

In Victoria, we have three species of this genus;Nematolepis squameum, N wilsonii and Nfrondosum. N squameum has three subspecies, oneof which N squameum ssp retusa is endemic toTasmania. Amazingly, this subspecies has provento be extremely hardy in our garden in the BlackRange, and is being marketed as N squameum’Green Sentinel’ due to its beautiful dark greencolumn like habit. N wilsonii is one of Victoria‹srarest plants, being confined to a single populationat Marysville. This tiny colony was completely burntout in the Black Saturday bushfires, butmiraculously, many seedlings came back from theashes. At the moment the Royal Botanic Gardens,Melbourne and Cranbourne are involved in anactive recovery program for the species. The finalVictorian species N frondosum is also extremelyrare, being confined to the slopes of Mt Elizabeth inE Gippsland.

Phebalium canaliculatum at ’Panrock Ridge’

Nematolepis squameum ’Green Sentinel’ at ’Panrock Ridge’

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LeionemaLeionema can be separated from Phebalium by examining the flower buds; in Leionema the petalswhile in the bud stage line up edge to edge, while Phebalium the petals overlap in bud. Leionemaalso has simple or star-shaped (stellate) hairs while Phebalium has scurfy scales.

In Victoria, we have three species ofLeionema; L bilobum, L brachyphyllum and Llamprophyllum. Leionema bilobum has beendivided into three subspecies, two of whichoccur in the Grampians: L bilobum sspbilobum which occurs in the northern andeastern parts of the ranges, and L bilobumssp thackerayense which is confined to theVictoria Range in the west of theGrampians. Unfortunately they strike readilybut are difficult to keep alive in the garden.Leionema lamprophyllum is relativelycommon and reliable in cultivation, makinga superb small to medium shrub withmassed white flowers.

From NSW comes the lovely Leionema coxiiwhich makes a delightful medium sized shrub 1-2 m tall with large elliptical serrate leaves andmassed bold heads of white flowers in spring and summer. Bernie Shanahan has plants of thislovely species for sale. Other commonly cultivated Leionema include: L. dentatum, L. elatius and L. lamprophyllum

Leionema coxii at ’Panrock Ridge’

Just for a change ......Something from my holiday which hasnothing to do with plants, but I’d like toshare it with you anyway!The Farne Islands are just off the coast ofNorth East England are are home tomillions of sea birds. We were fortunate tobe able to visit at the height of the nestingseason. The picture shows a puffin returning to itsburrow with meal for its chick.To be amongst so many birds was anunforgettable experience. The noise (andthe smell) were overwhelming but to seenatural life in such abundance was veryuplifting.Phil

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Other NewsIn order to help the committee plan activities for 2018, could members fill in the survey attached andreturned to the meeting on 19th September or email ideas to secretary atapsgrampiansgroup@gmail.com. Grampians group is for all members to be involved in, let usknow what you want to do at our monthly meetings.

Australian Plant SocietyGRAMPIANS GROUP SURVEY

Dear Member, In order to help us plan our activities for 2018, we ask that you take the time to fill in the surveybelow and return it to the Secretary by email or in person at the next meeting.

SPEAKERS1. Is there a particular speaker you wish to hear at a meeting?

2. Is there a subject you wish to hear covered at a meeting?

3. Are there any changes to the way our meetings operate?

VISITS 4. Are you more interested in one day excursions rather than weekend visits? Yes/No

5. Is there any garden / bush visits you would like us to organize?

6. Where would like our weekend away to visit next year?

7. Are you interested in longer excursions e.g. 7 or 10 days?

8. Any other comments

Many thanks for taking the time to help your committee organize our program for 2018

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Images by A Hughes and D Saxon-Campbell.

The Kara Kara Conservation Management Network presents:

‘Gardening for Wildlife’ Seminar When: Sunday, 22nd October 2017, from 12 noon

Where: McDonald Hall , Town Hall Complex, Napier Street, St Arnaud

Come along and hear expert speakers discuss how to create habitat for native wildlife in

your home garden. Learn about:

The structural elements that make up ‘habitat’, why it’s important and how habitat needs

differ between native wildlife species;

Simple ways you can create wildlife habitat, whether you’re starting from scratch or

incorporating it into an existing garden;

Gardening with Australian native plants, including species that will help att ract wildlife

to your garden year round;

and more.

Entry is FREE and includes a light lunch. RSVPs required by Tuesday 17th October 2017 for

catering purposes. Call Deb on 0419 550 226 or email karakaracmn@gmail.com.

Remember this is your newsletter and it will only be as good as the articles that you put in it.Thanks to Andrea, Neil and Kevin for their contributions. If there are articles you wish to contribute or

if there are things you would like to see in our newsletter then email Phil Williams atpwn@netconnect.com.au or by phone 53566250 or by snail at P.O. Pomonal 3381

APSVic Grampians Committee 2017/18

Office BearersPresident: Kevin Moulynox (5356 4660)Vice President: Neil Marriott (5356 2404)Secretary: Andrea Shelley (0405 993 763)Treasurer: Danielle Chipier (5358 4104)

Ordinary MembersPhil WilliamsWendy Marriott Linda Handscombe David Handscombe

Neil MacumberSandy MoulinoxPeter ShelleyAnita EvansRoss Simpson

This looks very intereresting: