We wish all our members, families and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Are any Australian native plants suitable for indoors?
Last month we offered a list of ten plants that were considered desirable indoor plants with a warning that the inside environment generally was darker than outside due to window size and drapes, and drying due to the dry air from natural sources and from air conditioners.
Another source offers the following comment.
Most container-grown plants can be taken indoors for short periods (1-2 weeks) and can provide excellent decoration when in flower. As well, there are a number of Australian plants which can tolerate indoor conditions for extended periods. These are usually those species native to tropical and sub- tropical rainforests where the plants have become accustomed to low light levels. Some worth trying include Schefflera actinophylla (umbrella tree), Castanospermum australe (black bean), Davidsonia pruriens (Davidson’s plum), various Lilly Pillys (Syzygium, Acmena, Waterhousea) and Grevillea robusta (silky oak).
Cordyline species grow well indoors and in air conditioned areas. Although these are flowering plants, they are unlikely to flower if kept indoors for extended periods so selection should be based on their foliage characteristics.
Among the non-flowering plants, ferns make excellent indoor plants especially hardy ones such as Doodia aspera (rasp fern) and Nephrolepis cordifolia (fishbone fern). Even tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica and Cyathea sp.) can be used for several years before their trunks develop. Cycads, such as Macrozamia communis (Burrawang) are also excellent indoors as is the small conifer Pherosphaera fitzgeraldii (syn. Microstrobos fitzgeraldii).
A good reference for choosing and maintaining Australian plants indoors is Growing Native Plants Indoors by John Wrigley and Murray Fagg, 1992 (published by Simon and Schuster).”
Have any members been successful over an extended period with indoor plants? Please let us know.
Calendar
Dec 2016
Wed 14 Propagation at Bidjiwong Community Nursery at 10am
Jan 2017
Thu 5 Deadline for Calgaroo news / articles
Wed 11 Propagation at Bidjiwong Community Nursery at 10am
APS NSW Draft Strategic Plan
You may remember that we forwarded a copy of the APS NSW Draft Strategic Plan to our Group members a couple of months ago to inform you as to what the APS Board had decided with respect to how to revitalise the Society and to invite you to offer any suggestion that may contribute to a stronger Society. I am unaware of any new ideas coming from our members to date but I suggest it is not too late should you have a new concept to put forward.
Our Next Meeting
We do not hold meetings in the months of December and January at present so that our next meeting will be held at Gumnut Hall, Gumnut Place, Cherrybrook, on Saturday, 25 February, 2017, at 2.00pm.
We will commence with our Annual General Meeting at which a Committee Report, the Treasurer’s Report and the Propagation Workshop Convenor’s Report will be presented and the Committee for 2017 will be elected.
Members of the 2016 Committee have indicated a probable willingness to stand again but we would welcome nominations from other members to fill any position including the vacant positions of Group President, two Vice-Presidents and Secretary. The qualifications obviously include a delight in native plants but the essential thing is the ability to manage a group of people and their program.
New APS NSW Ltd Subscription Fees
The APS NSW Ltd Board has raised the subscription fees just a little from 1st January 2017. The new subscriptions will be as follows:
Individual concession $48; Joint concession $56; Individual ordinary $58; Joint ordinary $66
From next year members will be able to pay for 3 years at a time if desired. This would beat any fee increases which may turn up in the next few years. For those who are due to renew in December, you should do so before the end of the year, and beat the increase.
Note – Joint membership applies to 2 people at the same address. Each receives a membership card. A concession is available to Seniors, people on a limited fixed income and full-time students.
Daisy, daisy: how to grow native daisies for maximum impact
-GardenDrum
This is the third in the daisy series by our WA colleagues in GardenDrum drawn to our attention by Heather Miles, our APS NSW honorary secretary. It is worth a look just to see the beautiful images of the native daisys.
Visit http://gardendrum.com/2016/09/29/daisy-daisy-how-to-grow-native-daisies-maximum-imapct/
While there also read Angus Stewart’s article How to create an Australian wildflower meadow and see the images there too.
Visit http://gardendrum.com/2015/09/14/how-to-create-an-australian-wildflower-meadow/
Your Garden over Summer
During the holiday season please remember your garden may need help in hot weather, certainly water applied to the roots with care. Mulch will help in most cases but make sure it is pulled back from the trunk or main stem. The ABC’s Gardening Australia team had the following advice
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1484684.htm
Last Meeting
At our meeting on 26 November 2016, former member Angella Michaelis spoke to us on the topic of Bushcare: new sites, new insights. Angie, as we know her, gave an excellent presentation referring to her time working at Knudsen Reserve, Riverton, where she started and to areas in Balmain (the foreshore and High School) and islands in Sydney Harbour (primarily Shark Island) where she works today.
Angie stated that she had learnt that success depended upon the 4P’s – Projects, Plants, Processes and People. If you were not to waste effort and money it was essential to
- define the project,
- know the site, and
- set reachable goals.
Angie turned her attention to the site and said the following were the features essential to know if one was to know the site:
- Soils;
- Climate;
- Topography;
- Microclimate;
- Water availability;
- Views, with respect to workers and to visitors, obviously optimised as far as possible;
- Access, also optimised with respect to workers and visitors; and
- Plants.
Plants are procured with a local providence, if not from the site then from the immediate vicinity. Thus plant material not available now on the islands comes from nearby on the mainland either north or south of the Harbour. These plants are recognised coastal species.
Angie said that having done the necessary homework the next step was to attack the weeds. Cleaning up starts at the top of the area as otherwise seeds and plant material would be washed down the slopes over time negating the work already done. However there are occasions when a lower section is cleared first contrary to normal policy.
Possibly the worst of the weeds is Asparagus Fern (Asparagus virgatus). It is from Eastern and Southern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and is established in coastal Queensland and in NSW confined primarily to around Sydney. It is a notifiable weed in NSW that about 90% of its seeds germinate. It competes with native ground cover and understorey plants by forming dense infestations that smother other species and prevent their germination and establishment.
Another serious weed they find is an Agave sp. This fascinating group of perennial succulents occurs naturally in southern USA and Mexico. There are over 300 species, and many have dramatic, sword-shaped leaves with sharp teeth on the edges and fierce spines on the tips.
Other weeds include Wandering Jew from South America, African Olive that is related to the European Olive but has no commercial value, Madeira Vine from South America once used as an ornamental plant in gardens but is now a notifiable weed in NSW, and Turkey Rhubarb (Acetosa saggitata) which is a herbaceous perennial plant from South Africa that has become a weed in Australia.
However some two thirds of the weeds have now been removed from Shark Island. This in itself is a difficult proposition as weeds need to be removed safely to a green waste repository to ensure no regrowth. This entails the use of bags and boats and is both time consuming and costly. The lesson learnt is to include planning for disposal of weeds in your initial homework.
Unfortunately another problem at Shark Island is the amount of polystyrene that has been washed up and over time been incorporated into the foreshore soil.
The significant slopes are stabilised by logs.
As a reward, where the weeds have been removed, plants that are believed to be indigenous to the Harbour area have appeared and these include Bird’s Nest Ferns (Asplenium nidus), Pelagonium sp, Banksia integrifolia, Native Olive (Notelaea microcarpa) and even Greenhood Orchids (Pterostylis nutans). Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra), Clematis sp, Bursaria spinosa, and Weeping Grass (Microlaena stipoides) are among species planted,
One particular tool, a Treepopper, has proven useful as a means of removing small trees and woody weeds quickly and experience has shown that use of the right tool is always the best and most productive way.
Angie responded to a question as to what people became involved in Bushcare, saying folk came from all walks of life. Some came because they had no garden of their own. People made friends and saw the fruits of their labour.
The Plan of Management for Sydney Harbour National Park (201 pages) is shown on-line at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/planmanagement/final/20120757SydneyHarbourNPFinal.pdf
Mistletoe: the Kiss of Life for Healthy Forests
*David M Watson
In many parts of the world, Christmas and mistletoe are inextricably intertwined. So, as December 25 draws nearer, now is a good time to remind ourselves about what mistletoe is and why we associate it with plum pudding and Santa. The whole mistletoe/Christmas connection predates Christianity, with mistletoe featuring prominently in the Druid’s ancient winter solstice rituals.
There’s also been some recent discoveries about the role mistletoe plays in boosting biodiversity and improving ecosystem health.
With their bright green leaves and complete absence of roots, mistletoes are especially apparent on leafless hosts in the winter, and these sprigs of green in an otherwise lifeless forest inspired a rich a rich folklore.
Having harvested a mistletoe sprig from an oak with a golden sickle, the cutting was taken back to their temple where it was kept for three days.
On the fourth day (Christmas Day), the leaves were distributed to worshippers signifying the rebirth of the sun and ensuring a bountiful harvest in the coming season. Variations of these rites are still practised today.
Mistletoe sprigs variously deter trolls from stables (Sweden), prevent nightmares (Austria), welcome loved ones home (Heathrow airport in London), or give a sharp-eyed colleague kissing privileges at the staff party.
The good parasite
In the natural world, mistletoe has long fascinated naturalists and scientists. As canopy-dwelling parasitic plants, mistletoes are completely reliant on animals to disperse and “plant” their seeds on suitable hosts mistletoes are completely reliant on animals to disperse and “plant” their seeds on suitable hosts
Until recently, ecologists assumed that most dispersal was conducted by an exclusive group of fruit eaters–the mistletoe fruit specialists. Eating little else (even feeding the sticky morsels to their chicks), members of eight groups of birds (including Australia’s Mistletoebird), these birds are now known to have very strict habitat preferences, only visiting areas with abundant mistletoe.
So, although important for spreading mistletoe to new hosts, these specialists rarely introduce mistletoe to new areas. That job is performed by a much larger group of occasional mistletoe-munchers, a group we’re only now starting to learn about.
The more you look, the more mistletoe mysteries you find. In 2001, I published a review of our current state of knowledge regarding mistletoe ecology, demonstrating that mistletoes represent ecological keystones in forests and woodlands worldwide.
As well as direct providers of food (fruit, nectar and succulent foliage), many animals prefer to nest in mistletoes, and the combined effects of these interactions was a positive effect on biodiversity: areas with more mistletoe have high numbers of animal living in them.
As well as direct providers of food (fruit, nectar and succulent foliage), many animals prefer to nest in mistletoes, and the combined effects of these interactions was a positive effect on biodiversity: areas with more mistletoe have high numbers of animal living in them.
It’s all in the leaf litter
The results were as rapid as they were striking. Within three years of removing mistletoe, the number of bird species dropped by over third! But, rather than being the fruit eaters or nectar feeders, it was the insect eaters that showed the clearest response. In fact, once insect eaters were gone, there was no further effect of removing mistletoe on the reminder of the bird community. This response was especially true for ground- foraging insect-eaters: the robins, babblers, choughs and their ilk, a group of birds that has undergone widespread declines in south-eastern Australia.
So, what’s the connection between a parasitic plant in the canopy and birds eating insects on the forest floor? Through careful analysis of leaf litter and bird diets, I’ve demonstrated that the keystone effect of mistletoe is the result of bottom-up processes, driven by their high volumes of enriched leaf litter.
Unlike most plants that conserve their nutrients, withdrawing them prior to dropping their leaves, mistletoes shed their leaves as is, boosting availability of a wide range of nutrients and accelerating decomposition. In turn, this leads to dramatically higher numbers of insects and spiders on the forest floor, in turn, providing food for insect eaters.
So, rather than the direct effects of food and shelter, this research suggests that the influence of mistletoe on biodiversity is driven by a different effect: the steady stream of leaf litter effectively fertilising the forest and increasing habitat quality for wildlife.
To test this idea, and work out exactly why it is so, my team conducted a large-scale experiment. We removed all mistletoes from one set of woodlands, and left all the mistletoes alone in a second set (with a third set of woodlands naturally lacking mistletoe for reference).
So, while some of you will be hoping for a kiss beneath the mistletoe, next time you see one in the bush, I encourage you to look down rather than up, to appreciate the effect these unsung heroes have on overall ecosystem health.
*David M Watson is Professor in Ecology at Charles Sturt University and this article was published first in The Conversation.
Jane March has produced another fine issue of the APS Northern Beaches Group newsletter, Caleyi.
See it and other newsletters via the APS NSW web site after logging on to http://austplants.com.au/
Sunny Broken Hill
I was astounded at the size of this Solar Energy Farm at Broken Hill which was shown on Facebook by The Climate Council. This organisation, based in Sydney, was formed on 24 September 2013 to provide accurate, independent advice to the Australian public.
It is a non-profit organisation that claims it will be fiercely independent and apolitical. They intend to focus on providing Australians with clear, independent expert information about climate change. Their web site may be found at
http://climatecouncil.org.au
I suggest that our beautiful Australian plants are likely to fare better in the long run if there are lower damaging emissions from sources of power such as this.
I am grateful to Brodie Sutcliffe for drawing our attention to this item of news. Brodie shared The Climate Council’s video on Facebook, a video that claims that Broken Hill has a solar farm capable of powering every home in Broken Hill. This would make it one of the largest solar farms in the world. In the sunniest nation in the we appear at last to be utilising clean energy in some areas.
Lace Lerps Getting Worse?
*Wayne Olling
As if repeated attacks on Eucalyptus moluccana aren’t troubling enough there are now increasing reports of Lace Lerps attacking and causing die-back to Eucalyptus tereticornis (Forest Red Gum) trees in Western Sydney. Whether it is the same Lace Lerp is uncertain at this stage but please monitor the state of this species of tree in your area.
The newsletter also states that the NSW Government has succeeded in downgrading already weak flora and fauna protection legislation. It expresses concern at the practice of protecting only ‘bureaucrat selected’ pockets of bushland and that coming at the expense of quality bushland elsewhere.
Furthermore the newsletter is concerned at a proposal by the Blacktown Workers’ Club to remove trees with habitat hollows within its property boundaries.
*Wayne Olling is the Editor of the Cumberland Conservation Newsletter which you may visit via www.environmentblacktown.com
Ed. Please keep your eyes open when you walk through timbered country and let us know of any disturbing evidence of lace lerps. We can pass details to Wayne. And I believe we regret loss of trees and habitat.
Around the Groups
As you will be aware I do enjoy reading the newsletters of other APS District Groups. On this occasion I noticed that APS Southern Highlands Group newsletter edited by Sarah Cains carried a brief report by Pam Tippett on her Calothamnus villosus. I had this and C. quadrifidus growing in my garden at Castle Hill for many years. While I suspect others have either one or both these species growing, Alan and Jean Wright are the only members I know are doing so.
Pam writes:
“The Calothamnus villosus is growing very well if in a somewhat leggy, untidy fashion. It is in a position that lets the light fall on the fine hairs covering the leaves which gives a lovely backlit glowing effect to the whole bush. It flowers continuously and I’ve been cautious about pruning it but some members of the Group have pruned theirs hard with success.
Image Pam Tippett
Image Brian Walters
When I next checked the bush I noticed that where I had tentatively pruned in a couple of places there were in fact new shoots which has given me encouragement that I can reduce its size without killing it. “
And, yes, one can safely prune a Calothamnus and make it a compact bush. Calothamnus is a genus of more than 40 species, all of which are found in southern Western Australia. They are members of the family Myrtaceae and given the common name of ‘one-sided- bottlebrush’ because the red, brush-like flowers are on one side of the stem. Leaves vary from species to species in length and width, some being flat others needle like. Their colour is green to grey-green and most have hairs which contribute to the greying.
The Calothamnus is an attractive shrub for a sunny position in well drained soils. The flowers contain nectar and are attractive to honeyeating birds. Propagation is easy from seeds or cuttings. The C. quadrifidus grows to about 2.5m x 2.5m and the C. villosus to about 2m x 2m.
(Native Wisteria)
Callerya megasperma (Native Wisteria) appeared on my computer more by accident than intent and this close-up caught my eye as a native I have not known although nothing surprises me these days.
C. megasperma is found in rainforest, rainforest margins and wet sclerophyll forest from NE NSW to SE Queensland. This evergreen climbing vine bears masses of lilac pea type flowers throughout Spring and has deep green, glossy leaves. This is a Native Butterfly attracting vine and it attracts the Pencilled Blue and Large Banded Awl Butterflies. It can be trained on a strong trellis or let grow to the tops of trees to enhance the canopy.
It is a vigorous vine (said to be more vigorous than exotic Wisteria) which can reach 20 m in length, with woody stems with flaky bark. It has pinnate (compound) leaves 15 to 30 cm long, each one made up of 7 to 19 smaller shiny oblong-elliptic to obovate leaflets, which measure 4–10 cm long and 2–3.5 cm wide. Flowering is from July to October, the flowers growing on racemes 10 to 25 cm long. Its pea flowers indicate it is within the family Fabaceae. It can be a take-over merchant so allow some room and be ready to prune and train.
The one problem may be availability but persist if you really want one.
Philydrella drummondii
L.G.Adams
Philydrella drummondii (Greater Butterfly Flower) is an erect, bulbaceous, perennial herb that grows to 25 cm tall. Its bright yellow flowers consist of two small, lateral inner tepals and two large, broadly ovate outer tepals that at first glance resemble the wings of a butterfly. The species can be found in freshwater swamps and seepage areas, apparently limited to the western parts of the more than 800 mm rainfall zone, from Perth southward to Manjimup.
Philydrella belongs to the family Philydraceae, a worldwide but small family with a centre of diversity in Australia. Philydrella drummondii is one of only two species in the genus, both of which are endemic to Western Australia. It was named for the botanist James Drummond (1784–1896), who collected this species and seems to have been the first to recognise it as distinct from Philydrella pygmaea.
This species was selected as FloraBase Plant of the Month (for November).
(Greater Butterfly Flower)
I confess that I was unaware of it prior to visiting FloraBase at https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/potm/ I suspect noone in this area is growing it yet – indeed it may not be available, but it may be ideal for a damp seepage area in which little else grows.
UN Climate Talks Set 2018 Deadline to Agree Rules
David Twomey
Nearly 200 nations have agreed to work out the rules for the landmark 2015 global deal to tackle climate change within two years in a new sign of international support for a United nations sponsored pact seemingly opposed by United States President-elect Donald Trump. A rulebook is needed because the Paris Agreement left many details vague, such as how countries will report and monitor their national pledges to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Membership
We suggest P&H members who need to renew their membership complete the form in the centre of Native Plants for NSW and post it to Pip Gibian at her address above or choose the direct deposit option on their computer, follow the directions carefully and advise Merle Thompson and Gordon Brooks by email. Alternatively just pay Pip at the next meeting. Please ask if you are unsure of your membership status which is shown on the address label affixed to APS publications received quarterly. You may now pay your subscription for 3 years. See the new fee structure on Page 2.
Parramatta and Hills District Group
Email: apsparrahills@gmail.com
Website: https://austplants.com.au/Parramatta-And-Hills
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APSPARRAHILLS/