Merry Christmas to You, our Members, your Families and Friends
and a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year
Another year has almost passed and as we reflect on this period perhaps we should be grateful that hostilities have not extended into World War III, and that here in Australia life remains reasonably good for most of us.
Some districts within our country, particularly in Queensland, have been hard hit by high temperature and storms and climate change appears to be progressing.
Our wondrous native plants have been deluged in some areas and dried out in others. It may take some time to understand the consequences but we hope that we and they will find the solution to a propitious future.
Calendar 2017/2018
December
Tue 5 Deadline for Calgaroo news / articles
Wed 13 Propagation at Bidjiwong Community Nursery at 10am
January
Fri 5 Deadline for Calgaroo news / articles
Wed 10 Propagation at Bidjiwong Community Nursery at 10am
Our AGM — Election of Office Bearers for 2018
It is hard to imagine that another year has almost past but the last day of 2017 is just 36 days after our November meeting and now just over 20.
We will hold our AGM on Saturday, 24 February 2018 in Gumnut Hall, Cherrybrook at 2pm sharp so that we can complete both our AGM and our regular bimonthly meetings in good time.
Please give thought as to how you can help our Group. We have not had a President or a Vice-President for several years but we have managed because our Committee members have been willing to share additional responsibilities. It would be potentially refreshing to have other members at the helm and on the Committee. There could be a slightly different slant to our meetings. I don’t doubt several current Committee members would stand again and willingly offer such help as might be sought, if needed.
I think at 91 I should step aside but if my help were sought I would willingly assist a new Editor but I emphasise “should I be asked to help”.
Following the initiatives of our APS NSW Ltd Company Directors coupled with new unstoppable actions in the face of danger from Global Warming we should expect more interest in our native plants and both their well- being and ours.
It was interesting to see one news item that stated irrespective of the attitude of US President Trump many US State juristrictions and much of US industry is pressing on with changes promised under President Obama. Cost of generating renewable energy is continuing to fall rapidly and steps to ensure safe, continuous power including the installation of huge batteries, are progressing quickly. It is of particular interest to me that the world’s largest battery is being constructed in less than 100 days outside Jamestown, South Australia – the town of my childhood. Consumers should benefit in due course from renewable energy but for a time the cost of installing new systems may keep prices above the former level. Of course we all stand to benefit from a world in which the air is clean and supports life..
Next APS Quarterly Gathering
Sutherland Group will be hosting the first APS NSW quarterly gathering in 2018 in February (date to be confirmed). The equivalent meeting for the past two years has forced us to meet in March but we are hoping it will not in 2018.
ANPSA
We wish those attending the ANPSA Conference in Hobart during 15-19 January 2018 a very happy and successful time.
APS District Group Newsletters
For holiday reading don’t miss the December issue of APS Northern Beaches Group newsletter Caleyi. Editor Jane March has some great articles as always. There are historical items such as “Joseph Banks: Botanical Work on Cook’s Voyage”, an article from The Guardian. There is a direct botanical item from The Conversation, “Why are Fern Leaves Shaped The Way They are, and are All Ferns Identical?”.
These may be accessed via the APS NSW web site at http://austplants.com.au
Gondwanan Plants of the Sydney Region
Presentation by *Dr Peter Weston
Summary: Dr Marilyn Cross, Dr Pip Gibian & Tony Maxwell
Early theories: Joseph Hooker (1853) vs. Charles Darwin (1859)
Hooker (1853) suggested that the distribution of genera in the southern latitudes was due to a geological vicariance event [the fragmentation of a widespread ancestral distribution by the appearance of a new barrier].
“There are upwards of 100 genera, subgenera, or other well-marked groups of plants entirely or nearly confined to New Zealand, Australia, and extra-tropical South America.”
“Enough is here given to show that many of the peculiarities of each of these three great areas of land in the southern latitudes are representative ones, affecting a botanical relationship as strong as that which prevails throughout the lands within the Arctic and Northern Temperate zones …” “… and which is not to be accounted for by any theory of transport or variation, but which is agreeable to the hypothesis of all being members of a once more extensive flora, which has been broken up by geological and climatic causes.” (J.D. Hooker (1853) ‘Introductory Essay’ to the ‘Flora of New Zealand’)
Darwin, however, suggested that each taxon had a centre of origin in one location and the distributions resulted from long distance dispersals across seaways: “If the existence of the same species at distant and isolated points of the earth’s surface, can in many instances be explained on the view of each species having migrated from a single birthplace…” (C. Darwin (1859) ‘On the Origin of Species’).
Break up of Gondwana (tectonic plate movement – late 1960’s)
It was not until the late 1960’s that the theory of tectonic plates supported the breakup of Gondwana with flora already in place on the continental fragments.
Distribution of Gondwanan Plants
The flowering plant family Proteaceae is putatively of Gondwanan age, with modern and fossil lineages found on all southern continents. The plants of possible Gondwanan origin include members not only of the Proteaceae family, but also some members of the Myrtaceae and Ericaceae families.
Members of the subtribe Embothriinae (Proteaceae) are to be found in Australia, South America and Papua.
Above: Examples of Embothriinae (Proteaceae) include the Waratahs, Telopea speciosissima (Sydney Waratah) and Alloxylon pinnatum (Dorrigo Waratah) in Australia (previous page). In South America, the subtribe includes Embothrium coccineum, from S. Chile and Argentina, and Oreocallis mucronata, from Peru and Ecuador.
Testing the Gondwanan hypothesis: Cladistic biogeography
The Gondwanan hypothesis is tested by asking: can the present distribution of Proteaceae be explained by vicariance caused by the break‐up of Gondwana, Africa, especially southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, South America, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Southeast Asia, Sulawesi, Tasmania? The hypothesis has been tested using Bayesian phylogenetic distribution of botanical features together with molecular dating of both living and fossil material.
Similar statistical trees to the above can indicate the geographic or area relationships.
Phylogenetic trees
Phylogenetic or ‘family trees’ developed using Bayesian statistical methods can indicate when the related genera developed different characteristics and separated from each other viz. the phylogenetic tree for waratahs and their relatives (Weston & Crisp 1994).
Fossil Record
Testing the Gondwanan hypothesis: Findings
The evidence suggests that the Gondwanan hypothesis does hold to some extent but that the story is not so simple. The evidence also suggests that dispersal across oceans has played its part in the distribution of our southern plant genera.
To quote:
“The findings suggest that disjunct distributions in Proteaceae result from both Gondwanan vicariance and transoceanic dispersal. Our results imply that ancestors of some taxa dispersed across oceans rather than rafting with Gondwanan fragments as previously thought. This finding agrees with other studies of Gondwanan plants in dating the divergence of Australian, New Zealand and New Caledonian taxa in the Eocene, consistent with the existence of a shared, ancestral Eocene flora but contrary to a vicariance scenario based on accepted geological knowledge.” (Barker et al, 2007)
So, perhaps Hooker and Darwin were both right – and wrong.
Barker, Nigel P. , Weston, Peter H. , Rutschmann, Frank and Sauquet, Hervé 2007 Molecular dating of the ‘Gondwanan’ plant family Proteaceae is only partially congruent with the timing of the break‐up of Gondwana. Journal of Biogeography, 34, 2012-2027.
*Dr Peter Weston is Honorary Research Associate, Science and Conservation Branch, Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. All Images courtesy of Dr Peter Weston
Two Grevilleas You May not Know
If one keeps an eye open for new plants there seem to be heaps about. I saw that APS Central Coast Group had a Grevillea ‘Coral Baby’ on their specimen table at a recent meeting and a G. nivea ‘Scarlet King’ popped up on the side column of my granddaughter’s Facebook page. It is an APS Geelong Group picture..
Grevillea ‘Coral Baby’ is said to be a Grevillea lavandulacea x chrysophaea cross developed by Austraflora in Victoria.
It is a dense shapely mounding small shrub with massed soft pink and cream flowers covering the foliage in Winter and Spring. Suited to cool temperate, sub-tropical and semi-arid climates. Soil types may be clay or sandy loams although it prefers a well drained, neutral to acid pH situation.
This Grevillea may be grown in full sun or part shade and reaches only 40cm in height by 80cm in width. It is ideal combined with bold rockwork, as a low maintenance container plant for patio, deck or balcony, mass planted along pathways or with other small shrubs. It is bird attracting, frost tolerant and perfect for containers. Feed with low phosphorous native fertiliser. Trim lightly after flowering.
Grevillea ‘Scarlet King’ is said to be a selection of G. nivea. It is a dense ornamental shrub about 1.5 x 2m with narrow green leaves and masses of vivid, blood-red toothbrush flowers appearing most of the year.
It prefers well-drained light or heavy soils in full sun or partial shade but is tolerant of wet soils. Water requirements are low once established. It is tolerant of heavy frost and extended dry periods once established.
Fertilise with a low phosphorus slow release fertiliser. Mulch well to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Prune regularly for compact growth, a good low hedge or screen. Birds are attracted to the nectar and the prickly foliage makes a useful bird refuge.
These are but two of the Grevillea cultivars to enter the market recently. An eager gardener will check on-line regularly to find new releases of both species and cultivars.
Two other new releases are Grevillea ‘Bonny Prince Charlie’ and Grevillea ‘Molly’ and I’m sure there are more.
Deal struck by global powers to research before fishing Arctic
David Twomey
Delegations from the United States, Russia, China and other countries have struck a deal to refrain from commercial fishing in the high Arctic seas, one of world’s fastest-warming places, until scientists can determine what fish are there and whether they can be harvested sustainably.
Once signed by the governments of all the parties, the agreement will protect an area of the central Arctic Ocean roughly the size of the Mediterranean Sea, for at least 16 years.
Ed. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if global powers could agree on other matters such as Global Warming to safeguard both us and our plants.
Officeworks Launches Australia 2-for-1 Tree Planting Initiative with Greening Australia
Australians can feel better about their office supplies purchases, with Officeworks launching Restoring Australia – an initiative which sees the leading retailer plant two trees for every one used by customers, based on the weight of the paper and wood in its office supplies products.
Officeworks has partnered with respected environment non-for-profit, Greening Australia, to deliver an Australian-first initiative, which will see at least 200,000 native plants established each year across the country in key locations.
Officeworks Managing Director, Mark Ward said, “Given about 8000 products in our office supplies range are paper and wood based, we saw a huge opportunity to empower our customers to shop more sustainably and improve the quality of Australia’s landscapes.”
In the second half of 2017, more than 100,000 seeds and seedlings will be planted across the Tasmanian Midlands, New South Wales Highlands and the Victorian Volcanic Plains, where more than 85% of the natural habitat has been lost.
The impact of Restoring Australia will be felt immediately, with more than 20 species local to the areas being planted, increasing water quality and revegetating bushland so that local endangered wildlife such as the Eastern barred bandicoot, Eastern quoll and Eastern Bettong can flourish.
With over 35 years of experience conserving and restoring Australia’s landscapes, Greening Australia brings unparalleled expertise to the initiative. The organisation’s team of restoration experts, scientists and researchers have been working with Officeworks to identify priority landscapes and have begun planting.
Greening Australia Acting CEO, Pauline Rawling said, “We are delighted to be a part of Restoring Australia. Our vision is to create healthy and productive landscapes where people and nature thrive – this sits at the heart of this initiative with Officeworks. “It’s refreshing to see an iconic Australian business such as Officeworks take a real leadership role in the environmental space and have a measurable impact on Australia’s native flora and fauna,” she said.
Ward concluded, “We are so proud of Restoring Australia, because it’ll be doing just that, restoring and conserving landscapes across the country. Officeworks has a duty to operate our business responsibly and this initiative is our long-term commitment to making a positive difference to the communities where we live and work.”
Visit our new APS NSW web site
at http://austplants.com.au or go direct to our section at http://austplants.com.au/Parramatta-and-Hills following the directions of the letter sent to all members some 3 weeks ago to see the new site and as members access the “Members only” section to find all the Group information including newsletters. While on-line also check your membership details and when sooner or later you are required to renew your membership, do so on-line. If you don’t have a computer you may renew as you do at present. And remember, in future you will receive a reminder when membership renewal is due, a great asset.
Are You a Blogger? – May be it’s Time to Start
Pip Gibian has informed me that she saw former member Bill de Belin while walking up in the Blue Mountains. He was taking photos of flowers that he came across and he mentioned that he had started going for a bushwalk every Friday and begun a blog on native plants. Well obviously this grew into something bigger. Have a look at www.nativeplants-sydney.blogspot.com.au We hope Bill continues his Friday walks and his blog.
A few Facts about Ceratopetalum gummiferum, the NSW Christmas Bush
*Jeff Howes
Ceratopetalum is a small genus of 5 species, all occurring in Australia and New Guinea. The name of our NSW Christmas Bush is derived from:
Ceratopetalum from two Greek words: ceras, a horn and petalon, a petal, referring to the petal shape of one species. gummiferum gum bearing, alluding to the richly exuded gum from cut bark.
The NSW Christmas bush is generally a large shrub or small tree and in cultivation it rarely grows to more than four to five metres high. The leaves are up to 70mm long and are divided into three leaflets which are finely serrated and the new growth is often pink or bronze coloured. Ceratopetalum gummiferum is widespread over the east coast of NSW, commonly growing in open forests on sandstone hillsides. In cultivation the plant must have a well drained but moist position, in sun or semi shade. Annual feeding with a slow release fertiliser is beneficial.
Towards the end of December this hardy and reliable plant puts on a great display of red ‘flowers’ that I admire so much – however all is not what it seems. The true flowers are white in colour and fairly insignificant and are seen in late spring to early November. After pollination by flies and native bees, the sepals, which are the outer series or whorl of flora leaves that protect the flower bud, enlarge and turn deep pink to red in colour enclosing the fruit, a single seed, a nut and the whole fall when ripe. When sowing, the whole fruit with calyx lobes attached should be sown for best results.
Plants known in other Australian states as Christmas Bush are entirely different and have no connection with Ceratopetalum.
Image by Jeff Howes
Image by Jeff Howes
Some other examples of plants that enlarge and colour the sepals are the:
- Tropical South America Bougainvilleas where the actual flower of the plant is small and generally white, but each cluster of three flowers is surrounded by three or six bracts with the bright colors associated with the plant.
- Hydrangea – the flowerheads contain two types of flowers, small fertile flowers in the middle of the flowerhead, and large, coloured, sterile bract-like flowers in a ring around the edge of each flowerhead.
*Jeff Howes has been and continues to be a regular contributor to the APS NSW web site and Group newsletters. This is an article he prepared in 2007 but which is still relevant. He reminds us that the petals are small or sometimes missing and the red we see are the sepals of the NSW Christmas Bush, not the flowers. I hope you may be able to adorn your Christmas dinner table with a cut of the Christmas Bush.
Australia among seven nations responsible for most global biodiversity loss
According to a study published recently Australia is one of seven countries responsible for more than half of global biodiversity loss.
Scientists based their findings on the worsening in conservation status of species between 1996 and 2008 on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.
The IUCN red list uses a series of categories to rank how close a species is to extinction, from “least concern” through to “extinct in the wild” Of the 109 countries studied, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, China and the United States (primarily Hawaii) also ranked inside the top seven as the worst offenders on conservation. The researchers conceded that species native to multiple countries presented an obstacle to their calculations, but lead author Dr Anthony Waldron said they were able to narrow down where the pressures were coming from. “Once you actually work out which country might have been responsible for the loss of diversity, Australia is standing there at number two,” Dr Waldron said“I knew there were a lot of threatened species in Australia, but I didn’t realise things were getting worse so quickly.”
Compared to Australia, which recorded a biodiversity loss of between five and 10 per cent of the total global decline, the study published in Nature found Indonesia had “absolutely the highest number of declining species”, representing around 21 per cent of the total decline during the period.
Reduction in biodiversity was calculated by looking at species that had their IUCN red list upgraded during the period, such as from “least concern” to “threatened”, or “vulnerable” to “endangered”.
They identified key pressures on biodiversity loss to be agricultural development and increasing population.
However, they found that the impacts of these pressures could be reduced by investment in environmental protection. “We found that conservation spending strongly reduced the biodiversity decline score,” they stated.
The researchers believe that their data can be used to better target conservation efforts. “What we’ve actually got is empirical proof that it’s very easy to predict what is going to happen to your biodiversity based on this balance between the pressures and the money you put in to limit the impact,” Dr Waldron said.
You may read the full story by visiting this URL:
http://econews.com.au/55857/aust-among-seven-nations-responsible-for-most-global-biodiversity-loss/
Parramatta and Hills District Group
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