
The APS NSW AGM and May Gathering will be hosted by the Sutherland Group on Saturday, May 21 at the Sutherland Multi Purpose Centre at 123 Flora Street, Sutherland, commencing at 1pm. The AGM will be followed by a talk from Anthony O’Halloran of Bilby Blooms on “Conservation Issues in the Pilliga Forest“. Don’t miss the morning activities listed below.
Bilby Blooms has an interesting web site that you may care to visit at www.bilbyblooms.com.au/
Morning activities: 10am – 12 noon. Two activities have been organised, both within easy walking distance from each other.
Guided tours of Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve, Manooka Place, Kareela. Unfortunately parking is very restricted in Manooka Place and the Reserve’s car park, which should only be used for those with limited mobility. It is better to park in Bates Drive in front of Sylvanvale School and access the Reserve from the Bates Drive entrance.
Garden visit, Joan Zande, 8 Bates Drive, Kareela. This is a beautiful formal style garden using Australian native plants. It utilises clipped lilly pillies hedges with great effect rather than the exotic buxus.
See http://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/Community/Halls-for-Hire/Sutherland-Multi-Purpose-Centre for details of the venue or check your Street Directory. From Castle Hill it appears one may choose to follow the A6 from Silverwater Road to the Bangor By-pass and River Road or take the A3 from Strathfield to Blakehurst and then the A1 to Old Princes Highway. The journey is about 52 km and is estimated by Google to take just over an hour.
APS President, John Aitken, writes, “The Multi Purpose Centre is an easy 5 minute walk from Sutherland Station. There are plenty of coffee shops and food outlets in Sutherland if you wish to buy lunch. The Peace Park and Chuo City Garden in Eton St, next to the Entertainment Centre, is a pleasant place to have lunch.”
Later APS NSW quarterly meetings will be on
- Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st August 2016 The 2016 Annual Get Together will be hosted by APS Tamworth Group; and
- Saturday 19th November 2016 The November Gathering will be hosted by the APS Macarthur Group at Black Stump Natives. Ben Walcott, leader of the ANPSA Garden Design Group, will talk on Garden design: a personal perspective.
Our May Activity on Saturday, 28 May
Don’t miss the Colonial Plants Walk with Jennifer Farrer at the Fred Caterson Reserve, off Gilbert Road, Castle Hill. Meet at 10am at Field No 4 Car Park – just follow the signs from the entrance at the lights.
Jennifer will point out historical plants and areas as you go. This will last for the best part of 2 hours and won’t be too exhausting.
If you have a query, email Jennifer at boronia.jf@gmail.com or phone 9634 3163.
Calendar
May 2016
Wed 11 Propagation at Bidjiwong Community Nursery at 10am
Sat 21 APS NSW AGM and Quarterly Gathering at Sutherland Multi Purpose Centre
Sat 28 Colonial Plants Walk with Jennifer Farrer at Fred Caterson Reserve. Meet at 10am at Field No 4 Car Park
Jun 2016
Mon 6 Deadline for Calgaroo news / articles
Wed 8 Propagation at Bidjiwong Community Nursery at 10am
Sat 25 Our meeting at Gumnut Hall at 2pm – speaker Jann Mulholland on Botanical Drawing
Jul 2016
Wed 6 Deadline for Calgaroo news / articles
Wed 13 Propagation at Bidjiwong Community Nursery at 10am
Sat 23 Visit to the Seed Bank at the Australian Botanic Gardens, Mt Annan
Our Recent Meeting
Our first business was conducted in the form of a Special General Meeting for which the prescribed notice was given and at which we agreed to amend our Group Rules as proposed in the document previously circulated. The adoption of the amended Rules was moved by Pip Gibian, seconded by Brodie Sutcliffe and approved by the members present.
The Parramatta & Hills District Group Rules (our Constitution) now include amendments
- to include a Propagation Officer and a Librarian (previously agreed),
- to provide for a quorum for meetings of the Committee to be be four, including any one of the President, the Vice-Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer,
- to the chairmanship of meetings in the absence of a President and Vice-Presidents,
- to an optional role of a Committee member in the absence of the Secretary,
- to an optional appointment of a Financial Reviewer in lieu of an Auditor (company law has changed),
- to the time at which the financial statement will be made available to the Company Treasurer, and
- to the time when our AGM will be held.
Pip Gibian led the members’ activity which was an exercise to learn how to identify Hakea in our area. We had practice in the art of binary identification based on leaves and fruit at the top level. We practiced on at least three species with much learning and amusement. We are now a little more aware how to recognise Hakea species and how to use a botanical key identifier system.
We are grateful to Marilyn Cross for volunteering to be our delegate to the forthcoming APS NSW strategic planning meeting to be held in Parramatta on 28/29 May. I believe our Society has helped promote the growing and appreciation of our native plants over the last 60 years and that there is likely to be a need to help these plants cope with climate change in the future if the rate of change is that predicted by scientists.
When we moved on to our bimonthly meeting we were delighted to hear from Mark Abell who spoke on Australian Native Ponds: Using Native Fish and Plants to Create a Healthy and Attractive Watergarden.
Australian Native Ponds using Native Fish & Plants to Create a Healthy and Attractive Watergarden
Mark Abell
Mark advised that he was also a member of Australian & New Guinea Fishes Association (ANGFA) which is a group of hobbyists interested in promoting the conservation, study, keeping and propagation of the native fish species of Australia and New Guinea (http://angfa.org.au/new-south-wales.html)
Using natural waterbodies as inspiration
For a natural looking native pond it is worthwhile looking at some natural water features. These are quite varied and can not only provide a source of inspiration, but can also provide ideas for suitable plants and general design features.
Thirlmere Lakes – note the different zones – deep -> shallow -> shore

Some Basic Pond Guidelines and recommendations
Remember when designing your pond to consider water supply and drainage as well as electricity supply for lights, pumps and filters. The pond should have an overflow area (a place a little below the rest of the pond height) included. This is to control where the water overflows to (either through heavy rain or from overfilling). All overflows should be screened to prevent escape of plants, snails, fish and eggs during heavy rains and water additions. As well as keeping your fish in the pond this serves to protect the local waterways from any potential escapees (especially important if non local fish are in the pond).
- The purpose of the pond should guide the design, for example, whether you want to attract local wildlife such as frogs, birds and turtles; or for aesthetics, beauty; or for your own particular purpose.
- Choose your location carefully. Try and avoid full sun or full shade, for example, under trees.
- Think about the design features including size, shape, depth, pond overflow and waterfalls.
- Prepare your pond before use. Fish are very sensitive to contaminants so new ponds should be rinsed out before use. Concrete ponds need “curing” with a combination of filling, scrubbing and painting with vinegar as well as several water changes. If filling with tap water remember to allow time for the chlorine and chloramine in the water to dissipate or use a commercial chlorine neutraliser from a pet shop.
Before adding plants and fish ensure that all equipment such as filters, fountains and waterfalls are working satisfactorily. Allow at least a week for plants to settle in and begin growing before adding fish. If possible remove all obviously dead leaves as they will add decay and add unwanted excess nutrients to the water.
- Plants are natural water purifiers for your pond. Plant them in containers in the pond and use round the edges as marginal plants.
- Select appropriate native fish, preferably from your local area and do not overfeed them.
- Frogs will come naturally if they have access to the pond which provides them with shelter.
- Maintain your pond with periodic cleaning and partial or total water changes.
Native fishes for your pond (*= not local to Sydney Region)
The most suitable and readily obtainable Sydney area fish are: – Pacific Blue-Eyes, Firetail Gudgeons, Empire Gudgeons, & Smelt. Fish can be most readily obtained from aquarium shops, some native plant nurseries and water garden suppliers. When introducing your fish remember to float the bags or buckets to equalise the temperature and add frequent small amounts of pond water to adjust other water parameters before gently releasing the fish. Do not feed your fish initially for 2 days to allow them to settle in and become active and hungry – then only feed them once each day with as much as they can consume in 2-3 minutes. More pet fish are killed by over-feeding than any other cause.



- Pacific Blue Eye – Pseudomugil significa
- Firetail Gudgeon – Hypseleotris galii
- Australian Smelt – Retropinna semoni
- Empire Gudgeon – Hypseleotris compressa
- Common Jollytail – Galaxias maculatus
- Mountain Jollytail – Galaxias olidus
- Crimson Spotted Rainbowfish – Melanotaenia duboulayi*
- Murray River Rainbowfish – Melanotaenia fluviatilis*
- Ornate Rainbowfish – Rhadinocentrus ornatus*
As well as fish there are various other aquatic animals that can be added to / will appear in your pond.
- Frogs – will often turn up on their own
- The pond design can assist frogs and tadpoles
- The fish chosen will affect tadpole survival
- Crustaceans – freshwater crayfish & prawns
- Mollusca – snails & mussels
- Insects – mosquito larvae, dragonfly nymphs
- Planktonic animals – daphnia, cyclops
- Reptiles – Turtles & Lizards
Native plants for your ponds
There are a range of various plant types that can be used successfully in different parts of the pond. Native plant nurseries & water garden nurseries will have a range of suitable native plants for planting in and around the pond. Consider having all your in-pond plants in containers as this will greatly facilitate their removal during routine maintenance such as leaf and litter removal and reduces stress and damage to the plants.
Fully Aquatic Plants – for the centre of the pond
- Floating plants – Duckweeds, Azolla
Duckweeds, or water lens, are flowering aquatic plants which float on or just beneath the surface of still or slow-moving bodies of fresh water and wetlands. Duckweeds include genera which have possibly naturalised here such as Lemna and Spirodela.
Lemna is a genus of free-floating fresh water aquatic plants with one, two or three leaves each with a single root hanging in the water; as more leaves grow, the plants divide and become separate individuals. The root is 1–2 cm long. The leaves are oval, 1–8 mm long and 0.6–5 mm broad, light green, with three (rarely five) veins, and small air spaces to assist flotation. It propagates mainly by division, and tiny flowers are rarely produced.
L. minor is structurally adapted to grow quickly. That enables it to populate bodies of water rapidly. It overcomes inter-species competition by growing a thick carpet over still water bodies, thereby shading out other plant species below it and eliminating the competition. L. tenera is a threatened species of the NT.
Spirodela species are free-floating thalli, 2-5 plants may remain connected to each other. Plants are green, but may have a red or brown underside. Multiple roots (7 to 12) emerge from each thallus. Spirodela is larger (10 mm) than Lemna (2–5 mm, one root per thallus).
S. polyrrhiza can be found nearly worldwide in many types of freshwater habitat. It is a perennial aquatic plant usually growing in dense colonies, forming a mat on the water surface. Each plant is a smooth, round, flat disc one half to one centimeter wide. It produces several minute roots. It also produces a pouch containing male and female flowers. The top part dies in the autumn and the plant often overwinters as a turion.Azolla is a genus of seven species of aquatic ferns, two of which are found in Australia, in the family Salviniaceae. They are extremely reduced in form and specialized, looking nothing like other typical ferns but more resembling duckweed or some mosses. It is known by some as a Duckweed Fern. A free-floating annual water fern 0.8-2.5 cm long, with tiny scale-like 2-lobed leaves; lobes each 1-2 mm long; leaves green or red, often giving water surface reddish appearance. Main stem with pinnate branches; branches longer towards base giving plant a triangular shape. Roots with fine lateral rootlets, appearing feathery. Produces both male and female spores.
Floating attached leaves – Nymphoides, Ottelia.
Nymphoides, or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. They have submerged roots and roundish floating leaves that hold the small flowers above the water surface. Flowers are sympetalous (all the petals united), most often divided into five lobes (petals). The petals are either yellow or white, and may be adorned with lateral wings or covered in small hairs. The inflorescence consists of either an umbellate cluster of flowers or a lax raceme, with internodes occurring between generally paired flowers.
N. geminata flowers yellow with fringed margins and the rare N. indica white.Ottelia is a genus of an aquatic herb with floating and submerged leaves. Some flowers are above water and some submerged and it is self-pollenating. The genus is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world including Australia.
O. ovalifolia occurs in all mainland states and grows in slowly flowing fresh water or the still water of ponds, dams and lagoons. The Swamp Lily may form extensive colonies in nutrient-rich water. The specimen illustrated is growing in a Small Dam. Propagate from seed, which germinates readily in mud and in warm, shallow water. - Fully underwater plants – Vallisneria (Eel Grass), Macroalgae.
Vallisneria is a fresh water dioecious herb (male and female plants are separate) with ribbon-like leaves. Several species grow in Australia.
V. gigantea is an uncommon plant but is found in all mainland States. It is a submersed plant that spreads by runners and sometimes forms tall underwater meadows. Leaves to 2m long x 2cm wide arise in clusters from their roots. The leaves have rounded tips, and definite raised veins. Single white female flowers grow to the water surface on very long stalks. Male flowers are numerous and grow on short stalks, become detached, and float to the surface. The fruit is a banana-like capsule having many tiny seeds.
V. nana is an uncommon solitary contrast plant growing in Australia with dark green, rosulate, narrow leaves (less than 1 cm). It is extremely suitable as a mid-ground plant, but can also be used as a background plant in small aquariums and ponds. The leaves are much narrower than with other species of Vallisneria, nor are they quite as long. V. nana produces offshoots very readily, so compact vegetation will soon develop in good conditions.






Image:Christian Fischer


- Macroalgae are members of the huge group of plants known as algae which are very complex. A recent study revealed biorecovery of nutrient waste as a protein in freshwater macroalgae – a food for fish as it cleans the pond.
- Submerged & floating leaves – Potamogetons, Milfoil
Potamogeton plants have their upper leaves floating, petiolate and dissimilar to the submerged foliage which is sessile and similar. Inflorescences are mostly emergent, spicate, several–many-flowered. Flowers 3–4 mm dia. Perianth segments 4. Stamens 4. Carpels 2–5. Their nutlets are short-beaked, indehiscent, sessile, smooth to ridged or tuberculate, fused to the enclosed, looped seed. There are 11 or 12 species of Potamogetons in Australia and about 100 worldwide.
Milfoil or Watermilfoil – Myriophyllum is a genus of about 69 species of freshwater aquatic plants, with a cosmopolitan distribution. The centre of diversity for Myriophyllum is Australia with 43 recognized species (37 endemic). These submersed aquatic plants are perhaps most commonly recognized for having elongate stems with air canals and whorled leaves that are finely, pinnately divided, but there are many exceptions. For example, many Australian species have small alternate or opposite leaves that lack dissection. The plants are usually heterophyllous, leaves above the water are often stiffer and smaller than the submerged leaves on the same plant and can lack dissection. Plants are monoecious or dioecious, the flowers are small, 4(2)-parted and usually borne in emergent leaf axils. The ‘female’ flowers usually lack petals. The fruit is a schizocarp that splits into four (two) nutlets at maturity. The fruits and leaves can be an important food source for waterfowl, which are thought to be an important source of seed and clonal dispersal. Three species (M. aquaticum, M. heterophyllum and M. spicatum) have aggressively invaded lakes, natural waterways and irrigation canals in North America. The U.S. states most affected have implemented control plans and they are declared weeds in NSW and the UK. Some other species are invasive in other areas.
The preferred water milfoils (Myriophyllum) are more suited to somewhat shallower waters, mostly with fine, lacy leaves underwater changing to a completely different shape as they rise into the air. M. papillosum is a larger species with tufts of pink flowers around the stems; the form ‘Red Dragonfly” is a favoured selection with the upper leaf surface turning crimson in Spring, sometimes again in Autumn. A favourite form of the widespread M. simulans is ‘Coral Pink’ which can be very richly-coloured although less predictably so than ‘Dragonfly Red’. M. verrucosum is usually red, but it is not ideal for dams as it can be very invasive; in ponds it is usually kept under control by tadpoles. Other water milfoils remain mostly submerged at all times, including the deep-green M. salsugineum which only sends its colourful flowers on a short, leafy sprig above the surface. Another form of the variable M. simulans from Kangaroo Island is a brilliant, fresh green, and only has tufts of growth above the water. Another colourful plant from this depth-range is Marsilea mutica, a fern with floating clover-like leaves marked with reds, tans and hints of other colours.Those wishing to use Milfoil should check their choice carefully with the supplier to ensure they don’t have a rampant weed. - Marginal / Emergent Plants – in the edges of the pond
Broad leaved – Plantain, Ludwigia, Knotweed
Plantain is a genus of some 200 species world-wide with a basal rosette of leaves with tiny flowers on dense terminal spikes and grows in wet areas such as seepages, bogs and moist forests on clay and shale soils. Two species, Plantago gaudichaudi (Narrow-leaf Plantain) and P. debilis (Slender Plantain) are local to the Sydney area.
Ludwigia is a genus of some 82 aquatic species with a cosmopolitan distribution generally in moist, warm tropical areas usually on the margins of lakes and ponds in swampy soils. There are seven species in Australia 2 of which are naturalised, one is of doubtful origin and 4 native. They have a yellow or white flower with 4 or 5 petals that gives substance to its common name of primrose.L.adscendens is a prostrate or ascending herb found across Northern Australia rooting at nodes. Stems grow to c.60cm high or several metres long, densely villous to glabrous. Clusters of erect white pneumatophores at nodes of floating stems and on roots. Leaves are alternate, broadly elliptic-oblong, 1–7cm long, acute or obtuse, base tapering; petiole long. Flowers solitary in upper leaf axils; bracteoles deltoid, minute. Sepals 5, deltoid, acuminate. Petals 1–2cm long, creamy white or pale yellow, darker at base. Stamens 10. Capsule 1–2.5cm long, terete, thick-walled and tardily and irregularly dehiscent. Several species of Ludwigia are declared weeds in NSW and care should be exercised to ensure you don’t choose one accidentally. These are L. peploides ssp montevidensis, L. peruviana, L. longifoliaand L. palustris (new).
Knotweed is a name used for both Fallopia japonica (Japanese Knotweed) and Persicaria elatior, which are naturalised plants. The former is a large herbaceous perennial plant that tends to be characterized by stems that develop annually which are robust, bamboo-like, often glaucous and red- brown, numerous and branched above, dying back in winter with broad oval leaves reaching 1.5–3m in height, forming a dense thicket. It is a potential weed as its root system can crack concrete.The latter appears to be a short-lived herbaceous species, surviving for up to two years. It grows rapidly, flowers and sets seed within six months of germinating. Flowering mostly occurs in summer. - Narrow leaved – Water Ribbons, Bulrushes, Frogsmouth
Water Ribbons is the common name for Triglochin procera but this species was recently divided to establish eight new species. In the same reclassification some 11 Triglochin species were transferred to other genera. Triglochin are small sedge-like plants or large, more robust waterplants with linear, ribbon-like to terete leaves which sheath each other at the base. Flowers are small, bisexual, borne in spikes or racemes, with 4-6 green or reddish perianth segments and the same number of stamens. The ovary is superior, comprising 2-6 carpels sometimes only partly fused, each with a more or less sessile stigma and developing into a dry fruit that splits to release the seeds, or is indehiscent. Triglochin include some 11 species in Australia Marsh Arrowgrass (Triglochin palustris), the Sea Arrowgrass (Triglochin maritima), and also other species like Triglochin trichophora, Triglochin striata and Triglochin mucronata.
Bulrushes – The name is particularly applied to several sedge family genera.Bulrushes are perennial grass-like plants and can grow to 3-4m tall in shallow water or in moist soils. Bulrush stems are dark green with a hard, triangular stem and no obvious leaves (sheaths at the base of the stems). Seed clusters usually occur just below the tip of the stem.Typha domingensis is a robust, emergent monoecious aquatic perennial to 4m high; rhizomes to c.20mm dia.; stems to 20 mm dia. Has flowering stems usually to 3 m tall. Leaves green or yellowish green; sheath of upper leaves not auriculate or only the uppermost 1 or 2 sheaths distinctly auriculate; lamina to 2m long, 5mm wide. Male and female inflorescences are usually separated by 2-5.5cm. Male inflorescences are usually 15-33cm long, 0.6-1cm dia.; pollen is shed as single grains. Female inflorescences are usually 12-40cm long, 0.5-2cm dia., cinnamon-brown; floral bracts abundant, broadly spathulate, usually 4-8 cells across. The stigma is linear and often folded longitudinally Cyperus, the genus which includes the plant species likely referred to in the Biblical account of the Ark of bulrushes.Scirpus, a genus commonly known as bulrushes in North America, which in previous circumscriptions has also included species now classified in the genera Blysmus, Bolboschoenus, Isolepis, Schoenoplectus and Trichophorum.Frogsmouth or Woolly Lily are the names given to Philydrum lanuginosum. It is now the sole known species in the genus. It grows across Northern Australia and down the East Coast.


(Bulrushes)

(Water Ribbons)

- Small marginal plants – Mud Mats, Lilaeopsis
Mud Mats appears to be Glossostigma diandrum which is a small submerged rooted hydrophyte seen in waterbodies and rivers and streams around the world. ANGFA members appear to have had dfifficulty getting this to grow.
Lilaeopsis sp. are grasses that are frequently grown in aquariums but research suggests they are not the easiest.
Riparian Plants – around the outside of the pond
- Grass like plants – Lomandra, Rushes & Sedges of your choice
- Small Shrubs & Ferns of your choice
- Trees – Melaleuca, Casuarina
What not to put in your pond – the weeds and ferals
- Feral Fish – Gambusia, Carp, Mountain Clouds
- Non-Native Fish – Goldfish, Koi, Guppies
- Weeds – Salvinia, Water Hyacinth, Cabomba, Parrotfeather
- Non-Native Plants – Waterlilies, Arrowhead, Elodea
- Non Suitable Fish
- Too Large – Eels, Bass, Silver Perch
- Large & Poisonous – Bullrout, Eel-tailed Catfish
- Tropical Fish – Most Aquarium species – won’t survive over winter
For further information
ANGFA websites
- http://angfa.org.au/new-south-wales.html – ANGFA NSW
- www.angfa.org.au – National ANGFA
- db.angfa.org.au – Aquatic Survey Database
- www.fats.org.au – Frog & Tadpole Study Group
Some Recommended Books
- Native Plants of the Sydney Region – Alan Fairley & Philip Moore
- Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney – Les Robinson
- Aquatic & Wetland Plants – Nick Romanowski
- Waterplants in Australia – Sainty & Jacobs
- Freshwater Fishes of Australia – Allen, Midgely & Allen
Ed. Our thanks to Mark Abell for providing his notes for us to use. Having been unable to attend for medical reasons, I apologise for errors that may have crept in as I sought to provide detail on aquatic plants that we rarely discuss and even less frequently use. Please advise if you discern an error.
On-line Material in GardenDrum
An article, East Coast Banksias – Glorious Banksias by Karlo Taliana of East Hills Group has been published in GardenDrum with great images .
See it at http://gardendrum.com/2016/04/26/glorious-banksias-perfectly-sized-for- your-garden/
I suspect this is the same paper used by Karlo when he spoke to us last August and to which I made reference in Calgaroo of April, 2016, re a talk he gave to Menai Wildflower Group – just the presentation looks different and there are minor revisions.
APS NSW Ltd Annual Report 2015
The annual report for APS NSW 2015 is on the website for your reference.
http://austplants.com.au/kunena/23-aps-district-group-business-and-newsletters/482-annual-report- 2013.html
Fungi
There are potentially as many as 250,000 species of fungi in Australia, yet we have only named around six per cent of them according to Tim Entwistle, Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria. Other experts have said there may c.140,000 macro- and micro-fungi in WA alone. Visit https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/statistics/cryptogams.
Syzygium wilsonii
As I read the APS Central Coast Group newsletter several months ago I saw the lovely image of a Syzygium wilsonii and was reminded of one that Betty Rymer grew very successfully in her Kenthurst garden.

Syzygium is a genus of flowering plants that belongs to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. The genus comprises about 1200 species generally in tropical and subtropical rainforests, and has a native range that extends from Africa and Madagascar through southern Asia east through the Pacific. Its highest levels of diversity occur from Malaysia to northeastern Australia, where many species are very poorly known and many more have not been described taxonomically. Fifty-two species are found across Northern Australia from Qld to WA and are generally known as lillipillies, brush cherries or satinash.
Syzygium wilsonii is a shrub that grows 2-3m high and has a pendulous habit. The flowers are very large, about 10cm in diameter, and a deep wine red colour. They are quite spectacular, appear in spring to early summer and are followed by large white fruits.
Another feature of this shrub is the pinkish-red new growth. It prefers a shady position in the garden in well composted soil and it can be propagated from seed or by cutting. It will also self-seed around the garden.
Interestingly it is a plant that prefers a shady position and I recall that Betty grew it under the shade of a Eucalypt with another two or three Syzygiums, one being S. luehmannii. But research Syzygiums in your reference book or on-line via one of the Search Engines. S. australe (Brush Cherry) and S. oleosum (Blue Cherry) are two species found in the Sydney area.
Unfortunately many species and varieties are subject to attack by a tiny insect called a psyllid (Trioza egeniae). The psyllids suck sap from the new leaves, causing ugly oval lumps on the upper surface and corresponding depressions on the lower surface. S. australe and its cultivars are in this category so include this aspect in your research. They may provide just the right plant for your shady spot.
And recently I was struck by the Abelmoschus moschatus that was pictured among some plants saved by Colin Lawrence, President of the APS Newcastle Group, from a hot, dry Summer. Unfortunately I could not download Colin’s image but this one by Keith Townsend will demonstrate why it caught my eye.

Abelmoschus moschatus is a perennial species comprising two recognised subspecies. ssp. moschatus occurs in India, parts of Asia and the Pacific Islands. There are also naturalised occurrences of ssp. moschatus in northern New South Wales. Ssp. tuberosus is found in northern Australia and in islands to the north. It is a delightful, soft, herbaceous trailing plant to 2 metres in diameter with soft hairy stems. It has an underground tuber and dies back to this tuber in the dry season, emerging again with the first substantial rains of the wet season. It is a relative of the edible Okra and tubers and foliage were a source of food for Aborigines.
The leaves are alternate, rough, hairy, heart-shaped or 3-5 lobed with serrated margins, 4-10cm x 4-8.5cm. Flowers are Hibiscus-like, usually watermelon pink but sometimes white or cream – always with a dark centre.
Flowers last for one day only but are very prolific and are borne between October and April, flowering time depending on the timing of the wet season. Black seeds are held in hairy, tough but papery capsules. Propagation may be from seeds, small tubers or stem cuttings. Seeds germinate readily but some difficulty is often experienced in getting the plant to establish in the ground. Sowing the seeds in situ in a well drained, rocky spot may be the best answer. Abelmoschus moschatus ssp. tuberosus may be difficult in Sydney and require additional water during Summer and the plant should be allowed to dry out when foliage dies off during the dry season, presumably our Winter.
Gardeners: ditch the camellias, embrace the natives. They’re beautiful, and they’re ours
*Gay Alcorn
This is a story about Australian native plants, but I will not preach. I promise not to take on an air of moral superiority like a vegetarian who looks askance at your meat-eating ways. frightening.
Read more here:
*Gay Alcorn is Melbourne editor of Guardian Australia. She has been a journalist for more than 20 years and is a three-times Walkley award winner.
Rainforest Plants of Australia (Rockhampton to Victoria)
Pip Gibian
I was lucky enough to be given this new reference for eastern rainforest plants as a present. It is an extension of the rainforest field guides for NSW and Southern Queensland produced by Gwen Harden and others (2006, revised 2009). The old guides were wonderful, so I was excited to receive the new one. The Nicholsons of Terania Creek Rainforest Nursery and writers of beautiful booklets about many specific rainforest plants, collaborated with this new key, especially with the excellent photography.
The new key is not a book, but is on a USB stick. That is not the only difference from previous publications. The key starts with a computer screen divided into quarters. The upper left, once expanded, lists a huge number of vegetative features, starting with basic form, eg a tree as opposed to a climber, aquatic plant etc. It continues down a seemingly endless list of specific features of bark, leaf, stem, flowers, fruit. On the screen you click the features you can see on your unknown, unnamed specimen. The features you have selected show in the lower left quarter of the screen.
The upper right quarter starts with a list of all the species in the key, all 1139 of them. Every time you click on a feature, all the species NOT showing this feature are removed from the list. The more features you record, the smaller is the list of possible identities of your unkown specimen. The deleted species gather in the bottom right quarter of the screen. Hopefully you are eventually left with just one name in the top right hand screen, and you have the identity of your unknown specimen.
The USB stick also contains a large reference section describing all the species in the key. As well as detailed descriptions of each plant there are excellent photos and other information such as area of occurrence. If your chase down the identification key ends with 5 names instead of one, you can then summon up each possible contender and look at the photos to exclude a few more. The whole system is magic.
Ed. There was a reference in Calgaroo in March last year to this Rainforest key.
The Hills Council Living Sustainably Walks and Workshops Program
Weed control – Thursday 2nd June 10.00am to 11.30am
Controlling noxious weeds is a real problem. Practical advice and demonstrations are provided on how to identify and deal with troublesome weeds.
Bush Walk, Platypus Track – Saturday 4th June 10.00am to 12 noon
Walk in the sandstone valley of Excelsior Creek and across the ridge top to explore the contrasting vegetation. Celebrate World Environment Day on 5th June.
Bookings essential: Book walks and workshops on line at: www.thehillsenvironment.eventbrite.com.au or by phone at 9843 0555.
Community Environment Centre – Annangrove Park, Currie Avenue Off Annangrove Road, Annangrove Open to the public: Thursday 9am—4pm
Australian Plant Society Talk
*Angus Stewart
For anyone interested in native plants who wants to learn more, there is a group that is hard to beat. The Australian Plant Society is a non profit community organisation with branches all round the country, so people can get advice about plants for their local area. They run regular meetings and have informative newsletters. There are also study groups for particular plants, so if there is a native plant that really takes your fancy, you can join up to learn from some great experts. Find you local Australian Plant Society Group and get involved!
I recently did a talk for the South East NSW group on how Australian gardens are changing. Our native plants are now becoming more mainstream, in no small part due to great new plant selections. Often these are directed towards our increasingly smaller gardens in our urban areas, as larger trees and shrubs are finding less of a place. New compact and colourful cultivars of Callistemons, Banksias, Acacias and waratahs mean we can still have our bushland plants, our wildlife can still have the food and shelter they provide, and we can have beautiful gardens. Plants like Tristaniopsis ‘Burgundy Blush’ and Callistemon ‘All Aglow’ can replace photinia hedging, Australian edible plants like native mint and midgen berries can be grown for the kitchen, colourful flowering plants like everlasting daisies, Scaevolas and kangaroo paws can fill our pots for decoration. We can even have living native Christmas trees with Adenanthos cultivars and the Wollemi pine. I encouraged them to get out and experiment, so get to your local branch of the Australian Plant Society and share in the wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for your own native plant fun!
*We all know of Angus Stewart and respect his advice. Follow Angus via his regular newsletters on-line by visiting http://www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/
Grevillea Cultivars
For some interesting reading check out the APS Central Coast Group Newsletter for May 2016 on the APS NSW web site http://austplants.com.au/ and see Elsie Bartlett’s report of a talk by Peter Olde at their last meeting on the trends with Grevillea cultivars. Peter referred to some new ones – its hard to keep up with them, and Elsie has included some fine images. G. ‘Autumn Waterfall’, G. ‘Blood Orange’, G. ‘Bird Song’ and G. ‘Fireworks’ were new ones to me. Is anyone in our Group growing one of these?

Parramatta and Hills District Group
Email: apsparrahills@gmail.com
Website: https://austplants.com.au/Parramatta-And-Hills
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APSPARRAHILLS/