'Australian Plants' Vol.10 No.82 March 1980

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  The text in this file has been extracted from 'Australian Plants' Vol.10 No.82 March 1980.    |
|                                                                                                |
|  Please note that the file was compiled from a scan of the original document.  As successful   |
|  scanning is dependent on the quality of the original, there may be errors in the text where   |
|  the scanning software was unable to recognise particular words.                               |
|                                                                                                |
|            PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO VIEW THE ACTUAL, ACCURATELY FORMATTED              |   
|                     JOURNAL, INCLUDING ILLUSTRATIONS AND PHOTOS:                               |
|                                                                                                |
|   https://anpsa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Australian-Plants/Australian-Plants-Vol10-82.pdf     |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+





Registered for posting
as a periodica!—Category B

March, 1980
Vol. 10, No. 82



@@@ 2 @@@



PLANTS FOR SMALL GARDENS

Even large gardens have border edges requiring small plants. Rockeries,
the ideal way to grow many heathland wildflowers, need small plants of char-
acter that flower well. There are many wildflowers ideal for this purpose. This
issue presents those beautiful little plants known botanically as Conostylis.
The previous issue presented Anigozanthos our ‘‘kangaroo paws’ also ideal
for small gardens.

THE SMALL GARDEN

One member, Gwen Elliot, has produced a whole book, ‘‘Australian Plants
For Small Gardens and Containers”, available from the Editor for $12.59
-+ 0.75 postage. Thistle Harris has aso produced an excellent book in her
series entitled “Small Plants and Climbers”, also available for $25.00 -+ $1.00
postage. There have been many references in past issues of this periodical.
So we have a considerable reference material but are we more successful
with our small gardens?

GROWING WILDFLOWERS IN THE SMALL GARDEN

It is now possible to establish a beautiful little garden of Australian wild-
flowers. There are a number of reasons why we can be more successful now:
1. The availability of slow release fertilizers such as Osmocote.

2. The work of researchers such as Jim Webb in our last issue where the
advantages of slow release calcium such as the use of limestone chips
as a mulch could represent a major break through.

3. The availability of work by research scientists, especially those now devot-
ing study to nature’s way and the harmony that must exist between all
forms of life below ground level. | would refer readers especially to the
report on the series of publications produced by the C.S.I.LR.O. and to the
article by Dr. A. Smith in Australian Plants, Vol. 9, Issue No. 73, page 209.

4. The availability of suitable plants from very good specialist nurserymen.
Not only is there a wide range of plants available but more attention is
being given to propagation from good forms.

CONTENTS

Conostylis In My Garden .. ... Col. Wilson 247
Conostylis — Propagation Brian Walters 254
Herbaceous Plants ............ Neil Marriott 255

The Wildflower Garden of Col. ilson . W. H. Payne 261
Two Unusual Plants In Cultivation ............ccooveiieeriiiiiineiiiiiiieeeciiienns Rae Sexton 262
The Conostylis aculeata Group ..... Stephen D. Hopper 263
Verticordia In Adelalde .......csesisiimiims essamosomnmmpsessnsonsssssisvaseiss Brian Crafter 268
Successful Wildflower Gardens . x i . H. Payne 269
The Cinnamon Fungus Phytophthora and The Home Garden ........ Gretna Weste 270

Studies of Unburnt Eucalyptus Woodland .......................o Jennifer R. Withers 272
Recent Publications from the N.S.W. Nat. Herbarium ........................... R. Barry 275
Crotalaria : ... Notes prepared by W. H. Payne 277

............... A. K. Cavanagh and V. N. Tran 283

COVER PLATE — Blandfordia punicea Photography by M. Hodge

This issue is principally about Conostylis but a satisfactory photograph was
not available. Christmas Bells will grow in similar situations to Conostylis except
that there is need for more water. What is needed is a method that assures
continuous healthy growth and reliable flowering. Who can advise? This seems to be
an ideal activity for someone on their own with no experience or facilities. Get
some seed. It germinates readily in a pot of sand kept moist. Then plant in numerous
pots with different soil texture _and vary the fertilizer for each pot. You can
become the Xmas Bell expert. The species illustrated comes from Tasmania. An
early issue No 13 described all species and conditions for germination of seed and
cultivation of plants. This is a project any one in Australia could take on!!

AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—No. 82 Issue of Volume 10, cc_)mp_rising issues 77-_84.
International Series Index ISSN 0005-0008. A National publication in 16600 copies.
Published by The Society for Growing Australian Plants. For details see last page.

Available to members or by subscription of $3.00, including postage to your address.
Send to the Editor, 860 Henry Lawson Drive, Picnic Point, N.S.W., 13.

Publication date of previous issue, No. 81, was 23rd January, 1980.

Page 246—Vol. 10



@@@ 3 @@@



anther

Conostylis
In My Garden

By COL WILSON, MELBOURNE

Th.e genus Conostylis is endemic in the south-western portion of Western
Australia. The plants are common in most plant communities except wet
sclerophyll forest.

Probably the first comprehensive account of the genus was that of
Bentham (1873). He recognised 31 of the 46 validly described species at
that time.

Green (Proc. of the Linnean Sodiety of N.S.W., 1960, Vol. IXXXV, Part 3)
examined the genus critically and 23 species are now recognised.

Many of the 23 species (Ii,steg)j.ffin A Descriptive Catalogue of West
Australian Plants, by J. S. Beard) can now be found in gardens of some
Australian plant enthusiasts. | expect that as they become more widely
known one or two will find their way ‘into most gardens.

The genus Conostylis was first described by Robert Brown, who placed
it in the family Haemodoraceae. Thus Conostylis is closely related to
Blancoa and Anigozanthos (Kangaroo paws).

They are perennial herbs and in most cases form small grass-like clumps
or tussocks from 10 to 50 cm high. Thus they are ideally suited to pockets
in rockeries and small gardens.

The flowers vary in colour from white through yellow to orange and
are generally in dense heads at the ends of the stems. In some species
they are held above the foliage, while in others they are among the leaves.

The foliage is not usually eaten by slugs and snails, and they will adapt
to a range of soil conditions provided they are not exposed 'to long dry
spells.

While they tolerate some shade, some species will not flower unless
they receive at least half sun.

Before considering propagation one neads to appreciate that Conostylis
do not readily precduce viable seed. Also their habit can be roughly divided
into three classes, namely caespitose, proliferous and stoloniferous.

If viable seed is available it appears to germinate readily. | experienced
70-80% germination in 3-4 weeks with both C. candicans and C. aculeata
subspecies bracteata. The only treatment prior to planting was soaking in
water for 48 hours. Not selected as a means of breaking dormancy, but
resulting from forgetting the seed was soaking.

Propagation by division is relatively easy, although each piece should
be well establishad in a pot before planting into the garden. Those of
caespitose habit, i.e. tufted, as grasses when forming mounds can be
divided like kangaroo paws in winter. Those of proliferous habit, i.e. in
which the stem bears tufts of leaves at intervals at the nodes, can be
produced readily if there is a tendency to form roots at the tufts on the
stems. C. aculeata subspecies preissii forms roots a few mm long during
wet periods in winter.

if such tufts are removed with about 3 cm of stem attached they can
be placed into a propagating medium with the roots at the bass of the tuft
just covered. The 3 cm of stem is completely buried and provides physical

Page 247—Vol. 10



@@@ 4 @@@



Conostylis aculeata (above) Photography by B. Crafter

There are a number of forms of this species the one above being known as
sub species aculeata because it is the type form. The correct naming of the various
forms is the subject of current research. A progress report on this research by Dr.
S. Hopper is given on page 263 where other plants similar to C. aculeata are
described, research that has required the naming of new species. When the entire
genus has been reviewed an issue of Australian Plants will give full descriptions. With
the information contained in this issue will readers obtain as many plants as possible,
grow them and report results. The Latin name aculeata means furnished with prickles and
refers to the pungent spines on the leaf margins. This species is one of the most wide-
spread and variable ranging from south of Shark Bay to Albany, W.A.

Conostylis vaginata (top right) Photography by M. Hodge.

As described on page 251 by a reader with considerable experience in the
cultivation of this plant, it is ideal for your garden. Small enough for a pocket in the
rockery or for pot culture, it does best with some sub soil moisture in warmer months. It
is unique in the genus in having white anthers and golden yellow flowers. The species
is restricted to heathlands and Banksia - mallee low woodlands near the south coast
of Western Australia from the Stirling Range eastwards to the Munglinup area.

Conostylis species flower heads (bottom right) by C. J. Wilsen

Col. Wilson has picked flowers from various plants in his garden to get this unusual
photograph that allows us to see how the species compare one with the other. In our
last issue we introduced all the genera of plants in the plant family Haemodoraceae
that are found in Australia, with sketches showing flower detail of each genus. The
sketch for Conostylis species is shown in the title head on page 247. This shows the
six anthers supporting the pollen bearing filaments attached to the upper edge of the
floral envelope, which comprises fused ‘‘petals’ to form a tubular perianth with six
pointed ends. The style, awaiting pollination, is in the centre of the flower and facilitates
nature’s magic of conducting the fertilising agent to the ovary in the base of the flower,
which eventually forms seed. Actually there are three general shapss of perianth found
in Conostylis; tubular as for C. bealiana pictured on page 252, free, and as in the case
of all species shown here, campanulate, i.e. the free part of the tube 1s approximately
equal in length to the adnate or fused section.

This photograph shows the actual flower head of six species, one with three different
forms on the top row, from left to right: Conostylis aculeata (detailed sketch of flower
item D on page 265), Conostylis aculeata subspecies bracteata, Conostylis aculeata
subspecies breviflora (sketched as item B on page 265 and described in detail as a new
subspecies on page 266) and Conostylis candicans (illustrated on page 253).

On the bottom row from left to right are Conostylis seoriflora, C. serrulata, C. setosa
(pictured on page 257) and C. teretifolia. The latter has a closed dying flower also
which gives the plant the appearance of having rusty red flowers at times.

Page 248—-Vol. 10



@@@ 5 @@@



Conostylis vaginata

HEWRN $5 '
C. aculeata ssp C. aculeata
bracteata ssp. breviflora

C. seorsiflora C. serrulata C. cetosa C. teretifolia

Flower heads of Conostylis species as defined opposite

Page 249—Vol. 10



@@@ 6 @@@



support until a new root system is established. This takes 6-8 weeks in a
cold frame with regular overhead watering. No hormones and no fertilizers
— they survive without either in hature. Most of the tufts of this species
that | have produced this way have flowered the following summer.

An alternative method may be to peg down the stem between the
tufts to encourage roots to form through contact with the soil. However,
this may mean a wait of up to 12 months before cutting off.

Stoloniferous Conostylis readily produce roots from the tufts along the
stems and so spread by runners. Thus when you establish a plant it spreads
and you dig them up if and when you wish. C. seorsiflora, C. stylidioides and
C. vaginata are of stoloniferous habit.

The following descriptions relate to garden grown plants and may
therefore differ from information in keys.

Conostylis aculeata

Conostylis aculeata grows as a discrete tuft, leaves flat 25-40 cm long,
4-6 mm broad, with 1 mm prominent spines projecting at intervals of up
to 1 cm along the edges, sometimes only near the apex. Flowers yellow,
8-10 mm long, hairy, held above the foliage in globular heads. Flowering
time is July to Deczmber.

Conostylis aculeata subspecies bracteata :

The siems are sometimes shortly proliferous, leaves 30-35 cm long,
6-12 mm broad, glabrous with prominent spines up to 1 mm long projecting
at intervals of up to 1 cm along the edges. On some plants spines may be
reduced or even absent. Scape about the same length as the leaves, bearing
dense globular heads of numerous yellow flowers. Flowering time August
to December. This subspecies forms a link between C. aculeata and C.
candicans on the basis of floral morphology, habit and the presence of
intermediate forms in the field.

Conostylis aculeata subspecies preissii

An attractive plant in flower, forming a clump 30 cm high by 80 cm
across. Proliferous, leaves 10-20 cm long, 2-4 mm broad, with fine marginal
spines 1-2 mm long spaced at intervals of 8-10 mm, scape usually slightly
shorter than the leaves and bearing 1-2 bracts. Flowers yellow, held in
small heads. Flowering time August to December.

Conostylis bealiana

Grows in discrete tufts 20 cm by 40 cm, leaves 12-18 cm long, 2-3 mm
broad, longitudinally nerved, glabrous except the margins, which bear fine
appressed hairs. Flowers are yellow to orange, solitary, held at the base
of the leaves, 2-3 cm long by 1 cm across. Flowering time June-July.

Very attractive in winter while flowering. A five-year-old plant is doing
very well in clay-ioam with sub-soil moisture and light shade from overhead.
Conostylis candicans

Usually caespitose, the tufts up to 80 cm in diameter and 50 cm high.
Leaves 15-40 cm long and 5-8 mm broad, entirely covered at maturity by
a pale grey mealy tomzntum. Scape, longer than the leaves, bearing 1-2
bracts, sometimes branched. Flowers yellow, 10-12 mm long, held in dense
heads. Flowering time August to January.

An outstanding species becauss of the contrast between the yellow
flowers and grey-green foliage. It is tolerant of shade, but does best in a
warm sunny position. Fortunately it does set some seed, as it is difficult to
propagate by division.

Conostylis juncea

Grows as a discrete tuft up to 10 cm diameter at the base; leaves
terete or flat, 10-40 cm long, 2-10 mm broad, glabrous or sparingly hirsute
especially at the base, usually fairly prominently nerved. Flowers emerge to
just above ground level or may be borne on a loosely woolly scape up to
15 cm long. The inflorescence subtended and often enclosed by two or
three broad ovate lanceolate membranous bracts with green midribs. In-
dividual flowers are bright yellow or greenish-yellow 15-20 mm long. Flowering

Page 250—Vol. 10



@@@ 7 @@@



time July to November. This species appears to require more moisture In
the soil during spring and summer.

Conostylis prolifera, previously C. stylidioides

A plant varying from compact to an open scrambling form. It may
grow as 3-4 cm high tufts, singly, or connected by stolons, or rising to some
height by proliferous ‘branching. Leaves 1-10 cm long, 1-2 mm broad,
sometimes bearing minute erect hairs on the margins. Flowers yellow, 10-12
mm long, borne in a small head on a simple scape as long as, or much
longer than, the leaves. Flowering time August to December.
Conostylis seorsiflora

Stoloniferous in habit and forming a prostrate mat 8-10 cm high by
up to 1 m across. Leaves 4-8 cm long, 1-2 mm broad, may be tomentose,
but mature leaves usually glabrous. The single flowers are bright yellow,
about 13 mm long and hesld on short scapes which bear a medium leafy
bract about 15 mm long with two linear bracts subtending the flower.
Flowering time September to December. Requires more than % sun or
flowering is greatly reduced.
Conostylis serrulata

Grows as a discrete tuft 25 cm by 30 cm; leaves glabrous except
the minutely deanticulate-serrulate margins, 10-25 cm long, 6 mm broad,
longitudinally striate and pinkish at the base. Flowers are pale yellow borne
in heads on a scape 3-8 cm long, scape bearing 1-2 chaffy bracts up to
2 cm long. Flowering time October to January. An interesting but not
spectacular species due to the pale colour of the flowers.

Conostylis setigera

Grows as a discrete tuft 20 cm by 25 cm; leaves 6-25 cm long, 1-2 mm
broad, dark green, glabrous, except for marginal hairs 1-2 mm long, often
arranged in several clearly visible vertical ranks on each margin. Flowers
yellow, covered in woolly hairs 10-12 mm long borne in heads of 5-10
flowers on a scape that is usually shorter than the leaves. Flowering time
May to October.

A very adaptable and worthwhile garden plant. Sometimes available in
a form which only grows to about 8-10 cm high.

Conostylis setosa

Grows as a discrete tuft consisting of only a few leaves and usually
lass than eight scapes. Leaves red at the base, 15-30 cm long, 3-5 mm
broad, longitudinally striate and glabrous except for two or more ranks of
white hairs 1-2 mm long on each margin. Flowers white or white tinged
with purplish red, up to 2 cm long, covered with fine hairs and borne in
heads up to 6 cm in diameter on scapes longer than the leaves. Flowering
time September to November.
Conostylis teretifolia

Caespitoss, stems short or shortly rhizomatous; leaves terete, sulcate,
5-15 cm long, less than 1 mm broad, reddish at base and bearing white
hairs up to 4 mm long. Flowers initially yellow, but turning rusty red with
age, 10-11 mm long, covered with fine hairs and borne in heads on scapes
as long as, or longer than, the leaves. Flowering time August to November.
A very attractive plant with the bonus of a change in colour as the flowers
age. However, as the plant increases in size, it has a tendency to die in
the centre, so divide the plant every three years.
Conostylis vaginata

A straggling plant rarely more than 10 cm high, the rhizome rooting
at intervals and spreading to 30-40 cm across. Leaves terete, 3-10 cm
long, %2-1 mm in diameter, produced in tufts from the old leaf bases.
Flowers bright yellow, 10-13 mm long, borne in small heads on a scape
much shorter than the leaves. This is a very distinctive species by virtue
of the terete leaves and straggling habit. Sometimes the plant will die in
the centre, resulting in a ring-like appearance.” ]

Page 251—Vol. 10



@@@ 8 @@@



Conostylis bealiana (above) Photography by B. Crafter.

An unusual species in having long orange tubular flowers that are not unlike the
red flowers of Blancoa canescens pictured in the last issue. C. bealiana occurs mainly
near the south coast of Western Australia from Bremer Bay to Cape Arid. A group of
isolated populations has been located recently inland in the Southern Cross area. These
include a white flowered form with grey hairy leaves that is probably an undescribed
subspecies.

In the garden it is an appealing plant when in flower because of the long tubular
flowers. It is not vigorous but lasts well when established. Excessive moisture following
flowering may cause the flowers to rot in amongst the leaves which could affect the
base of the plant resulting in its death so pick off the dead flowers in a wet period.

Conostylis androstemma (top right) Photography by N. Marriott.

The photograph shows the inland and south coastal form of the species presently
known as subspecies argentea. It is probably a distinct species from the typical C.
androstemma which is charactcrised by large solitary flowers with sprecading perizanth
lobes and very long stamens and styles.

Conostylis candicans (bottom right) Photography by C.J. Wilson.

One of the easiest species to grow C. candicans occurs in at least two forms.
The form found near to the coast has short narrow leaves and a proliferous habit.
The inland form has long leaves that are grouped tightly into a caespitose clump. The
species ranges from Shark Bay down the west coast to Yalgorup and inland to York.
It frequently hybridizes in the wild with C. aculeata and C. prolifera.

While most Conostylis are suited for rockeries C. candicans is really too large
as it requires up to ore metre of space. However thc plant picturcd is doirg very well
in a sheltered corner between a large rock and a bluestone drive which provides a
very warm situation.

Page 252—Vol. 10



@@@ 9 @@@



Conostylis candicans

\“:,:&
~

Photography by N. Marriott.

Photography by C. J. Wilson.
Page 253—Vol. 10



@@@ 10 @@@



ConOS'I'ylis By BRIAN WALTERS,
Propagation Sydney

The genus Conostylis has not received the attention it deserves from
native plant enthusiasts. Closely related to the Kangaroo Paws (Anigozanthos
species), and with a similar growth habit, the genus has a number of species
worthy of cultivation. Seed of Conostylis species is apparently difficult to
collect and it is only in the past few years that seed of a few species has
become available. Even so, it can rarely be obtained in any quantity.
Propagation

(a) SEED — Over the past few years | have adopted the technique of
pre-germination of seed prior to planting. Such methods are suitable for all
but very fine seed and have been described in past issues of ‘Australian
Plants’ . . . see, for example, the ‘egg-carton’ method in the December, 1974,
issue.

Although seed of Conostylis is small, it is quite easily handled once the
root has appeared. Generally, pre-germination has been carried out during
winter with the pre-germinated seed being transferred to individual 38 mm
diameter tubes as soon as possible (using a seedling mixture of 85% sand,
15% peat). The tubes are placed in a protected situation outdoors, with
watering carried out exclusively by capillary metheds. Growth of the
seediings is slow during the first few cold months, but they develop quite
rapidly as soon as warmer conditicns arrive. Losses during this first 2 to 3
months have been minimal.

Species that have been attempted are C. aculeata, C. aurea, C. candicans
and C. setosa. In all cases germination commenced in about 10 days and
Sontinued for up to four weeks. Between 40 and 60 percent of seed
germinated. No pre-treatment was carried out.

(b) DIVISION — Only one species, C. aculeata, has been propagated
by this method with moderately successful results. In late summer, 1979,
two of the plants from the original seed sowing in 1975 were lifted and
divided into 10 individual plants; three of the divisions have grown on, the
remainder died. While better results had been hoped for, it should be noted
that the division was quite barbaric (using a spade!). Grecter success would
probably result from a less vigorous approach. Since Conostylis species
normally take twec years to flower from seed, it will be interesting to see if
the divisions flower earlier.

Cultivation

Experiences with cultivation are restricted to two species, C. aculeata
and C. candicans. Of these, only limited information is available so far on
the latter.

(a) CONOSTYLIS ACULEATA — As mentioned above, the original ssed
was sown in 1975. Four plants were put into the ground in spring, 1976, in
fairly heavy soil raised 75 to 100 mm above natural soil surface. No special
cultivation techniques have been adopted with thesse plants. All four plants
have thrived and have formed quite large clumps about 300 to 400 mm high
by about 300 mm wide (two have been lifted for division — ses above).
The plants first flowered in 1977, commencing in May/June and continuing
through to late spring.

In contrast to these four plants, another was planted out at the same
time in similar soil (but not raised), and close to the trunk of a Eucalyptus
citriodora. This plant, while surviving, has neither thrived nor flowered. This
poor performance could be related to competition from a number of large
trees growing nearby (in addition to the E. citriodora).

The flowers of C. aculeata are a golden yellow colour grouped together
in a ‘head’. The flowers are held on stems above the foliage. The foliage,
incidentally, is quite prickly and gloves should be used when handling the
plants. All plants have been virtually free of pests.

Page 254—Vol. 10



@@@ 11 @@@



(b) CONOSTYLIS CANDICANS — Seed of this species was sown in
1977. Two plants were put out into the garden in early spring, 1978 . . .
one in soil similar to C. aculeata above; the other in very light sandy soil
raised about 150 mm. The former plant has grown quite well, but has not yet
flowered; the latter plant died after two months. In contrast, a third plant
which has been kept in a pot (in an 80:20 sand and peat mixture) has grown
extremely well and is a spreading clump up to 300 mm high. This plant
flowered in June, 1979, with bright yellow flower heads of similar colour to
C. aculeata.

The foliage of this species is greyish and, unlike the previous species,
is quite soft to the touch. [}

Herbaceous Plants

by Neil Marriott, Ararat, Victoria

The following notes are on herbaceous plants | am growing in Ararat,
Victoria. They are ideal for rockeries or garden edges.

Ajuga

Ajuga australis the ‘“‘Austral Bugle” is a very widespread and variable
herb from the labiatae family. One of the best forms | have found is from
the Mallee country where it grows to 30 cm high with grey-green hairy
broad toothed leaves and showy spikes of purple flowers throughout the
year. It occurs naturally in damp richer sandy spots between sand dunes,
and in the garden thrives in a similar situation such as in a well drained
rockery that receives adequate moisture. It soon suckers to form a large
showy patch. Propagate by cutting or transplanting suckers.

Blancoa

This plant has similar cultural requirements to the Conostylis species;

, a free draining, but fairly rich loam and gravel mix soil (pH approx.
6.7-7.0).

, adequate moisture in the growing season.

, adequate sunshine; 3 to full.

, a gravel mulch at least 2 cm thick.

If these requirements are all met you should expect to find that your
Blancoa will grow slowly and steadily into an open grey-green clump up to
30 cm across with attractive, although not showy short spikes of orange-red
woolly tube-flowers during the winter. Once this clump is well established
it can be carefully lifted and divided, making sure however that each division
has at least one actively growing shoot and a good root system. All divisions
of this type should be well watered in with a dilution of Maxicrop and
Formula 20. Featured with a colour photograph in the previous issue.

=3

HWN

Borya

Borya nitida, aptly known as the “‘pincushion plant”. This plant is reminis-
cent of a clump of dwarf “‘blackboys”, with rough black “trunks” up to approx.
12 cm in height topped with a clump of short spiny green leaves. An attrac-
tive feature of this plant is the beautiful golden/orange colouration of the
leaves in summer as the soil dries out. If left unwatered many of these leaves
eventually drop off in autumn when they are replaced by a new growth of
green leaves. Its small white flowers in springtime are attractive though too
small to be showy.

Borya grows slowly into a small clump which when big enough is fairly
easily divided into several plants.

Page 255—Vol. 10



@@@ 12 @@@



Conostylis aurea (above) Photography by C. J. Wilson

_The Latin “‘aurea’” means golden and refers to the rich colouration of the clumped
sessile flowers in large golden heads. It may be found from just north of Kalbarri
National Park, to the vicinity of Perth. Two closely related undescribed species occur

with C. aurea in the Badgingarra - Eneabba region, but differ in having smaller leaves
and earlier flowering.

Conostylis serrulata (top right) Photography by C. J. Wilson

A jarrah forest species ranging from Perth to Albany, with a few outlying popula
tions as far south as Jerdacuttap, its deeply divided perianths and large anthers are
distinctive features, see photograph on page 249

Conostylis setosa (bottom right) Photography by F. Hatfield

An attractive species with relatively large flowers that are usually white or occa
sionally white suffused with purple. The stamens occur at two levels in the perianth,
a feature seen elsewhere in the genus only in C. setigera, C. setosa has a restricted
geographical range in the northern jarrah forest from Avon River to Dwellingup.

Conostylis

This genus is one of my major interests, although some species have
caused me considerable frustration in my attempts to propagate them. On
the whole however | have found (due to many big losses at other times of
the year) that the best time for propagation by division (the main method
with this genus) is from late summer to mid-autumn. The reason for this is
that after flowering in spring, most Conostylis sp. put on considerable new
growth so long as there is adequate moisture. However one must wait until
this new growth has sent down roots and is well established before you
divide it up, otherwise your losses will be great. In some species, this
establishment of independent root systems may take all summer, autumn and
winter, in which case spring division is necessary. Therefore, observation
of the particular species growth pattern is essential.

Some success has also been had with propagation of Conostylis by seed.

The species of Conostylis | have grown include Conostylis aculeata and
its subspecies preissii, C. Bealiana, C. bracteata and C. candicans, all well
described by other authors in this issue.

Page 256—Vol. 10



@@@ 13 @@@



} £
o
)
i,
(8]
>
)
>
£
=3
©
2
o
<]
o
i
[

Conostylis serrulata

Photography by F. Hatfield.

Conostylis setosa

Vol. 10

Page 257



@@@ 14 @@@



Conostylis setigera — has grasslike leaves up to about 33 cm high.
It forms an open, grassy clump which is filled at the base with masses of
pale-yellow flowers in spring.

Conostylis seorsiflora is one of the hardiest spreading species which
makes a very attractive dense groundcover about 30 cm wide by about
60 cm high. Foliage is small, grasslike and dense. Single attractive yellow
flowers are crowded in amongst the foliage in spring.

Conostylis stylidioides is undoubtedly the hardiest and most vigorous of
all the Conostylis species, so long as frosts aren’t too severe. It spreads
rapidly by stolons to make a light groundcover up to a metre square. lIts
short grasslike foliage is topped with dull yellow flowers in spring.

Conostylis setosa is another species over which there tends to be some
confusion. The plants | am growing have grasslike foliage to about 15 cm
high covered with long white hairs, and hairy cream flowers in clusters held
above the foliage. Moderately hardy.

Claytonia

Claytonia australasica, the “White Purslane”, is a variable and very wide-
spread creeping plant that occurs almost anywhere there is constant mois-
ture in the soil — it even grows under water for many months of the year
in inundated swampy areas. The best forms for the garden are from the alps
where it forms a dense, bright green carpet with masses of white flowers.

There is a beautiful grey-green foliaged form with pink flowers that
occurs in the N.S.W. alps in several localities. Both forms thrive and form
a dense attractive groundcover under cultivation when given a sunny spot
with constant moisture. Propagate by dividing up the prostrate rooting stems.

Goodenia

Goodenia are mainly creeping herbs rooting at the nodes although the
genus does include a number of upright shrubby species. See page 292.

Goodenia hederacea 1s a highly variable and very widespread species,
suitable forms of which make beautiful green mats with bright yellow flowers
in the garden. The best form is Goodenia hederacea var. alpestris which
forms a dense bright green mat up to a metre across with masses of orange-
yellow flowers in spring and summer. !t likes a moist sunny position for best
results. Propagate by chopping up rooted branches.

Goodenia humilis a nice bright green ground cover for boggy areas
with masses of yellow flowers in summer. Propagate by dividing up clumps.

Goodenia larata another good ground cover for open moist sites creeping
to cover several feet.

Goodenia geniculata — not as vigorous as most other species but
suitable for moist semi-shaded sites.
Goodenia rotundifolia — an interesting clump forming plant requiring

a moist well drained site and complete frost protection.

Hydrocotyle

Hydrocotyle verticillata. This plant with its strange but quite attractive
shiny green ‘“pennywort” foliage thrives in a damp to wet position in acid
soil with dappled sunlight. It spreads by surface runners which root at the
nodes. The flowers are small, green and insignificant. Seed must germinate
readily in a bog situation as | have had seedlings appearing in the nursery
in pots of wet soil about 3 metres away from the parent plant.

Hydrocotyle laxiflora. This extremely vigorous plant known as ‘‘stinking
pennywort” can bscome a bit of a pest in the garden where it thrives with
regular watering, sending runners in all directions until it is a thick carpet
of dull green slightly hairy round leaves. Excellent as a soil binder, etc., but
rather too vigorous for most ordinary gardens.

Leptorhynchus

Leptorhynchus squamatus has proved fairly easy to grow in a large pot
where it receives regular moisture, but when grown in the garden it tends
to die out after a while unless it receives constant moisture, has good drain-

Page 258—Vol. 10



@@@ 15 @@@



age and dappled sunshine. It grows by creeping along the ground and rooting
at the nodes. Flowers are sparse during spring being yellow ‘“button” flowers.
Leptorhynchus tenuifolius — “Wiry Buttons” is a common clump forming
herb, but does not seem to have adapted too well to cultivation so far.
Naturally, it likes poor, gravelly clay soils with open to semi-shade.

Mazus

Mazus pumilio. The “Swamp Mazus” is an excellent dense green ground-
cover for a moist open to semi-shaded situation. It has attractive mauve
flowers throughout the year, mainly in summer. Propagate by division.

Mimulus

Mimulus repens, the “Creeping Monkey Flower” is a beautiful prostrate
suckering herb that occurs around permanently wet sticky clayey sites along
streams and around coastal and inland salt marsh areas.

It has very small grey-green fleshy foliage and stems, and very showy
purple and yellow flowers.

Tends to be very difficult to grow under cultivation, even in simulatec
natural conditions. Possibly it prefers a brackish soil.

Myriophyllum

Myriophyllum species. ‘“Water millfoils” are as the name suggests pri-
marily water plants, thriving in shallow water or muddy conditions in open
to semi-shaded sites. There are many different species all with two types of
foliage on the one plant; leaves under the water are very finely divided while
those above the water are more coarsely divided ferny leaves.

The best species for the garden pond or bog garden is undoubtedly
Myriophyllum propinquum with its beautiful bright green ferny foliage, al-
though M. verrucosum with its reddish-purple foliage, and M. elatinoides
with its pale green foliags are quite attractive but not as vigorous.

Orthrosanthus

Orthrosanthus multiflorus is propagated readily from seed and by divi-
sion. Very hardy, it is growing in a number of different soil types. It responds
positively to extra watering in spring and summer.

Masses of pale blue lily flowers in November and December.

Patersonia

Patersonia fragilis is a terete-foliaged clump forming plant with deep
violet flowers seated down in the foliage during spring-summer. It likes a
moist but well drained acid soil in an open position for best results.

P. longiscapa a grey-green strap-leaved clump with purple flowers on
stems longer than the foliage during spring and summer. This showy “purple
flag” likes similar conditions but it does not need as much water.

P. occidentalis is a taller green strap-leaved clump that has violet flowers
on stems carriad above the foliage during spring and summer. It likes similar
conditions to P. longiscapa, which may be only a form of P. occidentalis.

Patersonia — species from W.A. This is an attractive low spreading
grey leaved clump and it is growing quite well. It is similar to P. longiscapa
in flower but tends to be hardier and makes a more attractive plant when
not in flower. It likes similar conditions to P. longiscapa.

All Patersonia species are readily propagated by either clump division
or sowing of seseds.

Pelargonium

Pelargonium rodneyanum, the “Rosy Storks-Bill”, is a widespread small
clump forming plant to a 15 cm high. It has beautiful rosy flowers in spring
and grows well in a sunny to semi-shaded position with good drainage. Can
withstand very dry conditions.

Sowerbaea

Sowerbaea juncea — propagates easily by division of a clump. Super-
ficially similar to chives that we eat in salads, it is a grey-green gras§!ike
clump with mauve flowers in spring and summer. For sunny, moist position.

Page 259—Vol. 10



@@@ 16 @@@



The wildflower garden of Col. Wilson, see article opposite.

Stypandra

Stypandra caespitosa is propagated by division quite easily. It is a
tufted plant of greyish grasslike foliage with starry purple, blue or rarely
white flowers held above the plant in November and December. It needs
adequate moisture for good growth and flowering.

Stypandra glauca — again, mainly propagated by division. A branching
plant with stem-clasping alternate grasslike leaves with attractive nodding
blue lily-type flowers. It needs a well drained to dry situation.

Velleia

Velleia paradoxa is closely related to the Goodenia and is very similar
looking, with showy yellow flowers on 30 cm stems above a clump of deep
green leaves to 15 cm high. This plant is quite easy to grow in a well
drained but quite moist situation with acid soil and dappled sunlight.

Veronica

Veronica gracilis, the ‘“Slender Speedwell”, is an attractive, though far
from showy spindly herb. It has thin straggling stems, fine leaves, and small
blue cup flowers. It suckers in a moist well drained site.

Veronica perfoliata, the "‘Diggers Speedwell”, is a very attractive clump-
forming plant to 40 cm with interesting silver perfoliate leaves and attractive
spikes of mauve-blue flowers in spring and summer. Thrives in a dry sunny
spot in a rockery, making an excellent foliage contrast plant.

Xyris

Xyris operculata is propagated by division of the parent plant, a very
easy method. It is an attractive tufted plant with curling wiry leaves and
pretty yellow lily flowers. It needs adequate moisture for good flowering.

X. gracilis is similar and has the same requirements for cultivation. ]

Page 260—Vol. 10



@@@ 17 @@@



The Wildflower Garden
of Col Wilson

Observations by W. H. Payne.

The photograph shows a well laid out and stocked wildflower garden.

Colin Wilson has been fortunate enough to have a sloping area and he
has made the most of it. It would not matter what the soil type is under-
neath. If fortune smiled and it was a rich heavy loam with a water seep-
age a few feet from the surface then you could grow almost anything.
If a clay or very heavy soil, work into it as much mulched material and
gravel as you can, preferably in channels sloping at an angle across the
fall of the land.

Position large rocks on the slope. It is worth spending up big and
getting a load of boulders. Look how Colin has done it. Are not those
rocks superb. You fill in between the rocks with a good loam. Many
would say a bush sand and who would say they are wrong. With a bush
sand, or even any washed sand you will get a spectacular display of the
showy plants from the west or the heath lands of the east that will
rival any rock garden. With a slow release fertiliser such as ‘“‘Osmocote”,
twice a year you should be able to create a flowering paradise. | feel a
good garden loam will give best and longest lasting results but suspect
we have a lot to learn yet about below ground care and health of soil.

Without any doubt, the photograph does not do justice to this garden.
The red of the Grevillea lavandulacea should be quite bright and you
can only just see the proud heads of the N.S.W. Waratah, Telopea spe-
ciosissime in the centre background. The living yellow of the two plants
of Conostylis aculeata on the left and iis sub-species preissii next to it, is
quite attractive. The white flowers in the top right of Pimelea spectabilis
we something to behold and the presence of such a large healthy plant
speaks highly of the health and vigour of this garden. The kangaroo
paw, Anigozanthos rufus x flavidus is a reliable free ftlowering plant and
other species could be placed to advantage in such a garden. Other small
plants he has used to advantage are Grevillea thelemaniana, a prostrate
plant that is not in flower, just above the Conostylis, Kennedia beckxiana,
one of many excellent Kennedia for this position, Banksia repens one
of a few prostrate or suckering small Banksia that sit their flowers on the
ground like coloured koala bears, and Boronia spathulata. Many small
Boronia including the native rose B.serrulata, would grow in the front
among those rocks.

For filling in between rock pockets in spots where he wants the
plants low so as to show off the rock, he has used Viola hederaceae,
Pultenaea pedunculata, Pratia erecta and P. surrepens, and Mazus pumilio.

To the upper left of the Grevillea lavandulacea, the branches of pink
and white belong to Hypocalymma angustifolia a very reliable showy plant.
Other plants of this small stature used are Grevillea juniperina, Isopogon and
Melaleuca wilsonii. The background plants chosen are not huge bushes but
can be colourful in season with interest in the foliage colour and shape and
include Eucalyptus teiraptera, E. rhodantha, Erythrocorys, Banksia ericfolia
and Prostanthera ovalifolia.

A beautiful garden with all year round interest. Why not create one
of your own? See page 269. [ ]

Page 261—Vol. 10



@@@ 18 @@@



Two Unusual Plants in Cultivation

By RAE SEXTON, M.Sc., Gilberton, S.A.

| have grown successfully two plants which | think may not have been
cultivated before—Rhagodia gaudichaudiana Moq. 1840 and Maireana erioclada
Syn. Kochia erioclada (Benth.) Gauba) (1948). Both species have self-seeded
during the eight years they have been in cultivation.

Rhagodia gaudichaudiana (Cottony Saltbush) is a striking plant at all
times of the year, whitish-grey with lax branching, shovel-shaped leaves (even
to the upwards curl of the blade) a centimetre long and bright red berries.
These fruits are produced throughout the year on long, interrupted panicles.
The perianth is densely mealy outside, light green and glabrous inside, turning
crimson with white centre and margin and remaining on the bush, star-like,
after the bright scarlet depressed berry has dropped. The distinguishing
feature of this plant is the large perianth closing right over the fruit and
later becoming reflexed when it is 3-8 mm long (fresh material), while the
berry is at most 3 mm across. However, the plant is quite unlike R. spinescens
var. deltophyila F.v.M. (cultivated as ground cover), as it is not rigid, has
very white stems and leaves, very showy fruiting perianth, and the leaves
do not have sharply pronounced (deltoid) lobes, nor are the small leaves
ever ovate or oblong.

Maireana erioclada (Bluebush) has a silky white covering over the branches
and has clusters of smooth, blue-green terete leaves, 2 cm long; flowering
is in response to rain—the two tiny styles appear first, followed by five small
stamens, and later a sessile reddish broad-winged fruit with small vertical
wings. A few strong branches are produced and the bush grows to 1.5m
in height.

Both of these plants were used to cover plumbing on a difficult site
against a brick wall. Many gardens must have similar problem areas where
use could be made of arid-zone plants. The soil in this case was alkaline
red clay, but the plants were grown in a pile of left-over coarse yellow
building sand. The site receives full sunlight facing north and is extremely
hot in summer. A wide eave reduces the amount of rainfall. Concrete
surrounds the area. The plants are not watered, but sprinkled sparingly
during droughts. Following winter rains the seeds germinate in sand and
gravel if lett undisturbed, but need a previous hot, dry season. Growth is
rapid. The Maireana has two ovate seed leaves, followed by centimetre-long,
silky, terete leaves in decussate arrangement. The first leaves of the
Rhagodia are hoary and truncate as in the adult.

The Rhagodia in particular is a most worthwhile garden subject. [ ]

SPECIAL OFFER ON A NEW BOOK ON WILDFLOWERS
For orders received during 1980. This book will be available by mail for
$11.00 post free.

Australian Plants for Small Gardens and Containers
By Gwen Elliot. Price $12.95, plus 75c¢ postage.

Presented exclusively for those people who wish to cultivate small picturesque
gardens or who wish to grow suitable plants in containers to show when in flower, this
136-page (279 mm x 210 mm) book achieves its aim well. It is obvious that Gwen
worked a lot with Roger Elliot, her husband, when Austraflora was first established, as
this is a very practical book. Those who have been lucky enough to visit their home,
‘*Stringybarks’ in Montrose, Victoria, and savoured the delightful use of plants in the
small feature areas designed to complement the modern architecture and the natural
bush-setting will appreciate the sensitive experience that has gone into writing this book.
The 550 species of selected wildflowers that are listed in the 11 charts of plants
recommended for a wide range of situations are simply described with their cultivation
requirements. An ideal book for a beginner with a small garden.

CORRECTIONS TO ISSUE No. 81.
Page 203 — The main ink spot fungus is Dreschleria irisid.

Page 201 — The plant in the colour plate is Anigozanthos bicolor and not A. gabrielae.
A. gabrielae is illustrated on page 229

Page 262—Vol. 10



@@@ 19 @@@



The

Conostylis aculeata Group

Taxonomic notes and new taxa in the Conostylis aculeata group taken
from a scientific paper by Stephen D. Hopper (Nuytsia, Vol. 2, 254-264).

Introduction

The Conostylis aculeata R.Br. group consists of a complex of seven
species of perennial herbs which are restricted to the western coastal plain
and nearby plateau regions of south-western Australia. The group forms part
of the section Conostylis (Bentham 1873; Geerinck 1969), and is characterised
by leaves with marginal spines or setae, numerous ovules borne all over the
placental surface, and a basic chromosome number of x = 8.

As shown in a published account (Australian Journal of Botany, Vol. 25,
395-411) of extensive field studies, both hybridisation and ecologically-corre-
lated intraspecific variation occur in species of the C. aculeata group near
Dawesville on the Swan Coastal Plain. It was there demonstrated that while
the identification of specimens from this region could be difficult in the
herbarium, critical field observations enabled the satisfactory placement of
individuals into morphologically definable species and/or their hybrids.

Key to species in the C. aculeata group
1. Leaves grey-white, tomentose when young, sometimes becoming glabrous
with age; perianth lobes golden yellow inside when fresh.
2. Leaves 10-50 cm long and 2-5 mm broad; habit caespitose inland,
proliferous near the coast; chromosome under n# 8 (Scott River,

Yalgorup—Shark Bay) C. candicans Endl.
2. Leaves 1-5 cm long and less than 1 mm broad; habit proliferous;
chromosome number n = 16 (Walkaway—Dirk Hartog Island)

C. filifolia F. Muell.
1. Leaves green, glabrous except for marginal spines or setae; perianth
lobes creamy yellow inside when fresh.
3. Leaves with rigid, indurate, pungent marginal spines; habit caespitose
to proliferous.
4. Leaves terete or subterete, 1-2 mm broad (Cannington—Jurien Bay)

............ vee ever e e ... C. filifolia F. Muell.
4, Leaves flat, 2- 15 mm broad

5. Leaves 5-15 mm broad and 15-50 cm long, faintly glaucescent;
scapes usually much longer than the leaves (Mingenew—
Murchison River) .. C. robusta Diels

5. Leaves rarely exceedlng 5 mm breadth and 5-50 cm long, olive
green; scapes usually shorter than or =+ equal to the leaves
(Albany—Murchison River) .. C. aculeata R.Br.

3. Leaves with flexible, membranous marginal setae; habit proliferous.
6. Leaves 1-10 cm long and 0.5-2.0 mm broad; flowers 7-13 mm long;
anthers 1-2 mm Iong, + equal to the filaments (York—Murchison

River) .. ... C. prolifera Benth.

6. Leaves 10- 25 cm long and 12 mm broad flowers 8-15 mm long;
anthers 2-3 mm, longer than the filaments (Busselton—Mandurah,

? Yanchep) o C. pauciflora Hopper
The status of Conostylls robusta Diels

Conostylis robusta was made a subspecies of C. aculeata by Green
(1960) on the basis that it was difficult to distinguish from some extreme

Page 263—Vol. 10



@@@ 20 @@@



forms of C. aculeata and that it appeared to occupy a distinct geographical
range.

The two taxa are now known to occur in close proximity to each other
at a number of localities, and their neighbouring populations are readily
distinguishable on the characters given in the above key. Moreover, a dis-
criminant function analysis (Fisher 1936, Blackith and Reyment 1971) of 10
perianth measurements made on nearby populations of C. robusta and C.
aculeata at Kalbarri indicates that the taxa are distinct in floral structure as
well (Fig 1). Since their distributional ranges overlap considerably, the
recognition of C. robusta and C. aculeata as geographical subspecies is no
longer tenable. | consider that the morphological differences between aculeata
and robusta are comparable with those used to distinguish other species in
the group, and consequently recognise C. robusta as a distinct species.

The Identity of Conostylis stylidioides F. Muell. and C. prolifera Benth.

In his revision of Conostylis, Green (1960) reduced C. prolifera Benth.
and C. racemosa Benth. to synonomy under C. stylidioides F. Muell., stating
that “field studies, especially in the Geraldton area, have shown that Ben-
tham’s distinctions are unworkable”. Bentham (1873) distinguished C. stylidi-
oides from the other two taxa primarily on leaf shape. It was described as
having ‘‘leaves nearly terete, short and rigid”’, whereas C. prolifera and C. race-
mosa have ‘leaves flaccid, very narrow but flat, green and grass-like or
white only when very young”. The latter species differed in that racemosa
had flowers %2 in. long in a loose raceme whereas prolifera had somewhat
shorter flowers in a dense head.

My own field surveys in the Geraldton—Shark Bay region confirm Green’s
(1960) observation that these differences in leaf shape, flower length and in-
florescence structure are unreliable taxonomic charactars, sometimes varying
within single individuals and among different plants of the one population.
However, a critical study of populations throughout this region indicates that
two morphologically and chromosomally distinct taxa do exist. One has
green, usually flat lsaves, perianth lobes which are cream-coloured on the
inner surface, and is diploid (n = 8). The other has white, densely tomentose
leaves which are often subterete when young, golden yellow perianth lobes,
and is tetraploid (n = 16).

On referring back to Bentham’s descriptions of the three taxa, it was
found that the distinction regarding the presence of a densely white leaf
tomentum in C. stylidioides was clearly stated but not incorporated in the
key to species.

To clarify the identity of C. stylidioides, this species is redescribed bzlow
and its geographical distribution and morphological features are illustrated
(Fig. 2A). | consider that C. prolifera and C. racemosa are conspecific, and
since Bentham (1873) regarded the latter as a possible variety of C. prolifera,
C. racemosa will be reduced to synonomy under C. prolifera. The reader is
referred to Bentham (1873) for an adequate description of C. prolifera and
to Green (1960) where this species is described and illusirated under the
name C. stylidioides.

Figure 1. Results of a discriminant function analysis of 10 floral measurements taken
on samples of Conostylis aculeata (D) and C. robusta (E) as shown on half flower illus-
trations. Measurements taken were: 1, perianth length; 2, style length; 3, ovary to base
of highest anther; 4, ovary to base of lowest anther; 5, ovary to base of lowest filament;
6, perianth lobe length; 7, anther length; 8, perianth width across lobe bases; 9, perianth
width at the ovary; 10 perianth lobe width at the base. Figure 2. The geographical dis-
tribution of the five species illustrated by half flower and leaf morphology sketches is
given as follows:

Conostylis stylidioides

Conostylis aculeata ssp. breviflora
Conostylis pauciflora

Conostylis aculeata used in analysis
Only northern populations are shown.
E. Conostylis robusta used in analysis

Comparable organs are at the same scale. a, marginal spine; b. mature leaf: c.
leaf; d, half flower.

Page 264—Vol. 10

oow>
+ Qereo

young



@@@ 21 @@@



Page 265—Vol. 10



@@@ 22 @@@



Conostylis stylidioides F. Muell., (Figure 2A)

Herb, proliferously branched with stolons up to 20 cm long. Leaves
grey-tomentose when young, sometimes becoming glabrescent with age,
distichous, equitant, conduplicate at the base, otherwise flat to subterete,
linear, up to 5 cm long (usually 1.5—2.5 cm), less than 1 mm wide. Inflores-
cence a capitulate cyme on a simple undivided scape 3-20 cm long, usually
much longer than the leaves. Flowers golden yellow, 9-13 mm long; perianth
tomentose outside, glabrous within, the lobes 4-6 mm long and =+ equal to
the tube, the inner surface golden yellow; stamens slightly biseriate, filaments
1-2 mm long, anthers 1-25 mm long; style 5-8 mm long, the stigma = level
with or slightly higher than the anthers; placenta covered all over with nume-
rous ovules. Seeds not seen. Chromosome number n — 16.

Distribution and habitat: (Figure 2). The south-west of Western Australia,
within 90 km of the coast from Geraldton to Shark Bay and Dirk Hartog
Island. The species occurs predominantly in Acacia-mallee scrub in dry red
or yellow sands, usually on hillslopes or flat plains.

C. stylidioides can be distinguished from C. candicans by its short leaves
less than 5 cm long and 1 mm wide, while it differs most noticeably from C.
prolifera in its tomentose leaves and its golden yellow perianth lobes (the
latter character is only discernible in fresh material).

New Taxa

Two new taxa belonging to the C.aculeata group are described:
Conostylis pauciflora Hopper sp. nov. (Figure 2c)

Differs from C. aculeata R.Br. in the flexible, membranous and densely

tomentose leaf spines less than 2 mm long, in the leaves less than 2 mm
wide and 25 cm long, and in the few flowers per inflorescence.

Herb, proliferously branched with stolons up to 15 cm long. Leaves
green, equitant at the base, otherwise flat, ensiform, maximum length 15 cm
on average (up to 25 cm); marginal spines flexible, membranous and densely
tomentose, rarely more than 1 mm long. Inflorescence a capitulate cyme,
usually of less than 10 flowers, on a simple scape (8) 16 (30) cm high, equal
to or longer than the leaves. Flowers yellow, 8-15 mm long; perianth tomen-
tose outside, slightly hairy within, the lobes 4-7 mm long and usually exceed-
ing the tube; stamens uniseriate, filaments 0.5-1.0 mm long, anthers 2-3 mm
long; style 5-12 mm long, the stigma -+ level with the anthers; placenta
covered all over with numerous ovules. Seeds not seen.

Distribution and habitat: (Figure 2). The south-west of Western Australia;
Yalgorup-Dawesville area of the Swan Coastal Plain within 10 km of the
coast. The species is known from only a few localities on sandy hillslopes
of the Spearwood Dune System, in mixed Jarrah-Marri-Banksia woodland.

Natural hybrids between C. pauciflora and C. aculeata spp. aculeata have
been found at one locality. Hybrids displayed a slight reduction in pollen
fertility relative to the parental species, and occupied a habitat intermediate
in soil moisture between the dry hillslopes favoured by C. pauciflora and the
wet flats by C. aculeata.

The specific epithet refers to the few-flowered inflorescence

Conostylis aculeata ssp. breviflora Hopper ssp. nov. (Figure 2)

Differs from other subspecies of C. aculeata R.Br. in the smaller flowers
6-9 mm long.

Herb growing in tufts up to 50 cm in diameter, proliferously branched
with stolons up to 18 cm long. Leaves green distichous, equitant, conduplicate
at the base, flat and linear for most of their length, maximum length 13 cm on
average (up to 18 cm), 1-3 mm broad; marginal spines 3-8 mm apart, rigid,
pungent, indurate, glabrous, 1-3 mm long. Inflorescence a capitulate cyme on
a simple or once divided scape up to 29 cm high, equal to or longer than the
leaves. Flowers yellow, (6) 7.5 (9) mm long; perianth tomentose outside.

Page 266—Vol. 10



@@@ 23 @@@



glabrous within, the lobes 3-6 mm long and exceeding the tube; stamens
uniseriate, filaments 0.5-1.0 mm long, anthers 1-2 mm long; style 3-5 mm
long, the stigma =+ level with the anthers; placenta covered all over with
numerous ovules; ovary scarcely enlarging in fruit. Seeds not seen. Chromo-
some number n = 8.

Distribution and habitat: (Figure 2). The south-west of Western Australia,
within 70 km of the coast from Dandaragan to the Arrowsmith River. C.
aculeata ssp. breviflora is common in winter-wet flats, swamps, depressions
and roadside ditches in sandy soil throughout the Mt. Lesueur — Eneabba
heathlands.

Conostylis aculeata ssp. breviflora is closely allied to but occupies a dis-
tinct geographical range from other subspescies of C. aculeata. It is readily
distinguished from these by its smaller flowers, (averaging 7.5 mm long in
comparison with 9-11 mm for the other subspecies) and by its shorter leaves.

Hybrids of C. aculeata ssp. breviflora and C. candicans are known from
Cockleshell Gully and the Hill River bridge on the Jurien—Cervantes road.
At both localities the new taxon occupies low-lying alluvial flats while C.
candicans occurs on adjacent drier hill slopes. Hybrids are confined to narrow
zones of overlap where the two species grow intermixed.

The subspecific epithet refers to the characteristic short flowers of the
new taxon. L

REFERENCES

BENTHAM, G. (1873). ‘Flora Australiensis’ Vol. 6 (Reeve, London).

BLACKITH, R. E., and R. A. REYMENT (1971). ‘Multivariate Morphometrics’ (Academic
Press, London).

DOMIN. K. (1912). Additions to the flora of Western and North-Western Australia. J.
Linn. Soc., Bot. 41: 254-283.

EWART, A. J. (1906). Contributions to the Flora of Australia (No. 2). Proc. Roy. Soc.
ic. 19 (N.S.): 33-45.

FISHER, R. A. (1936). The use of multiple measurements in taxonomic problems. Ann.
Eugen., 7: 179-188.

GEERINCK. D. (1969). Le genre Conostylis R.Br. (Haemodoraceae d’Australie). Bull. Jard.
Bot. Nat. Bela., 39: 167-177.

GREEN, J. W. (1960). The genus Conostylis R.Br. Il. Taxonomy. Proc. Linn. Soc.
N.S.W. 85: 334-373

HOPPER, S. D. (1977).'Variation and natural hybridization in the Conostylis aculeata
R.Br. species group near Dawesville, Western Australia. Aust. J. Bot. 25: 395-411.

BOOKS ON WILDFLOWERS

Native Trees and Shrubs for Australian Gardens by Michael Morcombe
Recommended price $12.95 plus $2.00 postage — Special price for 1980 only $11.00
including postage.

This 115 page (22 x 29cm) book is not well titled. It is really a collection of
magnificent colour plates of 129 species of Australian wildflowers presented by a
highly skilled photographer. The large page size, good photography and colour repro-
duction allows you to study the wonder of nature and uniqueness of the Australian
Flora.

Kosciusko Alpine Flora Price $25.00 from your bookseller

Produced by the C.S.I.R.O. and the authors A. B. Costin, M. Gray, C. J. Totterdell
and D. J. Wimbush, this 408 page book is excellent value. If you visit the area or
are interested in Australia’s alpine country, how it was formed, the different levels and
formations, the location of tracks and streams, and especially the unique flora, then
this book would be the best purchase you could make. The flora has been given feature
prominence, describing all the species and illustrating a large number in excellent colour
photography. The photographic presentation of the scenes to illustrate the various forms
of habitat are especially appealing.

A checklist of Economic Plants in Australia 1 SBN 0 843 02551 0.
Published and available from the CSIRO, 9 Queens Rd., Melb., Vic., 3004 for $5.00.

This 214 page 150 x 175 mm book lists alphabetically, by botanical name, thousands
of species of Australian Plants that may be of economic value and provides a reference
to recent publications containing descriptions, illustrations or other information for
each species.

When Should | Water? CSIRO’s Discovering Soils Booklet No. 8.

Published by CSIRO and available for $3.70 posted. This 76 page booklet
is the best guide you could get to watering of a garden. This book takes you step by
step with simple procedures to determine the texture of your soil and if you should
modify it or work it. Methods of watering are discussed from sprinklers to trickle
systems. Feeding the plants with fertilizer and special nutrients and the use of mu!ghes
is described ending with a special form ‘A Watering Programme For My Garden.

Page 267—Vol. 10



@@@ 24 @@@



Verticordia in Adelaide

by Brian Crafter

The Verticordia monodelpha in the photograph, page 152 of issue No.
80 is growing in my home garden at Lockleys and is about three and a half
years old. This plant came from Keith Pitman of West Lakes Nursery in
Adelaide.

The parent plant is growing at his home in Holden Hill, a north-eastern
suburb of Adelaide. His soil is a heavy clay type, Ph 8%2-9, so he built up
an acid bush sand bed (Ph 6) about 30 cm thick and his V. monodelpha
is still growing nicely after 6-7 years.

My block is sited in normal suburbia, on old pink sand dunes of slightly
calcareous nature, so fortunately no drainage problems exist. About 4 years
ago | removed half of my back, and all the front lawn, to grow native plants.
Most neighbours needed no further proof that | had at last gone around the
twist! | decided to try some Verticordia in a sunny spot, out in the back
yard. In an area of about 8 x 3 metres | cultivated, by deep digging, about
a third of a cubic metre of acid topsoil from the hills and a little less than
this of peat moss. This reduced the Ph reading to about neutral.

Plants of V. monodelpha and V. chrysantha were planted and mulched
with coarse sand about 25 cm deep. | later planted V. lindleyi, V. densiflora,
V. plumosa, V. drummondii and V. wilhelmii, the only Verticordia native to
S.A. | lightly fertilised with “Osmocote” after planting. Some plants yellowed
during early stages and this | found was easily corrected by sprinkling iron
sulphate around the bass of the plant and watering in. Any subsequent
yellowing was treated the same way with good and fairly rapid results.

The main cause, | feel, for this chlorosis is Adelaide’s rather saline
tap water, particularly during the summer. | now only water after a prolonged
dry spell and preferably during a cool change.

| mulched the bed 18 months ago with medium to coarse gravel.

V. drummondii has since seeded and re-generated with 5-6 seedlings
about 9 cm high.

Verticordia monodelpha has done exceptionally well and has been the
pride and joy of the small collection. V. plumosa and V. wilhelmii have also
done very well with V. chrysantha and V. lindleyi doing moderately well. |
have tried a couple of times with V. nitens but after flowering nicely at 18
months both died, presumably root rot even with little summer watering.

This winter | rather severely pruned my V. monodelpha to give away
several large bags of cutting material to friends. The plant has sprouted
well and is starting to bush out nicely again.

After having travelled back to the West several times in the last three
years to see these plants growing in their natural habitats, | realise what a
gigantic task it would be to try to duplicate each specific set of conditions
they occupy. Almost impossible! V. plumosa in soggy peaty pockets on
gigantic granite outcrops in Albany with 120-150 mm rain, to deep yellow
sand in 25 mm rainfall in the north for V. occulata. V. plumosa occurs in the
Stirling Ranges in two distinct forms, a white plumed form in swampy areas
and an open-flowered pink form in sandy dry areas. V. plumosa seems by
far the hardiest of all the Verticordia and the most versatile with V. mono-
delpha a fairly close second. It has enormous potential for landscaping.

It seems many Verticordia can be grown to top horticultural standards
if they have ‘““‘good garden conditions”. | feel many grow in spite of their
habitats, not because of them. Drainage, either by surface slope, or good
soil texture, preferably both, is important with a Ph of near neutral, together
with little summer water seems essential to grow these superb plants.

Page 268—Vol. 10



@@@ 25 @@@



It aoes not seem too difficult to strike cuttings from established garden
plants. The big trick of course is to find the friend with the inclination to
prune their plants for cuttings. However, they do become progressively more
tricky and touchy to pot on from the rooted cutting stags and despite all
care quite a few fail to survive, it seems, for many reasons. From the 32-
year-old V. monodelpha | have grown several plants and from a 1Yz2-year-old
offspring the cuttings show a greater propensity to strike and survive the
potting on stage. It suggests that with constant selection and cultivation,
some of these rarely seen Verticordia will become more reliable. Once estab-
lished they appear quite hardy.

I have a cold cutting frame, plastic covered, of about 1mx%am/
Yam and have had some success with this method. However, | find | seem
to do best in late Autumn to early Winter, with 10 cm pots placed in plastic
bags with several small ventilation holes at cutting level, and tied at the top.
| keep these in sheltered semi-shade and only water when quite dry. Having
tried just about all types of cutting medium | concluded that they don’t seem
to make much difference to the result. Keeping the medium towards the dry
side for water, appears to be an important factor. Unfortunately, | would
love to have time to experiment on and on, but | can only devote a small
amount of time to my favourite pastime of propagating and growing Australian
plants. ]

Successful Wildflower Gardens — Notes by Editor

In issue No. 80 we produced a colour plate of Verticordia monodeipha.
It possibly was not the best photograph available but to me it was
exceptional. Why? Because it was a photograph of a well grown healthy
plant in a reader’s garden as described opposite. As with Col. Wilson's
garden described on page 261, Brian Crafter’'s garden is undoubtedly a
successful wildflower garden to sustain mature plants of Verticordia.

This is what our publication is all about.

Over the next twelve months | want photographs of all the best and
most successful wildflower gardens. If you do not have one but are a
competent photographer, then | will pay film and processing expenses for
35mm. slides or negative print film to any quantity you need. Photographs
should show views from various aspects of a garden trying to capture
its display, and separate photographs of well grown plants or plants that
are a special feature for one reason or another.

Over the twenty one years | have been producing Australian Plants
| have tried to whip up some enthusiasm in readers to contribute. If |
could get those who enjoy this publication to work as hard as my critics
we would have achieved much more than we have. This is our 21st year.
Let us all make a special effort.

Systematic Selection and Testing of Australian Plants

The concern shown at the 1979 Federal Conference that ‘““a more
systematic exploration, collection, propagation and testing of desirable
species and forms of Australian Plants” is a major concern of this society
was reflected in the appointment of David Mackenzie and Henry Nix as
liaison officers. It is hoped to publish further reports of this vital work
in future issues.

Colour Slides Needed

Good colour slides are desperately needed. If you are a good photo-
grapher please send a few slides for inspection. We need all species but
in particular need slides of all species in the families — Fabaceae (especially
Pultenaea & Mirbelia), Goodeniaceae, Rutaceae, Malvaceae, Myrtaceae (espe-
cially Calothamnus and Beautortia), Proteaceae (especially Adenanthos and
Grevillea), Orchidaceae, and any other good ones you have.

Page 269—Vol. 10



@@@ 26 @@@



THE "CINNAMON" FUNGUS PHYTOPHTHORA
CINNAMOMI AND THE HOME GARDEN

By GRETNA WESTE, Botany School, University of Melbourne

Phytophthora cinnamomi is commonly called the cinnamon fungus be-
cause it was first isolated from a cinnamon tree growing in the mountains
of Western Sumatra in 1822. Since then the fungus has travelled far and
wide. It causes problems in England and Switzerland in rhododendrons,
ericas and orchards, in Californian avocado orchards and in Australian
gardens, orchards and native forests, particularly in Western Australia,
Victoria and Queensland. We do not know how or when the pathogen arrived
in Australia, but it obviously cannot co-exist with healthy native vegetation
in many areas. In fact the fungus could very easily have been carried into
Australia on roots and soil associated with introduced plants.

The pathogen causes decay of the fine, unprotected roots of hundreds
of different plants. Root rot is not obvious, and neither is the fungus. It
consists of very fine threads visible only with the aid of a microscope. The
first obvious symptoms are secondary, and show as a yellowing and dieback
of shoots when the infected plant is already severely diseased and suffering
from being unable to absorb water and minerals due to the decay of its
fine, absorbing rootlets. At this stage, that is when disease is obvious, the
cinnamon fungus is already widespread in the soil and is difficult to treat.

N Zoospore - swimming spore
) ~ ~ which infect roots
/
Pd
/

Zoospores infecting

Sporangium

\

Sexval spore

How does the fungus get there? If a plant from an infected nursery,
or from an infected garden or forest, is transferred to your garden you
will of course transfer the thread-like fungus either inside the roots or in
the soil with the plant. Since it is microscopic, you will not see it. If you
buy a load of mountain soil or sand, or gravel which contains the fungus,
the latter can live and even multiply for quite a while — at least six years
in soil or gravel — and will travel to infect nearby plants. How does it
travel? The threads can grow through the soil, but the most rapid form
of spread is by tiny swimming spores which either swim or are carried
in water. These are chemically attracted towards roots, which they penetrate
near the root tip. On the root surface the spores produce the fine threads

Page 270—Vol. 10



@@@ 27 @@@



which grow throughout the root tlssue causing decay, and In turn produce
more swimming spores to infect other plants. Since the spores travel
in free water, the disease spreads most rapidly downhill, but the fine threads
will grow in any direction and so the disease will spread uphill, but much
more slowly. This can all be observed in an infected forest, such as in the
Brisbane Ranges, where the grass trees or blackbovs serve as colourful
indicators. Their leaves turn vellow, then cinnamon-brown, and the plants
droop and die downhill from the infection source first and then more slowly
uphill. The fungus is most commonly spread in the bush by using infected
gravel on the road verges, but mav also come from infected soil carried
on tools, tractors, etc. From the road verge rain washes the spores downhill
into the forest and so the disease is spread. Widespread infection occurs
during warm, wet periods, which suit the swimming spores. However, infected
plants often die during dry periods because these are the periods when the
shortage of fine roots is fatal. Apart from the swimming spores there are
other more resistant chlamydospores which tide the fungus over dry periods
and last for a long time inside small pieces of root.

The cinnamon fungus is widespread in Victoria, but scattered. and there
are many large areas from which it is absent. How do you detect it? We
cannot be sure of its presence unless we isolate it from the roots and
examine the culture so obtained under the microscope. The method is
therefore to set up samples of soil and roots in small icecream cups, cover
the soil and roots with water and add, as bait, either tiny eucalvpt seedlings
or lupin seed which has just germinated. The swimming spores infect
these, and the fungus can then be isolated, grown on plates of nutrient,
and identified with the aid of a microscope. How do you treat an infected
plant? The easiest treatment is to dig up the plant and its neighbours and
burn them, particularly all the roots. Try to remove all roots from the soil,
then disinfect the soil. This can be done with common soil sterilisers, such
as methyl bromide and chloropicrin, or using nematocides (which destroy
round worms or nematodes) such as basomid or vapam. However, if your
plant is precious, the new systemic fungicide “ridomil”*, developed by
Ciba-Geigy, is very effective in destroying 95% of the pathogen without
affecting the plant and can be applied in low concentrations either to the
leaves or soil. Of course, any pieces of root left in the soil may contain
the resistant chlamydospores.

Some soils are ‘“suppressive’”; this means that although the pathogen
may be present in the soil no disease occurs. This has been investigated
for avocado orchards on red basaltic soils of Mt. Tambourine, tueensland
(Broadbent, 1974). Suppressive soils had high organic content, high am-
monium, calcium, magnesium, iron, ethylene and high populations of micro-
organisms. The suppressive soil became conducive with certain practices,
such as failure to add organic matter, and some conducive soils were made
suppressive by the addition of organic matter. The suppressive quality
depends at least partly on the microbial population, and this is an example
of biological control. Soil micro-organisms compete with and many actively
antagonise fungl. Some bacteria actually attack the pathogen, feeding on
the hyphae and sporangia. We need more information on how to make
garden soil suppressive to the cinnamon fungus, but these few facts may
help you to build up your garden soil and suppress disease.

Dieback disease due to the cinnamon fungus is common in suburban
gardens, probably because it is common in nurseries with poor sanitation.
A badly managed nursery with crowded plants and no hygiene provides
a feast for the pathogen, with all its food supply readily available. As
the infected plants are sold, the pathogen becomes widely dispersed in the
home garden. To eliminate the pathogen from our gardens we need adequate
regulations covering nursery hygiene (Baker, 1977). L]

* Registered for use in control of blue mould on tobacco.
Page 271—Vol. 10



@@@ 28 @@@



Studies on the Status of Unburnt Eucalyptus
Woodland at Ocean Grove, Victoria

By JENNIFER R. WITHERS
Botany School, University of Melbourne, Parkville.

In the drier regions of Victoria it is rare to find vegetation which has
remained unburnt for substantial periods of time. A remnant of such
vegetation exists at Ocsan Grove in Victoria, where a major fire has not
occurred for at least 90 years.

The Geelong district was cleared extensively in the late 19th and early
20th centuries, and by the 1930s the largest remaining area of natural
bushland on the Bellarine Peninsula was ‘‘Cuthbertson’s Square Mile”, 2 km
from Ocean Grove. This isolation from other forested areas may have
contributed to its protection. Garnet (1961) reported that the ‘“only inter-
ference with natural processes within the area, during the long, continuous
ownership by the Cuthbertson family, was grazing by Cobb and Co. horses
a very long time ago”.

The vegetation comprises a mosaic of fairly mature Eucalyptus wood-
land and Casuarina scrub, which is clearly in a dynamic state. Evidence from
regeneration patterns and local history indicates that the eucalypts are
dying out and are being replaced by Casuarina. The layered woodland
consists of an open upper storey of scattered Eucalyptus ovata, E. leucoxylon
and/or E. viminalis, with a sparse to dense scrub understorey of Casuarina
littoralis, C. stricta, Acacia pycnantha and Banksia marginata. The eucalypts
are fairly large, with spreading crowns up to 12 m in width. In the woodland
the ground stratum is mainly composed of dense Themeda australis and

scattered sclerophyll shrubs, such as Hibbertia sericea and Platylobium
obtusangulum.

The scrub is dominated by dense stands of Casuvarina littoralis, although
C. stricta and Banksia marginata are scattered or patchy. Vegetation is
virtually absent in the thick litter layer of the denser stands of C. littoralis.
The species composition of the ground stratum of gaps in the scrub canopy
is, however, similar to that in the woodland, but the density of species is
lower. Acacia pycnantha occurs in the scrub in various stages of maturity
and senescence, or as young developing stands in large grassy gaps in the
woodland. Dead eucalypts frequently overtop the C. littoralis stratum.
Regeneration of eucalypts is virtually absent, while that of C. littoralis is
relatively prolific. This observation evokes questions of the nature of the
“climax” vegetation in the absence of fire and of the mechanism of replace-
ment of Eucalyptus woodland by Casuarina scrub.

No correlations were apparent between the scales of vegetation pattern
and soil pattern, viz. microtopography, depth to B horizon, soil texture and
pH of topsoil. The simplest causal hypothesis appears to be related to the
cycles of regzneration of the major tree species. Gaps in the scrub are
due mainly to the death of eucalypts and/or wattles. The presence of old
pioneer form C. littoralis and C. stricta in dense scrub testifies to the once
more open nature of this stand. Dense thickets of C. littoralis around isolated
dead or dying eucalypts suggest that either gaps have been vigorously
colonised or perhaps dense regeneration of xerophytic scrub has irreversibly
modified the environment of the eucalypts. The cause of death of eucalypts
is uncertain. Tests for Phytophthora cinnamomi and Armillaria mellea have
proved negative. Fruiting bodies of Fomes occur on some eucalypt trunks
and occasionally on Casuarina; however, they are unlikely to be the primary
cause of death. At present it is suggested that death may be partly due to
water stress caused by the increase in Casuarina density. Thus patterning
of the vegetation appears to be related to a long post-fire succession moving
towards a climax or stable stand of Casuarina.

Page 272—Vol. 10



@@@ 29 @@@



FIGURE 1

Mature Eucalyptus layered
woodland: Eo, El, Ev.

CLIMAX CO. NITY
Understorey: Cl, Cs, Bm, Ap. MMLI

WITH FIRE

Fire at suggested
intervals necessary
for perpetuation of
woodland (<50 years)

No fire No fire
Young Eucalyptus layered Degenerate Eucalyptus
woodland. Dense regeneration layered woodland. Eucalypts
of eucalypts and Acacia. showing severe dieback and
Understorey: Cl, Cs, Bm, Ap. sparse regeneration.

Understorey: Cl, Cs, Bm, Ap.
Dense regeneration of Cl.

Fire, before
Eucalypts die

out
Young Casuarina scrub, Dense Cl.
Understorey: scattered Ap, Bm, Cs.
Occasional eucalypts.

Frequent 5

firing

v
Acacia scrub No fire No fire

v
Mature Casuarina scrub.
Low density Ap, Bm, Cs.

No eucalypts. CLIMAX COMMUNITY
1 WITHOUT FIRE
Very frequent
firing
Severe Fire
v
Grassland

v
Savannah Grassland, open grassy
community with scattered Cl, Cs,
Very frequent Ap and Bm.
firing
Suggested relationship between the occurrence of fire and the vegetaticn pattern
Ocean Grove under currKeE¢ environmental conditions.

Eo = Eucalyptus ovata

E1 = Eucalyptus leucoxylon
Ev = Eucalyptus viminalis
C1 = Casuarina littoralis
Cs = Casuarina stricta

Bm = Banksia marginata
Ap = Acacia pycnantha

Page 273—Vol.

No fire (> 50 - 90 years)

at



@@@ 30 @@@



The nature of the climax vegetation at Ocean Grove involves the question
of establishment and regeneration of the major dominants. The stand has
been isolated by farmland and protected from fire for at least 90 years.
Ultimately the poor regeneration of the eucalypt woodland is almost certainly
due to the absence of fire. Fire plays a major role in determining the
nature and development of climax vegetation in Australia. Fire can stimulate
germination and cause a temporary surge of soil fertility and relief from
competitive factors. Optimum conditions for the establishment of eucalypt
seedlings are often produced by severe wild fires. C. littoralis is an
aggressive species which is vigorously invading Eucalyptus woodland and
establishing a dense stratum. Since the C. littoralis scrub is self-regenerating,
even in quite small gaps, it is considered to be a climax condition at the
present time in the long-continued absence of fire. A suggested relationship
between the occurrence of fire and the vegetation pattern at the study site
under present environmental conditions is shown in Fig. 1. The frequency
and intensity of firing, the time of the fire and the soil seed storage will
obviously be important in assessing future vegetation patterns.

The mechanism of replacement of Eucalyptus ovata by C. littoralis
appears to be related to the differential drought resistance and shade toler-
ance of seedlings of the two species. Due to the lack of fire at Ocean Grove,
the grass sward is very dense, and seedlings encounter intense competition
for light, moisture and space. Field and laboratory experiments have shown
that C. littoralis seedlings can become established in the dense sward,
whereas E. ovata cannot (Withers 1978a). Survival of C. littoralis appears
to be due to the much greater drought resistance and shade tolerance of
C. littoralis seedlings than of E. ovata seedlings (Withers 1978b, 1979a,
1979b). However, E. ovata seedlings were able to become established when
the sward was removed by firing (Withers 1978a). After the field fire,
E. ovata quickly dominated the experimental plot. it is considered that the
dense stands of C. littoralis at Ocean Grove developed in the absence of
fire, as preliminary studies suggest that C. littoralis is less fire resistant
than E. ovata. Today regeneration of E. ovata beneath the dense C. littoralis
canopy is inhibited by the lower light intensity and lower soil moisture
content within such stands. Furthermore, powdered litter of C. littoralis
inhibits the germination of seeds of E. ovata (Withers 1978a). With the long-
continued absence of fire, it is hypothesised that a scrub of C. littoralis
may become the climax vegetation in this dry climate. In the event of a
major conflagration, it is considered that the climax will revert to a
eucalypt woodland.

This tendency of the sclerophyllous understorey to dominate the site
at the expense of the eucalypts is thus similar to the situation described
in woodland at King’'s Park, Western Australia (Beard 1967), although the
cause of the change appears to be different. The rare unburnt stands at
Ocean Grove, therefore, provide a dry country analogue of the well-known
encroachment of tall, open eucalypt forest by rainforest over so much of
the wetter eastern seaboard of Australia (Gilbert 1959, Webb 1968).

REFERENCES

BEARD, J. S. (1967). Natural woodland in King’s Park, Perth. West. Aust. Nat. 10, 77-84.

GARNET, J. R. (1961). Visit to a proposed national park. Victorian Nat. 78, 46-8.

GILBERT, J. M. (1959). Forest succession in the Florentine Valley, Tasmania. Pap. Proc.
R. Soc. Tasmania 93, 129-51.

WEBB, L. J. (1968). Environmental relationships of the structural types of Australian rain-
forest vegetation. Ecology 49, 296-311.

WITHERS, Jennifer R. (1978a). Studies on the status of unburnt Eucalyptus woodland at
Ocean Grove, Victoria. Il. The differential seedling establishment of Eucalyptus ovata
Labill. and Casuarina littoralis Salisb. Aust. J. Bot. 26, 465-83.

WITHERS Jennifer R. (1978b). Ill. Comparative water relations of the major tree species.

ust. J. Bot. 26, 819-35

WITHERS Jennifer R. (1979a) IV. The effect of shading on seedling establishment. Aust.
J. Bot. 27, In press.

WITHERS, Jennifer R. (1979b). V. The interactive effects of droughting and shading on
seedlings under competition. Submitted to Aust. J. Bot. [}

Page 274—\'ol. 10



@@@ 31 @@@



Recent Publications from the New South Wales National
Herbarium - Summaries by R. Barry

TELOPEA Vol. 1, No. 5 (1978)

The fifth issue of “Telopea” from the New South Wales National Her-
barium contains the following articles by members of Staff, unless indicated
otherwise.

Valerie May, Areas of Recurrence of Toxic Algae within Burrinjuck Dam.
New South Wales, Australia.

Valerie May, New Records for Australian Algae.

Alma T. Lee, Some Species of Crotalaria in Australia.

. F. Blaxell, Notes on Australian Orchidaceae — a new combination in Liparis.

F. Blaxell, Type Specimens of Schlechter's Names in Orchidaceae at the
Conservatoire et gardin Botaniques, Geneve.

M. Hindmarsh (School of Botany, University of New South Wales) and
D. F. Blaxell, A new species of Stylidium (Stylidiaceae) from the Sydney Region.

D. Tindale, Notes on Australian Taxa of Acacia No. 5.

R. Carter (School of Biological Scierices, University of Sydney).
Taxonomy of the Brachycome lineariloba complex (Asteraceae).

e g PP

Orchidaceae

The new combination Liparis angustilabris is made for a northern Queens-
land orchid. Due to an historical error this orchid had been known by
the illegitimate name Liparis cuneilabris.

The second paper on Orchidaceae lists specimens that were examined
by Mr. D. Blaxell in Geneva. Many of these are isotypes and their status is
designated. These specimens are important since the Holotypes of Schlechter’s
species were destroyed in Berlin in 1943. The list includes species of genera
such as Bulbophyllum, Cadetia, Dendrobium and Eria.

Stylidium

A new species, Stylidium productum, is recognised and separated from
5. graminifolium in which it was previously included. S. productum occurs
only on soils derived from Hawkesbury and Narrabeen Sandstones of the
Central Coast and Tablelands of New South Wales. One of the distinguishing
features of the new species is that the leaves have stomata in two bands
on the abaxial (under) surface only, while in S. graminifolium these banrds
are present on both abaxial and adaxial (upper) surfaces. Other differences
in S. productum include stolons which produce new plants at intervals and
a more restricted flowering period from November to the middle of January.

Acacia

Five new species of Acacia from eastern Australia are described. Acacia
pickardii, a tree 3-4.5 m high occurs in the far northeast of South Australia
and is known from a few plants only, along the Birdsville Track south to Mt.
Gason. It appears to be allied to A. teretifolia.

Acacia ingramii, from the headwaters of the Macleay River on the northern
Tablelands of New South Wales, is a very spreading bushy shrub 2-5 m high.
It is allied to A. neriifolia.

Acacia guymeri, found in the Cook district of Queensland, is allied to
A. whitei. It differs from the latter in its taller, open habit, the diffuse spikes,
the paler yellow, widely spaced flowers, and the narrower phyllodes.

Acacia chinchillensis of Queensland is a multi-stemmed, spreading, glau-
cous shrub 0.3-2 m high with bright yellow flowers. It is closely allied to
A. polybotrya.

Acacia debilis occurs in eastern and southern Queensland and northern
New South Wales. It is a spindly shrub or small tree 2.5-6 m high with
smooth greyish-green or reddish-green bark and golden-yellow flowers in
racemes or panicles. It is closely allied to A. pruinosa.

Acacia phasmoides, from northeast Victoria, is now recorded from Dora
Dora State Forest of N.S.W. and A. blakei known from Queensland, has been
found in the far north coast and northern Tablelands of New South Wales.

Page 275—Vol. 10



@@@ 32 @@@



Brachycome

The final paper presents a revised classification of the Brachycome
lineariloba complex. Two new species are described. One of these, B. dich-
romosomatica, is notable in having a chromosome number of only 2 in the
reproductive cells (the pollen and egg cell) and only 4 in most cells of the
plant. Only a couple of other species of flowering plants (not ones native in
Australia) have equally low chromosome numbers. Because of its unusually
low chromosome number, which is reflected in its name, the genetics of this
species and its allies is of special interest. The botanist who described these
species has also made a detailed study of chromosomes in this group. Apart
from chromosome numbers, the major differentiating characteristics are in
the length and colour of ligule and the colour of the involucral bracts.

KEY TO THE BRACHYCOME LINEARILOBA COMPLEX

1. Scapes erect, 30-250 mm long. Ligules 5-12 mm long, pale-blue or white.
Margins of involucral bracts not usually pigmented, rarely reddish-purple

B. dichromosomatica 2.
2. Ligules pale-blue, at least on the undersides var. dichromosomatica a.
2." Ligules white var. alba b.
1.* Scapes decumbent to ascending, 1-200 mm long. Ligules up to 6 mm long,
white. Margins of involucral bracts usually reddish-purple.
3. Scapes 1-20 mm long, first-formed scape less than 10 mm long. Ligules
less than 1 MM ONT ......cesceesmnnesssnmmssosesmsnasussves saasssenss s sasasossive B. breviscapis 3.
3.* Scapes 10-200 mm long, first-formed scape more than 10 mm long.
Ligules 1-6 mm long ........ T D B. lineariloba 1.
Crotalaria

In a review of the genus Crotalaria, large populations existing partly or
wholly outside New South Wales had to be considered. The paper is divided
into five sections, four of which deal with a particular complex or group of
species. The C. dissitiflora complex comprises C. benthamiana from the
Fortescue district of Western Australia, C. dissitiflora with subspecies dissiti-
flora and rugosa from tropical and subtropical Australia respectively, and C.
eremaea with subspecies eremaea and strehlowii. The distinguishing characters
of species in this complex are the trifoliate or unifoliate leaves, and the
size of the flowers. The second complex comprises species from central and
eastern Australia: C. mitchellii and its subspecies laevis and smithiana; here
the distinguishing features are leaf and stem pubescence. The C. novae-
hollandiae complex includes a number of subspecies and is found across
northern Australia. The problems in the nomenclature of the fourth complex,
C. medicaginae and C. trifoliastrum are discussed. The paper finally lists
species of Crotalaria naturalised or escaped from cultivation in New South
Wales. The Editor, Australian Plants, has extracted descriptions that may be of
general use in the article opposite.

FLORA OF NEW SOUTH WALES, No. 112 (1978) — J. Thompson (National
Herbarium of New South Wales).

Polygalaceae

The family Polygalaceae* comprises 18 genera and is represented in
New South Wales by Comesperma and Polygala and by an African species of
Muraltia that has naturalised to a limited extent. They are small trees,
shrubs or herbs, occasionally parasitic on the roots of other plants. Descrip-
tions and a key to the genera are given.

“Telopea” and “‘Flora of New South Wales'~ are not on sale but are available from
the National Herbarium of New South Wales, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, 2000.
Because of their technical nature, they are of value chiefly to those with a considerable
degree of botanical expertise. Copies are available in municipal libraries in New South
Wales and if, after perusing a copy. readers consider that either would be of interest
and value to them, they may write to the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens indicating
their interest.

* Editors Note: Reports are needed from readers on the following Australian Poly-
galaceae.

Polygala: 12 Aust. species. P. japonica and P. linariifolia of N.S.W. are described with
naturalised species.

Comesperma: Of the 25 Aust. species many are of interest, eight from N.S.W. are listed.

Salomia oblongifolia, a slender glabrous annual with tiny pink flowers from Queensland.

Xanthophyllum: Three species of tree from Qld., X. fragrans, X. macintyrii and X.
octandrum. ™

Page 276—Vol. 10



@@@ 33 @@@



Crotaiaria dissitiflora Photography by D. Hockings.

CrOtaIa ria Notes prepared by W. H. Payne from research,

by Alma T. Lee in Telopea 1(5) 1978.

Until recently, large and extensive populations of Crotalaria in Australia
were covered by the name C. dissitiflora and other names were published

Page 277—Vol. 10



@@@ 34 @@@



and sometimes used for parts of these regional populations. It is now evident
that three parts of the total population maintain their distinctness to a high
degree. Following descriptions of this group, two other complexes of species
are defined involving Crotalaria mitchellii and a new species C. smithiana,
and C. novae-hollandiae with two subspecies and including C. crassipes.

The Crotalaria dissitiflora Complex

It seems probable that C. benthamiana, C. dissitiffora and C. eremaea
have evolved from a common stock, diverging under the influence of changing
climatic and geographic conditions, and that the derivatives have become
stabilised genetically in relation to the nature of the soil and to geographic
isolation. C. dissitiflora occurs only on heavy, often dark soils, while C. eremaea
(here including C. strehlowii) is nearly always found on sand.

T Leaves always trifoliolate, the lateral leaflets at least half as long as the
terminal. Plants 20-30 (-40) cm high, on heavy soils.

2. Flowers large, 15-17 mm long, the keel with a straight beak extending
forward and not incurved (Fig. 2). In the Fortescue District of Western
AUSIPAITE:  oviion maiits i arrsssemmmeransr e s Asw v S TS s ST DA ha C. benthamiana

2." Flowers smaller, mostly 8-11 mm long, the keel rounded with a slightly
incurved beak (Fig. 1). In the Ord District of Western Australia, tropical
Northern Territory and Queensland, and subtropical Queensland and New
SOUth, "WELHS ....oomeepmovsaanpeenmss somsiss s s s iaisisinenes subasonrsnpeyngtss C. dissitiflora

1.7 Leaves unifoliolate, or if trifoliolate the lateral leaflets usually much reduced

or less than half as long as the terminal (but rarely, along S.A.-N.S.W. and

-Q. borders and in W.A., about half as long as the terminal). Flowers various

in form. Plants to ¢c. 1 m high, on sandy soils. In eremean parts of southern

Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales .. C. eremaea

Crotalaria benthamiana

Crotalaria benthamiana is a monotypic species limited to the Fortescue
District of Western Australia where it appears to maintain its distinctness by
complete geographic isolation. It is close to the subspecies rugosa of C.
dissitiflora and like the whole of that species shows a preference for heavy
soils.

It is a soft-wooded perennial, apparently identical in habit with C. dissitiflora,
the leaves always trifoliolate (except the earliest), petiolate and stipulate, the stipules
usually persistent and spreading. Leaflets of thin texture but quite densely clothed with
loosely appressed shining hairs partly obscuring the minute dotting of both surfaces;
lateral leaflets at least half as long all elliptical/obovate to oblong.

Inflorescences terminal on stems and branches, as in C. dissitiflora. Flowers clear
yellow without markings, larger than in the related taxa, long and “straight’” (Fig. 2)
in form. Calyx broadly campanulate, with five subequal teeth slightly exceeding the tube
and the very short receptacle, pubescent, with a pair of very small bracteoles inserted
on the receptacle. Standard broadovate to almost circular. Wings without a distinct
auricle. Keel somewhat angular with the beak extended forward and not incurved, the
claw very short. Ovary pubescent; fruits and seeds not seen.

Crotalaria dissitiflora

C. dissitiflora, comprises two geographic races. The subspecies dissitiflora
is largely tropical, from the Ord District of Western Australia to Queensland,
and subspecies rugosa is subtropical in Queensland and New South Wales.
The former is distinguished from subsp. rugosa chiefly by the length and
density of pubescence with a resultant appearance of the venation.

Soft-wooded perennials of small stature, usually less than 30 cm high, with a
system of deeply sited and rather congested, ascending underground structures from
which regeneration occurs after adverse climatic periods or disturbance such as plough-
ing. Stems several from the base, erect or decumbent, at first densely pubescent with
loosely appressed silvery hairs becoming sparse and brownish with age. Leaves always
trifoliolate (after the primary, and perhaps also early leaves on regenerating stems),
petiolate and stipulate; stipules linear, characteristically spreading, persistent on at least
some leaves, but small and sometimes obscured, or fallen from old, dried specimens.
Leaflets of rather thin texture, elliptical to ovate or obovate, the laterals at least half
as long as the terminal, variously pubescent, the upper or both surfaces minutely dotted
(when visible through the pubescence). Inflorescences terminal on stems and branches,
racemes of about 10-20 flowers on axes usually a little longer than their peduncles.
Flowers with rare exceptions, small and ‘“‘round”” (Fig. 1), clear golden yellow without
other colouring or markings, pedicellate in the axils of small, finally recurved bracts.
Calyx broadly campanulate, with five subequal teeth, the upper two usually a little shorter
and narrower than the lower thrce, clightly exceeding the tube; tube slightly longer than
and contracted into a short, basal receptacle; bracteoles minute, inserted usually near
the top of the receptacle. Standard glabrous, nearly circular but slightly broader than
long, scarcely auriculate, the calli extending on to the short claw, the apex shortly retuse
or with a point in the indentation. Wings rounded-oblong to triangular, without a distinct
auricle. Keel rounded, the beak slightly incurved. Ovary pubescent or hoary but some-

Page 278—Vol. 10



@@@ 35 @@@



Fig 1

—————1em——

Fig. 1. An extreme example of the ‘“‘small, round flower”, and keel (from a different
flower).

Fig. 2. An extreme example of the “‘long, straight flower’’, and its keel.

times apparently glabrous on the sides, with a more or less broad band of longer, rather
coarse hairs along the upper suture, especially at its distal end. Style in a geniculate
curve within the keel, bearded only on the inner side. Pod sparsely pubescent all over
with short hairs outside, the sutural band now scarcely distinguishable, glabrous and
shiny inside, oblong-clavate, tapered asymmetrically into a slender stipe. Seeds are
yellow-ochre in colour with a marked but scarcely hooked radicular lobe the surface
almost smooth.

Crotalaria eremaea

A soft wooded shrub to 1 m differing from the other species in this group
in that there is usually a main stem that often arises from a horizontal, exten-
sive underground ‘root” system. The leaves are thicker, at least by virtue
of dense pubescence (thick mat of hairs) and the leaf surface where visible
is minutely pitted or wrinkled rather than dotted. The leaflets are narrow-oblong
to trullate with the laterals much reduced sometimes almost circular. The
flowers may be ‘“round” or straight 12-15 mm long.

A species of two races, the subspecies being: sub-species eremaea is found in the
eastern and southern parts of the species range over central Australia in sandy soil.
Sub-species strehlowii is found generally in the western area of the centre on sandhills,

sandplains and near water courses. It differs from sub-species eremaea in leaf form being
often single, trullate or ovate and nearly glabrous.

You really see the flowers on Westrail's
Unbelievable 6 Day Wildflower Study
S Tours of W.A.

VN

Aug-Sept-Oct
A Qualified Botanist Accompanies Every Tour

® Includes motel accommodation & meals ® Picnic lunches & teas
® Bookings: Westrail Travel Centre, City Arcade, Perth. 326 2811
® Authorised Travel Agents.
Western Australian Government Railways

Page 279—Vol. 10



@@@ 36 @@@



Crotalaria verrucosa (below) Photography by D. Hockings

Unique in the genus Crotalaria with mainly yellow flowers, Crotalaria verrucosa
has flowers of the unusual colour shown below. It is a small shrub to one metre.

Crotalaria dissitiflora (top right) Photography by D. Hockings

The flowers and leaves of this appealing shrub are shown in the colour plate on
page 277, a full description being given on page 278.

Crotalaria eremaea (opposite on the left side) Photography by D. Hockings

As described on page 279 this plant has a different growth habit, thrusting up
a main stem to one metre high from an often extensive ‘‘root’’ system.

Crotalaria novae-hollandiae (opposite right) Photography by D. Hockings

Terminal spikes of yellow flowers are a feature of this plant as described on page
282 with the spikes of flowers standing out above the grey-green foliage



@@@ 37 @@@



Crotalaria dissitiflora

Crotalaria eremaea Crotalaria novae-hollandiae

Page 281—Vol. 10



@@@ 38 @@@



Crotalaria mitchellii and C. smithiana

C. mitchellii comprises two geographical races, the subsp. mitchellii on
coastal Queensland from the north to N.S.W. on sandy and light-textured soils
frequently near streams or behind beaches, sometimes in open forest or weedy
in rough pasture or cultivation, and subsp. laevis on the western slopes of
the Great Dividing Range in southern Queensland and N.S.W.

Crotalaria mitchellii is a soft wooded erect or decumbent shrub about 0.5-1 m in
height with glabrous or pubescent stems, the hairs rather short and ascending, and
simple leaves. Leaves often elliptical or narrow-elliptical, glabrous and obscurely dotted
above or sometimes on both sidzs and variously pubescent below, shortly petiolate to
almost sessile with scarcely more than the pulvinus, with subulate to setaceous stipules;
hairs of the pubescence from very short in subsp. laevis to softly curved and c. 1 mm
long in subsp. mitchellii. Inflorescences terminal or leaf-opposed, racemes with numerous,
crowded flowers. Flowers deep vyellow, pedicellate and bracteate. Calyx with teeth sub-
equal and slightly longer than the tube, the tube slightly protracted on the lower side,
the receptacle scarcely discernible. Standard more or less circular but often slightly
broader than long, with a pair of plate-like calli, or linear converging thickenings, at the
base of the lamina. Wings rounded-oblong. Keel with a rounded, right-angled bend about
the middle, the beak twisted at the apex. Ovary glabrous, almost sessile, the style geni-
culate but scarcely constricted at the bend, the pod oblong-clavate, tapered to the base,
the stipe lengthening to equal the calyx tube. Seeds 8-12 in the pod, slightly flattened,
somewhat glossy, greenish grey, with a hooked radicular lobe.

Crotalaria smithiana from central Australia, was previously known as
C. mitchellii var. tomentosa. It is distinct from C. mitchellii in being a prostrate
plant forming a cushion-like growth with densely spreading pubescent hairs
on the stems whereas C. mitchellii has erect nearly glabrous branches with
short up turned hairs. The leaves of C. smithiana are unifoliolate, the leaflet
shortly petiolulate and articulate on a longer petiole, the joint sometimes
obscure in the pubescence, tomentose on both sides at first, later more
sparsely hairy to glabrous above, as distinct from the simple to almost sessile,
glabrous and dotted above, glabrous or hoary to quite densely pubescent with
possibly long hairs below of C. mitchellii.

Crotalaria novae-hollandiae (including C. crassipes)

Research into Bentham’s work on the above species and various forms
has shown that all may be regarded as the one species with two geographic
races, subsp. novae-hollandiae of tropical Australia being widespread in the
monsoon belt, and subsp. lasiophylla of the dry areas of northern Australia
below the monsoon belt. See colour plate on page 281.

Usually small shrubs to about 1.5 m in height, soft-wooded but probably perennial,
with a more or less dense pubescence on some or most parts, or occasionally quite
glabrous. Leaves unifoliolate, the petiole and usually shorter petiolule articulate and
angled, stipulate with sometimes small and obscure or deciduous stipules; stipules always
present on young stems but deciduous from the lower leaves, narrow, acuminate, erect
then recurved, pubescent outside, glabrous within, often leaving a ridge, like that from
the back of the petiole, decurrent on the stem (as described by Bentham for C. crassipes).
Leaflets very variable in size and pubescence (see under the subspecies). Inflorescences
terminal and leaf-opposed, the often numerous flowers somewhat variable in size and
opening in basipetal or irregular order. Flowers yellow, often fairly large, on ascending
then recurved pedicels and subtended by small, acuminate bracts similarly erect then
recurved. Calyx broadly campanulate with the tube slightly protracted on the lower side,
the teeth subequal, narrow deltoid and often slightly longer than the tube, the whole
variously pubescent or occasionally quite glabrous. Standard more or less circular but
often slightly broader than long with a pair of plate-like calli at its base not extending
into the claw, the apex sometimes broadly pointed. Wings rounded oblong. Keel with
a rounded right-angled bend at or slightly below the middlie, slightly but constantly
twisted at the apex, usually with a pair of shallow folds or pouches near the auricle.
Ovary glabrous to partly or entirely pubescent, the style more or less geniculate but
scarcely constricted at the bend. Pod clavate or somewhat truncate, tapered into a short
stipe. Seed yellow ochre, with a marked radicular lobe.

1. Leaflets elliptical to ovate or narrower, tapered into the petiolule at the base
variously pubescent but often with the upper surface less densely clothed than
the lower and sometimes quite glabrous above or on both sides ..................
subsp. novae-hollandiae
1." Leaflets triangular or with a more or less cordate base, not tapered into the
petiolule, densely pubescent on both surfaces with a grey tomentum becoming
golden to deep reddish brown with long drying ............ccoooo......... subsp. lasiophylla

Page 282—Vol. 10



@@@ 39 @@@



Microwave Treatment
of Acacia Seed

WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO ACACIA LONGIFOLIA

By A. K. CAVANAGH, Mechanical Engineering Division,
and
V. N. TRAN, Electrical Engineering Division,
School of Engineering & Architecture,
Deakin University, P.O. Box 125, Belmont, Victoria, 3216

INTRODUCTION

Acacias are well known for their hard seed coats, which necessitate
some form of treatment if a satisfactory percentage germination is to be
achieved. In general, Acacias are not considered “difficult” to germinate
if a seed coat treatment is applied, in that the success rate is usually better
than 80%, at least for small batches of seed. However, as the recent papers
of Aveyard (1) and Clements et al (2) have shown, there is no one method
which has a universally high level of effectiveness, and such factors as the
species, age of seed, size of seed, time to harvest and other variables within
a species can all contribute to erratic germination response. Acacias have
found widespread application both in Australia and overseas for rapid
regeneration of devastated land, as well as for large-scale landscape plantings.
It appears that even for these applications the most popular method of seed
coat treatment is a scaled-up version of that traditionally employed, i.e.
boiling water is poured over the seeds, which are allowed to imbibe for up
to 24 hours, after which the seeds are removed and planted. There are
several disadvantages with this technique:

(1) The number of seeds that can be effectively treated at any one

time is limited.

(2) The wet seeds are difficult to handle and should be dried before

being mixed with sand or pelletised prior to hand broadcasting.

(3) If the seeds dry out after treatment, e.g. due to lack of follow-up

rains, a low percentage germination can result.

Some form of ‘“dry” treatment which could process sizeable quantities
of seed would obviously be advantageous. Scarification is one technique
which is already widely used for reducing hard seededness in alfalfa and
clover, and which has been applied to small lots of Acacia seeds (3). How-
ever, the process is expensive and is reported to cause considerable damage
to the seed—it also dramatically reduces its keeping quality. In view of
favourable overseas reports on the effectiveness of microwave heating in
improving germination of alfalfa, clover and several species of pine, spruce
and Douglas Fir, the method was evaluated for Acacia longifolia, a hardy
and quick growing species widely used in Victoria and New South Wales.

2. EFFECT OF MICROWAVES ON SEEDS

Microwave energy is obtained from a magnetron oscillator. This contains
a number of tuned circuits inside a vacuum envelope, and the energy
produced is usually fed into a resonant cavity or chamber. The unit used
for this work operated at a frequency of 2,450 MHz and had a measured
power output of 650 watts.

Seeds, which were collected from the Lower Glenelg area in December,
1976, were exposed to the microwave energy in a foam polystyrene container
for periods of time ranging from 60 to 240 seconds. For exposure times in
excess of 160 seconds a beaker containing 50 cc of water was also placed
in the cavity. This acts as a dummy water load and was used mainly to
prevent overheating of ithe magnetron. After exposure the seeds were
removed and their surface temperature was measured using a chromel alumel
thermocouple. The seed coat was also examined using a Leitz Projection
microscope.

Page 283—Vol. 10



@@@ 40 @@@



At the above frequency, seeds like Acacias are relatively ‘‘transparent’”,
i.e. the microwave energy can penetrate right through them. Seeds absorb
energy by a mechanism known as dielectric heating, which is much faster
than by conventional means. The energy is absorbed only by the seeds
placed inside the cavity, and the amount of heat thus produced depends very
much on the chemical composition of the seeds and to a large extent on
their moisture content. It was assumed the moisture content of the test seeds
was fairly constant—a typical value would be approximately 6-8%.

Seeds were germinated in soil or in egg boxes as described by Shiells
(4). Ambient temperatures during the work ranged from 17°C to 30°C.
Germination was assessed by the appearance of cotyledons above the soil or
by the emergence of the radicle some 3 mm beyond the seed coat.

Figs. 1 and 2 show some of the results obtained. The percentagz
germination increased with longer exposure times (which corresponded with
higher surface temperatures) for samples with and without the water load
(Fig. 1). Some scatter was observed in the measured surface temperatures
and it is not yet possible to predict with accuracy surface temperature for
a given exposure time. However, for the batches of seed used the trend
indicates that the higher the surface temperature, at least in the range
60°C-100°C, the better the germination.

0

NO WATER LOAD
~ T 50cc WATER LOAD

i / /\\.

50 ¢

% GERMINATION

301 /

10 +

0 1 1 1
0 49 80 120 160 200 240 280

MICROWAVE EXPOSURE TIME (SECS.)

Fig. 1: Germination at three weeks as a function of microwave exposure time.

In Fig. 2 the progress of germination is shown for seeds treated in the
presence of a 50 cc water load for time intervals 210 and 240 seconds and
without a water load for 160 seconds. These results are compared with
those recorded for seeds which were nicked or immersed in boiling water.

Page 284—Vol. 10



@@@ 41 @@@



In general, both these last techniques show a faster rate of germination,
and in the case of boiling water treatment a higher final percentage.

Seeds that had been nicked showed signs of rotting of the swollen seeds
after about 12 days. However, observations at six weeks of seedlings from
boiling water and microwave treatments revealed little apparent difference
in seedling size and vigour. The microwave process also has an advantage
in that the treated seed can be safely stored for periods of up to four
weeks in paper envelopes with no apparent loss of viability. Nicked seeds
in particular must be sown almost immediately if a satisfactory germination
is to be obtainec.

9 -
o — o
— —  BOILING WATER
gob =~~~ 160 SECS. NO WATER LOAD e
— - — 249 SECS. 50cc WATER LOAD e
— - — 210 SECS S0cc WBIFR LOAD AT
70f /’/ ." /o
/ p
=
= s0f
=
=
g o
R Ti] / ’
v / //
/
0 4 Fi
/ 7
A
/)
2 I, /
! [ .
/
I l/ ',/
10 l J A
’
0 L 1 i 1 1 I J

DAYS AFTER TREATMENT
FIG. 2- PROGRESS OF GERMINATION FOR VARIOUS TREATMENTS

3. POSSIBLE REASONS FOR MICROWAVE EFFECTIVENESS

There is surprisingly little information available in the literature concerning
the details of how Acacia seeds become permeable naturally, and even less
discussion of the paths of water entry after seed coat treatment. For example,
it is usually assumed that boiling water softens the seed coat, thus allowing
water entry: this, however, has not been proven. Fire is often cited as the
reason for Acacia regeneration in the wild. However, extensive regrowth has
been observed in areas where fires have not occurred for many years, and
as Mclintyre (5) points out even 10 mm of soil will give adequate protection
to seed from fire. He considers it is likely that other factors are operating.
Preece (6) speculated that passage of seeds through the digestive tracts of
birds might lead to seed coat breakdown. Other suggestions for natural
permeability include damage due to wind and water movement over the ground
(i.e. natural ‘“‘impaction”), attack by micro-organisms in the soil and the

Page 285—Vol. 10



@@@ 42 @@@



effect of diurnal temperature fluctuations. However, Preece (6) was not able
to germinate Acacia aneura (mulga) by either impaction treatment or by
duplicating temperature cycles for its natural environment for periods as
long as 12 months. Observations of the seed coat under the microscope
provided some insight into the manner in which microwave treated seed
becomes permeable. Fig. 3 shows the appearance of the coat ‘‘as received”
and after 240 seconds exposure. The cracks which developed were shown
in cross-section to extend only approximately 40 um below the surface, i.e.
to the second layer of the seed coat, while the whole seed coat is approxi-
mately 160 um thick. These cracks apparently play only a minor role in
immediate water intake, but they can serve as a guide to expected germination
behaviour, i.e. the more extensive the crack network, the higher the expected
germination. The other effect noted was a change in the appearance of
the strophiole, a raised, elliptical area on the surface near the hilum. Even
today the role of the strophiole is unclear, but Ballard (7) has shown that
for a number of species of legume subject to microwave treatment, the
strophiole is the first site of water entry. In untreated A. longifolia seeds the
strophiole is often indistinct, but after microwave exposure it appears golden
and raised and is well defined under the microscope. Obviously the treatment
has had some effect on the material in the strophiclar region. Whether this
had any influence on water permeability was checked by the following
experiment. Fifty seeds were exposed for 160 seconds, during which time
they reached 90°C. The batch was split into two groups of 20 seeds and 10
were kept for microscopic examination. All showed extensive cracking and
a raised, golden strophiole. In one set of 20 seeds the strophiole was covered
with water repellent vaseline, while the other 20 were left “‘as is”"—both lots
were germinated under water. After two weeks 15 uncovered seeds had
formed roots, while none of the vaseline-coated seeds had swelled. The
evidence thus points strongly to the strophiole as being the dominant site
of water entry in microwave treated Acacia longifolia seeds.

Using the same technique, we have also determined the initial site of
water entry after boiling water treatment. The batch of treated seed was
split into three groups—hilum covered, strophiole covered and seed un-
covered.

Once again, the group with the strophiole covered did not swell, while
the other two groups gave between 80% and 90% germination. Even though
boiling water often roughens the seed coat, the damage does not extend
beyond the cuticular layer, and general water intake through the seed coat
does not occur to the same extent as through the strophiole.

4. CONCLUSION

In conclusion we have found microwave energy is an effective ‘“dry”
means of rendering Acacia longifolia seeds permeable. Times of 160 seconds
without a water load and 210-240 seconds with a 50 cc water load were
satisfactory and produced between 65% and 75% germination.

Will this treatment be successful with other types of seed and using a
domestic microwave oven? We don’t know until it has been tried out. At
present | don’t see why microwaves shouldn’t work on any of the hard-coated
legume-type seeds. Why not try it?

REFERENCES

(1) J. M. AVEYARD, "The Effect of Seven Presowing Seed Treatments on Total
Germination and Germination Rate of Six Acacia Species’’. J. Soil Converv. Serv.,
N.S.W., 24, pp. 43-54, 1968.

(2) J. CLEMENTS et al., “Effects of Seed Treatments on Germination in Acacia’,
Aust. J. Botany, 25, pp. 269-276, 1977.
(3) D. K. McINTYRE, ‘“Raising Natives from Seed: IlI, Prooagation Methods used at

Canberra Botanic Gardens’, Aust. Plants 6, pp. 260-263, March 1972.

(4) D. SHIELLS, “Simple Propagation’’, Aust. Plants 8, p. 29, 1974.

(5) D. K. MCcINTYRE, In discussion of: ““Seed Dormancy’'—in ‘“'Growing Australian
Native Plants’". Conf. Proceedings. University of New England, pp. 59-64, 1977.

(6) P. B. PREECE, ""Contributions to the Biology of Mulga: |l Germination’’. Aust. J.
Botany 19, pp. 39-49, 1971

(7) L. A. T. BALLARD et al., “Effects of Radio Frequency Electric Fields on Perme-
ability to Water of some Legume Seeds with Special Reference to Strophiolar
Conduction’. Seeds Sci. and Tech., 4, pp. 257-274, 1976. [

Page 286-—Vol. 10



@@@ 43 @@@



Fig. 3(a) Acacia seed coat, untreated x 200.

Fig. 3(b)
seconds x 250.

Crack pattern developed after microwave exposure for 240

Page 287—Vol. 10



@@@ 44 @@@



NINDETHANA SEED SERVICE

LARGEST SELECTION OF NATIVE SEED IN AUSTRALIA

SEND 20¢ STAMP FOR FREE CATALOGUE AVAILABLE IN 50¢ pkts, gram lots or kgs.

ADDRESS: NINDETHANA, NARRIKUP, W.A. §326

BODDY’'S — EASTERN PARK NURSERY NATIVES

Large range of popular and rare varieties in tubes, S.A.E. for Catalogue.
Specialists in despatch.

Lot 2, Farm Road, Cheltenham, Vic. 3192
Phone (03) 550-5987; A/H 509-2804

newcasTie NORTHRIDGE COTTAGE
NATIVE PLANT NURSERY (049) 87-2397

RANGERS ROAD RAYMOND TERRACE, N.S.W. 2324
on the Western Shore of the Grahamstown Dam.
Turn East off The Pacific Hwy., 4 km North of the Town

‘“SEEDS OF THE WORLD"

BOOKS ON NATIVE PLANTS Indigenous and Exotic Seeds
LARGE SELECTION—SEND S.A.E. P.0. Box 1037, East Nowra, NSW 2540
FOR LIST TO 1,200 varieties of wunusual native
seeds, palm seeds and exotic seeds

Gatton Newsagency & Bookshop from all over the world.

Railway Street, Gatton, Q. 4343 Available in $1 packs.

Send $1 to cover list and postage,
Phone: (075) 62-1057 this entitles sender to a free $1

bonus pack on first order.

WIRREANDA Wholesale Nursery
QUALITY—VARIETY—VALUE
Over 20,000 Native and Exotic
Trees, Shrubs & Indoor Plants

Public and Trade Welcome
Open 7 days — Send S.A.E. For List

169 Wirreande Rd, Ingleside, NSW 2101. Ph: 450-1400

MAGAZINES BOOKS, BROCHURES, CATALOGUES,
PRICE LISTS, OFFICE STATIONERY AND
ADVERTISING LITERATURE

* Consistent Quality and Service
with reasonable cost, will remove
most of your problems.

SURREY BEATTY & SONS PTY. LTD.

43 Rickard Road, Chipping Norton, N.S.W. 2170
Telephone (02) 602-7404, 602-3126

Page 288—Vol. 10



@@@ 45 @@@



Austraflora
THE NURSERY WITH
‘NATIVE KNOW HOW’

BELFAST ROAD, MONTROSE, VICTORIA
PHONE: 728-1353

Mon.-Sat. 9-5.30 p.m.
Sun. 10-5.30 p.m.

AUSTRALIAN SEEDS NATIVE PLANT SEEDS
(West N.S.W. a speciality) 50c per pkt. (minimum 2 pkts.)
H. GRANT Our assonmfir:t I?srtlsend S.A.E.

Bnndes Fi., b, 2850 GRANTVILLE NATIVE NURSERY

Catalogue: 2 x 20c stamps. Bass Highway, Grantville, Vic. 3984

Generally 150-200 species available, many rare
Open Wed. to Sun. 10am to 5pm and by arrangement.

Cedar Wattles Native Plants
89 BLUES POINT RD. NORTH SYDNEY. PHONE 929-6583

DEANES ORCHID NURSERY

Soecialising in Australian Native Orchids
Please send for descriptive list. Plants sent anywhere.
Nursery open every weekend — Weekdays phone (02) 651-1798
29 HEMERS ROAD, DURAL, N.S.W. 2119

CATALOGUE AUSTRALIAN
A FOREST NATIVE PLANTS FOR
N.S.W. GARDENS
@ NATIVE

$3.50 posted

. NURSERY 9 Namba Rd, Duffy’s Forest, NSW 2084

(beside Waratah Park), (02) 450-1785
LAKKARI RUSSELL and SHARON COSTIN. Retail & Wholesale
growers of Native Trees, Shrubs, Ground Covers and
reepers — Also Ferns, Palms, Cycads, Indoor Plants
NATIVE PLANT Specialists in Honey Flora
NURSERY Many selected Natives unique to Queensland as well
as new cultivars and hybrids.
(Lakkari means Banksia 477 REDLAND BAY ROAD, CAPALABA, QLD. 4157
Integrifolia) Open 6 days (closed Sat. only) — Ph: Bris. 206-4119

CLEARVIEW NURSERY, W. Cane, Box 19, Maffra, Vic. 3860. Specialist in developed plants

TASMANIAN FOREST SEEDS BUNDARA NATIVE NURSERY
T. WALDUCK 37 Carters Rd., Dural, Sydney, 2158
‘Summerleas Farm’ K'ngston, Tas 7150

All Tasmanian Tree Species and Open Weekends
Ornamental Shrubs. Weekdays please ring first.
Send S.A.E. for free list.

Sales by packet or in bulk Telephone Sydney 651-1962

Specialising in grevilleas

Page 289—Vol. 10



@@@ 46 @@@



PRESERVATION BY CULTIVATION Closed Tuesdays

FLORALANDS

RIONG, via GOSFORD, N.S.W. 2250
A large varlety of the most popular native plants at nursery

PHONE: Gosford 40-1142 Send $1.50 for descriptive catalogue.
UTINGU NATIVE PLANT NURSERY LANDSCAPING WITH AUSTRALIAN
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL NATIVE PLANTS

Suppliers of: TREES, SHRUBS,

RS | BANKSIA NURSERIES P/L

37 Sorbiston St, Wellers Hill, Qld 4121

(07) 397-5706 Waratah Highway, Elliott,
Tasmania, 7325
BELBRA NURSERY Grower of rare and more common

Australian Native Plants. Available in

In the h rampia £ £ :
eark lof_the, Grampians most sizes at certain times of vyear,

LARGE RANGE OF AUSTRALIAN advanced and tube lines a specialty.
NATIVES Send S.A.E. for list
Closed Wednesday only Open 7 days a week, 9-5
BOX 12, HALL'S GAP, VIC. 3381 Phone (004) 36-3128
MICHIE’'S KENTLYN Cranebrook Native Nursery
NATIVE PLANT NURSERY R23 Cranebrook Rd., Cranebrook, NSW
Specialising in Australian Plants 4 miles north of Penrith, between
Beth & Bob Miche invite you to call Tadmore and Taylor Roads.
on 96c¢c George's River Road, Kentlyn, g
N.S.W. 2560. Phone (046) 25-1583 Gpen 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Sundays
Closed Tuesday and Wednesday only (047) 77-4256 — No Mail Orders

CLOVERDALE PARK NURSERY

57 CLOVERDALE ROAD, DOOLANDELLA, 4077 (D. HANGER)

QUEENSLAND Hakea fraseri, Kunzea flavescens, Buckinghamia celsissima,

NATIVE PLANTS Cryptocarya laevigata v. Bowei, Ervatamia angustisepala,
Guilfoylia monostylis, Jasminum volubile, Largerstroemia

including: archeriana, Microcitrus australis.

DAVID & MARGARET'S NATIEFLORA | \Ww IRRIMBIRRA

We have thousands of plants for your

selection. Set amidst acres of land- Hume Highway, between Tahmoor and
scaped garden areas. Locatgd two Bargo, N.S.W. 2574
miles past Woori Yallock at Braeside
Drive Launching Place, Vic. AUSTRALIAN pLANTS
(059) 64-7631, THURS. to SUN. Wide Range—Phone (046) 84-1112
(Established 1974) OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

Huge selection from ground
cover to trees, rare and the

Australis

Sund
couccoss NURSERIES Ml sy seomsst Oren Sourdoy and sundey

Cnr. BELLEVUE CRES. and SEAFORD RD. SEAFORD  \/ic. 3198 (Closed Mon. and Tues.)
NANGANA NATIVE PLANT NURSERY GRASSTREE
COCKATOO-WOORI YALLOCK ROAD NATIVE PLANT NURSERY

6.4 km from Cockatoo, Vic. ] 3
Large range, including over 100 Grevilleas Brown’s Rd., Rosebud S. Vic., 3939

5 cm to bucket size) (Opposite Hyslops Rd.)
PHONE: (059) 68-8337 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.—Wed. to Sun. Inc.
Open every day except Tues. and Wed. Over 1000 Species in Propagation.
(also closed June and July) Nursery in Natural Bushland Setting.

Growers of
FAIRHILL NURSERIES Australian Native Plants

FAIRHILL ROAD, YANDINA, QLD., 4561

Phone (071) 46-7193 — P.0O. Box 100
Trees, shrubs, ground covers, climbers, ferns, palms and orchids for
the sub-tropical and tropical east coast. Most species offered for
sale are growing in our extensive display gardens. You are welcome
to browse through at any time between 8.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. any
day but Christmas day. Catalogue $1.50 posted. Wholesale & Retail.

Page 290—Vol. 10



@@@ 47 @@@



Past Issues of ‘“Australian Plants’’ Available

Because of the vast wealth of our flora there is very little repetition, each volume
becoming a valuable reference book in itself. Each volume has a separate abridged
index, but a composite index of volumes 1-8 incl. is available for $2.00 plus 50c
postage.

It is intended to maintain all volumes in print in bound hard-cover form, beautifully
presented with gold-lettered green vinyl covering. Each volume has bound with it
another Society book as indicated below and is available for $15 plus 50c per vol.

VOLUME No. 1. Issues 1-12 — to be reprinted in 1980. Watch for announcements.

VOLUME No. 2. Issues 13-20, no longer avallable — to be reprinted in 1981.
VOLUME No. 3. Issues 21-28, bound with “Catalogue of Cultivated Australian Plants’’.
VOLUME No. 4. Issues 29-36, unavailable for 6 months until more copies are bound.
VOLUME No. 5. Issues 37-44, bound with “The Language of Botany".

VOLUME No. 6. Issues 45-52, with “West. Aust. Plants for Horticulture—Part 11",
VOLUME No. 7. Issues 53-60, bound with ““North Australian Plants’.

VOLUME No. 8. Issues 61-68, bound with “The Cradle of Incense’.

VOLUME No. 9. Issues 68-76, bound with Aust. Plant Names in March, 1980.

VOLUME No. 10. Issues 77-84. Each issue to date available at $1.00 post free.

Other Books Published by the Society:

""AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS ORCHIDS by A. W. Dockrill, $30.00 including postage.
The only complete reference to Australian epiphytic orchids and tropical terrestrials.

“WEST AUSTRALIAN PLANTS", ‘A descriptive catalogue’ by Dr. J. S. Beard, $7.50 plus
60c postage. The only complete reference to the flora of Western Australia.

“"WEST AUSTRALIAN PLANTS FOR HORTICULTURE", Parts 1 & 2, by K. Newby, each
$7.50 plus 60c postage. A valuable guide to the plants with horticultural potential.

“NORTH AUSTRALIAN PLANTS”, by Jenny Harmer, $7.50 plus 60c postage. The most
comprehensive reference to plants of the Darwin area available.

"“CRADLE OF INCENSE"”. ‘The Genus Prostanthera’ by G. W. Althofer, $15.00 plus 60c
postage. The only reference to our Mint Bushes.

“THE LANGUAGE OF BOTANY"”, by C. N. Debenham, $6.00 plus 60c postage. An
outstanding reference to botanical terms with examples from Australian flora.
“"AUSTRALIAN PLANTS INDEX—Vols. 1-8, A comprehensive index to all species, authors,

etc. $2.00 including postage.

“A HORTICULTURAL GUIDE TO AUSTRALIAN PLANTS” — Large colour plates of
species with information on the rear, for filing in a ring Binder. Sets 3-6 (32 sheets
each set) @ $3 per Set. (Sets 1 & 2 out of stock). Special Binders (hold approx.
160 sheets) @ $3 each. All pnces include postage.

““ACACIAS OF NEW SOUTH WALES"”, by |. Armitage. All N.S.W. wattles described and
illustrated by sketches and colour. $7.50 plus 75c postage.

The Society for Growing Australian Plants

The Society is for people interested in the Australian flora, its preservation and
cultivation in the wild, in parks, and in public and private gardens. Preservation of our
magnificent flora will, in the long term, depend on the knowledge accumulated, on its
cultivation under a wide range of conditions. We hope to learn more about this by
cultivating wildflowers in the garden, encouraging research on this aspect, and to
record this in “‘Australian Plants™.

The Society offers many services in all States, such as meetings, instruction, shows,
field outings, seed, propagating aids and friendship, much on a mail basis for those
who cannot or do not wish to attend meetings.

Enquiries for membership should be directed to:

SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—N.S.W. REGION:
President: Mr. Hugh Stacy, 16 Boovong Avenue, Lugarno, N.S.W., 2210.
Secretary: Mr. Ray Page, P.O. Box 298, Riverwood, 2210.
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—QUEENSLAND REGION:
President: Mr. L. Smith, Lot 29, Vores Road, Petrie, 4502
Secretary: Mrs. R. Reid, P.O. Box 809, Fortitude Valley, Qld 4006.
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REGION (Inc.):
President: Mr. P. McEntree, 12 Grafton Street, Belair, 5052.
Secretary: Wyn M. Spier, Box 166, Willunga, 5172.
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—TASMANIAN REGION:
President: Mrs. Sib Corbett, 35 Pillinger Drive, Fern Tree, Tas., 7101.
Secretary: Mrs. Chris Howells, ““Gwastadnant,” Sandfly, Tas. 7104.
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—VICTORIAN REGION:
President: Mr. R. G. McDonald, P.O. Box 9, Upper Ferntree Gully, Vic., 3156.
Secretary: (Sister) E. R. Bowman, 4 Homebush Crescent, Hawthorn East, Victoria,
3123. Please do not call at private home—enquiries by telephone or mail only.
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CANBERRA REGION:
President: David McKenzie, 46 Cockle Street, O’'Connor, 2601.
Secretary: Mrs. E. V. Stanford, P.O. Box 207, Civic Square, ACT, 2608.
WEST AUSTRALIAN WILDFLOWER SOC. (Inc.):
President: Mr. John Colwell, P.O. Box 64, Nedlands, W.A., 6009.
Secretary: Miss R. Sainsburg, P.O. Box 64, Nedlands, W.A., 6009.
“AUSTRALIAN PLANTS"” IS AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL PRESERVATION JOURNAL
(A non-profit making venture, produced quarterly, dedicated to preservation by cultivation)
PUBLISHING SECTION FOR SOCIETIES—Produced as a non-profit venture.
Managing Editor: W. H. Payne, assisted by P. D. Leak, N. Page, B. Kennedy, N.
Smith and H. Jones. Do not telephone or call at private home—enquiries by mail only.
NON-MEMBERS: You may receive the next 4 issues direct to your home by
forwarding an annual subscription of $3.00. Overseas subscripticn $4.20 Aust.,, £2.80
in English currency or $6.50 U.S. Send to The Editor, "‘Australian Plants’”’, 860 Henry
Lawson Drive, Picnic Point, N.S.W., 2213

COPYRIGHT — AIll material copyright as directed by authors.
Page 291—Vol. 10



@@@ 48 @@@



Herbaceous Plants for The Garden — See Page 255.

:M

Goodenia affinis

This is a prostrate plant rarely growing above 5cm. high that forms small clumps
to 30cm. across. It is ideal for a rockery or undershrub near a garden border in a
manner similar to many other herbaceous plants described on page 255 of this issue.
They are difficult to photograph as the flowers appear as a double image. They
grow to the size shown, the yellow being eyecatching against the silver-grey of the
foliage. Other species of Goodenia recommended on page 258 have flowers similar
to those shown above.

The Plant Family Goodeniaceae

Goodenia affinis belongs to the plant family Goodeniaceae. This family
includes many exceptional groups of plants including Lechenaultia, Scaevola
and Dampiera that are well known and prized as garden subjects. It also
includes genera less well known and about which | am hoping readers
will send reports and colour-slides. These genera are Anthotium, Calogne,
Calosperma, Coopernookia, Diaspasis, Neogoodenia, Nigremnia, Pentaptilon,
Selliera, Symbiobasis, Velleia and Verreauxia.

Printed by Surrey Beatty & Sons — 602-7404.