'Australian Plants' Vol.10 No.84 September 1980 +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | The text in this file has been extracted from 'Australian Plants' Vol.10 No.84 September 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-Vol10-84.pdf | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Registered for posting as a periodical—Category B September, 1980 Vol. 10, No. 84 75¢c e ’i;h@?* W@L @@@ 2 @@@ WILDFLOWERS — WHERE IN THE COUNTRY? WHAT TO GROW IN THE COUNTRY? As you will see opposite, the principal group of plants in this issue is the hardy Weslringia. The articles are written by George and Peter Althofer, authors of the book “Cradie of Incense”, that features the beautiful mint bushes, known as Prostanthera. Both these genera are in the family Lamiaceae, the subject of our previous issue. If you want more information on the propaga- tion and cultivation of Westringia, then you should get your copy of “Cradle of Incense”. What is this “Cradle of Incense” ? See page 352. Where is a marvellous area for wildflowers in the wild “The Cradle Of Incense™ ? One of the wonderlands of scenery with wildflowers may be found in this “Cradle”, the Warrumbungles, as described on page 376. For other places to see in this “Cradle Of Incense”, see page 354 and page 357 for Mount Arthur. What to grow in the country? ‘“‘Australian Plants for the Australian Country” recommends suitable plants on page 373. Westringia, the plants of this issue ! Most people will have seen those hardy plants of the sea front, Coastal Rosemary, Westringia fruticosa, the most widely grown plant of the genus. It is a hardy plant for the harshest conditions in anyone’s garden, but it must be a godsend to people gardening on the coast. So will the article “Gardening On Coastal Limestone In Exposed Situations™ on page 369. PRESERVATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN FLORA Editor The day has come for many of the species listed on page 358 to receive some assistance in their fight for survival. in another ten years this list could be ten times as large. It is hoped that this publication, over the 20 years of its existence, has contributed to knowledge that will assist the preservation of the flora. What is more important, we hope to achieve over the next few years more than we have over the last twenty. The next issue will give details of our proposals. CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE The Genus Westringia ............................... G. W. Althofer and P. McD. Althofer 343 The Cradle of Incense G. W. Althofer, O.A.M. 352 .. From notes by G. W. Althofer 354 ........................ G. W. Althofer 355 . W. Althofer and G. J. Harden 356 . John Leigh and Robert Boden 357 358 d P. McD. Althofer 359 National Botanic Gardens 367 ............ P. Nixon 368 .................... Colin Officer 369 . David R. Murray 372 ... T. P. O'Rourke 373 . David Hockings 375 ... Rhonda Martin 376 ................................................................ David Hanger 383 COVER PLATE: Tecomanthe hillii Photography by B. Ballingall A beautiful climber from the rainforests that is suitable for cultivation. This and many other rainforest plants are described in our No. 76 issue. The 6-8 cm. flowers are borne in clusters on the upper portion of the plant and often, as in this case, on the lower leafless stems near the ground. Why a rainforest plant on the cover of this issue? | did not have a more suitable cover photograph, but perhaps this will stir readers to advise of their experiences with rain forest plants for another issue in preparation on our rain forests. — Editor. AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—No. 84 Issue of Volume 10, comprising 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., 2213. Publication date of previous issue, No. 83, was 25th June. Page 342—Vol. 10 @@@ 3 @@@ The Genus Westringia Sm. Geo. W. Althofer O.A.M. and Peter McD. Althoter. Westringia is a group of plants especially suited for horticulture. With the exception of one species Westringia fruticosa, they are not nearly as widely grown as they deserve. Their close allies, Prostanthera, the Australian Mint Bush have been widely accepted as beautiful garden shrubs and Westringia generally require similar growing conditions. Although the climatic range of Westringia is very diverse; from inland arid areas to sub-tropical areas of northern Australia to more temperate areas of the Eastern sea board and mountain ranges, all species appear to relish a canopy of tree cover that gives intermittent light and shade. With one exception, Westringia Fruticosa, which thrives in most situations including clay soils, all other species tend to favour well drained conditions. In group plantings this has been evident. Plants in low lying areas always succumb to periods of wetness, whereas adjoining plants on elevated ground show normal growth associated with better drainage. Most species are able to withstand long periods of dry and hot conditions. They respond quickly when additional water is added. At Burrendong Arboretum, Mumbil, N.S.W., annual rainfall of 625 mm; and with soil type slightly acid, all species grown have favoured a south-easterly aspect with a top cover of Eucalyptus species. Only in extended periods of dryness in summer months has supplementary water been added. Propagation by vegetative means is the most successful. All species re- spond well from cutting material. The first Westringia was described in 1797 and this species was W. fruticosa (W. rosmariniformis). The genus grew to eight by 1810 and in 1870 had risen to eleven species and three varieties. The genus has steadily expanded until to-day we have twenty-seven species and eight recognised varieties. In addition there is a possible new species in Western Queensland and another in Western Australia. A tiny plant collected in the Ravensthorpe district of Western Australia by the authors does not appear to fit into any existing species. The most commonly grown species of the genus is W. fruticosa, former- ly W. rosmariniformis and this has been grown since the early 1800s. Its main attribute is its adaptability to grow in a wide variety of conditions. It may be used as a specimen shrub or as a medium or dwarf hedge. Not one of the showier members of the genus it is nevertheless greatly in demand and makes a neatly clipped hedge particularly near the sea. It is very salt tolerant and therefore can stand up to salt spray better than any other species of the genus. The flowers are not large but they are produced over a long period. In recent years it has increasingly been used as a stock on which to graft Prostanthera species or the more showy species of the genus Westringia. See page 367 for details the National Botanic Gardens. These experimentalists have demonstrated that it is now possible to grow the showier Prostanthera and Westringia species in the humid coastal areas. What a boon these workers in virtual obscurity have Vol. 10—Page 343 @@@ 4 @@@ Westringia fruticosa Photography by H. A. Morrison The hardiest and most widely grown species of Westringia for all climates. You will find it often growing in abundance on the east coast almost in the sea spray. You will find it as a hardy plant in many commercial landscaping schemes where neglect may make it sparse, but still attractive, or where overwatering or lack of pruning produces a vigorous shrub. The leaves are crowded in whorls of four, that is four leaves in a ring around the stem with a space to the next whorl of four. The underside is hoary or silvery white as seen above on the left, but glabrous or shining on top, with the edges of the leaves turned under. The flowers are rarely as large as shown above, usually being a little more than half this size. Westringia belong to the plant family Lamiaceae. All genera in the family, including Westringia, are introduced with descriptions and sketches, in our last issue. The characteristic flowers of plants in this family are shown above, the corolla (floral envelope) comprising two upper l!obes partly fused or joined and three lower lobes also partly fused. In the case of Westringia, the upper lobes are usually fused almost to the end and appear as one petal with a cleft in the end, whereas the lower three lobes stand mainly distinct like three fingers, nearly equal in length and narrower than is usual in Prostanthera. With Westringia the corolla is usually hairy inside the floral tube, especially at the centre near the stamens as shown above. Another important distinguishing feature is the shape of the anthers as sketched in our last issue. As seen above, Westringia have only two stamens, whereas Prostanthera have four. Westringia brevifolia (opposite, top right) Photography by John Simmons This is a bushy shrub to a little over one metre high occurring naturally only in Tasmania. The leaves in whorls of four are rarely more than 10mm. long and of the shape and size shown on page 351. This plant was growing at Union Bridge near Mole Creek on Freycinet Peninsula and is also found on islands off the south coast of Tas- mania. It is listed for King Island where it is known as ‘‘Creeping Mint”. It is unfortunate a better slide was not available and this reproduction is the best that was possible. Westringia raleighii (opposite, top left) Photography by John Simmons Previously known as W. brevifolia var. raleighii, Dr. W. Curtis has restored this plant to full specific rank in the Endemic Flora of Tasmania (1978). The shrub is larger in all its parts than W. brevifolia, with leaves 11-16 mm long and calyx 6 mm long. Westringia glabra (opposite, bottom) Photography by H. A. Morrison A symphony in mauve and green. A thick, bushy, handsome shrub, variable as to height, often to 2 metres, with a variation in leaf size and shape, but thick and fleshy and in whorls of 3-4. The flowers are large and showy and numerous, pale mauve to violet. See page 362 for a fuller description of the plant and its varieties. Page 344—Vol. 10 @@@ 5 @@@ Westringia raleighii Westringia brevifolia Westringia glabra Vol. 10—Page 345 @@@ 6 @@@ gifted to the nation! Their unselfish dedication means that at long last lovers of the soft, sweet loveliness of the Mint Bush can realise their ambition to grow their favourites for far more than the previous tiny life cycle of the Prostanthera and its near allies in the humid coastal environment. To this can be added the fact that it is now possible to graft the showier species like W.amabilis, W. grandifolia, W. sericea, W. glabra, W. crassifolia and others on to a stock that not only resists the life-destroying organisms born of heat and humidity but actually gives to the transformed crown of glory a new hardiness and a new beauty. Much has been written of the beauty of the Mint Bushes but in its best elements there are several Westringia species which come very close to rivalling the beauty of their close relatives. The soft, ethereal beauty of W. amabilis and the better forms of W. crassifolia and W. glabra lose little by comparison with the publicly acclaimed beauty of Prostanthera. Perhaps the individual flowers do not match those of the Mint Bushes in size, but when has that attribute been of world shaking consequence. Whilst many genera of the Lamiaceae family are extremely aromatic by reason of the presence of highly volatile oils in the leaves and other plant parts, this is not nearly so evident in Westringia. In fact, for the most part they approximate the Prostanthera nivea group in this regard in having no readily detectable oil content in their leaves. The genus Westringia of the family Lamiaceae (Labiatae) is grouped with the subfamily Prostantheroideae. It is the third most prolific genus in the subfamily with 27 species and 8 varieties at least. Prostanthera has close to 100 species and Hemigenia 33 or 34 species. Westringia is related on the one hand to Teucrium and on the other hand with Microcorys. With Teucrium the division is more marked than with Microcorys. West- ringia is distinguished from Teucrium by having the leaves in whorls of three, four or more rarely two, five or six, as opposed to the opposite leaves of the genus Teucrium. With Microcorys the division of the two genera is more confused. One section has opposite leaves whilst in the other the leaves are in whorls of three and four. As Bentham observes “the want of any concavity in the upper lip (of corolla) at once distin- guishes the genus Westringia from Microcorys”. Boivin in a paper read be- fore the Royal Society of Queensland on 27-9-48 entitled ‘“Westringia, an Australian genus of Labiatae” (Lamiaceae) emphasised that whilst most species have leaves in whorls of three and four some species have leaves in whorls of two, five and even six. Westringia is a wholly Australian genus. As at present constituted the genus consists of 27 species and 8 varieties. In the classification of Westringia there is still considerable difference of opinion as to the number of acceptable species in the genus. Boivin in his 1948 paper gave the number as 26 with 2 varieties. Subsequently Boivin added another species W. rollandii. Dr. J. Willis, in his “Plants in Victoria”, has since reduced one of these, W. violacea to a synonym of W. glabra, quite correctly in our opinion. So far as the specimens in our possession of W.glabra go there would appear to be no botanical differences of justi- fiable dimensions between W. glabra and W. violacea. Boivin treats W. williamsonii as a separate species whilst Willis reduces it to a variety of W. glabra. The question of the W. glabra complex is a vexed one and one that cannot be satisfactorily elucidated by the mere examination of existing specimens. In spite of a tremendous amount of work on the genus by Willis, Boivin, Curtis and others, it is imperative that more field work should be undertaken, particularly in Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland. At the moment we intend leaving W. williamsonii as a full species until fresh specimens are available from a variety of situations. On the whole, we feel that W.williamsonii has smaller quaternate leaves and very short floral bracteoles as its main line of divergence from W. glabra. These characters appear to be constant in the limited range of material examined. Willis quotes one other difference between these two species Page 346—Vol. 10 @@@ 7 @@@ which undoubtedly should be taken into account. He states in ‘‘Plants in Victoria” it has ‘“narrower hairy calyx tubes that are mostly longer than their lobes”. We have found that this character does not always appear to be constant but emphasise that it is vitally necessary for us to examine a larger range of material than has come our way to date. We consider also that the vastly different aspect of typical W. williamsonii from the typical W.glabra needs surely to be taken into account. It may well be that the climatic factor has much to do with the different field appearance of the two plants. We propose to grow as many forms as possible of these two plants and to include plants of W. glabra var bacchii and the so-called W. violacea in field trials at Burrendong. Boivin also created a new species in W. quaterna which some have re- garded as a variety of W. brevifolia. W. quaterna should stand. We have several plants growing at Burrendong from Tasmania, which appear to fit Boivin's description of this plant. It will be necessary to grow this species from different areas to note variations (if any). The only other Tasmanian species with quaternate leaves (4 to a node) is W. brevifolia. However the leaves of W. brevifolia are much smaller than those of W. quaterna and are pubescent beneath. W. quaterna Boivin is not to be confused with W. eremi- cola var quaterna which is confined to the mainland. All four Tasmanian species are endemic. Queensland has the greatest number of species — 13, of which 7 are endemic. Of the remaining States N.S.W. has the next greatest number of species — 9, of which 2 are endemic. South Australia has the smallest number of species 3 (if we exclude Northern Territory). So far no Westringia species have been recorded from the Northern Territory or from any of the tropical north. It is quite possible though that W. parvifolia or forms of W. rigida could turn up in the southern portions of the territory as they have been recorded from the far west of Queensland. Westringia Sm. (After Bentham) Shrubs: leaves in whorls of three, four or rarely more, all entire. (Note: We now modify the leaf description by the insertion of occasionally in whorls of six and in at least one species, W. rupicola with opposite leaves and only a few ternate leaves, though it is true that a number of other species exhibit this anomaly on rare occasions notably W. blakeana). Flowers: all axillary or rarely in terminal leafy heads, with a pair of bracts under the calyx usually very small and sometimes almost obsolete. Corolla usually hairy inside the tube, especially at the insertion of the stamens. Calyx campanulate, 5 toothed. Corolla with a short tube and dilated throat; the upper lip erect but flat and broadly 2 lobed, the lower spreading, 3 lobed. Stamens 2 (the upper ones) perfect, the anthers one celled with a short, prominent connective not produced below its insertion on the fila- ment, the two lower stamens (or staminedia) sterile and short, the anthers reduced to a connective with 2 linear or linear-clavate parallel branches. Style shortly bifid at the end. Nuts reticulate-rugose, attached to the middle or higher up. Seeds albuminous. The genus was named after J. P. Westring a physician to the King of Sweden. Westringia, Description Of Species. Commencing on page 359 George and Peter Althofer describe all Westringia species. What Westringia |s That? An attempt is made in the captions to the colour plates, to provide the non botanist with a guide as to what plants are Westringia and features of the most common species. On page 351 there is a full size sketch of a typical leaf of each species, opposite a botanical key to the species. Vol. 10—Page 347 @@@ 8 @@@ Westringia rigida Photography by H. A. Morrison A species so widespread across Qld, NSW, Vic, Tas, to WA, with so many forms, it is probable that it may be divided into numerous distinct species in the future. This plant was photographed 200 km north of Norseman, WA. The leaves are mostly in whorls of three but occasionally four and usually glabrous, linear obtuse and rigid. In some areas it is confused with W. cheelii but the leaves are shorter, more rigid and less flexible than W. cheelii. As shown on the sketch of leaf shapes on page 351, it can be confused with W. rubiaefolia that is confined to Tasmania. The foliage of W. rubiaefolia is often ‘‘ruby’’, especially at heights. Westringia eremicola (opposite top) Photography by H. A. Morrison The most variable species of Westringia, this plant may exceed two metres, but is usually slender and not so rigid as other species such as W. glabra, W. fruticosa and W. rigida. The leaves are usually one mm. broad and up to 24 mm. long so it will be seen the flowers above are a little larger than normal size. The typical structure of a Westringia is clearly seen, the upper two lobes of the corolla, the floral envelope of petals, are joined with a cleft in the top, and the lower three lobes are mostly separate and nearly equal. The hairs in the throat of the corolla are not as evident in this species as they are in other Westringia species such as W. rubiaefolia above. The two only stamens also distinguish it as a Westringia and not a Prostanthera as mint bush species have four stamens. There has been considerable debate over which species is actually photographed here. Alan Morrison photographed it at the top of Little River Gorge, Walgulmerang in East Gippsland. Jim Willis supports this naming . . . the very close-up photograph shows only the relative lengths of upper and lower corolla lip, where the upper lip is manifestly shorter than the lower one (with W. angustifolia the upper lip of corolla is longer than the lower lip, the lobes all spreading in one plane). The really critical character is the shape and length of calyx teeth compared to the calyx tube. With W. eremicola the calyx- teeth subulate (i.e. narrow and tapered to a fine point) at least as long as the tube, whereas with W. angustifolia they are short and broad only to 4 the length of the tube. When shown the photograph, George and Peter Althofer were sure that the correct name was W. angustifolia that is confined to Tasmania. As it was photographed in Vic- toria they feel that the plant is an anomalous long leaved form confined to that area. Westringia eremicola (opposite, bottom left) Photography by B. Crafter This is of a plant at Monarto South, SA. Brian Crafter reports that it is a very good form, the bush, growing in the semishade of Eucalyptus incrassata, being almost a per- fect hemisphere. Westringia senifolia (opp. bottom right) Photography from Adelaide Botanic Garden This is the most infocus section of the only photograph available but it will give readers some idea of the plant. It is an albine species, a low shrub to less than a metre. The leaves as shown are in tight whorls of 5 or 6 rinaed around the stem. The flowers are usually white. The plant is described on page 365. Page 348—Vol. 10 @@@ 9 @@@ Vol. 10—Page 349 @@@ 10 @@@ Key to the Species and Varieties Modified after Boivin a. Stem about 30cm. high, straight, virgate simple or sometimes slightly branched; leaves in 3's rarely in 4's. W. tenuicaulis. aa. Stem much branched. b. Leaves (and usually the branches) in 5's or 6's. W. senifolia. bb. Leaves in 3's or 4's. [ Nearly all of leaves and most of the branches in 4's. ¢c. To read this key the alternative to c, i.e. cc, will appear further down d. Fls. in term. heads; calyces exceeding florai leaves. W. discipulorum. dd. Flowers distributed along the branches; calyces much shorter than the floral leaves. e. Mature leaves glabrous. f Leaves strongly revolute, so that the lower surface is hidden; calyx scarcely lobed. W. quaterna. ff. Leaves flat; calyx deeply lobed with acute sinuses. g. Leaves with parallel margins. W. violacea var. bacchii. ag. Leaves with convex margins. h. Leaves conspicuously dimorphous; stem leaves 2-3cm: long. W. williamsonii. ee. Leaves revolute, pubescent beneath. Iy Leaves 5-10mm. long. W. brevifolia. ii. Leaves 10-30mm. long. A Leaves 0.6-1.0mm. wide. W. eremicola var. quaterna. jj. Leaves 1.5-2.5mm. wide. k. Calyx with teeth more than half as long as tube. I Calyx with rounded sinuses, the teeth only slightly more than half as long as tube; leaves 1.5-2mm. wide. W. fruticosa. 1. Calyx with acute sinuses, the teeth nearly as long as the tube, leaves 2.0-2.5mm. wide. W. raleighii kk. Calyx with teeth less than half as long as tube and rounded sinuses. dampierii. ceC: Leaves and branches all in 3's. m. Flowers capitate, the heads terminating the branches. W. cephalantha. mm. Flowers not capitate, scattered along the branches. n. Leaves 1.5-10.mm. long. o. Leaves conspicuously revolute and cinerous pubescent beneath. o) Calyx with teeth more than half as long as the tube. W. rigida. pp. Calyx with teeth more than half as long as the tube. W. eremicola. 00. Leaves flat or subrevolute, glabrous or puberulous. q. Leaves ovate or elliptic. r. Leaves 8-12mm. long exceeding the calyx. W. lucida rr. Leaves 1.5-5.0Cmm. long overtopped by the calyces. s. Leaves 3-5mm. long; peduncles 2-3mm. long. W. longipedunculata. SS. Leaves 1.5-3.0mm. long; peduncles 0.5mm. long. W. parvifolia. qq. Leaves more or less lanceolate. W. cheelii. nn. Leaves 10-50mm. long. t Leaves revolute, densely pubescent beneath. u. Calyx with teeth less than half as long as tube. V. Leaves completely ravolute so that the undersurface, except for the midrib, is hidden; pubescence cinerous on undersurface of leaf and on outside of calyx. W. grevillina. V. Leaves incompletely revolute; pubescence silvery, calyx usually nearly glabrous and shining. W. angustifolia. uu. Calyx with teeth more than half as long as tube. w. Pubescence cinerous; leaves 0.5-1.5mm. wide, dull on the upper surface. W. eremicola. ww. Pubescence silvery-silky; leaves 2-8mm. wide. Shining on upper surface. Xo Leaves 4-8mm. wide; calyx about 10mm. long. W. grandifolia. XX, Leaves 2-3mm. wide; calyx 8mm. long or shorter. W. sericea. tt. Leaves tlat or subrevolute, glabrous or puberulent beneath, never cinerous nor silvery. y Leaves with convex margins. z. Leaves not dimorphous; calyx with teeth longer than the tube. A. Leaves 3-5cm. long. W. blakeana. AA. Leaves 1-2cm. long. W. glabra var. violacea. zz. Leaves dimorphous. B. Flowers rose-coloured. C. Leaves ovate or ovate lanceolate. W. amabilis. €E: Leaves narrowly lanceolate. W. glabra. BB. Flowers violet. W. glabra var. violacea. vy. Leaves with parallel margins, very narrow, 1-5mm. wide. W. longifolia. ‘ Leaves in 2's very rarely in 3's. W. rupicola. Q. Leaves ovate or elliptic. DD. Calyx exceeding the leaves. W. rollandii. E. Flowers solitary in the axils. sub-sessile. EE: Corolla mauve 1cm. long. Densely hispid on outside. All 5 lobes indented with the lower one quite bilobed and longer than the others. W. cremnophylla. E. Leaves narrow elliptical. 5-15mm. long. 1.5-2.5mm. wide, margins min- utely denticulate not recurved. W. crassifolia Page 350—Vol. 10 @@@ 11 @@@ What Westringia Is That? A typical leaf of all species of Westringia is shown full size, below. A great deal of trouble has been taken to make the key to the species opposite as simple as possible. species commencing on page 359 and the colour plates and captions, readers should be able to identify species for themselves. Together with the description of all 2 Q Q 20 28 amabilis. angustifolia. blakeana. brevifolia. . brevifolia var. raleighii cephalantha. cheelii. crassifolia. cremnophylla. dampierii. discipulorum. eremicola. N=oWVoNOnPWN = SsssSSssssss aaas oy R sssssssssss FS 24 KEY TO DIAGRAM eremicola var. fruticosa. glabra. glabra var. bacchii. glabra var. violacea. grandifolia. grevillina. longifolia. longipedunculata. lucida. parvifolia. quaterna. %4. 11 27 0 33 32 quaterna. rigida. rollandii. rubiaefolia. rupicola. senifolia. sericea. tenuicaulis. williamsonii. sp. nov. vensthorpe, W.A. FIIIIISSSESR Vol. 10—Page 351 @@@ 12 @@@ BLUE DENOTES RIVERS YELLOW DENOTES MOUNTAINS b Sralambeng T ( PROSTANTHERA OF THE - MAGIC CIRCLE A '@ 2 S CRADLE OF INCENSE iy }’ QCOBAR ! 4 ermidale \ 1 Prostantheéera rotundifo§a i QNYNGAN \ 2 P. rotundifolia (large leyves) r \ 3 P. rotundifolia (small le§ves) 4 P. nivea e 5 P. nivea var. induta WARREN, 6 P. nivea (Eugowra Hills) ) 7 P. cruciflora 8 P. caerulea ¢ ) \ 9 P. cineolifera q / b 10 P. cryptandroides 11 P. discolor ) 12 P. denticulata » 13 P. sp. aff. P. denticulata & (Minore) 14 P. debilis 15 P. grantica 16 Pfi spk. ag.l P‘) granitica . (Rocky oen ottenham 17 P. “Gilesii’” (Mt. Canobolas) = 18 P. howelliae T T /L 20 P. lasianthos Bobadah 21 P. sp. aff. P. lasianthos Albert ~ (Bathurst) ' 22 P. leichhardtii (Cobar) 23 P. sp. aff. P. leichhardtii (Gocnoo Goonoo) 24 P. lepidota 25 P. ovalifolia 26 P. prunelloides ' Kereun HIllS fullamore P~ 27 P rhombea 28 P. saxicola 29 P. scutellarioides 30 P. striatiflora 31 P. stricta 32 P.violacea 33 P. sp. new ? (Khyber) 34 P. sp. new ? (Rylstone) 35 P. sp. new ? (Harvey R 36 P. microphylla var. aeruginosa 37 P. aspalathoides RANKINS SPRING: Weethalle \ N \ ' /@ WES WYALONG, N\ ( g \ ; h TT—eBarell GRIFFITH @ L é\ Ardlethan N, \ \\\w\/\/" N\ \\/./w [ Page 352—Vol. 10 Barmedman PTEMORA @@@ 13 @@@ QLOUNAMBLE SeSm— Mullaley O WELLINGTON ak Hill 7 S Bamr;- A% RKES >loogung H‘mm KATOOMBA ) - Flenolan Caves / J- : < ‘/\\z/\z\ C oorewu. i - NDRA @@@ 14 @@@ THE CRADLE OF INCENSE — Areas of Interest From Notes by George Althofer. “Wellington district, or more correctly, within a radius of 150 km. of Wellington, NS.W. . . .. was the melting pot of the genus Prostanthera, the Australian Mint Bush’. So enthused with his native area, George Althofer called it The Cradle Of Incense. It is a unique area for many plant families in the Australian flora and a delight to the traveller. The localities of interest are: Mount Arthur and Mount Wellesley West 2 km. and south 1 km. of Wellington town. A well illustrated and presented 80-page book entitled “Flora of Mt. Arthur Reserve’ is available from the Editor for $4.00, plus $1.00 postage. Wuluuman Hills, Burrendong Dam and Burrendong Arboretum 20 km by road east of Wellington are the Wuluuman Hills with plants of interest, but south of here via Dripstone, is the amazing Burrendong Arbore- tum. The on-site vans and picnic areas at the dam are superb and an excel- lent base to explore the Arboretum. Acres of wildflowers. They will never com- pete with properly funded wildflower parks such as the Canberra National Botanic Gardens, Wittunga of Adelaide or King’s Park of Perth, when it comes to paths and area care, but the plants will enthral you for days. Rylstone, Mt. Darcy, Mt. Coracudgy, Khyber Pass, Capertee to Lithgow East then south-east from Mudgee and Rylstone, the country rises to the sandstone tangle of the Dividing Range, straddled by a series of volcanic caps such as Mt. Darcy and Mt. Coracudgy, both over 1200m, thence to Lithgow. 35 km east of Rylstone (turn at the hospital) where the valley pinches in suddenly as though the towering sandstone mountains on either side had been pulled together by a giant drawstring, is the Khyber Pass. Room is barely left for the road to the wonderland of the Upper Cudgegong River and Rotton River. The many beautiful plants include Prostanthera with two as-yet-unnamed species, Boronia ledifolia, B. anemonifolia, B. microphylla, B. pinnata, B. mollis, Epacis rollinata, Chloanthes parvifolia, C. stoechadis, Dracophyllum sp., Pultenaea foliolosa, P. microphylla, three forms of Eriostemon myoporoides, Eriostemon spp., Telopea speciosissima, Dillwynia spp., Bossiaea spp., etc. Gulgong, Ulan, Lee’s Pinch, Murrumbo, Cox’s Gap to Muswellbrook East from Wellington you travel through Gulgong, Ulan, Wollar (20 km. along the back road to Merriwa is Lee’s Pinch), Murrumbo, past the turn off south that goes to Rylstone by the Bylong Valley, then to Cox’s Gap. and, if not going to Muswellbrook, turn south on the Widden Valley Road to Mt. Dangar. Beautiful plants in the area include Rylstonia cernua, Prostanthera discolor, P. cineolitera, P. prunelloides, Epacris reclinata, Boronia mollis, Grevillea johnsonii, the tree form of Eriostemon myoporoides, Kunzea parvi- folia, Isopogon dawsonii, Petrophile sp., etc. Goonoo Forest, Mendooran, Timor Rock, Warrumbungles, Piliga Forest The Goonoo Forest extends between 30 and 60 km. on the Wellington, Mendooran Road, north of Dubbo. Timor Rock will be found 20 km. S.W. of Coonabarabran and just west of this town are the Warrumbungle Ranges. See page 376 for delails of this beautiful area. The roads further north pass though the Pilliga Forest, easterly to Narrabri through Rocky Glen and Mullaley. or north to Torrington and Copeton Road on the Howell-Barraba Road. Goonoo Forest is renowned for its Acacia population of 34 species, 5 spp. of Prostanthera, Boronia 4 spp., Eriostemon 2 spp., Daviesia 5 spp., Dillwynia 3 spp., Pultenaea 5 spp., Actinotus 2 spp., Burtonia foliosa, Wes- tringia cheelii, Rylstonia, Hemigenia cuneifolia, etc. The Pilliga is similarly rich whilst the Warrumbungle Ranges hold many species not found in either in- cluding Asterolasia hexapetala, Acacia cheelii, A. forsythii and Prostanthera induta. Page 354—Vol. 10 @@@ 15 @@@ Nyngan, Girilambone, Cambelego, Cobar North-west from Dubbo are isolated areas of interest at Girilambone and to the south of Cobar near Nymagee and Bobadah. Hervey Range, Bogan Gate, Cookamidgera, Upper Lachlan, Mullion Creek, Napoleon Reefs South-west is the Hervey Range, 10-12 km. from Baldry, extending 40 km. north and south, then to Parkes and either 40 km. west to Bogan Gate, east on the back road to Molong to Cookamidgera, or south to the Upper Lachlan where only tracks lead in to a fine area from Gooloogong. Mullion Creek is on the Orange-Stuart Town Road at the turn off to Molong. Napoleon Reefs are just off the Sydney Road east of Bathurst on the way back to Sydney before a pleasant stop at the Cox’s River before Lithgow. Plants of The Cradle Of Incense The most notable are Prostanthera, the Australian mint bush. No lover of our wildflowers should be without a copy of the book “The Cradle Of Incense’’, available from the Editor for $15.00 post free. Go and see the wildflowers in the area for yourself and visit the dream in reality of George and Peter Althofer, The Burrendong Arboretum. Rare Plants In The Wellington-Dubbo Magic Circle Key: 1 = rare; 2 = localised; 3 = endangered; 4 = extinct?; 5 = established at Burrendong. Acacia forsythii. Restricted to the Warrumbungles. See page 379 ................ 1,2, 3: 5 Acacia murrumboensis. Not reported since first collection, Murrumbo I ¥4 Asterolasia mollis. Timor Rock, Warrumbungles ... 1, 2, 3 Boronia barkerana. Sparsely branched, elliptical leaves, similar B. parviflora. Blackheathi, .oenemmgpnasspessmmmnepssorsnnossstensisssiaiss i s toneaiEasessss stbess sasine 1, 2,8 Boronia bipinnata. Small tacky terete leaves, small white fls. Goonoo Forest, TOITINGTON APBA! cioumsevssnssisusmmmsmmseestorpogoesasmes st sssaaenssarssansnasnssessiinss 1 3 Boronia rubiginosa, similar B. ledifolia. Whitish under elliptic leaflets. Lee's Pinch: and Upper HUDter: i :u.sisssismsiainasisimmissemmsansmssssiosssses sonsss 1 2; 3 Boronia ruppii, similar B. ledifolia. Dull under ovate 3 to pinnate leaves. Copeton Road. 1, 2, 3 Boronia whitei, similar Coonabarabran. 1.2, 3, b Burtonia foliolosa. An uncommon pea flower of Goonoo Forest, Pilliga Fo and North ‘QUeenSIaNd. .........es-sesisvesaises stz ssimrotsvaipas soassievesss 1. 2, 8 Caladenia and other orchid species. Extinct in central west and seriously BNAANGETRHAL: v cavemmssanr v s ers sas s van ey s apnossrmre s EES SRR ETE 1, 2; 3 Dipodium hamiltonianum. Another seriously endangered orchid. Coonabarabran Goonoo Forest 1, 2, 3 Diuris. An area especially rich in the donkey species and forms 1. 2, 3 Eriostemon brevifolius. Similar to E. difformis. Confined to West of Wyalong, Griffith: ‘and COCOPALTA; RB.: ....cicossrnenesasarsossasmrarsnssrsasisssssssisissisaisssibosssisssviss 1. 2,8, 86 Eriostemon ericifolius. Similar to Philotheca salsolifolia. Goonoo Forest, Hervey Range, Cookamidgera 14 '2; 3 B Eucalyptus campanifructa. Girilambone 1,2, 3, 5 Grevillea ericifolia. A dwarf form not reported for many vyears. Upper Lachlan River. 1, 2, 3, 5 Grevillea rosmarinifolia. A distinctive form from Cox’s River . 1.2, 3.5 Hakea bakerana. An exception Hakea also on the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie 16, IGOSIORA .. omvsumisammamssssssissigse vasigaopss s « 1:2, 3 58 Hakea pulvinifera. Probably extinct. Last reported from Keepit Dam .... .42 Halgania preissiana. Pictured on page 356. Mt. Arthur, Mt. Walulman HIIS ... sossssspessmnsavvessemmeasmsssnrassessssnsnssssd 855 Tsmsists s s vissss 1« 2, 3. B Hemigenia cuneifolia. See No. 83 issue. Edge Goonoo Forest and Pilliga Forest 1, 2, 3, 5 Homoranthus darwinioides (Rylstonea). Localised in Goonoo Forest, Lee's Pinch; 'HErveY RaNQE: ssssvss:somssisosisimmsss s as v isa s asipye sassam soson 1a 2: 38 Kennedia procurrens. Rare and localised in Pilliga Forest but also in Q'land 1, 3 Kennedia retrorsa. Rare and localised on Mt. Dangar ...............cccccooooiiiiinans 1, 2, 3. B Phebalium lachnaeoides. Tall shrub similar to P. phylicifolium. Originally found BIaCKNOATI ouvisiemsasmes mimamssaissi s smse s s G ies e ers svss snssonansesnsssasns 4? Phebalium nottii. A floral gem with pink flowers. Bearbong Road, Gilgandra, HErVEY RANEGO ....coourromrorssnnnsmmmmsannionsssssssnssnssibasissssssiissss ssiasassssssssiissssioasssomvme 1, 2, 3, 5 Phebalium obcordatum. Similar to P. glandulosum. White to yellow, from Bogan Gate near Mendooran .... 1+ 2, 3 Phebalium sympetalum. Shrub. Green-y Pass BR08L: sursiainimsinssimmiices ssism s ses i s R e e ey e T 2; 3 Phebalium viridiflorum. Shrub. Yellow-green flowers. Restricted t T8 o o] (- S e T 1. 2, 3 Pultenaea cambageana. A seriously endangered yellow pea of the Torrington i B @ APOE! sinesasaiaes s samsssss e s T iR oe e r s old oer gy oo oSy SR A SR ssver ke g venss e uEsSEEUTE i 2Za Pultenaea canescens. A rare pea flower of Mullion Creek and Napoleon Reefs 1, 2, 3, 5 Pultenaea platyphylla. Not reported since 1917. The Temora area. ................ 1, 2, 8 Swaiasona_recta. A perrenial herb with purple flowers at Mt. Arthur, Mumbil and BUFFBNAONG ...oviveresssensoversasmosssesasaversosssssnanssssnsnessessssssssssiviinassssisassossig 1 2, 3,8 Zieria obcordata. A dainty plant related to Boronia. Wuluuman Hills, N.W. OF BaIRUISE: onmsonnsssionsssisssssasvsinsssns s shs s siiss sty sssavasnissassavesmss sussmosspsppassrsss 1 243 B Vol. 10—Page 355 @@@ 16 @@@ THE FLORA OF MT. ARTHUR RESERVE Wellington, New South Wales — G. W. Althofer and G. J. Harden. Page 356—Vol. 10 @@@ 17 @@@ Australian Endangered Plant Species By John Leigh and Robert Boden. “Australian Endangered Plant Species” is the title of a project being supported by the World Wildlife Fund and aimed at increasing an under- standing of the conservation status of some of Australia’s threatened plants. More than 2,000 vascular plant species are considered to be at risk in Australia (Hartley and Leigh, 1979)* This represents about 10 percent of the known indigenous vascular flora and emphasises the need for conservation action if this national heritage is not to be lost for ever. However before conservation strategies can be developed it is necessary to gain a detailed understanding of the distribution, habitat, and taxonomic relationships of threatened species based on studies of herbarium records and collections, field investigations and the advice of botanists and plant collectors through- out the country. The present project is concentrating on the two hundred species thought to be in serious risk of disappearing from the wild within one or two decades if present land use and other causal factors continue to operate. An attempt is being made to obtain detailed information on distribution, population trends, conservation status, whether located in national parks or other reserves, whether presently in cultivation and if so the most appropriate propagation techniques for each of these species. It is appreciated that some species being studied may have been poorly collected and are not under imminent threat. We hope this may be the case. On the other hand, there may be species not in the present list which are indeed threatened and in urgent need of study. WESTERN AUSTRALIA Acacia aphylla Acacia depressa Adenanthos cunninghamii Adenanthos detmoldii Adenanthos pungens Aotus carinata Aponogeton hexatepalus Balaustion microphyllum Banksia goodii Banksia lullfitzii Banksia pilostylis Boronia revoiuta Caladenia crebra Conospermum scaposum Darwinia carnea Darwinia masoni Darwinia meeboldii Darwinia rhadinophylla Diuris purdiei Dodonaea hackettiana Drakaea jeanensis Drosera occidentalis Dryandra comosa Dryandra polycephala Eucalyptus pendens Eucalyptus steedmannii Eucalyptus stoatei Exocarpus odoratus Franklandia triaristata Grevillea eriobotrya Grevillea flexuosa Grevillea scabra Grevillea scapigera? Hakea aculeata Halgania corymbosa Hemiandra gardneri Hibbertia lasiopus Hibbertia miniata Hibbertia sargentii Kennedia glabrata Kennedia macrophylla Lambertia echinata Lambertia orbifolia Lasiopetalum bracteatum Lechenaultia longiloba Lechenaultia pulvinaris Lyonsia diaphanophlebia Lysinema elegans Nigromnia globosa Ptychosema pusillum Pultenaea skinneri Regelia cymbifolia Restio stenostachyus Rhizanthella gardneri Sowerbaea multicaulis Spirogardnera pubescens Stawellia dimorphantha Stylidium utricularioides Synaphea pinnata Templetonia drummondii Thelymitra psammophila Thomasia montana Thysanotus acerosifolius Tribonanthes brachypetala Urocarpus grandiflorus Verticordia staminosa Villarsia lasiosperma Villarsia submersa SOUTH AUSTRALIA Acacia barattensis Acacia gillii Acacia menzelii Acacia pinguifolia Dryandra pulchella Phelegmatospermum richard- Acacia pickardii Eriostemon nutans sil o Acacia rhigiophylla Eucalyptus rhodantha Pomaderris intangenda Achnophora tatei * Australian Flora in the Endangered Species Convention — CITES. (Hartley and Leigh, 1979). Special Publication No. 3 of the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service is a 95-page booklet that complements the above. It was prepared to acquaint the public in particular that section of the community trading in flora, of species subject to regula- tions. This publication will be available in libraries. It may be obtained by written request to, The Director, Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 636, Canberra City, A.C.T., 2601. As limited numbers were printed, it is suggested that people interested refer first to a library copy to confirm that it will be of value to them. The Flora Of Mt. Arthur Reserve This is the cover of an 82-page book that describes the flora of a recreation reserve three kilometres west of Wellington, N.S.W., available from the Editor for $4.00 plus $1.00 postage. Shown is the beautiful Halgania preissiana belonging to a genus of plants found mainly in Western Australia. Very few reports have been received on these and other shrubs in the family Boraginaceae, that also includes Coldenia, Ehretia, Heliotropium, Myosotis, Ompholappula, Plagiobothrys, Tournefortia and Trichodesma. Who can help the Editor with reports or slides? Vol. 10—Page 357 @@@ 18 @@@ Acrotriche halmaturina Aizoon kochii Atriplex eichleri Atriplex kochiana Atriplex macropterocarpa Brachycome dimorpho- carpa Brachycome muelleri Cheiranthera volubilis Chionohebe parnkalliana Conostephium halmatur- inum Corybas despectans Cryptandra uncinata Dodonaea tepperi Frankenia flabellata Frankenia granulata Frankenia orthotricha Frankenia plicata Frankenia pseudo-flabel- lata Frankenia speciosa Gahnia hystrix Garnotia stricta Goodenia anfracta Grevillea parallelinervis Hydrocotyle comocarpa Lasiopetalum tepperi Maireana melanocarpa Malacocera biflora Myoporum refractum Nymphoides stygia Olearia arida Petrophila multisecta Phebalium hillebrandii Phlegmatospermum rich- ardsii Prasophyllum validum Ptilotus beckeranus Ptilotus robynsianus Pultenaea trifida Pultenaea viscidula Sarcozona bicarinata Sclerolaena cristata Sclerolaena caput-casuarii Sclerolaena eichleri Stackhousia annua Stipa brachystephana Stipa nodosa Swainsona viridis Tetraria halmaturina Triglochin ovoideum Zygophyllum hybridum Zygophyllum kochii VICTORIA Acacia howittii Acacia williamsonii Asplenium hookeranum Calochilus richae Cryptostylis hunterana Diuris punctata var. alba- violaceae Eucalyptus yarraensis Eucalyptus froggattii Gnaphalium nitidulum Gnephosis baracchiana Leucopogon nuerophylius Monotoca rotundifolia Pultenaea patellifolia Rutidosis leptorhynchoides Swainsonia plagiotropis Westringia crassifolia Westringia cremnophila QUEENSLAND Choricarpia subargentea Cryptanthemis slateri Cryptocarya foetida Diploglottis campbellii Dodonaea rupicola Eleocharis difformis Euphorbia carissoides Fimbristylis adjuncta Garnotia stricta Hernandia bivalvis Lepturus geminatus Liparis swenssonii Macropteranthes montana Nervilia pachystomoides Planchonella eerwah Polygala pycnophylla Polystichum fragile Thaumastochloa constricta Xanthostemon oppositifolius NEW SOUTH WALES Acacia forsythii Acacia pubescens Apatophyllum constablei Asplenium hookeranum Caladenia holmesii Cryptanthemis slateri Cryptocarya foetida Cryptostylis hunterana Cynachum elegans Diospyros macabea Diploglottis campbellii Eucalyptus camfieldii Eucalyptus parvifolia Grevillea rivularis Grevillea shiressii Haloragodendron lucasii Olearia flocktoniae Olearia oliganthema Phebalium ralstonii Phyllanthus microcladus Phyllota humifusa Prasophyllum laminatum Prasophyllum obovatum Prostanthera cryptan- droides Prostanthera densa Prostanthera staurophylla Prostanthera stricta Prostanthera teretifolia Pterostylis furcillata Pterostylis longicurva Pultenaea bauerlenii Pultenaea stuartiana Rutidosis leptorhynchoides Swainsonia plagiotropis Syzgium moorei Typhonium eliosurum NORTHERN TERRITORY Actinotus schwarzii Amyema haematodes Boronia affinis Christia australasica Eriachne bleeseri Fimbristylis compacta Helichrysum thomsonii Hibbertia angustifolia Hibbertia tasmanica Huxleya linifolia Macrozamia macdonnellii Terminalia savannicola Thryptomene parvifolia TASMANIA Anthocercis tasmanica Epilobium perpusillum Eucalyptus morrisbyi Euphrasia phragmostoma Ixodia achlaena Milligania johnstonii Oreomyrrhis gunnii In Volume 10, No. 81 of Australian Plants the Editor drew attention to the Society’s objective of preservation of the Australian flora, rightly pointing out that ‘“lessons being learned in the propagation and cultivation of our wildflowers by home gardeners will make a significant contribution to the ultimate objective”’. We recognise that readers of Australian Plants, many of whom are members of the Society, are dispersed throughout the country and often in the best position to understand the local flora of their region. We are therefore seeking their assistance in providing information and illus- trations of any of the species listed below or others which they believe meet the definition of endangered, i.e. species in serious risk of disappearing from the wild state within one or two decades if present land use and other causal factors continue to operate. Any information on locations will be treated confidentially as unfortunate- ly there have been examples of overharvesting of seeds and vegetative material of threatened species when their precise locations have been pub- licised. If you are able to assist please contact either — Dr. Robert Boden, Dr. John Leigh, Division of Plant Industry, CSIRO, P.O. Box 1600, National Botanic Gardens, P.O. Box 158, CANBERRA CITY, A.C.T., 2601. CANBERRA CITY, A.C.T., 2601. Page 358—Vol. 10 @@@ 19 @@@ Westringia, Description of Species G. W. Althofer and P. McD. Althofer The Species of Westringia may be simply described as follows: Westringia amabilis: Boivin. The late C.T. White, then Queensland Government Botanist at Queens- land Herbarium once said in a personal communication to the Authors when writing of this species, “Surely the most beautiful of all Westringia species”. We agree wholeheartedly, for this species with a height of a little over one metre with flowers larger than any other of the genus is certainly a plant of infinite beauty. A fine compact bush with handsome foliage with flowers of soft pink to pale lavender. W. amabilis is a real joy. It grows at Ballandean in South Queensland and at various places on the granitic uplands near there and contiguous border areas of N.S.W. (Mt. Seaview). Leaves ovate-lanceolate with an acute point, 12-20mm. long, 4-8mm. broad on a long, slender petiole to 2mm. long. The flowers are large and handsome. Westringia angustifolia: R. Br. A shrub of two metres or perhaps a little more at times. Branches slender though rigid. The leaves usually in whorls of three but sometimes four or two, on slender erect petioles, narrow linear rather broader and longer than W. quaterna. The revolute margins usually cover the backs of the leaves almost to the broad mid-rib. The apex mucronate. Flowers showy, solitary, axillary near the ends of the branches, rather large white to pale lilac are interspersed in the throat with spots of yellow, crimson or purple on lower side of the throat. Tube slightly longer than the calyx, lobes of the two lips spreading in one plane, upper lip twice as long as the tube, bilobed, each lobe with apex emarginate and the two margins irregularly toothed and often recurved. The lower lip shorter than the upper one and 3 lobed. The species is confined to Tasmania, where it is widespread and locally frequent on rocky hillsides from sea level to 1000 metres. Westringia blakeana: Boivin. This handsome species is confined to the uplands of Southern Queens- land and areas close to the border of northern N.S.W. It is a slender plant of two metres or sometimes a little more, growing under dense Eucalyptus forest cover. The leaves are handsome linear lanceolate. The flowers are also large and handsome, the corolla being purplish and the tube nearly white. We conclude that if this species is grown in the open in mild climates it will prove to be a more compact, lower growing shrub. Plants may be seen in Queensland in Lamington National Park (Davis Ck.), Mt. Maroon, Mt. Gillies Back Ck., Canungra. In N.S.W. Minyon via Mullum- bimby. Westringia brevifolia: Benth. The species is endemic to Tasmania. A much branched shrub to a little over a metre high. The leaves very shortly stalked in whorls of four, oblong or elliptical lanceolate, 4-10mm. long, 1.2 to 3mm. broad; margins shortly and closely revolute but not covering the silvery lower surface. In some forms the upper surface of leaves is a bright, shining green, in others greyish green. Flowers pale mauve solitary, very shortly pedicellate, in the axils of the leaves near the branch ends. Calyx 5-6mm. long, the lobes narrow triangular and tapering to a fine point, more than half as long as the tube. Corolla about twice as long as the calyx, sparsely hairy, the lobes narrow. Endemic to Tasmania. Sparsely represented on the west coast and north of the state. See page 345 for colour plate. Westringia brevifolia var raleighii: (Boivin) W. Curtis. A shrub somewhat larger in all its parts than the type species. The leaves are about one third longer, the flowers are larger, varying in colour from white to mauve. Leaves 11-16mm. long. Calyx 6mm. long. Found at Sandy Bay, Hobart, Tasmania. Colour plate on page 345. Vol. 10—Page 359 @@@ 20 @@@ Westringia cephalantha: F. Muell. This species is endemic to West Australia. An erect bushy shrub (rarely diffuse) to 1 metre high. Leaves linear obtuse or sometimes acute, in whorls of three, four or rarely five, shining but black when dry; rarely exceeding 1-2cm. in length. Flowers sessile and solitary within each floral leaf, collected into dense, globular terminal heads. The bract-like floral leaves not exceeding the calyces and the real bracts usually wanting. Calyx 2 to 3mm. lines long, the teeth very obtuse, irregularly separating to below the middle. Corolla pubescent outside, the tube about as long as the calyx, the upper lobes erect and obovate, the lower ones spread- ing, all flat, obovate and entire, or the middle lower one emarginate. It is fairly close to W.discipulorum but with even smaller flowers. An extra aid to identification is that leaves are shining on top but whitish on the visible surface where the margins are folded back. It is confined to the southern portions of Western Australia. Westringia cheelii: Maide. & Betche. A native to Queensland and N.S.W. In Qld., it may be found west of Pentland, in the Roma district, a Dawson R., Miles, Columboola, N. West of Chinchilla, Pelham, Barakula State Forest and the Moonie highway, west of Westmar. In the Northern border regions of N.S.W., it is widespread extending to Warialda and the Pilliga scrub. It is reported also from Goonoo Forest N.S.W. We know for instance that W. cheelii does come into the eastern portion of the forest and extends towards Gulgong and north through the wheat belt to the Pilliga. If however the species extends to the forest proper it must mingle with W.rigida. The status of this plant must remain questionable until a full range of specimens are assembled for the whole of the north west of N.S.W., and the central division. Our own interpretation of this species is that it is generally a taller shrub than W. rigida with longer leaves. The leaves of W.rigida being less than half the length of those of W.cheelii and linear acute with strongly revolute margins. The leaves of W.cheelii are more or less linear lanceolate with an acute point. The flowers usually white to pale yellowish but sometimes pale mauve show up well on the long branches. The average height runs to a little over a metre. The type collection of this species by J. L. Boor- man was on the road from Goonoo (Forest?) to Mudgee and this bears out our earlier remarks that W.cheelii inhabits the isolated ridges east and north of Goonoo and Pilliga Forest. Westringia crassifolia: N. A. Wakefield. The species is confined to Victoria. This is a very showy species with beautiful flowers of mauve to deep violet. An erect shrub. The height is from one to a little over two metres. This plant provides brilliant splashes of colour in the Whipstick scrub near Bendigo and along the fringes of the Little Desert. Leaves are in whorls of three. Shortly petiolate, narrow elliptical, 5-15mm, 1.5-2.5mm. wide, thick, upper surfaces concave underneath, becoming wrinkled, both surfaces minutely tuberculate and slightly pubescent, margins minutely denticulate, not recurved, apex obtuse but with a slight callose point, the midrib not apparent except as an inde- finite thickening on the undersurface; flowers sub sessile, calyx 4-5mm. long, scaly pubescent, scarcely ribbed. The lobes triangular thick acute and 1.5-2mm. long. Westringia cremnophylla: N. A. Wakefield. The Snowy River Westringia. A very rare species with a restricted range along the cliff faces of the Snowy River Gorge in East Gippsland, Victoria. A straggly, much branched shrub, growing in crevices of the rocky cliffs. Bark of the older and larger stems thick and corky, furrowed. Leaves in whorls of three (rarely four) 1-2cm. long, 1-2mm. wide, margins revolute, apex obtuse but =+ mucronate. Flowers solitary in the axils, subsessile; calyx lobes acute, about half as long as the tube; Corolla mauve, about 1cm. long, densely hispid on the outside villous in the throat, all five lobes indented at the apex with the lowest one more so (quite Page 360—Vol. 10 @@@ 21 @@@ bilobed) and longer than the others, flowering branchlets 2-4cm. long, universally invested (on stems, leaves and calyces) with dense =+ whitisn tomentum. A straggling, dwarf shrub of 50-70cm. Dr. J. Willis has said “this is a rare shrub of the cliff faces of the Snowy River Gorge where it is endemic”. W. Cane and Leo Hodge (the original discoverer) have both reported on the excellence of this seldom collected species. Westringia dampierii: R. Br. This species Is confined to southern West. Australia and adjacent areas in South Australia. Usually a small shrub, very dense and up to a metre high. The leaves and young shoots mostly hairy in whorls of four, rarely three. The flowers, rather small are axillary, white with purple markings. Originally this species was reported from Tasmania but later examination has transferred the Tasmanian collections to W. angustifolia. In West. Australia it is found mostly in the vicinity of Albany, back along the coast eastwards and contiguous areas to just over the Sth. Australian border. This small, rigid shrub has the young shoots and leaf undersides hoary though less so than W. fruticosa. The corolla is more hirsute than the above species, the calyx with a striate tube of about 4mm. and the teeth whether broad or narrow always very short and acute, usually not a Y4 the length of the tube. Westringia discipulorum: S. Moore. This is a rare species confined to the south-west portions of West. Australia. A small shrub with sub-terete leaves, usually in whorls of four and densely tomentose. Known locally as White Cotton bush from the crowded white flowers at ends of the branchlets. The flowers are small, white; the calyces exceeding the floral leaves. The leaves are shorter than in W.cephalantha, to which it is closely related, but the floral leaves are longer. The flower heads and flowers are a little larger than those of W. cephalantha. The height is about half a metre. Westringia eremicola: A. Cunn. ex Benth. One of our most widespread species found inland in N.S.W., Queens- land, Victoria and South Australia. A slender but sometimes a bushy shrub, it is very common over central areas of N.S.W., growing to a height of two metres, with leaves in whorls of three, narrow, linear acute. The flowers rather small vary in colour from the palest mauve to deep mauve or violet, can be very attractive when massed as in good years. A form growing on Mt. Arthur at Wellington, N.S.W., was formerly known as W. linifolia but recent research has relegated it to a synonym of W.eremicola. The chief difference from the type is that the Mt. Arthur plant has leaves even narrower, bright green and glabrous as opposed to the usually hoary or glaucous leaves of the typical W.eremicola. In Queensland W.eremicola may be found in Carnarvon Gorge, Toowoomba Range, Crow’s Nest, Mt. Helidon, Goodna, Dinmore, Ipswich, Mt. Castle, south of Laidley, Belmont, Tingalpa, Broadwater, Mt. Cotton, Mt. Gravatt and St. George, Moonie Hwy. In N.S.W., it occurs at Yamble, Burrendong, Cundumbul Range, Mt. Arthur, Mt. Wellesley, Hervey Range and hills on Cookamidgera Road. In Victoria it occurs along Genoa and Towamba (?) Rivers, in the north east, far north and east of the state. In Sth. Aust., in the Mt. Lofty area and ranges in the central north. The leaves are usually a little more than a mm. broad with a mucronate margin and up to 24mm. long, but usually much shorter, usually scabrous. Calyx lobes narrow, often as long as the tube. Corolla pubescent outside, the upper lip shorter than the middle lobe of the lower lip and not deeply lobed, the lobes all rather narrow and emarginate. Westringia eremicola var. quaterna: The variety is distinguished by having the leaves in whorls of four. Little is known of this plant. But it is recorded that it is a tall, slender shrub of 2 metres or more. The leaves are 10-30mm. long and 0.6-1.0mm. wide. A little narrower and longer than the normal W.eremicola. This may result from the position in which the variety grows — deep, shaded gullies on the Shoalhaven R., at Glenrock (?). Vol. 10—Page 361 @@@ 22 @@@ Westringia fruticosa (Willd) Druce. Syn. W. rosmariniformis. The first Westringia discovered and named has only comparatively recently undergone the name change as shown above. The common sea- coast Westringia of N.S.W. used quite often as a dwarf hedge. This is a dense bush to one metre or more in height and succeeds in a variety of soils and situations from the far inland to the most exposed areas on the sea coast. The leaves crowded on the stems are in whorls of four, with the under- sides hoary or silvery white; from oblong lanceolate to linear, 12-24mm long, coriaceous, glabrous and shining on the upper side, the margins more or less recurved or revolute. Flowers rather small, white, almost sessile, all axillary with very short linear bracts. Calyx about 6mm. long. The teeth acute, varying from half the length to nearly the length of the tube. Corolla pubescent outside, not twice as long as the calyx, the upper lip deeply 2 lobed, equal to or longer than the tube, the lower lip scarcely so long. Anthers of the staminedia with two linear, clavate parallel lobes. Commonly called native rosemary because of a fancied resemblance of the leaves to that plant. Westringia glabra: R. Br. includes W. violacea: F. Muell. Westringia glabra is a harndsome shrub, very variable as to leaf shape and size, sometimes being thick and fleshy, sometimes thin and attenuated. The leaves with a prominent mid-rib, scarcely recurved, shining above, dull below. Leaves sometimes up 1o 2cm. long at other times barely half that length. Leaves in whorls of three, shortly petiolate, from oblong elliptic to lanceolate, acute or obtuse, flat or the margins slightly recurved, smooth and often shining on the upper surface. The flowers are rather large and showy, very numerous, pale mauve to violet in colour, calyx teeth usually lanceolate, about as long, or a little longer than the tube. In Queensland it may be found at Shoalwater Bay, Mt. Cooroora, and in many secluded gullies from these places south to the N.S.W. border. In N.S.W. it is found in many New England areas, along the mountainous coastal fall to the Victorian border. We have noted it at Smith’'s and Myall Lakes. In Victoria it is doubtful if the typical form exists at all except at isolated patches in northern Gippsland and perhaps near Timbarra R., south of Mt. Elizabeth. Dr. Willis in ““Plants in Victoria™ states “Victorian populations are chiefly referrable to var. bacchi and var. williamsoni — W. williamsonii — Willis & Boivin™. Westringia glabra var. bacchii: B. Boivin. This is a handsome small plant with smaller narrower and shorter leaves. Typical examples are found along the Lerderberg Gorge. This variety with quaternate leaves, very short floral bracteoles and narrower hairy calyx tubes that are mostly longer than their lobes is a feature of this area. This variety with large mauve to violet flowers grows to one metre and perhaps a little taller in sheltered places. Westringia glabra var. violacea — W.violacea: F. Muell. The type of this plant was collected from near the mouth of the Goulburn R., by Mueller in March 1853. Another specimen collected 11/11/45 by J. H. Willis at Lerderberg Gorge agrees fairly well with the type. We have received specimens from the one area labelled just W. violacea which appear to match the above description. The only divergence is that the leaves are broader, quite glabrous and the flowers even larger than in W.glabra and the variety bacchi. The leaves in specimens we have examined range from narrow to broadly lanceolate. Westringia grandifolia: F. Muell. A striking species confined to the Glass House Mts., in Queensland and contiguous areas. It is a tall shrub to 2 metres and one of the love- liest of the genus, the conspicuous leaves in whorls of three, oblong ellip- tical, 1-25cm. long, the margins slightly revolute, green above white beneath. The large flowers are from white to pale or deep mauve. Flowers all axillary. Calyx very white about 8mm. long, the teeth nearly as long as the tube. Corolla pubescent not unlike that of W. fruticosa with the lobes Page 362—Vol. 10 @@@ 23 @@@ shorter and broader and the upper lip rather shorter than the lower. It may be found at Beerwah (Muellers Granite Mountain) Mt. Biboa, Mt. Tibro- gargan in Queensland. Westringia grevillina: F. Muell. This is a dry area shrub allied to W.dampierii and by some authorities considered synonymous. Pending further investigation we prefer at the moment to keep them separated. A small rigid shrub with leaves in whorls of three, shorter and more numerous than in W.dampierii. Flowers smaller than those of W.eremicola and differing only in having the calyx half as long as the tube and perhaps in having the leaves more crowded than in that species and W. dampierii. In South Australia it may be found 'at Port Lincoln and adjacent areas and in West. Australia just over the border near the coast. We have collected specimens from near and on Mt. Remarkable of a plant which appears to be this species. The leaflets in whorls of three or four, more rigid and pungent pointed than usual. Height to 12 metres. Westringia linifolia see W. eremicola. Formerly classified by Edwin Cheel as W. linifolia but name was ' not validly published. This plant is more slender with finer leaves, glabrous and of a deeper green than typical W.eremicola. Mt. Arthur, Mt. Wellesley and the Hervey Range near Obley in N.S.W. Westringia longifolia: R. Br. A fairly tall, slender shrub with the leaves in whorls of three, glabrous, shining green above, duller below and very narrow. The flowers are rather small, axillary, white. Calyx to be 2-3mm. long, 5 ribbed, green and smooth, the teeth lanceolate-subulate, usually about as long as the tube and often ciliate. Corolla pubescent outside, the tube exserted and usually exceeding the calyx teeth, dilated upwards, the upper lip much shorter than the tube, broadly 2 lobed, the middle lobe of the lower lip much longer. Con- nective of the perfect anthers very prominent and (in some specimens at least) almost winged at the back. Growing to 2 metres and sometimes more, this long flowering shrub is hardy in most areas. Occasionally plants are seen with pale mauve flowers. Confined to N.S.W. this species is found in the Sydney area from the south coast to the Gosford area in the north, and west to Campbelltown and the Appin area. Westringia longipedunculata: Boivin. This rare plant, confined to the Inglewood area in Southern Queens- land and contiguous areas, will well repay introduction to garden culture. It is a beautiful species with fairly large deep mauve flowers. We feel that the range of this plant may be considerably extended by further investi- gation. Plants collected north and west of Inglewood appear to belong to this species. It grows to a height of one metre and more and is a stiff, upright shrub. Leaves 3-5mm. long, ovate-oblong, smooth, and thick in texture. Peduncles 2-2.5mm. long; calyx 5.5-6mm. long; tube 4.5-5mm. long. Westringia lucida: Boivin. The alpine Westringia of N.S.W. found on most of the Alpine Mountains of southern N.S.W. Typical areas are Cabramurra, Kiandra and near Khan- koban. The leaves are a bright, shining green above, smooth and in whorls of three, 8-12mm. long. The flowers are white and on good bushes are like newly fallen snow. This is a shrub to one metre high and very often wider spreading. Westringia parvifolia: White and Francis. A small species endemic to the southern inland areas of Queensland and extending westward to the dry area ranges. A small rigid shrub from 30-70cm of a metre high with numerous small white to pale mauve flowers. The leaves very tiny — the smallest of the genus are crowded in whorls of three. Leaves 1.5-3mm. long, peduncles 0.5mm. long. It may be found at Yelarbon, Inglewood and Keetah near Goondiwindi. We have recently located plants on the west Queensland ranges. Voi. 10—Page 363 @@@ 24 @@@ Westringia quaterna: Boivin. This species is confined to Tasmania. A fine shrub of a little less than a metre to three metres. The leaves are in whorls of four occasionally three or two. The main recognisable difference from W.eremicola, with which it is often confused are as follows: Leaves longer with more acute terminal point (often pungent), leaves deep green above, grey beneath, rolled back to almost cover the undersurface. Calyx scarcely lobed, flowers axillary, pale to deep mauve, solitary, near ends of branches. Leaves on slender erect petioles 1-2mm. long. There is some doubt in the minds of some botanists as to the vali- dity of this species but we consider it is quite distinct from its relatives. It is widespread and located frequently on rocky hillsides from sea level to 1000m. Included in W. angustifolia by Curtis in student’s flora. Westringia raleighii: Boivin. Regarded as a variety of W. brevifolia. In the recent publication “Endemic Flora Of Tasmania”, Dr. W. Curtis restored this to full specific range, a decision widely acclaimed. The species is larger in all its parts than W. brevi- folia. Westringia rigida: R. Br. From Queensland, N.S.W., Victoria, S. Australia, Tasmania and West. Australia, “Stiff Westringia”. This is the species with the greatest range of any other in the genus. On critical examination it may be found that several species are covered by the above name, for not only has the species the greatest range but it has also the greatest variability in the genus. It is a rigid bushy shrub of one metre. The leaves are mostly in whorls of three but occasionally four, and usually glabrous, linear obtuse, rigid. Colour plate on page 348. The flowers are numerous, small, white, spotted with purple on the lower lip. The species seems to run into and merge with W. cheelii in some districts, but generally speaking the leaves are shorter, more rigid and less flexuose than in W.cheelii. The leaves vary in length from 1-10mm. long to 1mm. broad, rigid and almost pungent pointed, hoary beneath, rarely above, but the undersurface sometimes almost concealed by the revolute margins, the floral ones shorter than or as long as calyx; calyx 4-5mm. long, hoary with a minute pubescence, the deltoid teeth about 1/3 as long as tube; corolla not twice as long as calyx, pubescent inside and out, white spotted with purple inside the lower lip. In Queensland the species may be found at Grey Range, Quilpie — Thybunga Road. In N.S.W., in Goonoo and Pilliga Forests, the Hervey Range, sandy areas in north east and north west of the State, also north of Bourke. In Victoria in the Wimmera, Avoca and Murray areas, the little and Big Deserts. In South Australia in southern sandy areas to the far north, west to Birksgate Range, Ooldea, Murray lands, Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas. In West. Australia on Rottnest Is., Sharke Bay, Murchison River, and many localities between there and Birksgate Range. Westringia rigida var. brachyphylla: Has leaves shorter and more spreading than the type. A dwarf variety from W. Australia of 0.7m. Westringia rigida: var. dolichophylla: A dwarf variety from W. Australia height up to 0.7m. It has longer leaves than the variety brachyphylla up to 3cm. long. Westringia rollandii: Boivin. A little known species confined to Queensland. Botanically it is close to W.cheelii differing only from that species in having all of the leaves hairy except the top surface. The leaves (unlike those of W.cheelii) are broadest towards the tip. The calyx teeth are short. Westringia rubiaefolia: R. Br. Confined to Tasmania. This is a much branched dense shrub upwards of one metre high with leaves in whorls of four. Branches glabrous to Page 364—Vol. 10 @@@ 25 @@@ pubescent. Leaves sessile to subsessile, oblong — elliptical or lanceolate, apex blunt or mucronate; acute 4-12mm. long, leaf upper surface smooth, shining, glabrous, lower surface paler but glabrous, somewhat thick, flat or wnh margins slightly recurved. Flowers solitary, axillary, crowded in short clusters, near the ends of the branches. Calyx glabrous or puberulent 4-6mm. long, the lobes narrow — trianguiar, as long as the tube. Corolla pubescent, white or pale pinkish lilac with tube as long as the calyx and lobes shorter than the tube. Widespread and locally abundant from coast to mountain plateaux. Westringia rubiaefolia var subsericea: Upper leaves and inflorescence silky pubescent. Leaves thick, not at all revolute. The corolla nearly glabrous, the lobes apparently narrower than the typical form. Head of Douglas River, Tasmania. Westringia rosmariniformis: SM. now known as W. fruticosa (Willd) Druce. See reference in the introduction to this paper. Westringia rupicola: S. T. Blake. This rare species is confined to the mountains of southern Queensland. The plants form small green pendulous bushes growing in the crevices of the sheer rhyolite cliffs. The bluish-white flowers have a few pale brown spots at the base of the lower lip. The only other Westringia recorded from a similar habitat is W.cremnophylla from Victoria. W. rupicola is unique in having pendulous stems and opposite leaves. Ternate leaves were found at a few nodes of only two of the very many branchlets examined. There is a superficial resemblance to W.blakeana Boivin also found on Rhyolitic areas on the McPherson Range; this erect shrub sometimes has opposite leaves towards the base of the branchlets, but the plants are =+ puberulous all over, the leaves are broader on longer petioles up to 1.5mm. long, the peduncles are shorter with longer broader bracts, and the calyx is larger with lobes slightly to prominently longer than the tube; also the ribs decurrent in pairs along the stems from each leaf base are acute and, especially on the younger twigs, almost winglike in W. rupicola but more or less obtuse and tuberculate in W.blakeana. The flowers axillary. Found on western and eastern slopes of Mt. Roberts, McPherson Range and Spring- brook. Height is approximately %2 a metre. Westringia senifolia: F. Muell. This endemic Victorian species is confined to the alpine areas. A small rigid shrub up to 0.7m. The leaves are in close whorls of 5 or 6 rigid, scabrous, linear with margins so revolute as to conceal the under surface. The flowers are white, densely clustered in the uppermost axils. The species is an erect, robust shrub of 0.6-1-3m. more or less hirsute with white hairs, sometimes silky but looser and longer than in the other species, occasionally wearing off from the older leaves. The flowers axil- lary, sessile. Calyx tube 3-4mm. lines. The teeth subulate-acuminate nearly or quite as long as the tube. Corolla slightly pubescent outside, the lobes all nearly equal or the middle lower one rather longer, and not very much ex- ceeding the calyx teeth. See photograph on page 349. Confined to Victoria on Mt. Aberdeen, Buffalo Range and other high mountains in the southern Alps. Westringia senifolia var. canescens: It is thought expedient to include this plant from the Phillips River area of West. Australia. We feel however that closer examination will place it as a distinct species. W. senifolia is entirely alpine whilst this plant grows on the low, stony jump ups of the near coastal Phillips River of West. Aust. A small plant up to 0.6m. with leaves in whorls of 5 or 6. The whole plant is hoary with white hairs and the flowers are small and white. Westringia sericea: Boivin. This beautiful species, confined to southern Queensland whilst abundant in very localised areas can be considered rare. A tall species up to 2 metres, with silky, greyish leaves and conspicuous lavender flowers. Leaves Vol. 10—Page 365 @@@ 26 @@@ narrow lanceolate 2-3cm. long and 2-4mm. wide, petiolate. Calyx 7-8mm. long, tube 3.5-4.5mm. long. It is found on rocky ridges in Moreton district, Mt. Greville, Mt. Edwards. The flowers are similar to but a little smaller than those of W. grandifolia. Westringia tenuicaulis: White and Francis. This species is unique in that its rigidly erect stems spring from a thickened root stock. The stems about 30cm. high, straight, virgate simple or sometimes slightly branched, leaves in 3’s, rarely in 4’s; narrow lanceo- late, a little smaller than those of W.glabra. The flowers are small, purple at the leaf bases. It may be found at Burrum River, Double Island Point, Nikenbah, Tuen Ck., Lake Cootharaba, Elliot River and Coolum in S.Qld. Westringia violacea: F.Muell now known as W.glabra var. violacea. See discussion in the introduction and description under W.glabra. Westringia williamsonii: Willis and Boivin. We are very much aware that the inclusion of this plant in the list as a full species may cause surprise but we feel that the differences between this and W.glabra are too marked to be entirely ignored. It is of course an easy matter to pass over the matter of quaternate leaves but the other botanical differences are more constant and of greater significance. Many species are variable as to leaf and unless the differences are fixed, too much emphasis should not be placed on this feature. W. williamsonii as we see it is an upright, slender plant confined to Victoria. It is smaller in all its parts than W.glabra. The leaves besides being smaller are thinner and quaternate. The flowers have very short bracteoles and narrower, hairy calyx tubes that are mostly longer than their lobes (Willis). It may be found in parts of the Grampians (Victoria) Lake Tyers and W. Tree Creek Falls near Buchan. It grows to a height of two metres. Westringia sp (Nov.?) A small diffuse shrub of the Stony Ridges of the Ravensthorpe area of W. Australia. Height 30-50cm. Leaves in whorls of three, sometimes four, ovate, glabrous, shining bright green above, dull below, not recurved, 3-4mm. long, 2mm. broad. Flowers smalil, white, axillary. This strange little plant is compact with a very dense leaf cover. Other new species? There are still many unanswered questions relating to the genus. With regard to two species W.eremicola and more particularly in the case of W.rigida we feel there are good grounds for a thorough investigation of these two species. We feel that the separation of the extreme variants will lead to a much clearer picture of the genus as a whole. In addition to the possible new species in our specimens of W.rigida variants we have a specimen from Boatman Road, Charleville which cannot be matched. It seems to be midway between W. longifolia and W. eremicola. Westringia Cultivars: Westringia ‘Poorinda Pavane’ — A cross of W. glabra and the NSW form of W. fruticosa. A plant almost midway between the parents in the shrub shape 2m. x 1.5m. with light mauve flowers, the petals not being so wide spreading as in W. fruticosa. Westringia ‘Poorinda Anne’ — A cross between W. glabra and W. crem- nophylla, a small shrub with soft mauve flowers. Readers, advise the Editor of other cultivars or good forms of species. NEW BOOK ON WILDFLOWERS National Parks of N.S.W. by Barbara Mullins, Margaret Martin and Douglas Baglin. Recommended Price $12.95. Available from the Editor for $12.00 post free for 1980. All the national parks and historic sites in N.S.W. are described and intended as a traveller's guide. An extremely valuable and accurate guide. The book features, at much greater length, four areas every Australian should visit — Royal National Park just south of Sydney; Warrumbungle National Park on the edge of The Cradle Of Incense and featured in this issue on page 376; Kinchega To The Corner Country, the outback areas of the far north-west of the State; and the historic Hill End, scene of Australia’s early gold rush. The presentation is excellent with some superb colour photographs and the personal experience and competence of the writers shows in the text. The book contains all the information a traveller will need to know. A superb Christmas present. Page 366—Vol. 10 @@@ 27 @@@ Grafting Prostanthera onto Westringia Reprinted from the National Botanic Gardens Journal “Growing Native Plants” — Volume 7. Interest in grafting plants of the genus Prostanthera was initiated follow- ing high losses in both the Botanic Gardens nursery and the open garden. These observations, begun in 1969, soon linked the root-rotting fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi with these deaths. Chemical control in the field was not feasible. Studies of the genus and related genera led to Westringia fruticosa or Coastal Rosemary being chosen as a likely rootstock. W. fruticosa grows vigorously in the Gardens, is easily propagated and shows excellent resistance to P. cinnamomi. The initial grafting trials showed that most species of Pros- tanthera were compatible with W. fruticosa. Several small-leafed species such as P. aspalathoides were incompatible and were successfully grafted using a nurse graft of P. nivea. The W. fruticosa stock was struck from cuttings and grown-on in 10 cm pots. When 10-12 cm high these stocks were pruned to leave only one main stem. Any laterals were shortened to within 2 cm of the main stem in order to provide sustenance till the graft could produce its own food. They were then removed altogether. The wood was prepared like a cutting. The wood used was semi-hardened tip material about 5-7 cm long with two-thirds of the leaves removed. It was ideally the same diameter as the stock. Using sterilised tools the top of the stock was removed and a 2 cm cut made vertically down the centre of the stem. The scion was prepared by paring off an equal length of wood (2 cm) from each side to make a vertical wedge. This wedge was fitted into the vertical slit, the cambium or bark layers aligned and the graft bound and sealed. The lower down the stock the graft is placed, the less chance there is of the Westringia stock shooting away. All the same, it is still necessary to check the stock for the first few years and cut back any shoots. Once the graft is established the leaves on the stock can be completely removed; at this stage the graft can be unwrapped. All grafts at Canberra Botanic Gardens are done in a glasshouse with problem species covered by plastic bags to raise humidity. The Gardens has most of the common Prostanthera spp. established as grafts and work now is concentrated on the less common species. Grafted specimens have been made with most species. For many difficult-to-propagate species grafting may provide the only means of propagating and thus preserving them. The survival rate of the grafted plants is more than twice that of comparable non-grafted plants. However, there are difficulties with the work. The Westringia grows so vigor- ously that it can push off the scion or callous too quickly. This problem is alleviated to some degree if the stock and scion are both growing vigorously in the glasshouse before grafting. The follow-up to grafting can be time- consuming with weekly checks and weekly stock pruning essential. The success with Prostanthera has led to the examination of other diffi- cult-to-propagate genera. Some initial work has been done on Myrtaceae using Kunzea ambigua as a stock; Rutaceae using Eriostemon and citrus; Western Banksias on to Eastern Banksias and so on. There is still much experimental work to be done with other genera but it appears that after five years of trials, the grafting of Prostanthera on to Westringia fruticosa is indeed successful. It is strongly recommended that both amateurs and nurserymen adopt ‘*his practice as standard when producing Prostanthera plants. Vol. 10—Page 367 @@@ 28 @@@ Eriostemon australasius An Improvement of Seed Propagation by P. Nixon, Senior Lab. Technician, The Dept. of Agronomy and Horticultural Science, The University of Sydney. INTRODUCTION Eriostemon australasius is an attractive Australian native shrub up to 2 metres high, found on the coast between central N.S.W. and Southern Queens- land and some inland areas. The numerous attractive flowers may be seen from July to September. The pink flowers as cut flowers hold on well to their stems. The horticultural exploitation of this plant is hindered by one major aspect and that is it is difficult to propagate. An article in Australian Plants (Vol 6 256-259) by Mclintyre and Veitch (1972) has shown that seed germination can be increased to 25% by chipping the testa (seed coat) and by leaching. The chipping involved removing the testa around the radicle end of the seed with a scalpel, carefully exposing the endosperm and not damaging the radicle. This seed was then placed in muslin bags and washed in running water for 2 weeks. Presumably this removes a germination inhibitor before sowing. This method has given results in which all viable seeds, as determined by a 1% tetrazolium chloride stain, were germinated. However, only 29 out of 100 seeds were indicated as being viable according to this method and it is in this area of low viability that | made this study. Some attempts have also been made to propagate the plant using tissue culture. It is understood that the work at the University of New England under de Fossard (Parry, personal communication) has proceeded to the point where some rootlets were developed on plantlets. Results of propagation by cuttings vary ccnsiderably and are not satisfactory. | have moderate responses by cuttings to the hormone idol-butric-acid (IBA) at high temperatures, and some parent plants gave more successful cuttings than others. So far, however, no widely accepted method of successfully propagating the plant has been devised. The aim of the study was to observe the effect on seed viability of matur- ing the seed on the plant. To ensure that seed was properly matured on the plant, seed traps were placed around plants growing in the Gosford N.S.W. area in mid November 1978. Plants appeared to be shedding seed at this time of year. Traps of fibreglass fly-netting were put over plants and tied or stapled where necessary. These traps were collected in mid December when most seed had been shed (dehisced) from the capsules. When the dehisced seed was separated from the trash, numbers varied from 30 to 100 seeds per plant with an average of 50 seeds per plant. Each plant was considered to be a replication and so seed collected from each plant was kept separate. Unfortunately, this seed could not be tested until November 1979. During this 12 months time it was kept at normal room temp- erature, Camden N.S.W. (lat. 34°S). After storage, seed collected in traps was visibly different from apparently matured seed which had been hand-picked from nearby plants at the time of putting out traps in mid November. A visual comparison of trapped seed and hand collected seed showed:- (a) hand collected seed tended to be brown, wrinkled and have curled seed stalks (funicle). Trapped seed was shiny black with no wrinkles and the funicle remained straight. (b) A very high proportion of hand collected seed floated in water, while nearly all the trapped seed sank. This would possibly provide an initial check on seed quality. Page 368—Vol. 10 @@@ 29 @@@ Seed Treatments The following treatments were applied to seed from each plant. Table 1 — Germination of Seed Obtained expressed in per cent Seed collected from traps Seed collected by hand Plants A B Cc D E H | J K Chipped Seed 80 60 40 50 70 0 0 [¢] 0 Unchipped Seed 0 [¢] 0 0 20 o] [¢] 0 [0] (1) Chipped seed. 1 mm of testa was carefully chipped from the larger radicle end with a scalpel, taking care not to damage the radicle. 10 seeds per plant were treated from plants which were bagged, and 5 seeds per plant from plants which were hand collected and not dehissed. (2) Unchipped seed. Here, seeds were left entire. 5 seeds per plant were used in all cases. After seed treatment, seeds were put in a mist propagator in sand at 26°C to 30°C. Seed was dusted with Benlate and the duration of the trial was 28 days. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION It is clear that germination of both trapped and untrapped seed was extremely poor when the seed was left entire: chipping greatly increased the germination of trapped seed but did not increase the germination of hand collected seed. These results confirm the finding that some seed treatment is necessary to improve germination — it also confirms that chipping is an effective (though laborious) method. However, it shows that a long period of leaching (2 weeks, as performed by Mcintyre and Veitch, 1972), is not necessary to obtain re- moval of any inhibitor presumed to be present, with 12 month old seed mist- ing alone is sufficient. More importantly, the results here show that increase in germination can be obtained if we aliow the seed to mature and dehisce on the parent plant. Seed which may be collected by hand by a collector who makes one or two visits to the plants may not have matured and may never mature to the point of dehiscence. Further work needs to be done to establish if freshly trapped seed will perform as well without having the 12 months storage to overcome the effect of inhibitors. It is probable that trapped seed will give a greater quantity of collected seed and seed which can germinate better because it has been allowed to mature fully to the point of dehiscence on the plant. This finding may also apply to other members of the Rutaceae family. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS | am indebted to Mr and Mrs Parry from Floralands for their generous help and encouragement. To Professor M. Mullins and Dr P. G. E. Searle from the Department of Agronomy and Horticultural Science, the University of Sydney, for their encouragement. To D. Mclintyre and G. Veitch from Canberra Botanic Gardens for the chip and leach system to build on, and to my wife for her help and tolerance. Gardening on Coastal Limestone in exposed situations By COLIN OFFICER, Seymour, Victoria | was most interested in ‘“Gardening in Limestone Areas” in the June, 1977, issue. You have asked for reports on experience in wildflower cultivation, so | am encouraged to give my own findings. This article will not be for the expert, but rather to encourage the non-expert to have a go on “Coastal Limestone, Exposed Areas”. This is, | believe, a challenge, and one which deserves publicity. Many people like to build in an open situation to achieve a view, and simply do not know how to restore the missing native vegetation. Yet a bush garden will enhance their home and is easily designed not to interfere with the views. Only a mass movement of interested coastal home owners can hope to reverse a century or more of depredation of coastal scenery, a depredation Vol. 10—Page 369 @@@ 30 @@@ which is rapidly increasing with more and more houses by the sea. It is essential that the plant species chosen be simple, quick-growing ones which will encourage our gardeners and also their neighbours. Over the past eight years we have been creating a native garden at Nelson in western Victoria. The block was a simple suburban-sized one, on a bare hillside covered in phalaris grass. There was indeed, on the lee side, a partial hedge of native vegetation, but there was no wind protection, and salt-laden gales of up to 100 mph occur in season. The limestone begins about 1ft down, but is fairly easy to dig out. Building excavations produced some deeper soil in one corner of the garden. A “park mixture” of grass was selected for general hardiness, and a continued weeding programme of all phalaris has gone on. This is now quite an easy task, with the growth of shrubs and trees. Native species of grass like kangaroo grass now occur in spots and are encouraged. We soon realised that a native windbreak on all sides was essential and have used mainly the locally occurring species. Those used have been: 1. Acacia longifolia var. sophorae (Coast Acacia). This was found quite unsuitable; it would grow well, become yellow and die. Acacia sophorae is a very dominant species and it now needs some restriction, though the gates help to do some of the pruning! It flowers well in late September. 2. Leptospermum laevigatum (Coastal Tea Tree), which has established itself in a wild state on part of the Glenelg River bank, though | believe not indigenous to the area. Planted closely it forms a dense thicket flowering in October. 3. Leucopogon parviflorus (Coastal Beard Heath), which like coast acacia germinates from windblown seed in the ground as the result of watering and protection from rabbits by fencing. 4. Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle), grown readily from seed. 5. Helichrysum paralium (Coast Everlasting), which is cultivated for its silvery foliage contrast. Flowers in February. 6. Westringia fruticosa, which provides flowers for about 11 months of the year. It is not local, but has proved most successful. 7. Melaleuca lanceolata (Moonah), indigenous to our hill. It is summer flowering. 8. Eucalyptus gomphocephala (Tuart Gum), surely the best eucalypt for coastal limestone. 9. Eucalyptus robusta (Swamp Mahogany), doing very well with full exposure. 10. Casvarina stricta, the common local she-oak, which is very hardy, though rather slower growing than the previous species. Whilst the above were growing, but in more cases after we had achieved some wind protection, we have found the following to be relatively successful to date. 11. Melaleuca diosmifolia flowers profusely, and even tolerated full exposure, though it appreciates the cover it now enjoys. Our most successful Melaleuca to date. 12. Melaleuca densa. This little-mentioned species has tolerated full exposure with equanimity and flowers profusely. The very similar M. squarrosa has not thrived in this situation. 13. Melaleuca incana. Fairly successful, but would have benefited by early wind protection. It flowers annually, but is small. 14. Melaleuca nesophila. This shrub also appreciates some wind pro- tection. It is small, but flowers well, the blooms being suitable for cutting. 15. Melaleuca armillaris. This shrub also appreciates protection from salt and wind. It is hardy enough to flower regularly, but has some yellowing of its leaves. Not a wind-break species under these conditions. 16. Melaleuca styphelioides. Successful behind a screen of tea-tree. Page 370—Vol. 10 @@@ 31 @@@ 17. Melaleuca elliptica. The general success of the genus induced us to try this granite country species; it has had slow growth, but is managing to survive, though no flowers yet. 18. Western Australian Melaleuca species, currently unidentified, but related to M. microphylla and M. minutifolia. It is a low-growing, spreading shrub with terminal green flowers in late August, and very successful. 19. Eucalyptus leucoxylon rosea. This species appreciates wind pro- tection, but certainly thrives if this is provided. 20. Eucalyptus cornuta (Yate). This is a successful species in Nelson, but here good soil and salt protection are needed. 21. Acacia pravissima. Grown with full protection, its performance to date is bealow expectations. 22. Hakea laurina. Our specimen stood up to full exposure, but took six years to flower. Protection is appreciated, and deep soil would be advantageous. 23. Banksia integrifolia. Early growth of small specimens was encour- aging; flowering occurred in 4-5 years. Current growth is nearly static, with no further flowers, probably due to limestone intolerance. 24. Banksia ericifolia. Early growth was good, but no flowers yet and probably does not like these conditions. 25. Banksia marginata. This is the local species in the Lower Glenelg National Park. It looks healthy and is sprouting after two years. 26. Banksia praemorsa. Very satisfactory growth in two years. | am optimistic about this one. 27. Albizia lophantha flowers well at Nelson. It is straggly unless given wind protection. Ground-storey Plants and Climbers A number of these were planted; others were self-seeded. 28. Pimelea ferruginea, which is a great success. 29. Correa reflexa, highly successful. 30. Calocephalus brownii, (Cushion Bush). Planted, but a local. 31. Disphyma sp. (Pigface), local to area. 32. Senecio lautus (Variable Groundsel). Only tolerable as an annual, due to the untidy dead stalks produced. 33. Anigozanthos flavidus (Kangaroo Paw). Satisfactory. 34. Tetragonia implexicoma (Bower Spinach). A common and prolific local grown from cuttings. Tolerable if its growth and site are strictly controlled, it cascades over ugly brick walls, climbs over shrubbery and provides habitat. 35. Clematis microphylla. Self-seeded. Flowers under full exposure. 36. Convolvulus erubescens. Self-seeded. 37. Kennedia prostrata. Self-seeded and a great joy. 38. Ajuga australis. Self-seeded. 39. Hibbertia australis. Successful, a local plant. 40. Helichrysum obtusifolium. Successful, yellow flowered. 41. Ptilotus macrocephalus. Self-seeded. 42. Bulbine bulbosa (Bulbine Lily). Indigenous to the site. 43. Viola sieberana. Self-seeded. Comes up spontaneously in spots that catch water beneath other plants. Bird Life Encouraged The common species now attracted to the revegetation include blue wrens, silvereyes, yellow-tailed thornbills, white-browed scrub wrens, grey fantails, grey thrush and New Holland honeyeaters, most of which are breeding there. We also have crimson rosellas, red-browed finches, owls, nankeen kestrels (interested in the bees), yellow-faced honeyeaters, eastern spinebills and spiny-cheeked honeyeaters, all as regular visitors, not for- getting the nearly tame magpies. Vol. 10—Page 371 @@@ 32 @@@ Acacia sophorae Studies of A. sophorae and A. longifolia by David R. Murray University of Melbourne Botany School, Parkville, Vic., 3052 Two Australian acacias which some consider to be varisties of a single species (e.g. Willis, 1972), have recently been distinguished by some of their biochemical characteristics and by the physical properties of their seedcoats. The two taxa are the well known Sydney Golden Wattle, Acacia longifolia (Andrews) Willd., and the Coast Wattle, A. sophorae (Labill.) R.Br. Morphological features which may be used to differentiate between these two taxa include: 1. the generally shorter and brcader phyllode of A. sophorae 2. the larger pod and seeds of A. sophorae 3. the greater degree of contortion shown by the mature, splitting pod of A. sophorae 4. the spreading habit often shown by seedlings of A. sophorae 5. the siower rate of germination and lower final percentage germination of A. sophorae seeds subjected to moist heat 6. the thicker and harder seedcoat of A. sophorae. The properties of the seedcoats have been studied recently by Tran (1979). He found considerable differences in both deformation and crushing load, indicating that the thicker seedcoat of A. sophorae is also the stronger. Obviously differences in the properties of the seedcoats (which constitute about 40% of the seed mass) may influence seed germination (see 5 above). As a result of our recent studies of seed proteins and phyllode flavonoid composition (Murray, Ashcroft, Seppelt and Lennox, 1978), the following bio- chemical distinctions may be added to the above list of differences between the two taxa: 7. a more complex flavonoid pigment complement shown by phyllode ex- tracts from A. sophorae 8. a greater number of albumin (water-soluble) storage proteins in seeds of A. longifolia 9. the presence of a distinctive globulin (sait-soluble) storage protein in sceds of A. sophorae 10. a lower average molecular size for the seed storage proteins (both albu- mins and globulins) of A. sophorae While it might rightly be claimed that any individual characteristic such as phyllode shape is too variable to allow unequivocal identification, we have so far found that the flavonoid pigment composition of the phyllode is inde- pendent of variation in phyllode shape and so permits reliable identification. As a general rule, a ratio of length to maximum width of 6:1 or greater as suggested by Willis (1972) should indicate A. longifolia. In the past, the most compelling reason for regarding these taxa as distinct species has been their almost exclusive geographic distributions. A. sophorae is confined to the coastal sandy soils and dunes of S.A., Tasmania, Victoria, N.S.W. and Queens- land. A. longifolia is not restricted to the coast; it is prominent in the table- lands of N.S.W. and occurs also in Victoria. The curators of Herbaria in S.A. (Eichler, 1965), Tasmania (Curtis, 1956) and Queensland (Pedley, 1978) have all held that A. longifolia is not native to their states, and that A. sophorae is a distinct species. There is abundant evidence to support that view in the studies reviewed here. REFERENCES Curtis, W. M. (1956) — The Students Flora of Tasmania. Part 11. Government Printer; Tasmania. Eichler, Hj. (1965) — Supplement of J. M. Black’'s “"Flora of South Australia”. Murray, D. R., Ashcroft, W. J., Sepnpelt, R. D., and Lennox G. G. (1978) — Comparative Biochemical and Morphological Studies of Acacia sophorae (Labill). R. Br. and A longifolia (Andrews) Willd. Aust. J. Botany 26, 755-771. Pedley, L. (1978) — A Revision of Acacia in Queensland. Austrobaileya 1, 75-234. Tran, V. N. (1979) — Comparative Study of the Effects of Microwave Energy on Strop- hiole, Seedcoat and Germination of Acacia seeds. Aust. J. Plant Physioloagy 6. Willis, J. H. (1972) — A Handbook of Plants in Victoria. Vol. Il. Melb. Univ. Press. Page 372—Vol. 10 @@@ 33 @@@ Australian Plants for the Australian Country Experiences in the N.S.W. Riverina by T. P. O'Rourke, Forester, Narrandera. A wide variety of native plants ranging from the delicate Purple Mint Bush Prostanthera ovalifolia, to the leathery-leaved Four-wing Mallee Eucalyp- tus tetraptera can be grown throughout this area. The Forestry Commission at Narrandera has concentrated on raising seedlings of hardy native shrubs and trees, either indigenous to the area or from areas with a similar climate and rainfall. In fact, a look at the sowing list reveals about 20% of the species hail from Western Australia. Eucalyptus ficifolia Photography by W. Watkins A beautiful tree growing in front of 98 Mitchelmore St., Wagga Wagga, the home of Mrs. D. J. McEwan. The tree was there when they moved in 16 years ago. It gets no fertilizer and only occasional watering. It has flowered regularly every year for 16 years, as regular as clockwork, one week before Christmas. The Hardy Eucalypts Natural timber cover of the Riverina is Grey Box (Eucalyptus woollsiana), Yellow Box (E. melliodora) and Cypress Pine associations and pure stands of River Red Gum (E. camaldulensis) (5:324) along the Murray and Murrum- bidgee Rivers. Index references refer to previous issues of Australian Plants. The climate is conducive to the growth of Western Australian eucalypts and a great range of this colourful flora has been introduced. Vol. 10—Page 373 @@@ 34 @@@ Strickland’'s Gum (E. stricklandii 5:118), Coral Gum (E. torquata 1:9), Brockway's Gum (E. brockwayi), Gungurru (E. caesia 1:8:25), Tall Sand Mallee (E. eremophila 6:192), Red Flowering Mallee (E. erythronema), Scarlet Flower- ing Gum (E. ficifolia 4:225), Kruse's Mallee (E. kruseana), Bushy Yate (E. leh- mannii), Rose of the West (E. macrocarpa 4:300), and Four-wing Mallee (E. tetraptera 8:48), are only a small sample of the trees found. Soil types are fairly critical for windbreak establishment. For light red sandy loams the following are suitable: Dwarf Sugar Gum (E. cladocalyx ‘Dwarf’). Grey Box (E. woollsiana), Yellow Box (E. melliodora), Green Mallee (E. viridis), Strickland’s Gum (E. stricklandii 5:113) and Coral Gum (E. tor- quata 1:9). For heavy soils a choice should be made from: Mugga Ironbark (E. sider- oxylon), Yellow Gum (E. leucoxylon 6:196), River Red Gum (E. camaldul- ensis 5:324), Narrow-leaved Gimlet (E. spathulata), Salmon Gum (E. salmon- ophloia) and Black Box (E. largiflorens). Top Twenty Species for the Riverina The native species which have proved themselves for establishing wood- lots and windbreaks include: Dwarf Sugar Gum, Yellow Box, Mugga lronbark, Strickland’s Gum, Red Flowering Paper Bark (Melaleuca hypericifolia), Rosemary Grevillea (Grevillea rosmarinifolia 6:188), Lemon Scented Tea-tree, Queensland Wattle, Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneum 4:106), Narrow-leaved Gimlet, White Cypress Pine (Callitris columellaris), River Oak (Casuarina cunninghamiana), Belah (Cas- uarina cristata), Bracelet Honey Myrtle, Cootamundra Wattle, Coral Gum, Green Mallee. Brown Mallee (Eucalypius astringens), Blue Mallee (E. gardneri) and River Red Gum. The Acacias The tried and trusted Cootamundra Wattle (Acacia baileyana) is the most popular of the Acacias. This fine leaf species is not only fast growing but seems to live in excess of twenty years. Many planters use it for windbreaks in a three row break, as well as for single specimen trees. The Queensland Wattle (Acacia podalyriifolia) has broad silvery leaves and its profuse golden blossom is a picture in July, when most of the garden is rather drab. Green Wattle (Acacia decurrens Vol. 5:148, 232), is probably the fastest growing wattle, and some trees have grown to twenty feet in two years. Wallangarra Wattle (Acacia adunca) is one of the most attractive wattles with dense clusters of sweet-scented yellow flowers. Other Acacias which thrive in the area are Acacia buxifolia, A. decora, A. elata, A. pendula, A. spectabilis (Vol. 8:153), A. saligna (Vol. 8:48) and A. salicina (Vol. 8:256). The latter (Cooba or Native Willow) is a particularly handsome tree for parks and large gardens. It is long-lived; | know trees which were large specimens some twenty-five years ago and are still thriving. These species of Acacia are described and illustrated by sketches with some in colour in Acacias of N.S.W. by Inez Armitage available for $7.50 plus 75c postage from the Editor. The Bottlebrushes The Bottlebrush or Callistemon family offers a wealth of floral beauty and many do well in the Riverina. Red Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus Vol. 10:77), has dark green foliage and showy crimson flowers in Spring. Scarlet Bottlebrush (Callistemon macropunctatus) also has short dark green leaves and showy scarlet blossoms. Stiff-leaved Bottlebrush (Callistemon rigidus) is a very hardy, red flower- ing species, which thrives in the hotter areas. The Pink Tip Bottlebrush (Callistemon salignus) is an introduced coastal shrub which has adapted well to the Riverina. The red flowering form is particularly attractive, as is the Drooping Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis Vol. 8:57), a small, pendulous tree with a glorious red blossom, and a favourite of mine. Page 374—Vol. 10 @@@ 35 @@@ Friends and Foes in Your Australian Garden F. D. Hockings. (Pests, Diseases, Parasites and Predators) $24.95 plus $2.55 postage. During 1980 this book is available by mail for $23.00 post free from the Editor. The Society has published this book in association with A. H. & A. W. Reed and it would be the finest book ever produced by the Soceity. This is what the Australian gardener has been waiting for. We do not want to kill off nature’s mites willy-nilly, but learn to know them, how they fit into nature’s plan and if they reach pest proportions, to control them. It is man who has upset the ecology of this planet and we must cease this senseless destruction of many forms of life and learn to live in harmony. Full colour plates, hundreds of them, show these creatures, many with magnification, so that you can see what they look like. If you find tiny creatures on your plants, or if disease appears to have afflicted it, by comparing it with the illustrations in the book (a magnifying glass may be necessary) you can find out what they are, if in fact they are harmful, if any action is neces- sary, and if so, what you should do as a control. There will be more details in our next issue. Frequent references will be made to this book in the future. The 380 colour photographs of mites and diseased plants are presented in sections entitled (i) Pests associated with flowers, fruit, seed, leaves and shoots. (ii) Less harm- ful, harmless and beneficial small animals. (iii) Pests associated with twigs and small stems. (iv) Small animals associated with main branches and trunks. (v) Pests affecting collars and roots. (vi) Small animals associated with soil, compost and shelter. (vii) Free ranging small animals. (viii) Diseases affecting native plants. Net Bushes The Calothamnus group from W.A. are making quite an impact in the Riverina gardens. Four species grown at Narrandera all have their appeal and are drought hardy. Giles Net Bush (Calothamnus gilesii) has sharp-pointed pine-like foliage and bright crimson flowers. Crimson Cluster Net Bush (Calothamnus quadrifidus Vol. 2:269) has bundles of rich crimson stamens against deep green, pine-like foliage. Blood-red Net Bush (Calothamnus sanguineus Vol. 2:269), has one-sided brushes of vivid tassel-like flowers. It enjoys sandy soils. Woolly Net Bush (Calothamnus villosus) has soft, pine-like leaves and rich deep red flowers. The Melaleucas The many species of Melaleuca which thrive in the region include Mela- leuca bracteata, M. decussata (7:33), M. ericifolia, M. hueglii, M. hypericifolia, M. incana (5:293), M. lateritia (2:273), M. linariifolia (7:37), M. nesophila, M. radula (7:1), M. wilsonii (6:181), and even, on heavier soils in the Albury area, M. styphelioides (2:155). The most widely planted Melaleuca species is the Bracelet Honey Myrtle (Melaleuca armillaris 7:32), also known locally as ‘Flax-leaf Paper-Bark”. A beautiful, small tree with dense, dark foliage and masses of white flower in November, it has been grown extensively for screens in parks, for dense hedges which can be clipped short, and as single specimens. Tea-Trees Most gardens have a Tea-tree, usually the beautiful hybrids of Lepto- spermum scoparium. Other favourites are Leptospermum flavescens (8:60) and Leptospermum petersonii, the decorative Lemon-scented Tea-tree. On sandy soils around Narrandera, the Coast Tea-tree Leptospermum laevigatum) has thrived and spread. Two or three trees wiil make a good thicket. Vol. 10—Page 375 @@@ 36 @@@ The Warrumbungle National Park The Flora as you will see it — by Rhonda Martin. The Warrumbungle Ranges are situated about 520 km north-west of Sydney in central-west New South Wales and their spectacular scenery, wildflowers and animals make them a photographer’s paradise. What makes the vegetation of the Warrumbungle National Park so different is its diversity, caused by the volcanic ecology of the area. It has often been said that in the Warrumbungles east meets west, the meeting of the arid and humid climatic zones producing a wealth of plant life. To the west are the plains with their distinctive plants adapted to arid areas with those of the moist east coast overlapping in these Ranges. Plants of the eastern sandstone, such as the Flannel Flower (Actinotus helianthi) and Native Fuchsia (Correa glabra) have adapted well to the drier conditions. A boronia (Boronia glabra). Five Corners (Styphelia triflora) and Coast Whitebeard (Leucopogon sp.) have also made the transition. Close to its eastern distribution limit, along Wambelong Creek upstream from Chalker’s Mountain, Canyon Camp and Camp Blackman, is the Red River Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis). In the dry, thin sandstone soils the Wonga Vine (Pandorea pandorana) and the Native Indigo (/ndigofera australis) have also adapted and thrive. Found only in the Warrumbungle Ranges, and so newly discovered that they have not been given specific names, are a species of Black Eyed Susan (Tetratheca) and a Geebung (Persoonia). One wattle, Acacia forsythii, is found only on the protected side of Bluff Mountain. Common in the Warrum- bungles, but regarded as uncommon elsewhere, is the green-flowered Phebalium viridiflorum. A hairy form of Mint Bush (Prostanthera stricta) has only been found in a gully on the track to Fan’s Horizon. In the deep cracks of hot, steep rock faces, in seepages and soaks, grow ferns and figs, while on the dry arid tops grows Triodia—Porcupine Grass—and the heath-like vegetation Whitebeard (Leucopogon lanceolatus) and the Fringed Heath Myrtle (Micromyrtus ciliata). The mountains rise to 1,205 m above sea level, creating their own weather pattern. The average annual rainfall is about 950 mm (38”) per year, measured in the middle of the park. On the eastern side, at Coonabarabran 37 km away, 700 mm (28”) falls, while on the eastern side at Gummin they make do with approximately 550 mm (22") per year. All this makes for a great diversity in plant communities. The steep, rocky upper slopes on which there is little soil produce a rapid run-off. Much of the benefit of this rainfall is lost at higher altitudes due to the high summer temperatures, often in the high thirties. A great deal is trapped in the narrow valleys, allowing species adapted to moister, cooler climates to survive and, indeed, to do well. In the winter, temperatures can drop well below freezing and it is not uncommon to see frost 5m or more above ground level in the trees. The underlying rock of the Warrumbungle Ranges is that of the Pilliga sandstone formed about 200 million years ago. The masses of jagged peaks are the remains of volcanic activity during the Miocene epoch, about 13.5-17 million years ago, in the middle of the Cainezoic era. In the early phases of activity lava overflowed on to the Pilliga sandstone. Trachytic flows were dominant in the west and north, while in other areas were basalt flows, and yet in others both. Over millions of years the domes, dykes and plugs have eroded, giving this area its particular distinction of soaring peaks and rugged valleys. On many areas of the windswept tops the basic Pilliga sandstone is again showing through. Page 376—Vol. 10 @@@ 37 @@@ Prostanthera nivea Photography by Peter Althofer The Snowy Mint Bush is a shrub to 3m in the bush but can be kept lower in the garden. It is one of the many mint bushes with considerable horticultural potential that are recommended in our last issue and described in “The Cradle of Incense’ avail- able from the Editor for $15.00 incl. postage. For the purpose of this article we will leave the riverine community of Canyon Camp, with its River Oak (Caswarina cunninghamiana) association, and wander from Camp Pincham to the almost sub-alpine surface of Mount Wambelong, thereby going through most of the divers plant communities of the Warrumbungle Ranges, as illustrated in the Warrumbungle National Park. On the alluvial flats of Camp Pincham, in soil washed from the steep hillsides surrounding it, can be seen the thick green foliage of the Rough Barked Apple (Angophora floribunda), its bark rough and furrowed, its branches twisted, and in season its flowers creamy and abundant. The tubular yellow- green flowers of the Native Fuchsia (Correa glabra) set off the bright yellow, five-petalled flowers of a small shrub, the Guinea Flower (Hibbertia obtusi- folia) and the straw-coloured flowers of the Cough Bush (Cassinia quinque- faria). For approximately the first 3 km the walk goes gently uphill against the flow of Spirey Creek, which for part of the year at least is dry. Many plants that grow in the Hawkesbury sandstone grow here, notably the green-tipped, cream-petalled Flannel Flower (Actinotus helianthi), Native Fuchsia (Correa glabra) and (Correa reflexa), etc. The slopes of the surrounding, protecting hills are moderate to steep, and due to erosion from the Tops the valley’s soil is quite deep. Although protected from the sun and wind, the soil is generally quite dry. In the spring carpetted between good stands of the Narrow-Leafed Iron- bark (Eucalyptus crebra)—a tall tree with rough, deeply furrowed, brownish- black bark—and its associate the White Gum (E. rossii)—an attractive small tree with smooth, bluish-white bark, narrow lanceolate leaves and small white Vol. 10—Page 377 @@@ 38 @@@ flowers (the bark is sometimes marked with insect scribbles or flakey patches), the Flannel Flowers (Actinotus helianthi) run up the slopes in a white flame contrasting with the yellow flowers with red centres, borne on the branch ends, of the Eggs and Bacon bushes (Parrot Pea—Dillwynia retorta and Prickly Beauty—Dillwynia juniperina). Along Spirey Creek grows the somewhat straggly Blakely’s Red Gum (Eucalyptus blakelyi) with its smooth, blotched bark, and the Red Stringybark (E. macrorhyncha), a medium-sized tree with reddish-brown rough, !ong-fibred stringy bark, the leaves being lanceolate and the flowers white. The floor of this valley is a mass of subtle colour, but it has to be looked for. Crouched alongside the track can be seen the greenish tubular flowers of Five Corners (Styphelia triflora) on an upright shrub with pointed leaves; the delicate Spider Orchid (Caladenia patersonii) with its large, beautiful spider-like flowers, yellowish-green and red in colour, set on long, broad, hairy leaves; the Greenhoods (Pterostylis curta), a ground orchid with two joined petals and one sepal forming a hood; the yellow flowers in the distinctive shape of the Donkey Orchid (Diuris platichila) and the beautiful Sun Orchids (Thelymitra pauciflora). The numerous small white flowers on the shiny-leafed Sticky Daisy Bush (Olearia elliptica) and the straw-coloured flowers of the Cough Bush (Cassinia quinquefaria) are much in evidence. Towards Hurley’'s Campsite the deep red bell-shaped flowers of the Ruby Urn Heath (Melichrus erubescens) glow softly and the mauve and purple flowers of the Hovea (Hovea lanceolata) invite a photograph. After passing the West Spirey Creek trail turnoff an excellent specimen of Banana Orchid (Cymbidium canaliculatum) is found growing in a tree. The leaves are rough, stiff, deeply channelled and sharply pointed. The flowers vary from greenish- to yellowish-brown, with deep reddish-brown spotting, and are the largest of the native species, being up to 1” across. Further along the trail, between the Spirey View Lookout and Hurley’s Campsite turnoff, Fivecorners (Styphelia triflora) is common. This plant’s berries produce a drug which was alleged to have been used by the aborigines as a curative. A number of ferns, including both Common and Rough Maiden Hair (Adiantum aethiopicum and A. hispidulum) and the soft tracery of the Neck- lace Fern (Asplenium flabellifolium) soften the contours of the rocks, clustering along the watercourse in nooks and crannies or in damp, rock-filled hollows. Due to the steep slopes a much higher rainfall than the annual 950 mm precipitates in the valleys and gullies. This allows such plants as the Native Raspberry (Rubus parvifolius) and the Rusty Fig (Ficus rubiginosa), an olive- leafed, grey-barked tree, to grow. A good example of this fig can be seen in the spring above Hurley’s camp. It is said that these plants are the remnants of a time when the area was almost a sub-tropical rainforest. The soil along Upper Spirey Creek has been enriched by the tufts and volcanic debris washed down from the surrounding slopes. From this dry Eucalypt wood community the trail climbs steeply to the Dagda Shortcut and the plant communities change rapidly. The soil is thin, the steep slopes giving rainfall little purchase, but even though the soil is very dry there is a good covering of both Black and White Cypress Pine (Callitris endlicheri and C. columellaris respectively). These are upright, symmetrical pines, the Black having small, dark-green leaves keeled on the dorsal surface, while the foliage of the White is bluish-green and has no keel on the dorsal surface. The smooth, blotched bark of Blakely’s Red Gum (Eucalyptus blakelyi) is once again in evidence and making an appearance is Dwyer’s Mallee Gum (E. dwyeri), a crooked-trunked tree with white bark, blotched with greenish-blue patches and leaves up to 13 cm long. The Iron- bark and Cypress Pine Association has taken over from the white gum community of the valley floor. Page 378—Vol. 10 @@@ 39 @@@ Clinging to the sparse soil beneath the trees are the hardy acacias— Spearwood (Acacia doratoxylon), with its long, narrow leaves (up to 10cm long by 3-5mm wide), a tall shrub with golden-yellow flower spikes to 2 cm; Mountain Hickory (A. penninervis), a tall, erect tree or shrub with long, greyish-green phyllodes and globular yellow flowers; Sword Wattle (A. gladiiformis), with its slightly sickle-shaped leaves; Knife-leafed Wattle (A. cultriformis), with large golden flower heads and leaves triangular in shape. Also found are the greenish pendulous flowers of Phebalium viridiflorum, along with the toothbrush flowers of Grevillea triternata. On from the Dagda shortcut turnoff is the Breadknife. This was a dyke that was formed through a crack in the wall of Crater Bluff. This can still be seen from the Grand High Tops. On reaching Lugh’s Hut, shaded by Cypress (Callitris columellaris), Mallee (Eucalyptus dwyeri), and with the appearance of the Scaly Phebalium (Phebalium squamulosum), an upright shrub with a scaly appearance, its leaves dull green above, silver below and brilliant yellow flowers, the distinct difference between this plant community and that of the valley along the creek is very obvious, in particular the stunting of tree growth and the thinning out of the understorey due to the altitude, exposure to wind and sun, and lack of soil depth. Whitebeard (Leucopogon), and the creamy-green bell-shaped flowers with pointed leaves of the Urn Heath (Melichrus urceo- latus) are in evidence. From here, on to the Tops proper, Knife-leafed Wattle (Acacia cultriformis), Scaly Phebalium (Phebalium squamulosum), Fringed Heath Myrtle (Micromyrtus ciliata) and Tick Bush (Kunzea ambigua), a shrub or small spreading tree with furrowed fibrous bark and numerous small leaves and white flowers, provide what cover there is, with some stunted Cypress Pines (Callitris columellaris) and the white to mauve flowers of the Westringia. The view is magnificent and the visitor is sharing the heights with the Wedge- tail Eagle as he soars out over the jutting spires, the narrow dykes and ponderous plugs. On the Grand High Tops the visitor is standing on the rim of the old volcano, of which Crater Bluff was the central vent. From here can be seen the river of rock coming towards the Breadknife from Crater Bluff, the dyke which formed the Breadknife. Belougery and Tooraweenah Spires are parasitic cones to Crater Bluff. From here the track goes steeply downhill past Anna and Fiona Pinnacles to the basalt soils at Dagda Gap, where there is a great variety of eucalypts and many wildflowers such as the Guinea Flower (Hibbertia obtusifolia), Cough Bush (Cassinia quinquefaria), the violet flowers of the False sarsa- parilla (Hardenbergia violacea), the Broad-leafed Pea (Daviesia latifolia) and the small abundant flowers of the Western Golden Wattle (Acacia decora). The trail then continues towards Dow’s Hut, in several places crossing over rock screes. Due to the water which collects beneath these screes there are a number of Rusty Figs (Ficus rubiginosa) and the bright green leaves of the Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneum) attract the eye. A visit to Bluff Mountain from Dow’s Hut is a must. The trail is steep and rocky. From halfway there is an excellent view of Crater Bluff showing the Hawaiian shield formation (i.e., the left side is much higher than the right, due to prevailing winds). A large number of Grass Trees or Blackboys (Xanthorrhoea) grow on the cooler stretches of this track. Towards the top you may find Forsyth's Wattle (Acacia forsythii) in flower. This is a small shrub with its distribution restricted to this side of Bluff Mountain. Its branches are angular and often appear reddish; its leaves are narrow and upright. Attention should be given to the very sparse vegstative cover coming down to almost heath, although, almost surprisingly, Tick Bush (Kunzea ambigua), Fringed Heath Myrtle (Micromyrtus ciliata), Knife-leafed Wattle (Acacia cultriformis) and Phebalium are common. Descent is by the same route. The trail from Dow’s Hut to Ogma Hut is down a steep, volcanic ridge, very exposed. The soil is shallow and dry except for pockets caught against Vol. 10—Page 379 @@@ 40 @@@ dykes and plugs. As the trail descends towards Point Wilderness the north- west face of Bluff Mountain shows clearly the prismatic cooling of the lava. There are more scree slopes with their cover of Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneum), Rough Barked Apple (Angophora floribunda) and Rusty Fig (Ficus rubiginosa). This ridge is mostly of the Ironbark/Cypress Pine association, with an understorey of Spearwood (Acacia doratoxylon), its long leaves and golden- flower spikes in contrast to the sickle-shaped leaves of the Sword Wattle (A. gladiiformis), the triangular leaves and large golden flower heads of the Knife-leafed Wattle (A. cultriformis). The spreading shrub, narrow leaves and small flowers of the Western Golden Wattle (A. decora) soften the often stark contours of the hills among the Stringybarks (Eucalyptus macrorhyncha) with their tattered bark and Dwyer's Mallee Gum (E. dwyeri). Ogma Hut is on a narrow saddle with the base sandstone showing through. The soil is shallow with the Ironbark/Cypress Pine association, but the Cough Bush (Cassinia quinquefaria), Sticky Daisy Bush (Olearia elliptica) and Pinkwood (Beyeria viscosa), a small erect shrub with small yellow flowers and round, prominent fruit on long stalks, have adapted well to the thin sandstone soil. The West Spirey Creek trail down to Camp Pincham is similar to the Upper Spirey Creek area, described earlier, and is a common koala sighting area. The walk to Mt. Wambelong is a story of contrasts. It begins at Camp Burbie. This is a reasonably level area, the soil brown, mixed with stone debris. It cracks deeply when dry. White Box (Eucalyptus albens)—a medium to large tree with greyish-black, short-fibred bark and thick silver-grey leaves and white flowers—and the easily recognised Rough Barked Apple (Ango- phora floribunda), and the soft, white bark and long leaves (up to 25cm) of the Butt Butt or Apple Box (Eucalyptus bridgesiana) are common. The Red Stringybark (E. macrorhyncha) and the Native Cherry (Exocarpos cupressi- formis) are also abundant. The Native Cherry is an attractive small tree with fine, pendulous, yellowish-green to dark-green foliage, cream flowers and fruit, with an attractive red fleshy staik. Although the area from Camp Burbie to Danu Hut has the above trees, the actual floor cover is sparse, but Cough Bush (Cassinia quinquefaria), Sticky Daisy Bush (Olearia elliptica) and the tall shrub with long, narrow to broad, oblanceolate, sticky shiny leaves and three-winged red or purple fruits of the Giant Hop-Bush (Dodonaea viscosa) predominate. Walking along what is commonly referred to as the Boulevard, good stands of Sticky Daisy Bush (Olearia elliptica) and the Hop-Bush are present. Once again, during the short, steep climb to Danu Hut, scree slopes are crossed with their attendant Kurrajongs (Brachychiton populneum). Koalas are often sighted around Danu Hut and on Lucas Terrace above the hut. The trail zig-zags its way up one of the scree slopes, where a number of ferns grow. After crossing Lucas Terrace, where the Hop-Bush (Dodonaea viscosa), Spearwocod (Acacia doratoxylon) and the Knife-leafed Wattle (A. cultriformis) grow along with the alpine grass Triodia, the trail ascends the south-western side of the mountain. The soil here is a mixture of tufts, breccias and flow materials. It is cooler on this side and the soil water is more or less constant, except in severe drought. The vegstation is relatively lush, with the Apple Box Acacia decora Photography by Phillip Moore One of the many Acacias found in the Warrumbungle Mountains. The shrub as it grows in the scrub and the flowers are shown. You may learn more about many beautiful wattles by purchasing either ‘‘Acacias of N.S.W.” for $7.50 plus 75c postage, or “’Acacias of South Australia’” for $8.00 plus 80c postage from the Editor. Page 380—Vol. 10 @@@ 41 @@@ Q N Q o LY = Acacia @@@ 42 @@@ (Eucalyptus bridgesiana), Red Stringybark (E. macrorhyncha) and White Box (E. albens) interspersed with Grass Trees (Xanthorrhoea australis)—clumps of grass-like leaves on sturdy, blackened trunk with their flower spikes rising straight into the air; the smooth, soft Smooth Darling Pea, with its pinnate leaves and mauve pea-like flowers (Swainsona galegifolia); the Native Indigo (Indigofera australis), and the twining, attractive creeper False Sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia violacea). There are Tree Ferns (Cyathea australis), ferns and grasses, Poa sieberana being one. The trees on the scree slopes are far from vertical and in some instances are almost horizontal, as these slcpes are constantly on the move, approxi- mately 1/100” per day under normal circumstances. Many lichens and liverwort cover the rocks on this damp, southern side. On reaching the flat top of Mt. Wambelong, the highest peak in the park, the change in vegetation from that of the side just traversed is startling. It is here, where both the Nandewar Ranges near Narrabri, and Mount Canobolas near Orange can be seen on a clear day, that the Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea australis) and the Snow Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) grow side by side in the almost sub-alpine/dry heath surface. Whitebeard (Leuco- pogon) and the Fringad Heath Myrtle (Micromyrtus ciliata) are once again in evidence, with lichens, some stunted gums, Pinkwood (Beyeria viscosa) and Knife-leafed Wattle (Acacia cultriformis). What is surprising is the number of daisy-type herbs—the Yellow Flowered Variable Groundsel (Senecio /lautus) and the Rough Fireweed (Senecio hispidulus); the white flower heads and small leaves growing up the flower stem belong to the Camomile Sunray (Helipterum anthemoides); the white-flowered, woolly-leafed Sunray (H. albicans); the small, round yellow flower on a long stem of the distinctive Billy Buttons (Craspedia uniflora) and the small mauve-coloured herb which likes moist or shady spots, Brachycome angustifolia. It will be seen by anyone who knows these mountains and their marvellous wealth of flora that the surface has not even been scratched. It will be pointed out that just driving down the main road in August and early spring will assault the eye with colour—the pink of the Boronia (Boronia glabra), the small whitish flowers and hairy stems of the small shrub Zieria (Zieria aspalathoides), the delicate mauve flowers of the Mint Bush (Prostanthera nivea), the rusty red of the Hop-Bush (Dodonaea viscosa) and over all, pulling all eyes, the incomparable Bluebush (Acacia caesiella), its narrow, pointed leaves and massed blooms of yellow all make a superb picture against a cloudless blue sky and the rugged peaks. A prowl over old lava flows reveals brightly coloured lichens of orange, green and yellow, and the softer-hued heaths, Donkey and Spider orchids, the delicate Flax Lily (Dianella), the Fringed Heath Myrtle (Micromyrtus ciliata) with its minute flowers, the white-petalled member of the Lily family, Early Nancy (Anguillaria dioica), the Scaly Phebalium’s brilliant yellow flowers and silver-bottomed dull green leaves (Phebalium squamulosum), the Knife-leafed Wattle (Acacia cultriformis), and in the nitrogen-deficient soils the insect- eating Sundews (Drosera). A walk anywhere near the camping areas will reveal Daisies (Brachy- come), the Yellow Paper Daisies (Helichrysum bracteatum) and the little Ground Orchids, Pinkies (Caladenia carnea), to name just a few. Leaving by the western gate the bluish-grey, sickle-shaped leaves and golden-yellow flower spikes of Motherumbah (Acacia cheelii) and the feathery leaves and lemon-coloured blossoms of the Western Green Wattle (A. deanei) bid you a memorable farewell. In conclusion | would like to suggest that you make a visit, armed with a reference book. It is well worth it. FURTHER READING: Warrumbungle National Park Plant List—provisional only, compiled by Gwen Harden —available to visitors. A C&Tlp(;ete Guide to Warrumbungle National Park’’—Alan Fairley, published by Murray ild. “Warrumbungle National Park Handbook'—Alan Fox. Page 382—Vol. 10 @@@ 43 @@@ Mackinlaya macrosciadia By DAVID HANGER The genus Mackinlaya is endemic to Australia and consists of two species, M. confusa and M. macrosciadia. Both occur in Queensland, the former being restricted to the districts of Cook and North Kennedy, and the latter occurring in the districts of South Kennedy, Port Curtis and Wide Bay. as well as the two more northerly districts. Both species are found In the Rockingham Bay area of North Queensland. | have seen very few plants of M. macrosciadia in cultivation in Brisbane, so the following notes are derived from very narrow experience. In cultivation Mackinlaya are large herbaceous plants seldom growing more than 2 m and often only 1-1.5 m tall. The leaves are digitately com- pound and very similar to those of the Queensiand Umbrella Tree (Schefflera actinophylla). At a glance, seedlings of Mackinlaya macrosciadia could be readily mistaken for Umbrella Tree seedlings. However, the leaflets on a mature plant of M. macrosciadia vary between 10 and 20 cm in length. Individual flowers are small and, from an ornamental viewpoint, rather insignificant. The inflorescence is interesting, as it consists of a compound umbel. Each flower is often followed by a small, rather flat blue berry 5-8 mm diameter containing usually one seed. In Brisbane the fruit matures about May-June. Seed viability is high and germination occurs after about 6-7 months if the seed is sown immediately the fruit matures. In summer time, growth is steady but not prolific. The first flowering of plants occurred in the second year. Up to date, it has not been visibly affected by pests or diseases. My oldest plant — 4 years — while only about 1.2m tall, has always been rather open in habit. It is growing in filtered sunlight underneath Eucalyptus, Casuarina and Acacia spp. in an acidic, loamy sand. It has tolerated quite dry conditions on several occasions without undue damage. Growth in full sunlight may reduce internode length and lead to a more compact shape. However, its tolerance to midsummer sun in Brisbane is suspect. Tip pruning could be tried, although | suspect this may not be very successful as some other species in the family ARALIACEAE do not always respond favourably to tip pruning. The use of a growth regulator such as Alar to reduce internode length and, possibly, to promote lateral branching, may improve the appearance of this plant. Mackinlaya macrosciadia appears suitable as an understorey plant in cultivation. It may have potential as an indoor foliage plant. Encyclopaedia Of Australian Plants Rodger Elliot and David Jones. The first in a series of volumes is now available at $37.50 plus $2.50 for postage and packing. For orders received before the end of 1980, this first volume will be sent post free to anywhere in Australia. It will make a magnificent present. Rodger Elliot has produced the series of articles on description, propagation and cultivation of Australia’s wildflowers in “‘Your Garden’’. He established the Austraflora Nursery and has since sup- plied the nursery trade with plants on a wholesale basis. He has produced other books. Rodger is, without a doubt, the most experienced and knowledgable man actively en- gaged in the trade, on the horticultural use of our Australian Flora. He has a keen intellect to observe and translate his findings into practical, precise directions. Why have |, the Editor of Australian Plants, directed this book review at the authors and not what is in the book? There are books and books and books on our Australian Flora, all with recommendations, all presenting the same subjects in various ways, some relying principally on glossy, often trick photography, to sell the product. The real value in this book is the basic advice on cultivation of our wildflowers by two of Australia’s leading writers and practical gardeners. All well illustrated in fine colour printing. What of David Jones! Those who have a copy of “‘Australian Ferns and Fern Allies”’ will know just how David researches his subject, adds practical know how, and then presents the subject in such a clear, precise, practical way. We are all indebted to two such gifted horticulturalists for this series of volumes. But what does Volume 1 cover? Volume one is the introductory volume with all “the good guts’’. Volumes 2, 3 and 4 will follow at yearly intervals describing the plants from A to Z with specific advice on cultivation and propagation. — Editor. Vol. 10—Page 383 @@@ 44 @@@ BOOKS ON WILDFLOWERS We have reorganised our procedures for the sale of books, any books currently in print by most publishers, to give better service. The aim is to provide a mail order service of books, postage free, with, in some cases, a discount. You may be able to buy the following books a little cheaper and some groups in the society are offering certain books at a bigger discount so if you want to shop around after reading my reviews, then do so. However the service we offer will be convenient and any small profit made is reinvested in the production of Australian Plants. You may pay a little more through this service but the donation, if you wish to look at it that way, will be well used. The prices below are the recommended price you will pay at a book sellers unless a special price is noted. With the price of postage these days the discount offered is in- fact quite significant. The books listed are recommended for the best value and treatment of the subject. Further books are to be added. Order for Christmas presents now: Books On The Flora (Some including fauna) Of Discreet Areas For N.S.W. ‘’National Parks of N.S.W. — Mullins, Martin, Baglin $12.95 ($12.00 for 1980) “Flowers and Plants of N.S.W. and Southern QId.” ........ $19.95 ““The Cradle Of Incense’’, The Wellington Dubbo Area .... $15.00 For Queensland A Horticultural Guide to Australian Plants’’, Sets 3-6 $12.00 For Victoria ““Handbook to Plants In Victoria”, Vol. 1, Willis .......... $18.80 ‘“Handbook to Plants in Victoria’, Part 2, Willis ........ $30.00 ““Flowers and Plants of Victoria and Tasmania’’. To be reprinted shortly. For South Australia “Flora of South Australia” — Part 1, Black .......... ... $16.90 “Flora of South Australia’” — Parts 2 & 3, Black $ 6.50 “Flora of South Australia”” — Part 4, Black .... N For Northern Territory ““North Australian Plants,”” Harmer ............cccooovviiiiiiinnin. For Western Australia “Flowers and Plants of Western Australia” ““West Australian Plants’” — Beard . $8.00 ““West Australian Plants For Horticulture’” — Part 1 .... $ 8.00 ““West Australian Plants For Horticulture’” — Part 2 — $ 8.00 About Specific Groups of Plants Orchids — ‘‘Australian Indigenous Orchids’® — Dockrill .... $32.00 “’Australian Native Orchids In Colour’”” — Cady ............ $ 6.95 Ferns — ‘‘Australian Ferns and Fern Allies” —Jones & Clemesha Eucalypts — “‘Eucalypts’’, Vol. 1, by Stan Kelly . 2 “Eucalypts’’, Vol. 2, by Stan Kelly .. $22.50 Mint Bush — “’Prostanthera” — “‘The Cradle Of Incense” .... $15.00 Wattles — ‘‘Acacias Of N.S.W.”" — Armitage ... $ 8.00 ‘“Acacias Of South Australia” — Whibley : ‘“Aquatic Plants Of Australia’”” — H. Aston ......... “Lichens Of South Australia’”” — Filson, Rogers . On The Cultivation Of Australian Plants For All States ““A Horticultural Guide To Australian Plants’® — Sets 3-6 .... $12.00 “"Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants” — Volume 1 ... $37.50 ($33.00 for 1980) Volumes 2-3 & 4 will follow in 1981, 1982, 1983. The Best Book On Pest and Disease Control in The Garden “Friends and Foes In Your Australian Garden'’, Di. HOCKINGS :sivvisssiniesinine ronevansemuopomisisnsessossanisssansiontrsise $24.95 ($24.00 for 1980) On The Australian Fauna “’Butterflies Of South Australia” — Fisher .................... $ 9.50 plus $1.50 postage ““Crustaceans Of South Australia” — Hak .. $ 5.50 plus $0.50 postage “’Fishes, Marine & Freshwater Of S.A.”” — Scott . ““Freshwater Fishes Of South-eastern Australia” .. ““Australian Shells”” ““Birds Of Australia” ““Birds For Beginners’ . ‘’Field Guide To Australian S ““Gemstones In Australia” ................. ““Reptiles And Amphibians of Australia ““Waterfowl In Australia” $ 9.20 plus $1.40 postage $19.95 plus $1.05 postage $25.00 plus $1.60 postage $19.95 plus $1.65 postage $12.95 plus $1.25 postage $14.95 plus $1.25 postage $14.95 plus $1.25 postage $29.95 plus $2.05 postage plus $1.85 postage Ornamental Flowering Shrubs In Australia by Ramond J. Rowell. Available by mail from the Editor for $19.95, post free for orders received in 1980. The author, Head of the Division of Horticulture of the Ryde School of Horticulture for many vyears, is experienced in practical ways, in the need for adequate information on those flowering shrubs that will grow in the gardens of Australia. He has divided Australia into Climatic Zones and for each plant he has listed 9 categories that he gives advice upon: common and botanic names, family and genus, propagation methods, soil aspect and climate, pruning and description. As the book describes all shrubs suitable for Australian Gardens, there is limited spaces for Australian plants but, for instance, it describes 18 species of Acacia and 7 species of Prostanthera. Page 384—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. NEWCASTLE - 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 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 DEANES ORCHID NURSERY Specialising in Australian Native Orchids Please send for descriptive list. Plants sent anywhere. Nursery closed Friday — Phone (02) 651-1798 29 HEMERS ROAD, DURAL, N.S.W. 2119 FOREST NATIVE PLANTS FOR N.S.W. GARDENS . NATIVE $3.50 posted 9 Namba Rd, Duffy’s Forest, NSW 2084 . NURSERY (beside Waratah Park), (02) 450-1785 ‘ CATALOGUE AUSTRALIAN LAKKARI RUSSELL and SHARON COSTIN. Retail & Wholesale Growers of Native Trees, Shrubs, Ground[ Covers and — , , ds, Ind t NATIVE PLANT Creepers Also Ferns, Palms, Cycads, Indoor Plants 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 TASMANIAN FOREST SEEDS BUNDARA NATIVE NURSERY T. WALDUCK 37 Carters Rd., Dural, Sydney, 2158 ‘Summerleas Farm’ Kingston, Tas 7150 Specialising in grevilleas All Tasmanian Tree Species and Open Weekends 4 C:jrnsan;eé\tafl Srf]rubsl.‘ . Weekdays please ring first. en (AL.E. for free list. Sales by packet or in bulk Telephone Sydney 651-1962 Vol. 10—Page 385 @@@ 46 @@@ PRESERVATION BY CULTIVATION Closed Tuesdays FLORALAINDS RIONG, via GOSFORD, N.S.W. 2250 A large variety of the most popular native plants at nursery PHONE: Gosford 40-1142 Send $1.50 for descriptive catalogue. UTINGU NATIVE PLANT NURSERY WHOLESALE AND RETAIL Suppliers of: TREES, SHRUBS, GROUNDCOVERS, FERNS AND HANGING BASKETS. 37 Sorhiston St, Wellers Hill, Qid 4121 Open 7 days—Phone: (07) 397-5706 BELBRA NURSERY In the heart of the Grampians LARGE RANGE OF AUSTRALIAN NATIVES Closed Wednesday only BOX 12, HALL'S GAP, VIC. 3381 LANDSCAPING WITH AUSTRALIAN NATIVE PLANTS by BANKSIA NURSERIES P/ Waratah Highway, Elliott, Tasmania, 7325 Grower of rare and more common Australian Native Plants. Available in most sizes at certain times of year, advanced and tube lines a specialty. Send 28c stamp for list Open 7 days a week, 9-5 Phone (004) 36-3128 MICHIE’'S KENTLYN NATIVE PLANT NURSERY Specialising in Australian Plants Beth & Bob Miche invite you to call on 96c¢c George's River Road, Kentlyn, N.S.W. 2560. Phone (046) 25-1583. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday only Cranebrook Native Nursery R23 Cranebrook Rd., Cranebrook, NSW 4 miles north of Penrith, between Tadmore and Taylor Roads. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Sundays (047) 77-4256 — No Mail Orders SEND 20¢ STAMP FOR FREE CATALOGUE NINDETHANA SEED SERVICE LARGEST SELECTION OF NATIVE SEED IN AUSTRALIA AVAILABLE IN 50¢ pkts, gram lots or kgs. ADDRESS: NINDETHANA, NARRIKUP, W.A. 6326 DAVID & MARGARET’S NATIVE FLORA We have thousands of plants for your selection. Set amidst acres of land- scaped garden areas. Located two miles past Woori Yallock at Braeside Drive Launching Place, Vic. (059) 64-7631, THURS. to SUN. (Established 1974) WIRRIMBIRRA Hume Highway, between Tahmoor and Bargo, N.S.W. 2574 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS Wide Range—Phone (046) 84-1112 OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK N 70 couecrons NURSERIE Huge selection from ground cover to trees, rare and the Australis sl NATIVE PLANT SPECIALIST KEVIN REED Cnr BELLEVUE CRES and SEAFORD RD SEAFORD common, sizes large or Vic. 3198 6.4 km from Cockatoo, Vic. 5 c¢cm to bucket size) PHONE: (059) 68-8337 (also closed June and July) NANGANA NATIVE PLANT NURSERY COCKATOO-WOORI YALLOCK ROAD Large range, including over 100 Grevilleas Open every day except Tues. and Wed. GRASSTREE NATIVE PLANT NURSERY Brown’s Rd., Rosebud S. Vic., 3939 (Opposite Hyslops Rd.) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.—Wed. to Sun. Inc. Over 1000 Species in Propagation. Nursery in Natural Bushland Setting. FAIRHILL NURSERIES §190ers “ative prants Open Saturday and Sunday (Closed Mon. and Tues.) FAIRHILL ROAD, YANDINA, QLD., 4561 Phone (071) 46-7193 — P.0. Box 100 Trees, shrubs, ground covers, climbers, ferns, palms and orchids for the sub-tropicAaI 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 $1.50 posted. Wholesale & Retail. Page 386—Vol. 10 @@@ 47 @@@ Past Issues of ‘““Australian Plants’’ Available Because of the vast wealth of our flora there is very little repetition, each volume becoming a valuable reference book in itself. Each volume has a separate abridged |nd$x 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. ME No. 1. Issues 1-12 — to be reprinted in 1980. Watch for announcements. VOLUME No. 2. Issues 13-20, no longer available — 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 hortlcultural 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 prices 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. N. Chonpina. 5 Luss Street, Moaqgill, 4070. 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 305, Unley, S.A., 5061 SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS——TASMANIAN REGION: President: Mr. H. L. Dodson, 28 Balaka St., Rosny Pt., Tas., 7018. 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, 13 Lincoln Close, Chapman, ACT., 2611. 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. Sainsbury, 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 subscription $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. Vol. 10—Page 387 @@@ 48 @@@ Banksia collina A shrub to 2 metres with attractive flowers in a spike length to 14 cm. The flower colour varies from yellow to deep red. There is some confusion over the correct name and readers are refered to the Banksia Study Group Report 5 below. STUDY GROUPS Study Groups comprise people who are interested in carrying out simple studies in their garden of certain species of plants. No special experience is needed. Members advise each other, exchange seed and plants, etc., under the guidance of a leader. The next issue, being the firs. of a volume, will list these groups for your advice. Banksia Study Group — Trevor Blake, 12 Little John Ct., Vermont, 3133, Victoria. Unlike other study groups this group has no membership subscription or lists, but the leader corresponds with any one who can help in the study of this fine group of plants. It operates entirely on the proceeds of its reports. Report 5 (48 pages) is now available at $3.00 per copy plus 50c postage. The report clarifies the B. spinulosa, B. collina and the B. marginata, B. canei groups; provides detailed descriptions of 16 un- described forms including 7 of the B. sphaerocarpa complex; and provides reports on trials at various localities, watering over summer and seed sources. Reports 1 and 2 are out of print, reports 3 and 4 are $1.50 each. Any information on the cultivation and propagation of unusual forms of Banksia is welcome. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Printers