'Australian Plants' Vol.4 No.31 June 1967 +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | The text in this file has been extracted from 'Australian Plants' Vol.4 No.31 June 1967. | | | | 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-Vol4-31.pdf | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS IN 10,000 COPIES Registered at G.P.O., Sydney, for transmission JUNE, 1967 Volume 4, No. 31 by post as a periodical. Volume 4 will comprise issues No. 29-36 Price: 30c - : il ¥ i photography by Frank Hurley Block by courtesy of John Sands Pty. Ltd. HYPOCALYMMA ROBUSTUM—The Swan River Myrtle A small shrub for your garden. Full details of cultivation are given. Other wildflowers described include ‘Native Orchids’, “‘Eucalypts’, ‘‘Pussy-tails’’, etc. Colour @@@ 2 @@@ Page 94—Vol. 4 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CONTENTS June, 1967 CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE HYPOCALYMMA—“Fringed Myrtles."”” Flowers, characteristic of these plants, are shown on the front page. Hypocalymma in Sydney by H. M. Hewitt—page 95. Although the first two species described are readily grown, the species on the front cover his given difficulty. We will be grateful for the careful observation by Mr. Hewitt that will assist in the cultivation of this plant in all climates. Hypocalymma by E. Wittwer—page 100. Flowering gems for the garden. Gardening on Bush Sand—My Hypocalymma robustum by W. M. Martin—page 104. NATIVE ORCHIDS—Each issue describes a species of native orchid with details of cultivation. Dendrobium Adae by P. Fetherston—page 133. Simple description, cultivation, full colour plate. Dendrobium malbrownii by A. W. Dockrill—page 133. A new species of orchid is described. EUCALYPTS— ‘GUM TREES"—A series on our eucalypts, each article complete in itself. Some Garden Eucalypts—Propagation, by R. C. Barnard—page 128. Eucalyptus as Dye Plants by Don Renfro—page 130. Gardenirg on Bush Soil—Eucalypts—Gum Trees—page 103. KURRAJONG—Brachychiton populneum Brachychiton populneum as a Street Tree by R. W. Boden—page 106. EPACRIDACEAE—A series of articles, each on a separate genus of our heath epacrids. The Genus Lysinema R.Br. by Betsy R. Jackes—page 125. Lysinema by Ken Newby—page 126. Four species recommended for cultivation. PTILOTUS— ‘PUSSY-TAILS"” The Genus Ptilotus R.Br. by G. Benl—page 109. 30 species of horticultural value described. BRASSAIA—THE UMBRELLA TREE Brassaia in Florida by Alex D. Hawkes—page 108. A spectacular tree of world fame. GROWING WILDFLOWERS This is the whole objective of the publication and the major theme of all articles. General articles are: Gardening on Bush Sand by W. M. Martin—page 102. A comparison is made with clay soils. Native Plants on Clay Soils by Wendel Flentze—page 105. One of a series on this subject this time for Victoria. Hypocalymma in Sydney by H. M. Hewitt—page 95. A classic in observations of growing wildflowers. PROPAGATION CF WILDFLOWERS Some Garden Eucalypts—Sowing the Seed by R. C. Barnard—page 128. A reliable method for most fine seed. Propagation of Hypocalymma by E. Wittwer—page 101. Propagation methods that can be widely applied. DO YOU VALUE YOUR JOURNAL? There is available a hard plas[lC cover binder designed to file away copies of Australian Plants as they are produced, using the holes provided. There is one for each volume with gold lettering on front and spine to take pride of place in your best bookcase. If you have them for Vols. 1, 2 and 3, you will be needing No. 4 for your next issue. Available from the Editor for $1.20 + 15c¢ postage. OUR PUBLICATIONS . . . AVAILABLE FROM EDITOR BY MAIL ONLY 860 Henry Lawson Drive, Picnic Point, N.S.W. — Please be patient for a reply. AUSTRALIAN PLANTS . Volume No. 1 1bound) 1ssues 1-12, has now sold out. Except for issues 2 & 12 the remaining 10 issues are available at 40 cents eaeh + 5c postage or $4.00 | 20c postage for the Vol. 1 set. Supplies of Volume No. 2 (issues 13-20) at $6.00 + 20c postage are still available, many of the issues being no longer available singly. Volume No. 3 (issues 21-28) will be available in July, 1967 fully bound at $6.00 + 20c postage. Issues prior to this issue and later than No. 29 are available singly at 40c 4 5c postage. Each bound volume also includes a special publication of the Society. Volume No. 2 has ‘““The Language of Botany'', a 60 page glossary of botanical terms now available separately at 40c + 5c postage as well as ‘“West Australian Plants”” described below. Volume 3 includes the book ‘““A Catalogue of Cultivated Australian Native Plants’’, a publication of outstanding value available only with the bound volume No. 3. WEST AUSTRALIAN PLANTS Price $1.20 + 15c¢c post & pack This book lists all the w1ldflowers mdlgenous to Western Australia, giving for each species, kind of plant, general size, flower colour, flowering months, localities of occurrence and type of soil and/or vegetative type. @@@ 3 @@@ June, 1967 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—MYRTACEAE Page 95—Vol. 4 HYPOCALYMMA by H. M. Hewett, Plant Recording Officer, N.S.W. Region Two species of Hypocalymma have proved reliable in Sydney under practically all garden conditions. Hypocalymma angustifoiium. Some recorded specimens of H. angustifolium are approaching 10 years of age and continue to produce their annual floral display in brilliant profusion to the delight of myriads of bees. In fact, on garden inspections | have often heard the sound of their humming before sighting the object of their attentions. Hypocalymmas are small shrubs of the family MYRTACEAE. H. angusiifolia grows to about 2'6” high and commences to flower in early winter. Propogation by cuttings taken from newly grown tips is both fast and sure, and this has undoubtedly contributed to its popularity among native plant gaideners. |t responds favourably and | might say even shows improvement when pruned hard after flowering, even if cut back annually almost to ground level. Although as stated above it has shown reliability under all garden conditions, | would say it has produced faster growth in sunny positions and in sandy mediums free from root competition from trees or large shrubs. It has nct shown any tendency to suffer from fungal troubles and appreciates regular watering, although in the absence of same and under dry seasonal conditions, the usual effect is merely a slowing of the growth rate. In Western Australia, from where this species originates, it is distributed over a wide part of the south-west of the State, and is found in a variety cf soils from light sand to heavy granite loams and under ground water conditions varying from well drained to almost completely saturated in winter and spring, along drains and watercourses. The flower colour varies from pure white to red ageing to white, and it is this latter characteristic, which, when produced in profusion from almost every leaf axil over the whole specimen makes Hypocalymma angustifolium surely one of our most beautiful and graceful small shrubs. Hypocalymma cordifolium, the octher widely grown species is not so conspicuous or spectacular in flower, the same being smallish, white, and to a certain extent hidden by the lush greenery of the cordate, or heart-shaped foliage, but nevertheless it retains a certain charm with its ascending habit of growth. Like H. angustifolium it is a particularly easy species to propagate by vegetative means, and although hardy under practically all conditions of soil and exposure, it shows to most advantage when grown in broken to reasonably heavy shade, or with leaf association of other low growing shrubs. It is best when capillary moisture is present in the soil as might be expected when one appreciates the fact that in winter and spring it can be observed along the southern coast of W.A. actually growing through water in badly drained sections of the roadside verges. One word of caution however should be noted in conneciion with summer watering. In my experience die back of foliage has occurred when the leaves have become wet during the heat of the day. Editor's Note: The last issue No. 30 describes the prominent petalled forms of the oreat family Myrtaceae such as Baeckea, Micromyrtus, Leptospermum, etc., that are a feature of the flora of the eastern States. This issue features plants of the Myrtaceae that hails from W.A. Our next issue will feature the ‘‘Geraldton Wax'' and its related species and reports of growing experiences with any of these plants should be forwarded to the editor. @@@ 4 @@@ Page 96—Vol. 4 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—MYRTACEAE June, 1967 This species, as H. angustifolia, responds favourably to heavy pruning and for this reason has great potential for usage in planned landscaping treatments. (,"olour photoraphy by F. W. Humphreys.' HYPOCALYMMA STRICTUM (See page 101) Hypccalymma robustum, the beautiful “Swan River Myrtle”, has been frequently tried of recent years by members of our society, but compared to the above varieties, successes have been rather limited. It is of similar height, and leaf shape to H. angustifolium, but flowers are larger and a striking medium to deep pink throughout, with plant growth usually o little more open or rangy, particularly in mature specimens. Propagation, while a little more difficult than with the former species has been most successful from cuttings of fast moving tip growth taken during late summer or early autumn. Once potted on and placed under nursery conditions of humidity and broken shade, growth is usually reasonably rapid. After this stage however troubles begin to show out. @@@ 5 @@@ June, 1967 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—MYRTACEAE Page 97—Vol. 4 My first introduction to the species was in a garden at Roseville where soil medium was a light yellow coloured Wianamatta shale residual, well drained and consistent in texture foer some twenty feet or so. Here, plants were growing with little if any attention beyond an cccasional pruning, and were apparently quite hardy, the oldest being some thirteen years. Colour photography by M. Hewett. HYPOCALYMMA TETRAPTERUM (See page 99) | have since recorded several specimens growing very satisfactorily in areas of deep light grey to white coastal sands with a permanent water table varying from say 2 to 5 feet below surface level. The species has also shown favourable performance in similar sand over slcping shelf sandstcne carrying a moisture track 2 feet or so below, but from these conditions my records are a complete blank until reaching almost the cpposite end of the soil texture range where some success has been achieved in heavy brown and red clayey loams. In these soils growth seems generally much slower than before, but the plants appear to show some ability tc withstand rapid weather changes. This characteristic is particularly evident where specimens are protected by some light shading of taller shrubs, and yet grow in a generally warm situation. | would think that this relatively @@@ 6 @@@ Page 98—Vol. 4 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—MYRTACEAE June, 1967 more impervious medium would provide a damping effect or slowing down of the conditions of saturation and drying out of the soil, caused by rapid changes in weather, thereby allowing the plant more time to accommodate to same. For about five years | have personally tried to grow this specics but have met with failure upon failure, until recently, when by adopting a different approach, | feel | have at last crossed what has been a very definite hurdle. As well as planting in my natural soil, a medium textured podsolic loam containing flat ironstone ridge gravel in varying sizes, | have also planted specimens in well drained rockeries of sandstone and grey bush sand. Without exception the life of the plant seemed to depend entirely upon the duration of mild weather, and with the advent of the first spell of warm dry conditions, vigour of the tip growth ceased, and in a matter of a few days another Hypocalymma robustum had passed on. In desperation | decided to experiment by preventing the soil from drying out, so | selected:- (a) A sunny rockery situation as noted above, and (b) A cool well drained natural soil location subject to about 75% shade, and near the south edge of a built up garden bed. In each case | placed pieces of sandstone around the base of the plant to keep the soil cooler and also to help prevent the roots from drying out during the daytime. Watering has always been done in late afternoon or when weather was very hot, in early evening, and | have done so whenever necessary to maintain some moisture in the surface soil. Furthermore, water has always been applied at the base of the plant, taking care to avoid wetting the foliage. Both specimens have continved to make steady growth, but plant “b” is by far the more vigorous. This suggests that the greater quantity of plant food available from the effects of humus in the medium textured podsolic soil is more to the plants liking than the heavily leached grey bush sand. It may be significant at this stage to record a report of a plant in W.A. which grew in a pouliry yard and became a most spectacular specimen. | have also been advised quite recently by a member (although at the time of writing | have not been able to personally inspect his garden), that to establish H. robustum it is highly desirable to plant in broken shade, and imperative that plants be prevented from drying out until a degree of maturity has been attained. Perhaps the nursery performance of this species, which indicates a liking for constant humidity would also provide the key to satisfactory garden treatment. While holidaying in W.A. last September, | was very interested to observe this species growing in its native state, and | was surprised to discover its occurrence under two distinctly variant soil conditions, viz in the deep sand tracks noirth of Perth and a!so brown granitic loams such as in the National Park and along the roadside scuth to Armadale. | did not discover any evidence of its existence in W.A. “sand plain” type conditions where it is usual to find gravel or other reascnably impervious layers of material below o sandy covering of several feet, and where the occurrence of tall Eucalyptus species was comparatively rare. I think perhaps, its behaviour to date in Sydney soil conditions could be explained to some extent by this natural occurrence cf the so=cies, which I always found growing as an understorey in association with large tress. tall shrubs and grasses etc. Perhaps also the apparent success being achieved @@@ 7 @@@ June, 1967 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—MYRTACEAE Page 99—Vol. 4 in my own and other Sydney gardens by maintaining the soil in a moist condition may be explained by consideration of the following natural growing conditions of the species. (a) Where growing in deep free sand the root system could penetrate deeply to a level of reasonably stable capillary moisture. (b) Where growing in stoney, granite loams penetration of roots would not be extensive but rapid reaction to weather changes as noted previously would be countered. In both (a) and (b) associated foliage would provide humid conditions to some extent, particularly at night, and low growing ground cover would maintain soil in a cooler condition. Whatever means however are used to obtain success with H. robustum, the result will be a most rewarding achievement to the grower. Hypocalymma puniceum has been grown for approx. three years, and to date appears to be reasonably hardy, growing in very poor coarse sand in an open situation. This is an attractive species with individual flowers and leaf form closely resembling H. robustum, but flowering tends to be scattered over the shrub and distributed over about nine months of the year, rather than be concentrated in a spectacular flush. According to ccmments on this species, which | received while in W.A., it responds well to garden cultivation when grown under sandy conditions. | observed it growing naturally in such conditions in close association with H. robusium, where it seemed to grow more densely, and also slightly taller. Hypocalymma tetrapterum is only now being launched, so to speak in the Sydney garden zone and we will eagerly await reports on this most beautiful species. A striking primrose yellow, | found it growing on gravelly roadside verges in sand plain country near Badgingarra, under conditions of full exposure. Plants were from fifteen to eighteen inches high, of symmetrical habit, and as with H. angustifolium carried flowers in almost every leaf axil. The soil medium where this species was cbserved was on open sand containing a high percentage of ironstone pea gravel. Adjacent {oliage was generally of a low nature. If this species can be adapted to our conditions it will make a magnificent rockery plant. Hypocalymma xanthopetalum. The last species of the genus of which | can claim even meagre familiarity is H. xanthopetalum. This also has the atiractive primrose yellow flower, but unlike the foliage of H. tetrapterum, which is short and broadly oblong, this variety has leaves very similar to H. angustifolium. | found it growing as an understorey among fairly dense low growing shrubbery in light coloured sand near the Arrowsmith River. | dug down to approx. 2 ft. without striking any semblance of stone or variation in soil texture, although nearby roadside excavations indicated light deposits of pea gravel at 3 ft. Plants of this slender species were of sparse habit, having at most, three or four stems to approximately 18" high. A further note by R. D. Joyce, Officer-in-Charge, Botany Branch, Dept. of Agriculture, W.A. The species occurs in three forms as regards leaf shape, but the flower structure is constant in all forms. The typical plant has leaves up to ': inch wide and *%: inch in length. This is the commonest form and occurs throughout the range of the plant from Muchea in the south to Mt. Lesueur. The form found and described above is narrower in the leaf and occurs in the eastern portion of the arvea of distribution between Coorow and Three Springs. The third form which is only known from the Mt. Peron - Diamond of the Desert area has longer terete leaves and a denser habit of growth. @@@ 8 @@@ Page 100—Vol. 4 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—MYRTACEAE HYPOCALYMMA IN MY GARDEN by E. Wittwer, Perth, W.A. June, 1967 The only species of Hypocalymma widely known and grown in gardens in Perth is Hypocalymma robustum, the “Pink or Swan River Myrtle”. Several other species are just as easy to grow, some very showy, cthers less spectacular but still worth a place in the garden. | will describe here the species growing in my garden, starting with the best and ending with the less attractive ones. Hypocalymma robustum Endl. An erect shrub 2-3 feet high, with linzar-lanceolate leaves half to one inch long. The axillary flowers are r=.=er small but in profusion usually of a rich pink although white or pale pink t:-7s can scmetimes be found. The plant grows on coastal sand in the 54 & “A. b’\. ‘.w W:,g.w,_s:) N, Colour ])I!’fi'()gl'l])]l_l/ by F. W. Humphreys. HYPOCALYMMA PUNICEUM Perth area mostly as an under-shrub. It flowers in late winter and spring. Moderate pruning after the flowering season will result in a compact, better flowering shrub. This species grows well from seed. Hypocalymma puniceum C. A. Gardn. A small spreading shrub about two feet high, leaves narrow linear, half to one inch long. The @@@ 9 @@@ June, 1967 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—MYRTACEAE Page 101—Vol. 4 crimson pink flowers are abcut half an inch in diameter, always solitary in the axils. The plant is very floriferous. The shrub grows in gravelly loam in the Avon district. | have found this plant profusely flowering on « railway siding where the soil was compacted by heavy wheat trucks. Flowering time is from February to May. What makes this little shrub so outstanding is the flowering time falling in a period when very few other species are flowering. Hypocalymma angustifolium Endl. A compact shrub 2-3 feet high, leaves linear to semi-terete about one inch long. Flowers axillary, small, white but often with pink throats. The flowering season starts in July and lasts till about the end of October. During this time the shrubs are covered in a profusion of white or pinkish flowers. This species grows over a wide area reaching from the Irwin down to the Warren and Stirling district. Hypocalymma stricium Schau. A compact bushy shrub 1-2 feet high, leaves linear-terete V2-% inch long. The rather small pink flowers are axillary. In cultivation the flowering time extends over a long period, starting in February and lasting through winter and spring until early summer. A neat little shrub from the Stirling, Warren and Eyre district. Hypocalymma cordifolium (Lehm.) Schau. A spreading shrub 3-4 feet high with heart-shaped leaves and white flowers. Flowering time is from late winter to early summer. The shrub grows along creeks or in swamps in the Darling, Stirling and Warren district. In the garden it is best grown in a semi-shaded position, it is a good undershrub but needs watering to keep it in good condition. Hypocalymma myrtifolium Turcz. (Syn. H. hypericifolium Benth.) A dwarf shrub to 1 foot high. The leaves are broadly linear and about 1 inch long. The fresh green colour of the fcliage contrasts with the red bark of new shoots. The white axillary flowers are small (% inch) and appear during spring and early summer. The plant grows in the Stirling Ranges on rocky slopes but in the garden it prefers a light shaded position. Hypocalymma tetrapterum Turcz. A small shrub mostly under one foot high. The leaves are broadly oblong about % of an inch long. The axillary flowers are small rather crowded in the top axils of the branches and are of a yellowish colour. The flowering time is from late winter to spring. The plant occurs in the Darling district. In the garden it is best grown in between other dwarf shrubs. THE PROPAGATION OF HYPOCALYMMA All species of Hypocalymma can be reproduced from seeds as well as from cuttings. The later method gives quicker results and is, in most cases, easier to get cutting material than seed. Cuttings taken from semi-hard (seasonal) wood strike readily. The size of the cuttings depends on the species and on the material available; the lengths may vary from 1-3 inches. We can either take cuttings with a keel or make a clean cut directly below a node. All leaves must be removed from the cover parts to eliminate the danger of rotting. A mixture of 4 parts clean sharp sand and one part of peat moss gives a good propagation medium. The right time to take cuttings is when good ripe propagaticn material is available; here in W.A. this is from February to April. Cuttings taken at this time of the year will have ample time to produce a large root stem before the beginning of the long dry and hot summer. A sandy potting soil of slightly acid reaction should be (Continued on page 137) @@@ 10 @@@ Page 102—Vol. 4 AUSTRALIAN FLANTS—CULTIVATION June, 1967 GARDENING ON BUSH SAND by W. M. Martin, Clarinda, Victoria My ground is in the coastal sand belt of Melbourne and | am fortunate in having a keen native-grower in my brother, in the heavy clay soil of Forest Hill, ten miles away. We have many of the same species, planted about the same time, which shows an interesting comparison. My block is 66’ x 150" and at present | have 300 species growing, with plenty of room for more small plants. The most numerous of the genera are Acacias (20), Banksias (10), Eucalyptus (29), Grevillea (20), Melaleuca (28). In addition | am planting my neighbour’s block in the rear, and at present have about 50 species planted. Heavy Clay versus Sandy Soil As a general comparison with my brother’s plants, it is noticeable that most of his have a richer and more dense foliage and form, and usually flower earlier in their life, and are more floriferous. This applies particularly to Melaleucas, Grevilleas and a few Acacias etc. However, he had many losses of small plantings during earlier establishment, and had better results with more advanced plants from 7lb. cans; whereas tiny plants in my sand grew very quickly to good size. | find that many plants grow too quickly in my sand and as a result are prone to wind damage through being too sappy and brittle, or are too tall for their root system to hold them up. | have lost two magnificent Leschenaultia biloba in full bloom because of the latter. Several other species | have lost through wind damage include Verticordia plumosa, several Epacris impressa, Hypocalymma robustum, Petrophila sessilis and Acacia floribunda. Water the Problem I had Chamaelaucium uncinatum thriving beside a dripping tap. One week after replacing the tap washer the plant was dead. My theory is that the concentrating nutrients caused plasmolysis. Two specimens of Leptospermum rotundifolium were lost successively in the same spot after three years by thorough soaking of a dry embankment in which they were growing. | suspect that plasmolysis was again the cause of death—the soaking would probably dissolve and concentrate the nutrients in the root zone. It appears that a rapid change in the water content in sandy soils can be fatal to many natives, perhaps? In any case | am firmly convinced that seedlings, cuttings and mature plants are continually being lost every- where by excessive watering. Observation of seedlings and mature plants thriving in sandy heathlands in middle of summer leads to this conclusion. Except in special places such as in embankments where | have particular plants, | am gradually withholding watering so as to harden off everything. As | have plenty of natural mulch on most of my block now, | think watering will soon be entirely unnecessary. Bavera sessiliflora is thriving on an embankment facing west, with very little watering. Roots shaded by Hypocalymma cordifolium. Editor’'s Note: The controversy over natural bush sand versus heavy soil even clay soil for the cultivation of wildflowers is widely known. The last three issues of Australian Plants have set out to assure people that are fortunate enough to have heavy soil that with reasonable treatment they can grow the best wildflowers of all. The above article serves to support this @@@ 11 @@@ June, 1967 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CULTIVATION Page 103—Vol. 4 Correas—most species thrive in any aspect here except Correa pulchella which has sulked for six years. A new seedling is not showing any more inclination to grow in a more shaded situation. Hibbertia sericea, H. fascicularis grow well for two or three years then die suddenly. | suspect watering is the trouble. H. procumbens & H. stricta are both growing well at present. H. scandens grows magnificently along my front fence and over a pergola facing west. Has continuous display of yellow flowers for six months every year. | have easily propagated numerous new plants from cuttings. They all appear to grow best when climbing up rather than over ground. Sun-shade-Feeding Eriostemon myoporoides thriving on an embankment facing west has been continually tip-pruned and grows nice and dense; but requires continuous feeding with Blood and Bone and Potash. Gompholobium huegelli thrives here in the sand, and gives a wonderful gold cover to half a yard of ground for many months. Near to me | have my “happy hunting ground.” This is a two acre block of previously natural heathland which has been modified by annual slashing or surface bulldozing to reduce the alleged fire hazard. It has the usual “egg and bacon” plants, and Hibbertias, tea trees etc. etc. It is amazing to see the improvement to the Bossiaeas, Dillwynias, Aotus etc. after the slashing by rotary mower. This observation led me to prune hard my own similar plants with consequent improvement in density and flori- ferousness. This year there was also a wonderful display of hundreds of Thelymitra ixioides after the surface scraping last year by bulldozer. Acacia brownii also has rejuvenated wonderfully well, and Leptospermum myrsenoides came up as usual into wonderful bloom. Micromyrtus—Beautiful Undershrubs—See Aust. Plants No. 30 issue. Micromyrtus ciliata gives almost 100% strike from cuttings. | have a lovely low-spreading form. | have lost some mysteriously, and haven’t quite decided the cause, however | think they prefer shade from summer afternoon sun although at the present moment my best plant is in rock crevice facing west, and a healthy plant is in shade most of day. The plant in shade has nice green foliage, but hasn’t flowered, whereas the plant in sun flowers nicely, but foliage is yellow-green. | am commencing some experiments with lime and iron chelates, for plants with yellowing foliage. Eucalypts—Gum Trees All my eucalypts grow well except one loss ot E. torrestiana. All reports I have indicate difficulty in growing this species in Melbourne, particularly in sand belt. E. torquata appears to be hardy. My best at present is E. papuana which is 9 ft. tall in 14 months since planting as a small seedling. E. sepulcrals is healthy but only 2 ft. tall in 21 months since planting. E. papuana is particularly attractive with soft semi-glaucus pink tips, and fine pendulous branches. Proteaceae—Banksia, Grevillea, Telopea (Waratah) Banksia integrifolia seedlings responded well to lime {Caicium carbonate), while a young Banksia dryandroides responded quickly to iron chelates. Oh well, 1 shall continue to experiment as Banksia have been my biggest problem. Some Grevilleas are not easily grown in the sand belt. Grevillea juniperina, G. lavandulacea, G.oleoides var. dimorpha, were hcrd to @@@ 12 @@@ Page 104—Vol. 4 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CULTIVATION June, 1967 establish. | lost quite a few. | think they must have summer watering to survive in sand belt, although they thrive in my brother’s block without watering. G. asplenifolia requires watering and regular fertilising (including potash) to look its best. The hybrid G. asplenifolia x G. caleyi is a much more attractive plant. However G. asplenifolia is the favourite of my Honeyeaters. | have three N.S.\W. Waratahs, Telopea speciosissima, growing well. | feed them Blood & Bone occasionally. They get summer watering, but | don’t think they need it. They happen to be close to small stuff that does require watering at present. My Hypocalymma robustum Hypocalymma robustum grew to 4 ft. in twelve months and was bisected by wind. The remaining half thickened and grew on to 6 ft. next year. It was again bisected by wind while in full bloom. Jack Seaton saw it at this stage and said it was easily the best specimen he'd seen. It is grcwing right on the edge of 4 ft. embankment which is a dry rock wall. Brachycome multifida provides thick ground cover. | have hard pruned it now, and hope to grow it better able to withstand wind. Melaleuca There doesn’t seem io be any problem with any melaleucas, except M. decussata which grew too sparse and unattractive, so | pulled it out. In my brother’s garden it is quite dense and attractive. M. wilsoni, M. pulchella, M. thymifolia are all much more dense, floriferous and attractive than mine also. | had Chorizema cordatum in a small tub for three years. | became tired of its sparse foliage and flowers, so planted it in front of a neighbour’s garden. It was the showpiece of the street for six months this year. A thcusand curses! Birds | have severe troubles with birds during spring and summer. | have lost many valuable seedlings to them. | now have to enclose all small plants in wire cages for twelve months. | have suspected in turn sparrows, blackbirds and mynahs. Now | suspect them all. | am attracting many native honey-eaters some of which nest here each year. My app!e and other fruit trees never are infested with codlin moth or other pests. Even ihe damn sparrows which harass the Honyeaters, can be seen hunting for grubs among the foliage. | spend many delightful (wasted—according to my wife) hours watching the antics of the birds in the ponds and pools I have provided. Perhaps it may be needless to say that | fully endorse the remarks of Mrs. Salter and others in regard to pesticides, and the delights of native gardens with their complement—the birds. ST. ANNE’S NURSERY TELOPEA VALLEY NURSERY 56-62 WARRIEN RD., CROYDON, VIC. 69 Cumberland Avenue, Collaroy Native trees and shrubs, Creepers, ang Marngrove Mountain Mat Plants, Rockery and Ferns Wide range Natives, small to advanced Large specimen garden to view. plants £ Read, Prop. PHONE: 98-6256 THE AUSTRALIAN NATIVE ORCHID SOCIETY Founded for the preservation and cultivation of Australian Native Orchids. The Society’s magazine ‘“The Orchadian’ is available FREE to all members Cultural and Scientific articles in every issue. Adult Membership $2.50 Junior ; $1.50 Bound issues of “‘Orchadian’ Vol. 1 available at $6.60. Postal Address: P.O. BOX 106C, CLARENCE STREET, SYDNEY, N.S.W. @@@ 13 @@@ June, 1967 AUSTRALIAN FLANTS—CULTIVATION Page 105—Vol. 4 ~ NATIVE PLANTS ON CLAY SOILS By Wandel Flentje, Dept. of Agriculture, Victoria Clay soils may be defined as those with more than 50 per cent of clay size particles in the top few inches of the profile and there are many areas in Victoria with this type of soil. Notable examples are the heavy clays of the Goulburn Valley and the black earths of the Wimmera. They are also found in cities such as Melbourne where there are many home gardens. In Melbourne there is a wide range of soil types from the sand belt in the south-east of the city to the heavy clays of the western suburbs. There is also a large area of soil type called the Hallam lcam which extends over a large area of the eastern metropolitan crea. This is a shallow soil with 6 to 8 inches of a grey loam overlying a fairly impermeable yellow clay and it has associated with it some of the problems which are found for gardeners on the heavier clay soils. In southern Victoria many of the heavy clays have been formed from basalt and may be red or black in colour. Black clays are usually very sticky in winter and so are hard to cultivate and often become waterlogged. They may also set hard in summer although some are self-mulching. The red clays are generally easier to work and both types are good chemically although phosphate levels may be fairly low. The lighter grey soils which are found extensively in southern areas of Victoria are easier to cultivate than the clays and are less subject to water- logging but they also set hard in summer and show more marked mineral deficiencies. Phosphate, nitrogen and potash are all of low status in these lighter soils. In order to improve clay soils for the growth of plants they should be drained well and their structure improved. Most plants grow best on well- drained soil and it is essential that the naturally poor drainage of the clay is imprcved. This can be achieved by the installation of underground drains to remove excess water from the soil. Improvement of the structure of the clay can be achieved in several ways. The addition of gypsum will aggregate the ciay particles and make the clay more permeable to air and water. Organic matter, added by the mixing of organic manures with the soil or by the growth and ploughing in of a green manure crop, will improve the structure of the clay. Where native plants are to be planted, liming is not recommended because it reduces soil acidity; most native plants require an acid or neutral soil. To sum up, it can be said that most clay soils in Victoria can be used for the growing of native plants and for those plants requiring different soil conditions than are found under most clay scils. All clays or soils with clay in them can be improved and this is usually achieved by good drainage and the addition of gypsum or organic matter. Editor’'s Note: Other issues have specifically mentioned the treatment of clay soils, this article being for Victoria. GYPSUM AS AN IMPROVER FOR CLAY SOIL—A note by G. Wallis, Roseville, N.S.W. The excellent article by C. Loxley in Australian Plants, page 345, Vol. 3, recommends the use of gypsum as a soil improver for clay soil. He may have given a wrong impression however, when he describes it as ‘‘a very hard mineral.” In comparison with the hardest, diamond, 9 on the hardness scale, it is almost soft at 1.5 to 2. It can be scratched with a finger nail. The reason for it needing to be finely ground is its poor solubility. @@@ 14 @@@ Page 106—Vol. 4 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—STERCULIACEAE June, 1967 KURRAJONG BRACHYCHITON POPULNEUM AS A STREET TREE by R. W. Boden, Research Officer, Parks and Gardens Section, anberra One of the most drought hardy native trees suitable for planting as a street tree in inland areas is the Kurrajong, Brachychiton populneum R.Br. Kurrajong is native to inland areas of N.S.W., north-eastern Victoria and southern Queensland with mean annual rainfall less than 25 inches and long, hot, dry summers. lts main natural occurrence is on plain country where it is common to see Kurrajongs left standing in wheat paddocks cleared of other trees. The reasons for this are twofold. Firstly the foliage is highly palatable to stock and may be a major fodder reserve in periods of drought, and secondly, it is an effective shade and shelter tree. It also occurs naturally in tableland areas where it is confined to slopes and hillsides, but does not grow in valleys subject to poor drainage or intense frost. The features which make Kurrajong a useful park and street tree are its drought hardiness, evergreen habit and compact round headed crown of bright, green leaves. The juvenile foliage is often trilobed and differs markedly from the mature leaves, which are generally ovate and entire. The attractive creamy white bell-shaped flowers are followed by 3 inch brown boat shaped pods. Brachychiton populneum as a street tree in Gilgandra, N.S.W. Editor’s Note: The genus Brachychiton was fully described in our No. 20 issue and all the species introduced. Each species will again be described in future issues as they are of special value to the horticulturalists. Please send in a report of your experiences with these trees especially the ‘“‘bottie tree’”” and the ‘“‘flame tree” The above article is one of a series by H. Oakman and R. W. Boden on Australian Trees for Street Tree Planting. Why is not more effort made to beautify our streets? The tree on page 108 is recommended as a street tree in our No. 15 issue @@@ 15 @@@ June, 1967 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—STERCULIACEAE Page 107—Vol. 4 Growth in the early stages may be slow but it is reliable. Only light pruning is required in the young stage to shape the crown. Pruning of established trees should be avoided as the regrowth is likely to be uneven. The bark of Kurrajong is soft and easily damaged thus care should be taken when staking young plants to prevent ties cutting into the stem. Propagation is from seed which germinates well, and most street planting is done with 1-2 year old seedlings. There is considerable variation in stock raised from seed, and grafting or budding of selected forms has been carried out successfully to help reduce variation. One of the particular features for which selection is desirable is sparse fruiting as a heavy crop of brown pods detracts from the otherwise neat appearance of the crown. Trees may be transplanted safely even when quite large, provided this is carried out during the spring or summer months when there is rapid regrowth of roots. Transplanting in winter may result in death or severe “sei back” as the fleshy roots when damaged have a tendency to rot in cold soils. When transplanting from the seed bed it is advisable to give a heavy root and top pruning, which assists in establishment and enables trees to be planted directly from the nursery bed to the permanent site. Kurrajong should be raised in open seed beds where the long tap root can develop unobstructed; if raised in pots or small tins the main tap root will be forced to curl and circle in the tin becoming completely pot bound. Successful growth of Kurrajong has been recorded in the Street Tree Study Group from Merriden and Cottesloe (Western Australia), Alice Springs (Northern Territory), West Torrens (South Australia), Wentworth, Griffith, leeton, Gunnedah, Gilgandra, Dubbo, Casino (N.S.\W.) and Melbourne (Victoria). It is recommended as a street and park tree for inland areas with annual rainfall greater than 15 inches, and relatively mild winters. Kurrajong may be damaged by severe frosts which cause browning of the foliage and branch shedding. BOOK REVIEW These Books are not available from the Editor or the Society but from your Bookseller WILD AUSTRALIA by M. K. Morcombe Price: $4.50 A feature of this 112 page book is the large full colour plates, dozens of them all pr aiming the superb photographic skill of the author. The author’s aim 1is to capture Australia in the wild in full colour and the chapter headings will indicate the scope of the book—“The Eucalypts'”, ‘“Wrens', ‘‘Banksias’’, ‘‘Honeyeaters’, ‘‘Creatures of the Night'’, “Parrots, Cockatoos, Lorikeets”, “The Avid Lands’, ‘“Birds Beneath the Ground’’, “Mistletoes’’, “‘Forest Life’’, “The Western Wildflower” and ‘Dependent on Water”. The simple text adequately describes the drama of nature, the interplay of animals, birds and wildflowers in their natural stage—Wild Australia. LETTER TO READERS OF "“AUSTRALIAN PLANTS” I am impressed by the tremendous interest in growing native plants of Australia and the impetus which fostered initiation of Australian Flants. Nothing like it exists in the United States, although we have people interested in growing native plants and many special plant societies. At the U.S. National Arboretum, we are building an herbarium with broad objectives as a national and international centre for research and investigation on cultivated plants The collection is world wide in scope and consists of specimens of ferns through the seed plants—herbaceous and woody, temperate and tropical species and their cultivated derivatives (hybrids cultivars, and other elite materials). We would be very glad to receive herbarium specimens of cultivated Australian plants, although we realise that most gardeners and horticulturists usually don’t do this kind of thing. However, we would be glad to make arrangements with anyone interested and could assure them of our appreciation in getting material which would be kept in the most modern air-conditioned quarters. Co-operation invited. Dr. Frederick G. Meyer, Herbarium, U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, D.C. 20250 @@@ 16 @@@ Page 108—Vol. 4 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—ARALIACEAE June, 1967 BRASSAIA IN FLORIDA by Alex D. Hawkes, Coconut Grove, Florida, U.S.A. The mest popular Australian tree grown here is Brassaia actinophylla, a splendid member of the Araliaceae. It is known here as the Queensland Umbrella Tree. Since South Florida is visited almost annually by storms Specimens of Crassaia, for example, in excess of thirty feet tall are rare. Brassaia actinophylla, when allowed to mature—and it is a very rapid-growing tree even in our often poor, rocky soils—flowers profusely, usually during the autumn months. lIts fantastic, radiating inflorescence of red flower-clusters is always attractive, and has given it the additional local vernacular name of Octopus Tree, and as such it is frequently offered hereabouts. This araliad seeds freely, and the secdlings are widely offered elsewhere in the United States as house plants, and when larger, are extensively utilized as pot-specimens in hotels and other buildings. Interestingly enough, birds eat the copicus fruits, and it is not a rarity to find seedlings of Brassaia sprouting as epiphytes (or semi-epiphytes) in the boot-jackets of our indigenous palm, Sabal Palmetto, and even on mossy, fern-hung branches of dicotyledonous trees within the city limits of Miami. @@@ 17 @@@ June, 1967 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—AMARANTHACEAE Page 109—Vol. 4 THE GENUS PTILOTUS R.Br. by G. Benl, F.L.S. Botanische Staatssammlung Munchen, Germany Ptilotus is a member of the Amaranthaceae family, which embraces Alternanthera, Amaranthus and Gomphrena, too. Since Trichinium has become fused with Ptilotus (s. J. M. Black, FI. S. Austr. 2: 324, 1948) the latter became the largest genus of the family in Australia, comprising more than 80 species recognised at present. Photography by W. Schacht Plate |. — Ptilotus obovatus var. obovatus Branch with flowerheads. For a full description of this plant see page 114. GROWING PTILOTUS In different botanic gardens it was possible to grow Ptilotus from seed. Thus Sir George Taylor, Director of the Royal Boanic Gardens Kew, wrote us: At present we have plants of P. manglesii F. Muell. and P. villosiflorus @@@ 18 @@@ Page 110—Vol. 4 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—AMARANTHACEAE June, 1967 F. Muell. in cultivation. The former was received as a plant from the Royal Horticultural Society’s garden at Wisley, where it was presumably raised from seed. We have in the past raised plants of P. obovatus F. Muell. and P. spathulatus Poir.”” King’s Park and Botanic Garden, Perth, recently sent seed material to Munich Botanic Garden, where P. obovaius has already begun to thrive, under glass-house conditicns of course (on account of ou- gecgraphical situation), the essential requirement of Ptilotus being a hot position. As Dr. J. S. Beard informed us, all the seed had been “collected in the wild. We have had very limited success in the cultivation of these species as they occur mostly in the tropical part of the state, and as we have no facilities for glasshcuse cultivation we have not found them to do well in the open. We do, however, endeavour to cultivate from seed . . .” Notes—If you succeed in growing up Fiilotus from sezd, write your observations to the editor. If you should meet specimens indeterminable. pl'eac» send them to the author I1is address: Botanische Staatssammlung, 8§ Munchen 19, Menzingzrstrassz 67, Geomany. Being a very polymorphic genus Ptilotus presents us an amazing variation in size, habit, spike form, and floral structure. We meet with small slender annuals as well as robust perennial types up to 1.5 metres and over in height, with simple and few-branched stems as well as spreading bushes or straggling shrubs Tm. across. Stems and foliage may be more or less glabrous, velvety or covered with woolly, stellate and dendroid hairs. Cauline leaves are narrow lanceolate or obtuse with pungent point, bract-like to spoon-shaped, coriacecus and flat or soft and fleshily thick; occasionally a rosette of long petiolate leaves being attached to base of blooming stems. Masses of colourful, long-lasting flowers form dense globular to ovoid heads, sessile in leaf axils or pedunculate in compound corymbs, but are often arranged in terminal, nicely conical to cylindrical soikes (“Pussy-tails”, “Lamb-tails”, "Fox-tails”) attaining 30 cm. or over in length. Their extremely variable colours range from shining white or silver through greenish yellow to mauve and wonderful shades of purple often fading to pink; red is again the prevailing colour, true of Australian plants in general. The “Mulla-mullas” are indigenous to Australia except for one (P. conicus R.Br.) which extends to southern Malaysia, too. As a sun lover Ptilotus favours (semi-)arid subtropical and tropical regions, but is distributed over all statec including Tasmania. Main blooming time normally covers spring, but is not strictly seasonal, and quite a number of species seem to flower almost continuously. “Many of them are really well worthy of the attention of horticulturists, and only require to be known in order to become familiar objects in the garden. Most of them will stand a phenomenal amount of heat, and they will grow in the driest soils once they got fairly established, so that there is little difficulty in cultivating them” (F. Turner, The Forage Plants of Australia, 1891: 84). But “although many members . . . are exceedingly pretty with their pinkish ever-lasting heads, often enveloped in white wool they do not seem to have attracted the attention of horticulturists”, regretted L. Farmer in 1905 (s. Bull. Herb. Boiss. ser. 2, 5: 1087). It is not before sixty years later that the gardeners’ interest was seriously drawn to this valuable addition to gardens and rockeries by D. F. Nelson (s. “Australion Plants” 3/22: 84-85) As a matter of fact, most of the variously appearing species are handsome plants, and massed they would make a fine show in a garden with their abundant flowering. As longevity is an essential character for plants which have to perform structural duties, the autheor chiefly selected oftractive perennials for a detailed discussion. @@@ 19 @@@ June, 1967 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—AMARANTHACEAE Page 111—Vol. 4 THE FLOWER The bisexual flowers consist of five, i.e. 2 outer and 3 inner rigid perianth segments (tepals), five stamens mostly unequal, and a -+ stalked pistil (Fig. T, g) with an undivided style, central or lateral. The tepals becoming dry and often connate at base into a short indurated tube (Fig. 1, a), are more or less copiously clothed externally with straight, jointed denticulate hairs, thus causing a plumose appearance of flowers (the Gresk word “ptilotos” means “feathered”); the three inner segments scmetimes wear inside a close wool of intricate crispy hairs. An outstanding flower feature being the membranecus cup or ring produced by union of the filaments below (Fig. 1, f), occasionally with interposed fringed lobes or teeth called pseudo- staminodes (Fig. 2, a-c). Papery flower-bracts are often persistent. 5 mm By Fig. 1.—Expanded flower of Ptilotus appendiculatus (see page 120), inner view. a perianth tube; b outer perianth-segment (tepal); c inner perianth-segment (tepal); d fertile stamen; e sterile stamen; f staminal cup spread open; g pistil (length of stalk corresponding with length of perianth-tube). @@@ 20 @@@ Page 112—Vol. 4 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—AMARANTHACEAE June, 1957 1. Ptilotus exaltatus N. ab Esenb. ex. Chr. Lehmann This plant is a well-known member of the genus. Reported from all states of the continent it extends across the arid interior and reaching the south-, west- and north-coasts in desert regions. Because of its large iridescent pinky-mauve to lilac-purple spikes becoming 30 cm. in length and 5 cm. in diameter the “Lamb-tails” may be considered as a highly desirable horticultural plant. Several branched and spreading stems from a common rhizome grow to and over 1 m., and carry conspicuous bright- to blue-green spathulate leaves, fleshy and partly reddish tinted as are the stems of smaller specimens. Pointed floral bracts are dark brownish and very striking in conical-shaped young inflorescences (Plate Il), stamens purple, the 3 inner and smaller tepals copiously beset inside with beardy-like wool below the middle. This showy herb ranging up to a subshrub at times occurs in skeletal scil near sandstone or granite hills, in brown earth on lime-stone as well as in heavy red plain along water-courses. It seems to flourish nearly the whole year. There is a var. semilanatus (‘‘Hairy-tail’’) reported especially from QIld. and N.S.W., where it favours open grassland. It is well distinguished by the shorter and lankier stems with linear leaves and small capitate spikes. Photography by /l'. Schacht Plate Il.—Ptilotus exaltatus var. exaltatus Spikes in young stages shown in natural colour. The photegraph was made from a herbarium specimen. @@@ 21 @@@ Tana, 1967 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—AMARANTHACEAE Page 113—Vol. 4 2. Ptilotus polystachyus (Gaud.) F. v. Muell. emend. Ben Formerly P. alopecuroideus (Lindl.) F. v. Muell., this is another fairly common, woody based perennial distributed over all states of the continent and widely spread in deep red sand or coarse clayey soil between rocky hills. The straggling stems (0,2-1 m. and more high) with their leng narrow leaves finally becoming glabrous may form clumps about 1T m. across; they bear narrower candle-like spikes (up to 25 cm. long, 2-4 cm. in diameter) of silky, greenish to golden-yellow tinged flowers (sweetly scented!) with usually broad bractecles (4 mm.). The =+ oblique cupula is bordered with distinct cilia. The plant was met with blooming any time of the year. Lczal names: “Long-tails’”, ""Bottle-washers”, “Prince of Wales-feather”. We have a forma rubriflorus (formerly P. longistachyus W. V. Fitzg.) more handsome with its purplish [lowers (Plate III) constantly every season from the same regions. Photography by W. Schacht Plate lil.—Ptilotus polystachyus f. rubriflorus Branched stem bearing candle-like inflorescences. @@@ 22 @@@ Page 114—Vol. 4 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—AMARANTHACEAE June, 1977 3. Ptilotus obovatus (Gaud.) F. v. Muell. With its soft tomentum of the much-branched stems and cream to greyish white, obovate or orbicular leaves this is the most common and widespread species throughout Australia (excepting Tasmania), the stiff sprawling shrubs with intricate branchlets reaching diameters up to and over 1.2 m. Their innumerable globular to ovoid, white-hairy flowerheads (1-3 cm. in length) vary greatly in regard to colour and form of floral bracts, but all have right-angled inferior peduncles, and the violet-purple to pink perianth (Plate 1) and a hairy ovary. This hardy and drought- resistent species, its stems becoming finally dark-barked, is frequent in sand plains and arid rocky soil (such as on travertine outcrop, limestone ridge, quartzite hills, weathered granite, in schistose rocks, red clay, gravelly slope etc.) all over the desert couniry, though often in small restricted areas only. It blooms any time of the year. Vernacular names: “Silverbush”, “Smoke-bush”, "Flannel-flower”, "Silver-tails”, "W hite-foxtail”. Colour plate on page 212—No. 19 Australian Plants. Closely allied taxons are var. parviflorus (N.S.W., Qld., N.T.?) with a sparse indumentum of its stems and greenish leaves, var. lancifolius (Qld.) with striking lanceolate leaves and var. griseus (N.T.) recognisable by dendroid hairs in the vegetative parts and extremely pilose bracts; all of them having a glabrous pistil. 4. Ptilotus atriplicifolius (A. Cunn. ex Mogq.) Benl Formerly P. obovatus var. grandiflorus, this is another red-spiked spectac- ular subshrub (0.2-0.8 m. high) with a profusion of purple to mauve inflorescences making a fine display. It resembles the foregoing species in general appearance, but differs among others in decidedly larger leaves and flowers with longer naked tips, and crisped woolly hairs inside the inner tepals. This plant, too, occurs in all states of the continent, flowering specimens having been found all the year round on red sand dune, coarse red gravel etc. 5. Ptilotus clementii (Farmar) Benl A medium-size plant (20-40 cm., to 60 cm. at times) with soft indumentum thrcughout, thus indicating its natural habitats in dry soil (W.A., Qld., N.T.), it frequents bare patches on limestone slopes. The pale to dirty yellowish- green feathery flowers borne in globose, sometimes nodding heads 5 cm. across or in spikes of 10 cm. in length are conspicuous at the too of almost unbranched stems several of them sprouting forth from one vigorous stock. Leaves may be clustered. Dilated laciniate pseudostaminodial lobes in the broad sinus between basal-fused filaments are worthy of mention (Fig. 2, a). Flowertime is spring to autumn. Local names: “Tassel-top”, “Pussycat’s tail”. 6. Ptilotus calostachyus (F. v. Muell.) F. v. Muell. P. calostachyus has rather lanky branching stems (spindling up to 1.8 m) of pruinous looking surface with narrow distant leaves and a lot of pedunculate spikes to 8 cm. in length and 1.5 cm. in diameter, conical at top. The marginate tepals densely cloihed with fine hairs outside are coloured by a vivid red to mauve-purple, finally restricted to the centre; the staminal ring is marked out by fimbriate liqulate scales between filaments, as will be seen by Fig. 2, c. Habitats hitherto reported belong to W.A., Qld. and N.T., where this sparse straggly bush has an extensive range in lateritic sandy soil, blooming any time of the year; on rocky areas it is often associated with Triodia pungens. The larger and more branched var. procerus exhibits woolly floral bracts. Its spikes pendulous at times get a length of 1.5 cm., its pseudostaminodes being smaller than in the typical form. Fig. 2.—Staminal cup (cupula)