'Australian Plants' Vol.7 No.60 September 1974

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PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS IN 15,000 COPIES

Reglstered for posting as a perlodical— SEPTEMBER, 1974  Volume 7, No. 60 50
Category B Volume 7 wlll comprise Issues 53-60 c

Photography by Doris Ryall

RANUNCULUS ANEMONEUS

ALPINE WILDFLOWERS



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Page 350—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CONTENTS Sept., 1974

Contents of this Issue

While this issue is devoted principally to the wildflowers of the alpine
areas of the Kosciusko National Park (pages 384-389 describe some wildflowers
of Tasmania), the plant communities will be similar {o those in other
Australian alpine areas. They are grouped in two sectio(hs as follows:
Page 352—THE SPECIALISED PLANT COMMUNITIES | OF RESTRICTED

DISTRIBUTION I

Page 354—Windswept Feldmark. Confined to the most windswept saddles as
shown in the sketch below. Wildflowers of this feldmark are shown
on pages 352, Veronica densifolia—356, Euphrasia glacialis and
396, Epacris serpyllifolia.

Page 355—Cold Feldmark. See sketch below and picture page 353.

Page 355-——Short Alpine Herbfield. Ranunculus niphophilus shown in colour
on page 360 against the rock with one of the mosses is one of
the plants that form the bright green area below the snow patch
on page 353.

Page 358—Tall Alpine Herbfield.

Page 358—Fen. Pictured on page 357.

Page 359—THE WIDESPREAD PLANT COMMUNITIES OF THE KOSCIUSKO
NATIONAL PARK
Bog. Ranunculus anemoneus, the cover plate may be found here.
Sod Tussock Grassland and Tall Alpine Herbfield.

The Heathlands—Short Heathland—page 365.
Tall Heathland—page 366.

Page 367—SOME NOTES ON LOCATIONS—providing a guide as where to walk.

Page 375—SUMMER FAIRYLAND—A series for the young in spirit.

Page 371—GROWING ALPINE PLANTS
(a) A report on experience in the Cooma area.

Page 390—(b) A report from Victoria on the same plants.

Page 383—(c) An Alpine Rock Garden.

Page 380—(d) Native Daisies.

Page 388—(d) The Mat-forming Plants principally of Tasmania.

WEST PREVAILING WIND »———> EAST
WINDSWEPT FELDMARK 4
e =30 COLD FELDMARK

TALL ALFINE HERBFIELD

SNOWPATCH
SHORT ALPINE HERBFIELD
f V&{m.x. ALFINE HERBFISLD

Shown diagrammatically above is a cross-section through the crest of
the range, emphasising how prevailing winds, exposure, drainage and snow
accumulation determine the position of many of the plant communities of
the alpine area. Page 353 illustrates a typical scene on the east facing
side of the Main Range near Mt. Kosciusko.

COVER PLATE—RANUNCULUS ANEMONEUS

The Anemone Buttercup is a robust perennial herb with flowering
stems 35 cm or more long and large deeply lobed thick leaves. Its flowers,
which are borne singly or in twos or threes, are up to 6 cm across. It is
confined to the Kosciusko area, usually amongst boulders on damp sheltered
sites and is becoming increasingly common in the alpine and subalpine
tracts of the Kosciusko National Park.



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Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Page 351—Vol. 7

ALPINE PLANTS

THE ALPINE PLANTS OF THE KOSCIUSKO NATIONAL PARK
( by Margaret Parris & D. J. Wimbush
|

{

While the maJssed displays of flowers are the most spectacular feature
of the alpine landscape in the Kosciusko National Park in late January and
February, the visitor will also notice how much the flora differs from that
of other parts of Australia. He will soon be impressed by the way this
flora has become adapted to its cold windswept habitat. If he probes a
little deeper he will find that some of the plants of this area are very
limited in distribution, having become adapted to specialised conditions,
while others, particularly the herbs, are much more widespread—either because
they grow under a wider variety of conditions or because the particular
habitats they require are more widely distributed.

The alpine tract is defined as the area above the tree line. This occurs
at about 1800 m elevation. Since it is determined by temperature, aspect
and exposure to wind as well as altitude, the tree line is somewhat variable.
There are many treeless frost hollows in the subalpine areas where trees
do not grow because of cold air pooling and high water tables but these
are not part of the alpine tract.

In spring and early summer the alpine landscape is predominantly
green and silver as, in the widespread tall alpine herbfield, the silver-leaved
Snow Daisy grows in close packed colonies, forming a patchwork with the
Snow Grass. A much darker green adds emphasis to the rocky outcrops
and other rock strewn areas where shelter from wind provides the habitat
for the tall heathland. Dark reds, browns and yellows invade the landscape
in autumn but in summer silver and green disappear under a carpet of
white, yellow, pink and mauve as herbs and shrubs come into flower
and provide the massed displays which reach their peak in late January
and early February.

Both the tall alpine herbfield and the heathland are widespread in the
alpine regions. In addition to these plant communities growing in well
drained conditions are more specialised communities, the location of which
is determined by poor drainage—the bogs and sod tussock grassland.
More specialised still and with much more limited distribution are the
windswept feldmarks of the exposed saddles and ridges and the cold
feldmark vegetation which grows at the top and sides of receding drifts
on steep slopes. Short alpine herbfield grows only in saturated ground
below drifts and a specialised herbfield is restricted to very steep sheltered
and rock strewn slopes. The fens are confined to wet, level or gently sloping
sites where the water table is high.

The more specialised plant communities are described in Section |
and the widespread plant communities and their inhabitants in Section II.
Some of the plants may be recognisable from the information provided,
but no attempt has been made to provide detailed descriptions. Those who
require more information of this kind are referred to ‘“Handbook to Plants
in Victoria”, J. H. Willis; “Flowers & Plants of Victoria”, G. R. Cochrane,
B. A. Fuhrer, E. R. Rotherham & J. H. Willis; “The Flora of the A.C.T.”,
Nancy Burbidge & Max Gray; and “Flowers of the Australian Alps”, Nuri Mass.
Willis provides a key only. The others have good photographs or drawings and
descriptions. More detailed information, including a vegetation map, is available
in “Vegetation Mapping in the Kosciusko Alpine Area” C.S.I.R.O. Division
of Plant Industry Tech. Paper No. 32 by D. J. Wimbush & A. B. Costin.



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Page 352—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Sept., 1974

I. THE SPECIALISED PLANT COMMUNITIES OF RESTRICTED DISTRIBUTION

Two specialised plant communities occur near the top of the saddles
and ridges of the higher peaks of the Main Range, which run south from
Kosciusko, and east of north to Mt. Carruthers and north-east to Mt. Tate.

Here the cold feldmarks occur on the sheltered sides of the saddles,
and the windswept feldmarks on the tops and just below the tops on the
windward side of the saddles and on the exposed ridges.

Other specialised habitats of limited distribution ocgur at the foot of
snow drifts, amongst boulder-streams on steep sheltered slopes and on
level or gently sloping sites where the water table is high.

Photography by Janet Ferris

VERONICA DENSIFOLIA

A procumbent shrub confined to the windswept feldmarks (opposite) of the Kosclusko
Plateau, this member of the Family Scrophulariaceae, bears consplcuous white, pink or
mauve five-petalled flowers about 10 mm across, with leaves which are densely crowded on
thick woody stems. It flowers soon after snow melt, which tends to be early in Its windswept
habitat. It grows nowhere else in Australia and may be endemic.



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AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Page 353—Vol. 7

"

g

“Q‘ u\.'“,fl ; ‘

(Upper)—ALPINE LANDSCAPE Photography by Shirley Dent

Here we look towards the eastern face of the Main Range of the western edge of
the Kosciusko Plateau above Rawsons Creek. In the foreground Craspedia and Euphrasia
species flower on the edge of a small fen. On the lower slopes In the background the
patchwork of the tall alpine herbfield, dominated by Celmisia asteliifolia and Poa spp.,
grows amongst tall heathland. Just below the area abraded by the compacted snow of big
snowdrifts, the short alpine herbfield provides a carpet of bright green. Plants of the cold
feldmark grow at the sides and top of the abraded areas.

(Lower) WINDSWEPT FELDMARK Photography by Shirley Dent

This windswept feldmark is high on the western face of the Etheridge Range, just
east of Mt. Kosciusko, below a small saddle and it borders a tall alpine herbfield community.
The discontinuous shrub cover is provided by Epacris microphylla, E. petrophila and
Veronica densifolio. Euphrasia alsa and a dwarfed E. glacialis (photograph page 356) grow
amongst the shrubs. On its margins Helipterum albicans subspecies alpinum and a feldmark
form of Leptorhynchos squamatus are found.



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Page 354—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS

Sept., 1974

The Windswept Feldmark

This feldmark flora is confined to the most windswept saddles and
ridges at the top of the range, and is also found in Victoria and Tasmania
in similar situations. Wind is probably the controlling factor in the micro-
climate of these areas. The shallow rock strewn soils owe their existence
partly to the direct effect of the wind, partly to their emérgence from snow
cover soon after heavy snowfalls cease, since snow build-up is prevented
by wind. They are exposed, therefore, to long periods of frost heave and
repeated freeze and thaw cycles. The soil is low in humus as well, since
plant particles tend to blow away. The effect of the wind is also to
ensure that the plant profile is kept low, and some plants only survive where
rocks or the prostrate shrubs of this plant community provide some shelter.
The prolonged period of exposure to the freeze and thaw cycle after snow
melt inhibits the growth of seedlings and, in fact, only three of the twenty
or so plants of this community are annuals. Wind-blown rock particles
and gravel add to the difficulties of establishment and survival.

What shelter there is on these sites is provided by low outcrops of
rock, loose rock and the prostrate shrubs. Shelter is mainly provided by
two species of heath, Epacris microphylla and E. petrophila, and Veronica
densifolia*. The latter possibly an endemic has mauve, pink or (rarely)
white, five-petalled flowers much larger than the tiny crowded leaves. Drapetes
tasmanica, a close relative of the rice flowers, is too small and cushion-like
to provide much shelter, while the Carpet Heath, Pentachondra pumila, itself
takes every advantage of the shelter provided by rocks in both windswept
feldmark and heathland. Its tiny white heath-like flowers appear at the same
time as the larger bright red fruits set the season before.

The other plants of this community are herbs. These include a dwarf
wallaby grass, Danthonia nivicola, a very small species of rush, Luzula oldfieldii,
two species of Colobanthus of which one, C. affinis, with grass-like leaves,
is more common in the herbfield. The other species forms hard Ilittle
cushions and has tiny golden flowers. Scleranthus singuliflorus forms softer
and larger moss-like cushions. The two Euphrasia species of these windswept
feldmarks are tiny but conspicuous when in flower. E. alsa, an endemic,
has pale mauve petals veined with navy blue and flowers early. A later
flowering species is similar but not conspicuously veined. Another early
flowerer is the feldmark variety of the Felted Buttercup, Ranunculus muelleri.
Its petioles and scapes are both shorter than in the type form. Its leaves
are densely clothed in short hairs and are either entire or tri-lobed at
the apex, and it is another endemic.

The family Asteraceae is well represented in this plant community.
The Australian Eidelweiss, the pink or white-flowered Ewartia nubigena, forms
silvery cushions or mats depending on the amount of shelter available. The
blue-flowered Brachycome aculeata tends to be a little taller, as is the
Alpine Sunray, Helipterum albicans subsp. alpinum, with white papery floral
bracts and thick silver-hairy leaves. It favours a less extreme environment
where feldmark abuts herbfield.

The windswept feldmarks are often seen to lie on the upper surface of
small step or lobe like terraces, several metres in length and breadth and
sometimes a metre or so high. The steep face of the step usually follows
the contour, dipping slightly on the windward side and may be covered in
tall herbfield species, mainly Poa. A whole slope below a crest (as for in-
stance on the upper south western face of Mt. Clarke) may be therefore
covered by an irregular staircase of alternating herbfield and feldmark. These
features are the result of slumping during freeze—thaw cycles when the area
was emerging from the last glacial period.

* This species Is certainly not a Veronica although known as this name to date. The
species is under revislon.



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Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Page 355—Vol. 7

The Cold Feldmark

On the sheltered side of the saddles and in other sheltered places
high on the Main Range, there is a big build-up of snow into long lasting
drifts. These areas are abraded by compacting snow and it is difficult for
plants to become’ established there. Exposure to wind is not a factor, but
the areas at the [top and sides of the receding drifts, where snow melts
early, are cold and dry, rock strewn and shallow soiled, as a result of the
prolonged freeze {thaw cycle. This p!ant community is apparently not re-
presented elsewheke in Australia.

There are only six or seven species able to survive in this inhospitable
habitat. The dominant is a prostrate shrub, Coprosma pumila, with bright
red succulent fruits, whose male and female flowers are borne on different
plants. A species of Colobanthus grows here as well as on the wind-swept
feldmark. Epilobium tasmanicum, with small white flowers, prefers the shelter
of rocks, while the feldmark form of Ranunculus muelleri is not so particular
about shelter. The large white Anemone Buttercup can also be found growing
in this cold, rocky habitat, although it produces bigger flowers in the more
favourable conditions of the tall alpine herbfield.

The Short Alpine Herbfield

Below the drift the contrast is complete. Here a plentiful supply of
icy cold water provides the habitat for the short alpine herbfield, which
often appears as a continuous flat carpet of herbaceous plants, although in
places the community is discontinuous and rock strewn. Dominant in the
short alpine herbfield is a member of the family Portulacaceae, Neopaxia
australasica and two plantains, Plantago glacialis and P. muelleri which have
flat starry rosettes of triangular leaves with spikes of inconspicuous flowers.
They often grow close enough together to form continuous carpets. Neopaxia
may be white or pink and its fleshy leaves are bright green. A number
of sedges grow here and sometimes form a storey above the carpeting plants.

The first of the short alpine herbfield plants to flower is the Alpine
Marsh Marigold, Caltha introloba, with white (rarely pink) flowers, whose
centres are diffused with dark red as they age. The bright green shiny
leaves of this plant have distinctive lobes at the base. The closely related
snow-loving buttercup, the endemic Ranunculus niphophilus, like Caltha,
has larger flowers than most of this plant community. Cardamine, Bitter Cress.
has fairly large white flowers and grows here amongst rocks as well as in
the type of tall alpine herbfield which often borders it.

A carpeting plant with tiny but conspicuous scented yellow flowers is
Stackhousia pulvinaris, also found in moist situations in sod tussock grass-
land and tall alpine herbfield. Most of the mat plants have very small white.
cream or green flowers. These include the tiny Oreomyrrhis pulvinifica.
whose flowers are white backed by green bracts, Dichosciadium ranunculaceum
whose slightly larger white flowers are often borne in circlets. Another
member of the family Apiaceae, to which the last-mentioned two plants
belong, is Diplaspis hydrocotylea with inconspicuous green flowers on
stems which elongate after flowering. The most distinctive feature of this
mat plant is the shape of its small shiny rounded leaves. Four mat-forming
members of the family Asteraceae also grow here. Both Abrotonella nivigena
and Parantennaria uniceps are very small plants with creamy flower heads
and basal rosettes of small leaves. Brachycome stolonifera forms larger
mats with taller white flower heads. Like Erigeron setosa, a tiny white
composite with very hairy leaves, it is endemic to the Kosciusko Plateau.
A mat-forming sundew, Drosera arcturi grows here and in the bogs, and
has small strap-like leaves and tiny white flowers. It is easily identified
by the long sticky hairs on its leaves which glisten in the sun. A specialised
small species of Craspedia with white flower heads and narrow silvery
leaves grows on the border of this community.



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Page 356—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Sept., 1974

Photography by Janet Ferris

EUPHRASIA GLACIALIS—Feldmark Form

A dwarfed form of the widespread alpine Euphrasia, E. glacialis, is
found on the windswept feldmarks. It is a conspicuous plant because of its
comparatively large flowers which are up to 15 mm across. Here it grows
with a feldmark Epacris, Ranunculus muelleri var. brevicaulis (colour plate
page 361) and Luzula oldfieldii on phyllites near Mt. Northcote. The last two
are also endemic.



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Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Page 357—Vol. 7

(Upper)—ALPINE FEN Photography by Doris Ryall

Occupying level or gently slopilng sltuations where the water table Is high, the alpine
tens are a feature of the broad flat-bottomed river valleys of the headwaters of the
Snowy River and Its tributaries. Here In the valley of Rawson Creek two fens, dominated
by the bright green sedges Carex gaudichaudiana and C. hypandra are seen among the
herbfield specles of Craspedia and Euphrasia.

(Lower)—TALL ALPINE HERBFIELD Photography by Janet Ferrls

Celmisia asteliifolia—Poa spp. alliance

On the Ramshead Range near Kosclusko tall alplne herbfield provides a massed display
ot Celmisia asteliifolia and Euphrasia spp. In flower In January.



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Page 358—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Sept., 1974

Tall Alpine Herbfield
(Brachycome nivalis-Danthonia alpicola alliance)

This type of tall alpine herbfield is dominated by Brachycome nivalis
var. nivalis, a white-flowered daisy with finely divided leaves, and a wallaby
grass, Danthonia alpicola, and is limited to precipitous boylder-strewn slopes
on sheltered hillsides. It contains a number of shade-loving! species, including
four species of fern. The robust Polystichum proliterum is the most con-
spicuous, but equally common is the much smaller creeping Blechnum
pennamarina. Two delicate ferns Asplenium flabellifolium, which is widespread
at lower altitudes and the rare Cystopteris fragilis are harder to find. An
important plant of this community is the large white Anemone Buttercup.
Ranunculus anemoneus, with white flowers 5 cm. in diameter and large
dark green deeply dissected leaves. It is confined to the Kosciusko area.

Other shade-loving plants include Schizeilema fragoseum, a fragile
member of the family Apiaceae, and Gnaphalium umbricola, often found well
under overhanging rocks. Brachycome nivalis and a species of Cardamine
like the deep soil of rock crevices, while the more open sites are occupied
by Alpine Celery, Aciphylla glacialis, growing amongst Poa and Danthonia
species. Alpine Celery bears its large creamy male inflorescence on one
plant, its less showy, more slender female inflorescence on another. Both
have much divided stiff green leaves. Also out in the open will be found a
perennial herb of the Rosaceae, Alchemilla, with palmate leaves and heads
of green flowers. It grows in great abundance in such locations as Club
Lake. Helipterum anthemoides, a bushy paper daisy with small white flower
heads, grows in the open, but does not extend far into the alpine tract.
It can be seen near Hedley Tarn.

Fen

The alpine fen communities are confined to wet, level or gently sloping
sites, such as occur along permanent waterways in valleys or on flats
where the water table is high, and are somewhat limited in species. They
may also occur as pockets within Sphagnum bog, though this is better
illustrated below the treeline. In both alpine and subalpine areas, there are
numerous examples of broad flats which probably once carried fen vegetation,
and over which the snow water moved slowly. Now, however, probably due
to nearly a century’s burning and grazing by both cattle and sheep, the
streams have cut down into the fens, the water table is lowered and other
vegetative types have appeared. Of the sedges inhabiting the alpine fens.
four are species of Carex including the common C. gaudichaudiana and
C. hypandra. A few specialised grass species and one rush, Calorophus minor.
also grow there.

A low growing, matted buttercup with white flowers, Ranunculus millanii,
is confined to the alpine and subalpine fens. A tiny creeping plant Haloragis’
micrantha has racemes of tiny dark red or purplish flowers followed by minute
globular fruits, and occupies both fen and bog. Its close relative Myriophyilum
pedunculatum is confined to the fens. A less specialised inhabitant of the
fen is Oreomyrrhis pulvinifica already mentioned. Gentianella diemensis, with
white flowers veined with purple, appears in fens and many other habitats.
Though uncommon, Nertera depressa, a tiny matted plant grows in high
altitude bogs and fens, as do two species of Pratia, which may be white.
blue or (rarely) pink. A conspicuous member of the fen community, in the
valleys of the Snowy River near its source and Rawson Creek, is a species
of Craspedia with small white flower heads and narrow silvery leaves. This
species of Craspedia appears to be endemic to the fens in this region.



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Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Page 359—Vol. 7

I THE WIDESPREAD PLANT COMMUNITIES OF THE KOSCIUSKO
NATIONAL PARK

The notes which follow on the widespread plants of the alpine areas
should be sufficient to enable the reader to identify the less restricted
plant communities, and they may also assist in species identification.

The Bog

The Sphagnum bogs of the alpine areas are specialised communities
but few of the plants that grow there are confined to the bogs.

Many of the herbs also grow in the sod tussock grassland which occurs
on level or undulating ground in valleys or on broad plateaus. They may also
occur in the tall alpine herbfield on better drained or sloping situations
or in the heathlands.

The raised bogs of the alpine areas are dominated by the yellow-green
cushions of Sphagnum moss and by Epacris species. One of these occurs
with Kunzea muelleri in the short heathland. K. muelleri is found in heath-
land but is absent from the bogs. Epacris paludosa, which is co-dominant
with Sphagnum in the bogs, is accompanied in this community by the spiky
leaved Richea continentis, the only mainland species of a genus which is
widespread in Tasmania.

Other shrubs of the alpine bogs are Olearia algida with minute leaves
and flower heads which have few ray florets, and two heath myrtles, Baeckea
gunniana and B. utilis. Both have pink buds and white flowers resembling
tiny tea tree blossoms, but B. gunniana is smaller in all its parts and its
leaves are not keeled like those of B. utilis. These three shrubs are also
found in the tall heathland and Baeckea often grows flat amongst sheltering
rocks. ‘

Herbs of the bogs which have very limited distribution include Drosera
arcturi, which is found elsewhere only in the short alpine herbfield. Pratia
surrepens is restricted in the alpine area to bogs and fens while Brachycome
obovata grows on their margins. Sphagnum and perhaps a species of
Craspedia appear to be the only species actually confined to the bogs.

Two robust lilies which grow on the edge of the bogs may be
mentioned here, although they are also found in the tall alpine herbfield.
Astelia psychrocharis has thick triangular leaves, and short stemmed flowers
followed by orange fruits; the leaves of the endemic A. alpina are narrower
and less silver-hairy and its ripe fruits are red.

Two species of leek orchid grow in the bogs, although they W|I| also
be found in the herbfields and sod tussock grassland. The flower spikes of
Prasophyllum alpinum are about 15 cm. high and bear green and brown
flowers. P. suttonii is taller and slightly more robust; its flowers are white,
tinged with deep pink or mauve. Both have a single basal leaf which
sheaths the flower spike when in bud.

A number of other inhabitants of the Sphagnum bogs have been
mentioned as growing in other plant communities, including plants from
the short alpine herbfield. Others grow in the sod tussock grassland and
tall alpine herbfield and are mentioned below.

Sod Tussock Grassland and Tall Alpine Herbfield
(Celmisia astellifolia syn. C. longifolia and Poa spp. alliance)

Large areas of the alpine tract of the Kosciusko National Park are
covered by tall alpine herbfield dominated by the Silver Snow Daisy, Celmisia
asteliifolia, and snow grasses, Poa spp. This herbfield gives distinctive
character to much of the high country. The dominants of the sod tussock
grassland, which is confined to the lower flat and gently sloping valleys
are species of snow grasses, Poa spp. and a wallaby grass, Danthonia
nudiflora.

(Continued on page 362)



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Page 360—Vol. 7

AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Sept., 1974

ALPINE RANUNCULUS

There are seven species of Ranunculus in the alpine tract at Kosciusko,
five yellow and two white flowered. The white ones are the largest,
R. anemoneus (front cover) and the smallest, R. millanii. This, the Dwarf
Buttercup is found most commonly where it is subject to periodic inundation,
as in shallow depressions and near bogs and streams. It is a creeping
stoloniferous plant whereas the Anemone Buttercup is tall and grows in
better drained situations. Of the yellow flowered species, the two varieties
of R. muelleri are the easiest to distinguish, both having entire or sometimes

Photography by D. J. Wimbush

RANUNCULUS NIPHOPHILUS

This species is an endemic of the short alpine herbfields of the Kosciusko
Plateau and it tends to grow in colonies. Its leaves are glabrous or sparsely
hairy and ternately lobed, the lobes orbicular or deltoid in outline. Its flowers
are borne on unbranched stems about 16 cm high, usually have five petals
(rarely six or seven) and average about 25 mm across.



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Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Page 361—Vol. 7

toothed leaves with coarse hairs on the upper surface (see illustration below)
The other four species are not so easily distinguished each having deeply
dissected leaves. R. dissectifolius and R. granticola have conspicuous nectary
lobes at the base of the petals, the former having a dozen or so petals and
the latter usually five. R. gunnianus and R. niphophilus both lack nectary
lobes and the former has much narrower, almost terete, leaf segments. There
is considerable hybridization between the species.

Photography by Ann Jelinek

RANUNCULUS MUELLERI VAR. BREVICAULIS

This little buttercup is endemic to the feldmarks of the Kosciusko area
in the highest and coldest habitats. The five-petalled flowers, about 2 cm.
in diameter, are borne on shorter stems than in the type form; the densely
hairy spathulate leaves, which are either entire or trilobed at the apex,
have much shorter petioles. It flowers soon after snow melt



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Page 362—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Sept., 1974

Contlnued from page 3589.

Celmisia asteliifolia, with leaves up to 20 cm. long and large white
flower heads on stems twice as long as the leaves, is only one of many
widespread daisies which contribute to the massed displays of summer
flowers. Brachycome nivalis var. alpina is a smaller daisy with strap-like
leaves, found only in this herbfield. B. nivalis, the type form, grows in this
herbfield as well as in the steep rocky sites which it dominates. A blue
form of this daisy has been recorded from near Blue Lake. Most widespread
of this genus are B. aculeata, with large blue flowers and crenate leaves,
and B. scapigera with white or mauve flowers, whose leaves narrow into a
long slender base.

Erigeron pappochroma with white flowers is also a widespread com-
posite which is very variable in size. All alpine species of Brachycome and
Erigeron have unbranched flowering stems.

Billy buttons, Craspedia spp., occupy many habitats and appear in a
number of separate forms which are considered to deserve species status.
Leaves vary in size and in colour from a dark green to nearly white, and
flower heads also vary in size and colour from orange through yellow to
white. Billy buttons will be found in nearly every alpine plant community:
some forms are very limited in distribution like the little white Craspedia
of the fens.

Another widespread member of the family Asteraceae is the Yam,
Microseris scapigera, with a large golden yellow flower head on a long
slender scape and strap-like radical leaves, which grows in small but dense
colonies. Another composite, Podolepis robusta, grows in the tall alpine
herbfield and apparently is not widely distributed in the alpine tract, but
is found on the north-west shoulder of Kosciusko. Its yellow flower heads
have papery bracts and grow on stout fleshy branched stems. The smaller
Bachelor’'s Button, Leptorhynchos squamatus is widespread in grassland
and herbfield. Its flower heads are yellow and its leaves green or silvery. A
specialised form grows on the margin of the feldmark.

Helichrysum acuminatum, a high altitude yellow everlasting daisy with
stiff papery floral bracts, may not reach the alpine tract, but H. scorpioides,
with silver leaves and small soft yellow floral bracts is widespread above
and below the tree-line. The alpine subspecies of Helipterum albicans, the
Alpine Sunray, grows in the herbfield as well as the feldmark, as does the
mat-forming Ewartia nubigena. These two species are often found in company.
Parantennaria uniceps, a mat-forming tiny daisy from the short alpine herbfield,
also grows in tall alpine herbfield and bog. Two species of Gnaphalium
form loose mats and have straw-coloured small flower heads. They are
widespread at high altitudes and appear in many plant communities.

Two species of bright yellow groundsel are conspicuous daisy plants
of the alpine communities. The flower heads of Senecio pectinatus are
large and borne singly on long scapes, with basal leaves which often form
dense mats, as they grow in close packed colonies. The flowers of S. /autus
are smaller and borne on branched flowering stems; it is the more
widespread species.

Amongst the most noticeable of the herbfield flowers are species of
Euphrasia from the family Scrophulariaceae, which are semi-parasitic on
the roots of other plants. They grow in the herbfield, sod tussock grassland,
bogs and short heathland. Two dwarf species grow on the windswept
feldmark and one of these also grows in the herbfield. The white, pink
and mauve flowers of the larger species are a feature of the massed flower
displays of January and early February. The taxonomy of the genus is
under revision. :

Just as widespread are the delicate gentians, Gentianella diemensis,
whose white flowers are veined with purple and which grow in many
flowered clumps in tall alpine herbfield, fen and bog.



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Sept., . 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Page 363—Vol. 7

One bluebell, Wahlenbergia ceracea, with large pale blue flowers is
common, but the dark blue W. gloriosa is apparently limited in the true
alpine tract to areas near Blue Lake although it is common just above
the tree line.

The Grass Trigger Plant, Stylidium graminifolium, with deep pink flowers
and tufted grass—l(!ke leaves grows in dense colonies and adds to the beauty
of sod tussock grassland, tall alpine herbfield, fen, bog and heathland.

Much less conspicuous are Viola betonicifolia wtih mauve flowers, and
Geranium potentilloides with small pink flowers, growing in sod tussock
grassland as well as herbfield.

Other plants which should be mentioned here are the tall willow herbs,
Epilobium spp. They are found in all plant communities except feldmarks
and have soft leaves and a four-lobed pink or mauve corolla; their long
narrow fruits split into four twisted segments when the seeds are ripe.
The tiny white-flowered species is confined to cold feldmarks.

The most spectacular member of the family Apiaceae, Aciphylla glacialis,
grows in both types of tall alpine herbfield and has already been discussed
in Section |. A. simplicifolia is common in subalpine and alpine areas.
Its male inflorescence is much more slender than in A. glacialis and its
leaves are segmented but undivided and terete. Two species of carraway,
Oreomyrrhis ciliata and O. brevipes are plants with leafy umbellately branching
stems and much divided leaves (both radical and stem leaves). The tall,
ferny-leaved Seseli algens of damp places is an endemic.

For those who go to the mountains around Christmas there are some
plants to be seen which will have finished flowering before the massed
displays of mid-summer.

The buttercups flower early and three of these have already been
mentioned because of their somewhat specialised habitat requirements.
The number of Ranunculus anemoneus has increased dramatically in the
last few years, probably in response to the cessation of grazing. One place
to look for it is in the small gullies just above the road between Seamans
Hut and Rawson Pass, but those who walk in the mountains will see
plenty of evidence that it is now becoming more widespread both above
and below the tree line.

Four alpine species of Ranunculus inhabit alpine herbfield and sod
tussock grassland. R. muelleri is easy to identify from its very hairy spathulate
leaves. The leaves of the endemic R. dissectifolius are very hairy and
pinnately lobed or dissected into numerous narrow-linear segments; those of
R. gunnianus are similarly lobed or dissected but the leaf segments are
terete and glabrous. The leaf segments of R. graniticolus are much broader.
In all these species the stems are unbranched.

An orchid which also flowers early, Caladenia lyallii, is much less
common and is confined to only a few in alpine areas and is easier to find
in the subalpine woodlands.

The Heathlands
Some of the herbs mentioned above are also found in the heathlands,
but the most important members of these communities are the shrubs.

Short Heathland

The short heathland is dominated by Kunzea muelleri, a low spreading
shrub whose yellow flowers have long yellow stamens. Other low growing
shrubs such as Leucopogon suaveolens and Epacris species may also be
present. It is particularly well developed on phyllite slopes west of Mt. Lee.

Two species of grass, two sedges and one rush species, together
with moss-like Scleranthus biflorus, Geranium spp. a plantain and Asperula
gunnii form an understorey. Euphrasia glacialis, Brachycome scapigera, the
Grass Trigger Plant, Epilobium spp., Craspedia spp., Leptorhynchos squamatus
and the Yam, Microseris scapigera, grow amongst the shrubs.



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Page 364—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Sept., 1974

BILLY BUTTONS

Photography by D. J. Wimbush

CRASPEDIA UNIFLORA Sens. lat.

Many different Craspedia species grow in the Kosciusko alpine area
including this little species which grows on the edge of fens. It appears to
be restricted to the broad valleys of the Snowy River headwaters. It grows
about 20 cm high and is the smallest of the Kosciusko species.

This group is in need of complete revision. There are seven distinct
alpine forms, four of which may be separate species, one of which probably
has four varieties. Two have white or pale yellowish heads, the others
yellow or orange. Some have green hairy leaves, others shiny, bright green
leaves.



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Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Page 365—Vol. 7

(Upper)—SHORT HEATHLAND Photography by Margaret Henderson

In the Kosciusko area the short heathland does not seem to require as much shelter
as the tall heathland, and Is shown here growlng near the summit of Dickle Cooper
Bogong, where the sheltered habitats are occupled by the shrubs of the tall heathland.
It Is dominated by Kunzea muelleri, a small heathy shrub whose flowers have consplcuous
yellow stamens.

(Lower left)—CHIONOCHLOA SP. Photography by D. Wimbush

An interesting endemic Inhabitant of the Kosclusko area, Is a glant wallaby grass,
an unnamed species of Chionochloa, a genus with many alpine specles In New Zealand.
This grass Is best developed In high rocky situations on the western fall. Its tall clumps
which may be one metre across, bear flowering stems up to 120 cm high. In autumn
the leaves turn golden yellow and add colour to a landscape whose sllver and green Is
already being Invaded by the dark red of bog heaths.

(Lower right)—TALL ALPINE HERBFIELD & TALL HEATH
Celmisia asteliifolia Is flowering among Poa tussocks In the foreground while the Mountaln
Plum Pine, Podocarpus lawrencei occupies the sheltered habitat provided by granite boulders.



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Page 366—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Sept., 1974

Tall Heathland

The tall heathland forms a broad band extending above the treeline
and in the higher regions occurs in areas sheltered by rocky outcrops
and moraines and on the rocky fringes of water courses. It is much richer
in species than the short heathlands and very few of these species are
herbs. At high altitude Phebalium ovatifolium, of the family Rutaceae is
dominant. It has starry white flowers borne in the leaf axils, and like
Orites flowers quite early. The Phebalium is endemic to the Kosciusko area.

Podocarpus lawrencei, the Mountain Plum Pine, often grows flat on
rocks and boulders. This spreading shrub grows as a small tree in
subalpine areas and is an extremely slow growing species. Its male and
female flowers are borne on different plants; the male flowers are arranged
in tiny pink cones, and the inconspicuous female flowers are followed
by a green seed, which is borne on the apex of a succulent bright red
‘receptacle’ which is really an enlarged stem. A shaggy pea, Oxylobium
ellipticum, is another procumbent shrub, which bears yellow and purple
pea flowers. O. alpestre also extends into the alpine tract but is of more
upright habit.

The other species vary greatly in size depending largely on the amount
of shelter available. Those which may grow relatively tall in favourable situa-
tions include Orites lancifolia, a pale yellow-flowered member of the family
Proteaceae, whose flowers are borne in terminal spikes.

Hymenanthera dentata grows in rock crevices at the highest elevations
thus taking the greatest possible advantage of the available shelter; its habit
makes it a very inconspicuous shrub. Often it has few leaves on its spiky
branchlets. Its tiny pale yellow flowers are followed by much larger blue
fruits. It is a member of the family Violaceae.

The Alpine Mint Bush, Prostanthera cuneata, with large purple throated
white flowers and small crowded aromatic leaves, is a widespread medium-
sized shrub. A rice flower, Pimelea axiflora var. alpina with axillary racemes
of deep cream flowers, is about the same size. A little smaller are the
alpine Grevillea australis, with small scented white flowers, Baeckea gunniana
and B. utilis already mentioned, and two shrubby species of Helichrysum
with clustered white flower heads. H. hookeri has scale-like leaves and golden
yellow branchlets while H. alpinum has pink or red buds. A larger, more
spreading Helichrysum, H. secundiflorum, bears its flowers in the leaf axils
as do the two daisy bushes, which are varieties of Olearia phlogopappa.
The variety subrepanda has smaller more crowded silver-grey leaves than
flavescens, and both have flower heads with white ray florets. O. algida,
already mentioned as growing in the bogs, is much smaller.

A small member of the family Epacridaceae is Leucopogon suaveolens
var. montanus with scented white flowers followed by red berries. Richea
continentis, with spikes of cream flowers, reaches a height of 50 cm., while
Pentachondra pumila, already mentioned, is completely prostrate. Another
very low growing shrub which is often flat on the ground amongst snow
grass tussocks is the Alpine Rice Flower, Pimelea alpina, whose white or
pink flowers follow red buds.

Although fairly uncommon above the treeline, the Alpine Ballart, Exocarpus
nanus is sometimes to be seen, often sheltering under taller shrubs. It is a
small, creeping plant with scale-like leaves and inconspicuous flowers, but
becomes more visible when the fruiting pedicels enlarge to about 5 mm.
These turn bright red, the berry-like organs being crowned by one or two
smaller green or dark red fruit.

An interesting endemic inhabitant of this plant community is a giant
wallaby grass, an unnamed species of Chionochloa, a gsnus with many
alpine species in New Zealand. This grass is best developed in high rocky
situations on the western fall. Its tall clumps which may be one metre
across, bear flowering stems up to 120 cm. high. In autumn the leaves turn



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Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Page 367—Vol. 7

golden vyellow and add another colour to a landscape whose silver and
green is already being invaded by the dark red of bog heaths.

Il SOME NOTES ON LOCATIONS

While the massed displays of flowers and many individual species may
be appreciated without walking far from the main roads, the student of the
alpine flora will find many rewards in following the tracks from the top
of the Thredbo chairlift, Charlotte Pass, Seamans Hut or Rawson Pass,
when the weather is fine, or in making short excursions from these places
to visit the plant communities already described. The tracks mainly traverse
tall alpine herbfield dominated by Celmisia asteliifolia and Poa spp., which
should be easy to recognise at all seasons. The tracks also pass through
or within a short distance of communities of the widespread heathlands
and some of the shrub species will be readily recognisable when in flower.
These notes are more in the nature of a guide to where the restricted
specialised plant communities can be most easily visited, as there should
be no difficulty in finding the more widespread plants near the roads or
along any of the tracks. All plants in the Kosciusko National Park are,
of course, completely protected.

There are a number of tracks from Rawson Pass, the highest point on
the Kosciusko Road, just below the summit of Mt. Kosciusko. The old
road to the summit is the start of the Lakes Walk which traverses some
of the best developed windswept feldmarks. A walk of at least 6 km.
each way is needed to see them. Care must be taken here to walk only
on the narrow track which crosses them, so as to avoid damage to this
sensitive plant community. It should be possible to find all windswept
feldmark plants on or near the path. There are small patches of feldmark
on granite on the saddle between Muellers Peak and Mt. Northcote overlooking
Lake Albina. The path continues along the western flank of Mt. Northcote,
where Brachycome nivalis var. nivalis and associated plants grow in the
crevices of the rock walls beside the track. On the saddles which separate
Mt. Northcote, Mt. Lee and Mt. Carruthers are windswept feldmark com-
munities growing amongst the small stones of weathered phyllite.

It will not be possible to examine either cold feldmark or short alpine
herbfield on this part of the track, although many examples of short alpine
herbfield will have been passed en route, below the long lasting drift on
the eastern face of Mt. Kosciusko, and in a small sheltered area on the
same face of Muellers Peak.

From Seamans Hut on the road below Rawson Pass, an alternative
track leads to the saddle between Muellers Peak and Mt. Northcote across
Rawson Creek. As one starts to ascend from the valley towards the saddle,
a small lateral moraine carrying another good example of windswept feld-
mark flora may be visited. This track also gives access to a cold feldmark
on the southern face of Mt. Clarke and good examples of fen in the valley
of Rawson Creek. Cold feldmark flora is also well developed above Lake
Cootapatamba on the eastern face of Mt Kosciusko with short alpine
herbfields between Rawson Pass and the Lake.

A track from Rawson Pass leads down to Lake Cootapatamba and
across to the top of the Thredbo chairlift. This track passes near many
examples of short alpine herbfield, the best being below the Cootapatamba
drift.

The walk to Mt. Townsend, which leaves the Lakes Walk before it reaches
Muellers Peak, also crosses areas of short alpine herbfield on the eastern
face of Mt. Townsend. Nearly the whole range of alpine plants is encountered
on this walk and a descent into the valley of Lake Albina is also rewarding.
If the Lakes Walk is followed round past Mt. Carruthers and back to
Charlotte Pass, most plant communities will be seen, although good examples
of cold feldmark are scarce.



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Page 368—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Sept., 1974

Photography by Ken Gillanders

GENTIANELLA DIEMENSIS

Gentianella diemensis is the only species representing this genus in
Australia though it is very variable and may comprise more than one species.
It is the only species of the family Gentianaceae above the tree line. The
Gentian is one of the later flowering species and in some places, for example
the flats of Mt. Clarke, grows in dense colonies covering large areas.



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Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Page 369—Vol. 7

THE SNOW DAISY

Photography by Ken Gillanders

CELMISIA ASTELIIFOLIA

A dominant plant of the widespread tall alpine herbfield in the Kosciusko
National Park, the Silver Snow Daisy is a tufted plant which grows in
extensive dense colonies. Its linear leaves are silver-hairy on the underside
and up to 20 cm long. Its flowerheads grow on unbranched stems up to
40 cm high and may be 5 cm in diameter.



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Page 370—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Sept., 1974

From Charlotte Pass, the walk to Blue Lake takes in part of the Lakes
Walk. Around Blue Lake and Hedley Tarn there are particularly fine
examples of short alpine herbfield and of tall alpine herbfield dominated
by Brachycome nivalis var. nivalis and Danthonia alpicola. |f one continues
on to Mt. Twynam along the track used for soil conservation work, windswept
feldmarks are again traversed and cold feldmark vegetatlon can be seen
on the steep slopes above Blue Lake.

An easy way to see the specialised plant communities of the sheltered
side of the higher slopes is to walk from Rawson Pass or Seamans Hut
to the southern end of the Etheridge Range where there is a long lasting
drift on its eastern face. Just before the Etheridge Range starts to level
out southwards towards the saddle which divides it from the Ramshead
Range, the drift will be found at the head of a small steep valley with
large granite boulders on either side. At its top and sides all the plants of
the cold feldmark vegetation are displayed. Just below the drift the
short alpine herbfield grows in profusion and in places there is a con-
tinuous upper storey of various grasses and sedges above the usual mat
plants of the community. On either side of the short alpine herbfield great
granite boulders on a precipitous slope provide the ideal habitat for
Brachycome nivalis var. nivalis, Danthonia alpicola and associated plants.

As the valley widens and flattens towards the bottom of the slope,
the more widespread tall alpine herbfield dominated by Snow Daisy, Celmisia
asteliifolia, and species of Poa is encountered, together with heathland and
the occasional bog. On the flat valley of the Snowy River, near which one
can return to the road at the Snowy Crossing, good examples of fen are
to be seen. If the area is very wet it is wiser to return to Seamans Hut or
Rawson Pass on higher ground on the slopes of the Etheridge Range. If
one keeps to the western side some windswept feldmarks may be seen.

On many of these walks small bogs will be encountered, and these
can easily be recognised from the presence of the yellow-green cushions of
Sphagnum moss. A typical location would be at the headwaters of the
Snowy River.

In some areas, as for example at the head of Wilkinsons Valley on the
saddle between Mt. Kosciusko and Muellers Peak, which is traversed by the
Lakes Walk, it is possible to see the moss returning along the edge of
eroded areas which have once been bogs. It is impossible to tell whether
these were burnt right out in the 1939 fires or were destroyed by the
trampling of grazing stock. In any case, under present ungrazed conditions
gradual recolonisation by bog plants appears to be under way.

The visitor to the Kosciusko National Park should bear in mind that
many of the alpine flowers can be seen before the massed displays of the
alpine tract are at their peak.

Most of the shrubs of the heathland will flower early below the tree line
where they not only form part of the understorey in the subalpine woodland,
but also appear in the heathlands of the frost hollows and exposed slopes
and plateaus. As they grow here with shrubs which do not extend above
the tree line the general appearance of the community is somewhat different.
Many of the ‘alpine herbfield plants are also found in the subalpine woodland
and sod tussock grassland below the tree line. The combination of flowering
shrubs and herbs may provide just as colourful a display in early summer below
the tree line as will be seen later in the alpine tract.



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Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Page 371—Vol. 7

GROWING ALPINE PLANTS

EXPERIMENTS IN GROWING ALPINE PLANTS IN COOMA, N.S.W.
by Margaret Parris*

The Monaro & Snowy Mountains Group of the Society for Growing
Australian Plants, with permission from the N.S.W. National Parks & Wildlife
Service, has for some years been experimenting in a small way with the
growing of alpine and sub-alpine plants in Cooma gardens—mainly in
decomposed granite soils with good drainage and a good water supply.

The Cooma climate poses a problem, as winters are dry and frosts
severe, and many of the plants must do without the snow cover to which
they have adapted. Summers are also in the main dry, and drying winds
are a feature of spring and summer, as well as winter. Both drying winds
and high temperatures must be countered by regular watering. The real
problem is to simulate in our dry climate the conditions of the mountain
habitats which are kept moist by snow melt, frequent rain, mists and regular
heavy dews.

Certain plants are very restricted as to habitat within the Snowy Mountains,
and it is not possible to simulate the conditions under which they grow.

These include the tiny plants of the short alpine herb-fields (as defined
by A. B. Costin in the “Ecosystems of the Monaro Region”) which occur
just below snow drifts, and have, for weeks or even months, plenty of icy
cold water running through them. Many of the plants which grow there
occur nowhere else, although some also grow in the sphagnum bogs. The
starry white (or pink) Neopaxia australasica is, however, widespread as a
coloniser, and the yellow stars of the mat-like Stackhousia pulvinaris are also
found on stream banks. The only inhabitant of the short alpine herbfield
which has responded to our attempts to grow it in Cooma, is Neopaxia
australasica, which, however, disappears if allowed to dry out.

Equally specialised, but growing in the very driest and hardest con-
ditions, are the plants of the feldmarks. The feldmark flora occurs on dry
windswept saddles and shoulders of hills, where snow cover is light and
snow melts early as a result of the wind’s action.

Dryness and exposure to wind promote a specialised community of
prostrate shrubs and small herbs. They include the very floriferous Veronica
densifolia with large mauve or white flowers, the Australian Eidelweiss
(Ewartia nubigena) with minute white and brown daisy flowers and silvery
foliage. None of the plants of these communities has been successfully
grown in Cooma gardens.

On the lee-side of the main rangs, where snow drifts last into the
summer another type of feldmark vegetation grows on the edge of the
areas abraded by the drifts. These snow patch piants grow above and to the
sides of the receding drifts where the cold conditions and the short growing
season between final snow-melt and the first snowfalls makes it difficult
for plants to establish a foothold. No attempt has yet been made to grow any
of the few species which inhabit these cold feldmarks. We should at least
try to grow Coprosma pumila whose flowers are followed by brilliant red
berries.

More widespread and less specialised than the plants of the short alpine
herbfield, and two types of feldmark are those of the tall alpine herbfields,
heathlands and sub-alpine woodlands. Apart from the herbaceous plants,
this is where our efforts have been most rewarding, although some present
special propagation difficulties.

# Editor's Note: This periodical is produced by a Society comprising home gardeners
wishing to grow some of the more showy wildflowers in their gardens and Margaret Parris

is Secretary of the Snowy Mountains Group of this Society. There is a report on page 390
of experiences in cultivation the same plants mentioned above, in Victoria.



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Page 372—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Sept., 1974

The most successful shrub has probably been the Alpine Mintbush
(Prostanthera cuneata) already known to nurserymen. Its white (occasionally
mauve) flowers with purple blotches in the throat are large enough to be
conspicuous against the small crowded dark green foliage. This shrub is to
be found at high elevations to above 7,000 ft. and appears to be very
versatile, although it does not like hot dry conditions unless watering is
consistent.

PROSTANTHERA CUNEATA

Shown here in full splendour growing in a large pot.

The prostrate Mountain Plum Pine (Podocarpus lawrencei) is slow
growing in Cooma and may be ideal for tub culture or experiments in
Bonsai. It can be grown from cuttings, and may sometimes be obtained
from native plant nurseries. Others from high altitudes include the small
flowered white Grevillea (G. australis) with which native plant growers may
be familiar and Baeckea gunniana—with pink buds and a profusion of
white flowers. Kunzea muelleri, whose flowers are yellow, will grow and
flower in Cooma, but the alpine Phebalium (Phebalium ovatifolium) has
proved more difficult.



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Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Page 373—Vol. 7

The Royal Grevillea (G. victoriae) from the sub-alpine woodlands is very
showy in Cooma, with bright orange-red flowers carried through the winter
frosts. This shrub has also been successfully planted at Thredbo and is a
better shrub for hard winters than its more widely grown variety (G. victoriae
var. tenuifolia).

A number of Olearias have been successfully grown in Cooma including
O. phlogopappa and O. megalophylla, both from the sub-alpine woodlands.
Olearia subrepanda from higher altitudes has been less successful.
More experiments are needed with the Rice Flowers (Pimelea) including
the sub-alpine P. ligustrina and two species which extend into alpine
areas, P. axiflora var. alpina and the prostrate P. alpina.

Photography by Dorris Ryall

BRACHYCOME ACULEATA

The most versatlle of the Brachycomes In the Kosclusko area, this specles Is found
on windswept feldmarks as well as in the herbfields. It has a well developed rosette of
radical leaves which are spathulate and crenate, up to 10 cm long and decreasing In slze
as tl;ley ascend the unbranched flowering stem. Its flowerheads have 40-60 mauve (rarely white)
ray florets.



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Page 374—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Sept., 1974

Boronia algida is another versatile plant which grows best in and just
below the sub-alpine woodlands and is also found on the Casuarina nana
heathlands to the east of the Monaro. It is successful in Cooma gardens
but hard to propagate from cuttings. Westringia Ilucida which grows in
heath and in woodlands to about 5000 ft. is, on the other hand, easy to
propagate, but our experience of its adaptability to Cooma conditions is limited.

A number of Veronicas grow in the sub-alpine tract: The soft-wooded
V. nivea is easy to propagate, but may not be long-lived. Parahebe (formerly
Veronica) derwentiana and P. perfoliata can be easily propagated from root
cuttings and flower well in Cooma. P. perfoliata is particularly useful as a
rockery plant. It is found locally in granite outcrops and extends as high
as the sub-alpine woodlands.

More work could be done on the propagation of the pea-flowers of
the Kosciusko National Park. The purple Hovea and yellow Oxylobiums
(O. ellipticum and O. alpestre) are widespread in the mountains and should
be adaptable. In fact, apart from some success with Oxylobium ellipticum,
we know little of their ability to survive and flower in Cooma. Oxylobium
alpestre is a widespread plant in the Monaro and some forms have been
propagated from cuttings.

Some of the shrubs which require damp conditions, usually on the
edge of bogs, have been surprisingly successful in Cooma. These include
the yellow-flowered Callistemon sieberi and Olearia algida which has scale-like
leaves and ragged white flowers. However, the heath family is widely
represented in and around the mountain bogs and propagation difficulties
have limited our experiments with these. Leucopogon suaveolens var. montanus
and Pentachondra pumila present a challenge with their bright red fruits
and their liking for the well-drained hillsides.

This brings us to the plants which excite the interest of most visitors
to the mountains, denizens of the herbfields, the Daisies, the Buttercups,
Billy Buttons, Mountain Eyebright and other herbs which provide the massed
displays of the herbfield in late January, and the Groundsels, Gentians
and Trigger Plants which follow a little later.

Our difficulties here are perhaps illustrated by the experience of recent
hot dry summers where the mountain flowers have either not flowered in
these unusual conditions or have flowered and set their seeds very quickly,
denying visitors the massed displays which are a feature of the normal cool
moist summers.

Cooma may not be the best place to experiment with alpine herbs
because of its dry climate, which cannot be altogether counteracted by
regular watering, and results have not been encouraging. Many of the species
of Ranunculus, including the large white flowered Anemone Buttercup R.
anemoneus favour moist conditions, while the closely related Caltha introloba
grows only at the foot of melting snow drifts and in eroded bogs.

The snow Daisy (Celmisia asteliifolia), tends to die out if grown in full
sunshine, and not to flower in shade or partial shade. If you can persuade
it to survive and flower, the flowers will diminish in size year by year.
Many of the plants and particularly Billy Buttons (Craspedia uniflora) and
Podolepis spp. won't stand up to the ravages of slugs and snails, while
the cause of the failure so far to grow successfully other members of the
Daisy family, the Brachycomes, the Erigerons and the Yam (Microseris scapigera)
has not yet been pinpointed.

One of the most colourful plants of the herbfield, the Mountain Eyebrights
(Euphrasia spp.) is especially difficult as it is a root parasite. This pink,
mauve or white flowered plant comes in a number of forms and sizes
down to the tiny feldmark species with mauve flowers striped in navy blue.

The delicate Mountain Gentian (Gentianella diemensis), its white flowers
striped with maroon, may be the subject of insect or snail attack. The more
robust Trigger Plant (Stylidium graminifolium) also proves difficult and may
miss the constant dampness of its usual habitat. Bluebells (Wahlenbergia



@@@ 27 @@@



Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Page 375—Vol. 7

spp.) are short lived in Cooma gardens except for the local grassland
species which die out with cultivation but spring up in unexpected places
from time to time.

Compensation for many failures has bcen provided for those who have
experimented with ferns. Blechnum penna-marina, a small fern growing over a
broad altitudinal range, and the larger Polystichum proliferum, both of which
can be found in tfie shelter of rocks at high altitudes, grow well and spread
rapidly in Cooma gardens.

We have just skimmed the surface of the problem of growing alpine
plants in Cooma. We know that alpine plants are being successfully grown
in Victoria and that some N.S.W. members of the Society for Growing
Australian Plants are experimenting with alpines in climates very different
from that of Cooma. The results of these varied experiments may give some
clues to the climatic and soil requirements.

| wonder if this is the place to suggest that our alpine plants which are,
we hope, so well conserved in the Kosciusko National Park, might have some
special virtue if they were to remain unique to such areas; if the only way
they could be seen was by a long journey into this beautiful mountain
area. Perhaps our efforts would be better directed towards ensuring that their
habitat within the Kosciusko National Park is not disturbed.

While we continue to experiment with these plants we might well bear
in mind the possibility that another feature of this strange continent may
prove to be that its unique mountain flora will only survive in its own
specialised habitat, so different from the rest of Australia.

SUMMER FAIRYLAND

A series for the young in spirit by Nuri Mass

SEPTEMBER: Here in Australia, the traditional beginning of spring. But
way up in the Snowy Mountains, you could never imagine it, for everything
is still heavily blanketed, there, in the magical snows of winter. And so it
goes on, usually until November, when the snows at last begin to thaw,
and another kind of magic takes over—the fairy-like enchantment of alpine
flowers.

Nowhere else in the world do snowiand flowers grow in such masses
over such large areas, for whereas the Alps of Europe are sharply cut and
mainly rocky, here in Australia they have much more soil, and are mostly
like rolling hills rising gently from huge tablelands—and there seems
to be no end to the numbers and varieties of the flowers that bloom upon
them in these made-to-order conditions.

Most of them are softly coloured flowers, except for the bright pink
Trigger Plants and the bright golds among the Buttercups and in the Daisy
family. Huge stretches of Alpine Mint" look exactly like sprinkled snow;
from amongst its ferny leaves, the Alpine Celery® raises showers of tiny
white blooms; and the little crocus-like Gentians®, delicately veined with
purple, are a sort of transparent white.

Greenish-yellow' and heliotrope” Orchids bloom profusely among the
snow grasses’. Sometimes you'li come across whole fields of Bluebells’,
and almost everywhere you look there are pink, white or heliotrope Eye-
brights®. The waxy-looking Candle Heath® fiowers are creamy-coloured
There’s a low-growing shrub with hosts of little pink-and-white Teatree-
looking flowers™, which enjoys spreading itself over rocks, its branches,
as they die off, becoming “driftwood” in the most fantastic forms.

1, 2 3, etc.

It would spoil the flow and appeal of this article to provide botanical names of the
species mentioned. However there are many adults who also read and enjoy this series
of articles and for them and to conform to our policy of not giving common names without
the full botanical name, the botanical names may be found at the end of the article.



@@@ 28 @@@



Page 376—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Sept., 1974

In parts there are such dense thickets of Kunzea' that the whole
place looks as if it has been dusted over with pale yellow. And then,
there are the Buttercups—about a dozen different kinds of them, some
tall and rather stately”, others of middling height”, some yellow-centred",
others black, and one little curiosity’ that likes growing under water
near snowbanks, and whose colour is white instead of “buttercup” yellow.

There’s the glorious Alpine Anemone”, one of the real snow-flower
treasures, large, sparkling white, and very closely related to the Buttercups.
And there’s another close relative, the Alpine Marsh Marigold*—a beautiful
little flower indeed, also radiantly white, that actually starts blooming under-
neath only-just-melting snowbanks in the heights of the mountains. And it
grows in such vast numbers that its emerald-green foliage forms veritable
alpine lawns.

Which reminds us of all those other small plants that grow no higher
than mats over the ground, amongst them one with very sweetly-scented
ivory-coloured flowers', another with flowers® as white as the melted snows,
another with tiny bright-red fruits®, and a strange, very insignificant little one
with greyish-coloured flowers which is known by the rather grand name of
Australian Eidelweiss®. Actually, this belongs to the Daisy family, which
absolutely abounds all over our snow mountains, and doubtless the miniature
Eidelweiss has the distinction of being its smallest member there.

The Daisy family abounds, in fact, the world over, since its flowers
produce so many seeds and have such excellent ways of spreading them
around. It happens like this: First of all, the name of the family is Compositae,
since the flowers belonging to it never grow singly, but many together in
‘‘composite” arrangements.

The familiar ‘““daisy” arrangement has a large number of tiny, usually
yellow flowers at its centre (disc florets), surrounded by many “petals”
each of which is actually a whole separate flower (or ray floret). So think
of the number of seeds that each Daisy is able to produce! Then, each
of these seeds, when ripe, lifts off into the breeze on a beautiful little
silky-hairy parachute which can carry it over great distances, the parachute
having grown from a ring of hairs that the flower produces instead of sepals.
So it isn’t any wonder that Daisies, and all other members of family
Compositae are to be found far and wide.

Sometimes, instead of both disc and ray florets, we find flowerheads
of only disc ones. (The famous Billy Buttons® of the Snowy Mountains are
some of these). Other times flower-heads will consist of only ray florets
(like the Dandelions and Blackfellow’s Yams®* which also abound in our
beautiful Alps). And other times again, we find the usual centre of disc
florets surrounded by “petals” which are actually little scales or bracts,
often crinkly-papery—as in all the millions of Everlastings® which cover
large areas of our Snowy Mountains with their white or yellow loveliness,
making soft little whispering sounds as the blowing winds shuffle them against
one another.

But to think of our Alps in summer-time is to think, before anything
else, of the Snow Daisies® which, particularly in the higher parts of the
mountains, grow more abundantly than any of the other flowers, as though
trying with their whiteness to imitate the snows of winter. They rise up on
woolly stems from tufts of narrow grass-like leaves, so thickly covered
with silky white hairs underneath that they have a silvery look—and in
fact, where Snow Daisies grow most thickly, the whole of the ground itself
looks silver.

Then, immediately after the Snow Daisies, we remember the Billy
Buttons®—countless thousands of them everywhere—those gay, puffball-
looking flower-heads in almost every shade of orange and vyellow, down
to almost white, their leaves fairly smooth in the lower parts of the mountains,
but softly furry in the higher parts.



@@@ 29 @@@



Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Page 377—Vol. 7

Next, after the Everlastings, we might perhaps remember the dainty,
sparkling white Mountain Daisy® with its bright-green ferny leaves, sheltering
so prettily among rocks in the higher reaches—and the two bright-yellow
Senecio® daisies, both with ferny leaves, but one with clusters of small
flowers whilst the other has a much larger flower on a single stalk. And,
as happens with so many of the alpines, both of these may be quite tall in
some parts and quite short in others.

Photography by S. Dent.

SENECIO PECTINATUS

Ferny leaves, purple stalks, wide awake golden flower-heads

Not like the little white daisy® of the Brachycome group which seldom
grows taller than one-and-a-half inches, from a rosette of small, narrow
leaves, which loves swampy parts way up high in the mountains, and which
is nowhere else to be found except here in Australia.



@@@ 30 @@@



Page 378—Vol. 7

AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS

Sept., 1974

There’s a very pretty golden-yellow alpine” (a Podolepis) that looks
as if it couldn’t make up its mind whether to be a Billy Button or a
Dandelion—with curious results: with a great spreading display of disc
florets surrounded by a few deeply serrated ray florets. And there’s another™
(one of the Helichrysums) that looks as though it's pretending to be clusters
of Wattle, though of course each little “ball” is a graup of disc florets
supported by a cup of tiny bracts.

But the Compositae of the Snowy Mountains are not all pom-pom Billy
Buttons, daisies-on-the-ground, or variously-shaped flowers on slender bushes.
Several of them are quite sizeable woody shrubs, often so massed with flowers
that you can scarcely see their leaves. There's a beautiful Olearia® whose
leaves are very pretty indeed—dark green on top, and covered with silky
brown hairs underneath, but when its huge numbers of lovely, large white
“daisy” flowers are in bloom, there’s often nothing else of the plant to
be seen.

Another Olearia® of the Alps is quite different, however, with tiny
leaves and flowers, the flowers being vast enough in numbers to make up
for their slightly ragged appearance, with only a very few, unevenly-spaced
ray florets for each little flower-head.

Two other woody shrubs become completely smothered, during the
Alps’ short summer, with tiny “‘everlastings’’—one with almost greyish flowers™,
the other with white ones® accompanied by little red bracts. There are very
few touches of red indeed amongst our alpine flowers, but this is one of
them—and very pretty it is, too.

Then, there’s a Cassinia® shrub with narrow, crowded, sticky leaves,
and with large clusters of little greenish-yellow flower-heads which, strange
to say, never open wide; so that, if you glanced only casually, you might
easily think that these bushes were always in bud.

And so the Compositae story in our Snowy Mountains goes on and on—
among the rocks and snow grasses, in low-lying swamps, along roadsides,
and way out over the far-flung hills. Indeed, for all of the numbers and
varieties mentioned, what we have talked about here is really only the
beginning of the story, which goes on as far as the mountains themselves do,
and which is surely one of the most enchanting ever told in the language
of flowers.

Our alpine winter magic

Is the magic of the snow—
A fairyland all canopied

In sparkling white. But oh!
The magic of its summer
Is the magic of the most
Bewitching flowers that
Anywhere did grow.

REFERENCES TO BOTANICAL NAMES

1. Prostanthera cuneata—colour page 372. 19. Stackhousia pulvinaris
2. Aciphylla glacialis 20. Neopaxia australasica (sometime pink)
3. Gentianella diemensis—colour p. 368. 21. Pentachondra pumila
4. Prasophyllum alpinum 22. Ewartia nubigena
5. Prasophyllum suttonii 23. Craspedia uniflora (and other species)
6. Poa species 24. Microseris scapigera
7. Wahlenbergia ceracea and W. gloriosa 25. (White) Helipterum albicans var.
8. Euphrasia glacialis—colour page 356. alpinum, H. anthemoides
9. Richea continentis 26. Celmisia asteliifolia
10. Baeckea gunniana 27. Brachycome nivalis var. nivalis
11. Kunzea muelleri 28. Senecio lautus and S. pectinatus resp
12. Ranunculus dissectifolius 29. Brachycome stolonifera
13. R. niphophilus—colour page 360. 30. Podolepis robusta
14. R. graniticols, R. muelleri and R. 31. Helichrysum semipapposum (not above
& dissectifolius may have yellow centres treeline)
15. when young, darkening as they mature. 32. Olearia megalophylla (sub-alpine)
16. Ranunculus millanii 33. Olearia algida
17. Ranunculus anemoneus—cover plate 34. Helichrysum secundiflorum
18. Caltha introloba (pinkish centre as it 35. Helichrysum alpinum
ages). 36. Cassinia uncata



@@@ 31 @@@



Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS

Page 379—Vol. 7

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@@@ 32 @@@



Page 380—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Sept., 1974

NATIVE DAISIES

SOME DAISIES OF THE ALPINE* AREAS by Ken Gillanders

Australian alpine areas are confined to the high parts of the Great
Dividing Range in New South Wales and Victoria. Tasmania has many
mountainous areas which abound in alpine vegetation. .In early summer
many of these areas spring to life and provide the visitor with a floral
spectacle hard to equal.

Most of the plants sharing in this display are from the Compositae
and the most spectacular and widespread is the genus Celmisia, which is
confined to Australia and New Zealand.

The most widespread species is C. asteliifolia, which was generally
called C. longifolia till a recent reclassification of the genus. C. longifolia
is only found in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales and until recent
examination it was thought that it and C. asteliifolia were the same species.
C. longifolia is now a very rare plant, possibly due to the bush fires that
have ravaged its habitat.

Celmisia asteliifolia forms a basal rosette of grey-green to silver pointed
leaves. It spreads by creeping rhizomes and slowly forms clumps 1’-2’ across.
The white daisy-like flowers are up to 2” across and are produced singly
on firm scapes up to 12" high. These are covered with a dense wool
covering. The buds are often quite rosy-red as are the backs of the ray
florets in some forms. Pink flowered specimens have been sighted on some
occasions.

A form of C. asteliifolia known as var. latifolia is found in certain
areas of the high plains in Victoria and is a very beautiful plant. It has
leaves up to 9” long by 1% wide, silvery when young becoming a deep
green with age and on the reverse covered with a dense white felt. The
scapes are up to 18” with larger flowers than the previous species.

Celmisia sericophylla is endemic to the Bogong High Plains in Victoria
and is always found colonising the edges of the tiny mountain streams.
The silver foliage of this species is the most beautiful of all our Celmisia spp.
The flowers are similar to C. asteliifolia but not produced so abundantly.

Celmisia saxifraga is the smallest species and comes from Tasmania
where it is fairly widely distributed. It forms tight little 12" rosettes of
silver-grey pointed leaves, which develop into dense mats. The scapes
are 6” high and the white flowers are smaller than the other species.

Cultivation of C. asteliifolia and its var. latifolia is quite easy in cool
climates. They do not resent root disturbance in winter and can be shifted
with ease. A well-drained acid soil with leaf mould or peat moss provides a
good growing medium. They dislike heavy or clay type soils and enjoy regular
watering in summer. Although spring flowering, var. Iatifolia will flower
throughout the year on established plants.

C. sericophylla, although growing in very wet positions naturally, seems
quite happy in cultivation in similar conditions to the others, provided it
gets some shade from the hot afternoon sun in the summer and is watered
regularly.

C. saxifraga is more demanding in its requirements and a very gritty
acid soil mix with the addition of peat moss seems to be best. Coarse gravel
should be spread over this to allow air movement under the foliage of the
plant which suffers from the dampness in winter.

All species propagate from seed, which should be fresh. A large
proportion is generally infertile. Seedlings should not be pricked out till
about 6-9 months old and only in the warmer months of the year or the
fleshy roots will rot. All will divide very easily or strike from detached
rosettes which should be inserted in coarse sand where roots are formed
rapidly.

* As used In this article alplne areas refer to areas at high altltudes whereas In a strict
sense ‘alpine’ Is above the tree line as used on page 351 defining the alpine tract.



@@@ 33 @@@



Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Page 381—Vol. 7

Another genus of Compositae, mainly Australian, is Brachycome. Many
species of this are found only in the alpine areas.

Brachycome scapigera is a striking plant found in New South Wales
and Victoria. It forms clumps with basal rosettes of deep green leaves.
The numerous 6~ scapes each have a single many rayed flower of white
or sometimes mauve.

Photography by Ken Gillanders

BRACHYCOME SCAPIGERA

Brachycome nivalis is another dainty species to be found in the same
area. Its fresh green deeply cut and divided foliage makes tight rosettes
that are attractive even when it is not in flower. Individual rosettes are only 2”-3"
across but form colonies, often filling rock crevices. The 4”-6” scapes each
hold a yellow edged white 1" daisy. B. nivalis var. alpina is a form with
entire leaves.



@@@ 34 @@@



Page./382—Vol.: 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Sept., 1974

Brachycome aculeata occurs in sub alpine conditions as well as in
alpine areas in New South Wales and Victoria. The Tasmanian B. scapiformis
appears to be no different and is most likely a synonym. It forms prostrate
rosettes of deep green cuneate leaves toothed on the margins. The un-
branched scapes rise up to 12” and each has a single %" lilac or
bluish-mauve flower. See colour plate page 373.

Brachycome decipiens, unlike most of the alpine Brachycome, favours
positions where there is light shade. On the high plains it can be seen in
abundance growing among the scattered low snow gums—Eucalyptus
niphophila. The rosettes of very deep green leaves lie flat on the ground
and the 4" scapes each hold one white flushed blue %" daisy.

Brachycome rigidula is another very showy little plant that is also
found at lower altitudes, particularly in Tasmania but reaches its perfection
on the higher peaks. It has many branched stems and narrowly very
divided foliage. It produces a profusion of finely rayed white, mauve or
bluish flowers up to 3" in diameter. This plant will often spread by slender
rhizomes.

In cultivation all these species will grow in a soil similar to that for
Celmisia sp. B. nivalis and B. decipiens appreciate some light shade. Many
Brachycomes are attractive to slugs and snails, particularly B. decipiens
and B. scapigera. Care must be taken to bait these or plants can quickly
be eaten. Propagation is easy from seed which germinates quickly and plants
should flower in about 12 months. Division is possible but not advisable with
the species mentioned except B. rigidula.

Senecio and Podolepis are two genera which are represented in this
area and produce showy golden flowers. Senecio is one of the largest
genus of plants in the world—Australia having many species.

Senecio pectinatus is a stoloniferous herb with basal oblong notched
leaves. The reddish 4"-8" scapes each have a single yellow or orange
1" flower. It frequently grows in moist positions and along streams and
requires a moist position in cultivation with protection from afternoon sun.
Propagation is by seed or division. See colour plate page 377.

There are several species of Podolepis that are very showy. The flowers
perhaps are not typically daisy-like but are very similar. P. jongipedata,
P. robusta and P. jaceoides are all common on the mainland alps and
P. jaceoides also occurs in Tasmania.

Of course, there are many other native plants suitable for the rock
garden besides alpine plants. These, if placed correctly will grow in
the same conditions. The following list of native alpines will be found
reasonably easy to grow.

Aciphylla glacialis
Asterolasia trymalioides
Baeckea gunniana
Blandfordia punicea
Blechnum penna-marina (fern)
Brachycome aculeata
B. decipiens, B. nivalis
Celmisia asteliifolia var. latifolia
Coprosma moorei, C. nivalis
Diplarrhena moraea
Diselma archeri
Ewartia nubigena
Geranium sessiliflorum
Helichrysum acuminatum
H. backhousii, H. bracteatum,
H. dealbatum, H. hookeri
Helipterum albicans, H. anthemoides

Hibbertia procumbens

Hovea longifolia

Kunzea muelleri

Microcachrys tetragona

Nertera depressa

Oxalis lactea

Pernettya tasmanica

Podocarpus lawrencei

Podolepis jaceoides

Prostanthera cuneata

Ranunculus muelleri, R. pascuinus
Scaevola hookeri

Scleranthus biflorus

Stylidium graminifolium
Trachymene humilis

Trochocarpa clarkei

Viola hederacea

Wahlenbergia gloriosa, W. saxicola



@@@ 35 @@@



Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN ALPINE PLANT GARDEN Page 383—Vol. 7

AN ALPINE ROCK GARDEN

Construction of a rock garden with the view to planting alpine plants,
including our native alpines, involves thorough preparation if successful
results are to be obtained. Most alpine plants like to grow in full sun,
however when brought down to low altitudes, positions in full sun are
far hotter than rthose experienced on mountain tops. Some plants will
tolerate this if well watered but many will require some light shade,
preferably from the hot afternoon sun. A slope facing east is ideal but
any slope or even a level area can be used.

A rock garden with bad perennial weeds in it will create a never ending
chore for the owner, so particular care should be taken to make sure that
no sorrel, couch grass or such is in the prospective area or in any brought in
to fill beds. Although drainage on a slope is usually good, always make
sure that the area is sufficiently drained. Bad drainage will be fatal.

An attractive rock garden can be constructed on level ground by
building a mound, up to 2’ high, of good soil and placing rocks to create
pockets and small level beds on it. The choice of rock will be governed
by what is available in different districts but the best is unbroken weathered
rock or stones. These will blend in to give a natural appearance to the
finished rock garden. Sandstone is a very good choice, if available, but
dolerite and volcanic rock etc. look well also. The size of the rocks is
important. Some large stones should be used. Although hard to move,
they will give a variation in height to the garden and provide shade for small
plants. A variation of rock sizes will give natural looking results.

A variety of soils, as long as they are acid, should be satisfactory but
heavy clay base soils should not be used. Sandy soils are good but do
tend to dry out very quickly, so the addition of good quantities of leaf
mould or rotted compost would be beneficial. An ideal soil would be one
that is acid—about 5.5-6.5 on the pH scale and that when watered and
squeezed in the hand will not compact but will remain friable.

In the placement of rocks there are two aims—to create a natural
appearance pleasing to the eye and to create pockets and areas that will
be favourable to the plants growing in them. For this reason, the rocks
should not be arranged in any symmetrical position or way. Most rocks
seen in their natural condition will be found to have a large area beneath
the ground. This should be borne in mind when placing rocks.

When working on a slope, it is far better to have flat or nearly flat
beds using rocks to build up in front of each area. This may not work in
with the idea of a completely natural setting but is essential in the
cultivation of the plants. It will be found that beds left at sloping angles
will shed water too quickly in summer and the plants will suffer.

The soil when being placed in among the rock should be firmed by
stamping with the foot or ramming in between the rocks to eliminate any
air pockets. Planting between rocks can be done as the soil is placed but
generally it is far better to let the whole area settle for a few weeks after
construction before planting. Mulching the surface of beds with coarse
gravel or screenings can help retain moisture and restrict weeds.

Upkeep of the rock garden is easy—weeding being the main chore.
As mentioned before prevention is far easier than the cure. Make sure all
perennial weeds are eradicated before you start.

Regular watering is important for alpine plants. Australian alpine regions
receive regular rains through the summer months and these conditions
should be imitated. No heavy feeding is necessary on most soils, a light
annual dressing of blood and bone should be sufficient.

These plants love the conditions in a rockery which may be created
as described opposite.



@@@ 36 @@@



Page 384—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—TASMANIA Sept., 1974

NEW PLANT DISCOVERIES IN TASMANIA

by David and Ann Ratkowsky
(Photography: Ann Ratkowsky)

It is reputed that many new plants are likely to be found in Tasmania’s
southwest, the region being characterized by high rainfall density, often
impenetrable vegetation, and relative inaccessibility. However, even in the
more accessible areas of Tasmania such as its eastern half, it is still possible
to find new plants. In the past year the authors had the satisfaction of
discovering three plants completely new to Tasmania and rediscovering one
which was only poorly known in the past.

-
e
W
u M{;"; * Pl

N

The most exciting find involves a cushion plant, which was seen in
flower on Hamilton Crags, within a mile of the ski development in Ben



@@@ 37 @@@



Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—TASMANIA Page 385—Vol. 7

Lomond National Park. Tasmania already has five known cushion-plant species
of four different families, three of which Pterygopappus lawrencei, Abrotanella
forsterioides, Dracophyllum minimum) are endemic, and two of which
(Phyllachne colensoi, Donatia novae-zelandiae) are shared with New Zealand.
Dr. Winifred Curtis identified the new plant as belonging to the genus Pygmaea
(Scrophulariaceae), a genus of six species not previously recorded in pub-
lication as occurring outside New Zealand. In fact, one other species of
Pygmaea does occur at the highest elevations of the Kosciusko Plateau on
the Australian mainland, but its close affinities with the New Zealand
Pygmaea have only recently been recognised (Dr. B. G. Briggs, pers. comm.).

-

‘.“..:.
-

% u

A species of IXODIA yet to be named

This plant is not of the highlands as are all other specles In this Issue but Is
mentioned In the article following and recorded here at the request of the authors



@@@ 38 @@@



Page 386—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—TASMANIA Sept., 1974

Specimens of the Tasmanian plant were sent to N.Z. and botanists there
have declared it to be conspecific with Pygmaea ciliolata var. fiordensis, a
plant of the high-rainfall Fiordland district of the south island. Tasmania thus
now has three cushion-plant species which it shares with N.Z., adding yet
another link between the flora of these two regions. Although the authors
have searched other parts of the Ben Lomond range, théy are yet to find
it anywhere else and for the moment the plant must be considered to be
local to Hamilton Crags.

The second completely new plant was found growing abundantly on
both sides of Franklins Road, a forestry track north of Kellevie in south-
eastern Tasmania. The plant, a member of the Compositae, is a tall, rigid
shrub up to 2 m. high having narrow-linear leaves 1.5 mm. wide, up to 2 cm.
long. green above and grooved at the midrib, spreading at right angles to
the stems which are covered with a yellowish exudate. The flower heads
are terminal in dense corymbs, each head having phyllaries with spreading
white tips and containing about five florets, surrounded by white-tipped
scales, pappas absent. These latter features indicate that the new species
should be assigned to Ixodia, an Australian genus of two species, one of
which (Ixodia angusta) is endemic to Tasmania and grows in the same
region as the new species. The other species (Ixodia achilleoides) is found
in South Australia and western Victoria, and is polymorphic.

The third new plant, a willow-herb, was found growing in three locations
along a water supply pipe-line track on Mt. Wellington near Hobart. The
leaves are round and have rather longer stalks than other Tasmanian species
of Epilobium. Specimens of the plant were sent to Dr. P. H. Raven, an authority
on this genus, and he identified the plant to be Epilobium rotundifolium, other-
wise known only from New Zealand and surrounding islands. Dr. Raven
believes that the plant may be an introduction into Tasmania, and points
to the fact that it can spread very easily by its plumose seeds.

The fourth plant found is a rediscovery, a daisy bush Olearia persoonioides
var. lanceolata, the previous surviving record being a single specimen from
the Rodway Herbarium now housed at the University of Tasmania. The
authors have now found this plant growing in four different localities in the
southeast. It is a stout, erect shrub, branched or unbranched, up to 150 cm.
high, with elliptical or elliptical-lanceolate leaves up to 7 cm. long, densely
covered beneath with a thick brown tomentum, the upper surface being
characterized by an upraised, reticulate venation. The large, showy flowers
occur at the end of the main stem on branched, densely tomentose peduncles.
The achenes are essentially glabrous except for some tufts which may
appear just below the point of attachment of the pappus. The plant is
strikingly different in appearance to Olearia persoonioides, and will probably,
upon further study, have to be accorded specific status.

REFERENCES
Allan, H. H. “Flora of New Zealand', Vol. |, pp. 263, 873-4 (1961).
Curtis, W. M. “The Student's Flora of Tasmania”, Part 2, pp. 304, 343 (1963).

STUDY GROUPS

Study Groups comprise readers scattered all over Australla who engage In work co-
ordlnated by a leader through correspondence. The alm Is for members of the group to
exchange notes, seeds and sometimes plants of specles In a particular genus. The only
quallification necessary Is to be keen to grow plants and observe results. Some groups
appear to have difficulty functioning possibly due to the difficulty of obtalning plants.
However, not enough practical actlvity Is belng undertaken and people who are keen and
determined to work and not just try a few plants In a casual manner are urgently needed.

DRYANDRA STUDY GROUP

Are there enough members Interested In forming a Dryandra Study Group? There Is
very little Informatlon readily avallable on this fascinating genus and this, coupled with a
chronlc lack of seed and propagating difficulties has lead to the current sltuation where,
apart from a few specles, Dryandras are virtually unknown In gardens and are largely
Impossible to obtaln from nurserles.

| would be Interested In hearing from people who are cultlvating Dryandras with a
view to exchanging Information, seeds, cutting materlal and even plants. | wlll answer
all letters and, providing there Is enough Interest, wlll look Into the setting up of a
Study Group—Mr. Tony Cavanagh, 2 WiIllkinson Street, Ocean Grove, Vic. 3226.



@@@ 39 @@@



Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—SEED COLLECTION Page 387—Vol. 7

SEED COLLECTION

COUNTRY WILDFLOWER LOVERS—WILL YOU ASSIST?

There is little doubt that efforts to cultivate our wildflowers and to
understand their needs is being severely hampered by the availability of
good seed. Confmercial supplies have good stocks of some species and
can meet the demand. This publication has made every effort to help them
in this necessary work and will continue to do so. The following scheme
will attempt to work in with them, stimulate their demand and not compete
with them.

We have called for seed collectors in the past with disappointing resuits.
These were to work with the commercial suppliers on a basis to be agreed
between them. The range of desired species is still not big enough. It is
probable that there are many who would enjoy a quiet ramble through the
bush collecting seed but who do not know what to collect, how to collect
it or the names of the species from which they collect seed. If you would
like to do this and learn more of our wildflowers then the following scheme
may interest you.

The area in which you will collect will probably be restricted to a few
square miles. Collect a specimen of the flower, the fruit or capsule where the
flowers are finished and a few leaves and send these with a short description
of the plant to the Government Botanist, Botanic Gardens, of the Capital City
of the State in which you reside. Number the specimens and keep a pressed
specimen for your own guidance. When the seed matures you can collect
it and by this time you will have a reply to your queries. When sending in
the specimens ask for advice on what restrictions exist against limited seed
collection and for which species the restrictions apply in your State.

Do not collect from National Parks or reserves, or near road sides
and do not collect protected species. Very few of the species you will want
to collect from are protected and your first collection of specimens will only
be of a few pieces. Do not pull the plants up by the roots and make clean
cuts so that you are in effect pruning the bush.

The position varies a little from State to State. In Western Australia the
specimens will need to be sent to the Herbarium, Dept. of Agriculture,
Jarrah Road, South Perth. Some form of licensing may be necessary eventually
but the initial collection will be of educational value—for you to learn more
of the wildflowers in your area.

When you have compiled a list of species in your area that you
can identify with confidence, keep the seed in sealed envelopes and sent
a list of the names only to the Editor, “Australian Plants’.

We shall see what response we get and advise you how to proceed
next. If you would like some remuneration for the work, we shall put you
in contact with a commercial seed supplier who may handle your collections
if he does not already have stocks and feels there is a demand. We shall not
proceed in our scheme with species available commercially but the rest will be
offered through a marketing scheme yet to be announced. Collectors will
receive some recompense for expenses.

The scheme is a genuine attempt to:
(a) educate those who ramble in the bush to know their plants;
(b) provide a worthwhile interest for those who would care to participate:
(

c) make available to those who are anxious to cultivate a wide range of
wildflowers, a more reasonable range of seed. Those involved in study
groups or cultivation studies from which results will be reported will be
given first choice of the seed that will be sold at market prices.



@@@ 40 @@@



Page 388—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—TASMANIA Sept., 1974

TASMANIAN CUSHION PLANTS

Their Cultivation by Ken Gillanders, Woodbank Nursery, The Basin, Vic.

The following notes on growing cushion plants apply to Pterygopappus
lawrencei, Dracophyllum minimum and Donatia novae-zelandiae. However,
there is a no reason why Phyllachne colensoi and Abrotanel/a forsterioides
cannot be grown in the same conditions.

Pterygopappus lawrenceii is a member of the Compositae and is endemic
to the high mountain areas in Tasmania. Like all the cushion plants it forms
hard dense mounds, often growing with the other plants mentioned. These
mounds are up to 2’ in diameter and several yards across when mixed
with the other cushions and are so hard that they can be walked and
stamped upon without marking them. This is quite amazing because the
tops of these mounds can be up to 12" above the surface of the soil.
The small leaves are sage-green and densely covered with white hairs.
The stems, beneath the surface are clad in persistent dead leaves and have
roots descending from them through the closely packed dead leaves that
act as a sponge soaking up moisture and are continually wet. The flowers
are small and insignificant but this does not matter as the plant is beautiful
in its character and colour. Stems detached and placed in sharp sand in
spring, summer or early autumn will root easily. Plants can also be divided
with care at the same time of the year.

Dracophyllum minimum. An epacrid, is also a Tasmanian endemic and
grows on mountains in the central and west of the state at altitudes over 4000’.
Cushions of this plant can be up to 3’ in diameter and are very hard and a
deep green. The leaves are almost %" long, narrow and pointed with a
sheathing base and are often like little rosettes on the ends of the tightly
packed stems. The white flowers are stalkless and are a tube with spreading
rounded lobes. It can be propagated from seed, divisions or as a last resort,
cuttings which do not appear to be easy.

Donatia novae-zealandiae. Previously included under Stylidiaceae, it is
now classified into the genus Donatiaceae which has only 2 spp. This
beautiful plant is native to Tasmania and New Zealand and is found growing
in similar areas as the other plants mentioned. Individual cushions can
be up to 3 across, hard and dense. The foliage is very similar to
Dracophyllum and is a bright green. Leaves beneath the surface are brown
and tightly compacted with adventitious roots descending between them.
The whole centre of the plant is like a huge sponge and full of moisture.
The stemless solitary white flowers are %" in diameter and are like
upturned bells in shape with 5 pointed sepals. Propagate from cuttings
in summer or autumn which root easily, division at the same time or seed.

These plants grow in a very acid peaty soil, in fact, pure peat in
many cases. They have abundant permanent water at the roots and are
exposed to full sun, frost, snow and winds. To grow these plants in cultivation,
it is essential to try to imitate these conditions. | have had some success
with the following method. First a hole was dug, the size of the bed being
made, in my case about 5 round. The centre of the hole was 3’ deep
tapering up to the surface, in fact, a cone shaped hole. In this was placed
a heavy gauge plastic sheet. Drainage holes were pierced in the sides
about 18" from the bottom and peat moss was placed in the hole up to
this depth. The hole was then filled to the surface with a mixture of peat
moss, soil and sand in equal proportions. This creates a small sump of water
beneath the bed, keeping the soil continually moist as long as it is watered
regularly in dry weather. The excess plastic above the surface can be
cut away or tucked beneath rocks. Although growing in full exposure in
their habitat, they may require some light shade in cultivation, depending
on the climate—a cool climate is best, of course.



@@@ 41 @@@



Sept.,, 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—TASMANIA Page 389—Vol. 7

Photography by Ken Gillanders

DONATIA NOVA-ZELANDIAE A Tasmanian Cushion Plant

GROWING ALPINE FLORA

The advice given opposite on the growing of Cushion Plants may be
readily extended to growing other plants, especially the alpine flora. Will
readers please charge out into the garden and try this method. Those who
wish to join a Study Group on the alpine flora should write to the editor.

Other study groups are as follows:

Acacia (Wattles)—A new leader Is shortly to be announced

Banksia—A new leader Is shortly to be announced.

Blandfordia (Christmas Bells)—Don McNair, 42 Ingall St., Mayfield, N.S.W 2304
Boronia—Alan Ward, 66 Cecil St.,, Gordon, N.S.W. 2072. Dedicated workers only

Dryandra—Tony Cavanagh, 2 Wilkinson St.,, Ocean Grove, Vic. 3226

Eremophila—Ken Warnes, ‘‘Waldon’”, Owen, S.A. 5460.

Eucalyptus—Ted Danlels, 23 Dorking Road, Cabarita, N.S.W. 2137

Fabaceae, Pea Flowered Plants—Ross McDonald, 6 Evon Ave., East Ringwood, Vic. 3135

Ferns—Steven Clemesha, 18 Wesson Road, West Pennant Hllls, 2120.

Hakea—Royce Raleigh, 23 Arlie Crescent, Montrose, Vic. 3765.

Insectivorous Plants—Steven Clemesha, 18 Wesson Road, West Pennant Hills, 2120

Iridaceae—MIss K. Shadgett, 122 Sussex St., North Adelalde, S.A. 5006.

Native Orchids—Brian Muffet, 23 Marulda St.,, Aranda, A.C.T.—Keen members are
urgently required In this now very actlve group

Prostanthera, Mint Bushes—Kelth Mclintyre



@@@ 42 @@@



Page 390—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN ALPINE PLANTS—CULTIVATION Sept., 1974

GROWING ALPINE PLANTS

A report by Ken Gillanders on his experience in the cultivation in Victoria of
the plants mentioned in the article on page 371

Neopaxia australasica (syn. Montia australasica). Portulacaceze. A creeping
plant with small fleshy leaves usually green but sometimes glaucous. The
waxy white or pink V2" flowers are produced in profusicn <reating sheets of
colour on the ground. Tends to grow rank in cultivation and should be
grown in full sun. Seed germinates easily. Cuttings root readily and division
of the creeping stems does not check the plant at all. Vic.,, NS.W. and Tas.

Stackhousia pulvinaris. Stackhousiaceae. A mat forming prostrate plant
with densely crowded small bright green leaves. The solitary fragrant star-
shaped yellow flowers are produced in such profusion as to hide the
foliage. It does not like to dry out and must have a sunny position to grow
well. Propagate from seed or cuttings. Vic.,, N.S.W. and Tas.

Ewartia nubigena Compositae. Commonly named Brown Edelweiss. A
creeping prostrate plant with small silvery-grey hairy foliage. Its flowers
are light brown and held just above the foliage. This plant only grows on
open windswept plains or summits, where it can be seen among and
over rocks, forming mats up to 4’ across. It will grow well in cultivation
in a sunny well-drained position. It must be watered regularly. Care must
be taken that excess moisture does not lie in the plant or sections will
brown off. A good idea is to place small stones or gravel around it to
grow over. This allows air circulation. Propagation is easy from cuttings
and division in spring, summer or autumn. N.S.W. and Vic.

Coprosma pumila Rubiaceae. A prostrate creeping plant with small
shining light green fleshy leaves. It forms a dense mat favouring cool
moist positions. Coprosmas are generally dioecious which is the case
with this plant. The flowers are insignificant and are followed by %" round
orange-red shining fruits on the female plants. It will grow in a shaded
position if well watered. | have flowered it regularly but have never fruited it
as | have only the one sex. It can be propagated easily from cuttings
or division. Vic., N.S.W. and Tas.

Podocarpus lawrencei (syn. P. alpina). Podocarpaceae. The mountain
Plum Pine is a spreading conifer with grey-green yew-like foliage. It can
grow up to 8 but is generally lower and can be found creeping over
boulders, some ancient trees being 20’ in diameter with picturesque
gnarled branches. The male cones are small with crimson scales and the
greenish-black seeds are on large red succulent bracts. It can be grown
easily in any reasonable soil and can be struck from cuttings inserted in
sand. Vic.,, N.S.W. and Tas.

Grevillea victoriae. Proteaceae. The Royal Grevillea grows up to 10
and has deep green lanceolate leaves up to 5” long. The young foliage
often is a rich bronzy hue. The bright red flowers are in pendant clusters.
It grows easily in cultivation but will not be free flowering till well established.
Some forms are obviously freer flowering than others. Propagation is best from
cuttings as they strike easily and seed is usually hard to collect. Vic. and
N.S.W.

Baeckea gunniana. Myrtaceae. The alpine form is a creeping low shrub
usually a few inches high with fine fern foliage. The white or pink flowers
are produced in profusion so as to hide the leaves. It can be grown in a
sunny position that receives regular watering. Propagate from cuttings. it
will also layer itself and these can be detached with care. Vic., N.S.W.
and Tas.

Kunzea muelleri. Myrtaceae. A spreading shrub often completely prostrate.
rooting as it creeps along. It has fine dull-green foliage and a profusion



@@@ 43 @@@



Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN ALPINE PLANTS—CULTIVATION Page 391—Vol. 7

of dense clusters of yellow flowers with conspicuous protruding stamens.
Cultivation and propagation the same as Baeckea gunniana. Vic. and N.S.W.

Olearia megalophylla. Compositae. A shrub up to 4’ with large dark
green leaves up to 6” long, covered on the back with a dense felted mat
of brown hairs. w'he white daisy-like flowers are in loose heads. It is an
interesting and beautiful plant in foliage and flower and can be grown
easily in cultivation. Propagation is easy from cuttings taken with a heel
in the autumn and inserted in sand. Vic. and N.S.W.

Veronica nivea. Scrophulariaceae. A slender plant with several ascending
stems clad with fine divided foliage. The pale lilac-blue flowers are in
loose racemes or near the terminals. In its native habitat it favours moist
positions, but in cultivation, it will grow well in sun with normal watering.
Unfortunately it tends to grow a bit rank, the weak stems being unable
to support the extra growth it makes when brought down to lowland
conditions. Regular pruning will help to counteract this. Propagate by seed
or cuttings which root readily in sand. Vic.,, N.S.W. and Tas.

Oxylobium alpestre. Papilionaceae. | have grown this prostrate plant
from cuttings collected on the Dargo High Plains. It grows quite well but
seems to be shy flowering.

Ranunculus anemoneus. Ranunculaceae. This magnificent Buttercup is
only found on Mt. Kosciusko and adjacent peaks. It has rather fleshy stems
and large dissected leaves. The glistening white flowers are up to 2" in
diameter with a cluster of yellow stamens in the centre. Flowers can be
solitary or several to a stem which are up to 12” in height. To cultivate this
plant is very difficult and the only success | have had is to plant it in a
bed like that mentioned for cushion plants.

Caltha introloba. Ranunculaceae. Marsh Marigold. A prostrate herb with
rather fleshy leaves with two appendages attached to the top of them.
These form rosettes in very moist positions, particularly along water courses.
It flowers as soon as the snows melt, and the star-like flowers vary from
white to cream. It requires a cool moist position and would only flower
in a cool climate. Seed sent to England were raised and it grows and flowers
well there. Propagation from division is easy. Vic., N.S.W.

Gentianella diemensis. Gentianaceae. A small clump forming herb with
deep green or olive-green leaves. A very variable plant, sometimes perennial
and in some forms an annual. The flowers are in loose heads and are
white or white veined blue and appear from summer to autumn. Seed
provides the best method of propagation and needs to be kept at a low
temperature for a period for a good germination. A good peaty soil in
sun or semi-shade would suit it best. Vic., N.SW. and Tas.

Stylidium graminifolium. Stylidiaceae. The Trigger plant has a very wide
distribution from sea level to the tops of our highest mountains. The alpine
form is by far the lovelier plant, being much smaller and having much
brighter coloured flowers. The pollination mechanism of the plant is very
interesting. Insects visiting the flowers to collect nectar brush against
the base of the column, which is bent over like a spring. This triggers it
and it springs back, hitting the insect lightly and in so doing, deposits
some pollen from the anthers on it. The stigma of the flower at this stage
is not ripe but the insect visiting another flower, that has developed further
and the stigma receptive, will brush against it, thereby pollinating it. The
foliage is grass-like and stiff, often taking on reddish tints and is in the form
of a rosette. The flowering stems rise up to 12” in the alpine form with
racemes of rosy-red flowers. Seed provides the best method of propagation
but clumps can be divided with care in winter. It seems to grow reasonably
well in sun or semi-shade but not as easily as the lowland forms.



@@@ 44 @@@



Page 392—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—PESTS Sept., 1974

PESTS—THE AUSTRALIAN SCALE

An Interesting Host Record by John Scarvelis

The Australian Scale Icerya purchasi (cottony-cushion scale) has been
recorded on some ornamentals and is well known in_the citrus industry.
After positive identification and research | believe that this is the first
time it has been recorded on Lechenaultia biloba.

The scale was first noticed on a three year old plant of Lechenaultia
biloba in early September 1973 after dieback of one twig of the previously
very healthy plant. The twig was removed with secateurs. The plant slowly
deteriorated until death, with the increase in numbers of characteristic, white
fluted cylindrical structures on the twigs and leaves.

Oddly enough this was the only plant in my entire garden which became
infested. It was the only plant of Lechenaultia | had at the time.

The conspicuous part of this scale insect is the large, white, compact,
fluted cottony egg sac which is excreted by the adult female, and which
is up to 2% times larger than the scale insect itself. Each sac usually
contains hundreds of red oblong eggs. The larvae hatch out in periods
ranging from a few days to 1-2 months depending upon climatic conditions.
The three larval stages have a shiny, translucent red or reddish-brown colour.
The mature females are relatively long (7.35 mm), and have a sturdy yellowish
orange or brown coloured body which is often covered by a layer of wax. The
winged male is rarely seen.

Famale. with eay 3ac

Female colony

Wingad male

The history of the control of cottony-cushion scale in the commercial
citrus industry is a classical story of biological control. The spectacular
control of cottony-cushion scale by an Australian ladybird, Rodolia cardinalis
(vedalia beetle) marked the first subjugation of a pest by the introduction
of a natural enemy. The cottony-cushion scale was introduced into California
in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Rodolia was found to control
biologically the scale in Australia and so was introduced into California. As a
result the Californian citrus groves were almost completely freed of the
scale within eighteen months.



@@@ 45 @@@



Sept., 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—PESTS Page 393—Vol. 7

Man’s indiscriminant use of insecticides has made it difficult for useful
insects like Rodolia to survive. These insects prey on aphids or scale
insects or mealy bugs in both their larval and beetle stages maintaining
a natural ecological balance.

Rodolia has since been noticed in the garden although it was not looked
for at the time of the infestation. | have recently planted Lechenaultia biloba
and Lechenaultia-formosa and will be watching them with keen interest.
The plants are growing in a raised sand bed at O’Sullivan Beach, an Adelaide
southern suburb.

Editor’s Note: This article s possibly the only one not strictly applicable to this Issue
on wildflowers of Australia’s high country although scale Is a problem on most plants.
It is included to remind readers that the use of Insecticides Is wusually not necessary
and often harmful. This scale can be removed manually using an old toothbrush, quicker
than it takes to prepare a spray.

N'""e“‘a"sa E 1 BINDERS FOR AUSTRALIAN
eeds
By pPacket, Ounce or Pound PLANTS
Large selection. Send for free list The price of these has Increased to
$3.00 plus 30c postage. Still good
NINDETHANA value as they look and are a quallty

Box 129, Wellington, 2820 product In keeping with your journal.

DEANES ORCHID NURSERY

Speclallsing In Australlan Natlve Orchlds
Please send for descriptive list. Plants sent anywhere
Nursery open every weekend—weekdays, phone 86-3446

167 BEECROFT ROAD, BEECROFT, N.S.W. 2119

NATIVE PLANTS

ARROWHEAD NURSERIES

Speclalists In Natlve Trees & Shrubs
9 SAMPSON DRIVE, MT. WAVERLEY, 3149 — Phone: 232-1144

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK — 830 am. to 5.30 p.m.
(Large stocks of tubes aiso avallable. Send stamped addressed envelope for catalogue!

MAGAZINES, BOOKS, BROCHURES, PRICE LISTS,
CATALOGUES, OFFICE STATIONERY, LETTERHEADS,
INVOICES, STATEMENTS, ENVELOPES, BUSINESS CARDS

Consistent quality and unbeatable service together with reasonable
costs remove most of the problems confronting people purchasing

printing at . . .

SURREY BEATTY & SONS
43 RICKARD ROAD, CHIPPING NORTON, N.SW. 2170
Telephone: 602-7404, 6023126  S.T.D. 02



@@@ 46 @@@



Page 394—Vol. 7

AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—NURSERYMEN Sept., 1974

Australian Native Plants in
Tubes

8 plants posted $4.50
Stamped, addressed envelope for Ilst

FLAMINGO NURSERY

144-170 Plunkett Street, Nowra, N.S.W.

AUSTRALIAN PLANTS CENTRE
NATIVE PLANTS, SHRUBS, FERNS &
GROUND COVER
Vislt the best range of natlve plants on
the Gold Coast

PINE RIDGE ROAD, COOMBABAH,
QLD. 4215 — Closed Mondays

GOOD SELECTION OF AUSTRALIAN NATIVE PLANTS

DENOVAN'S

188 MARCO AVENUE, PANANIA, N.S.W.

NURSERY

77-8891

SORRY NO MAIL ORDERS

PTY. :LTD

W. & J. MOLYNEAUX NURSERIES

BELFAST RD., MONTROSE, VIC. 3785

LARGE SELECTION OF GROUND
Au S t ra fl or COVERS, SHRUBS AND TREES
Nu rse ry OPEN DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY

Tel.: 728-1353
Retall only
1974 Catalogue — 30c posted

‘ ALEXANDER PLANT FARM

(Doug Twaits, Prop.)
! Winifred Street, ESSENDON, VIC

3
Phone: 379-5163

EVERYTHING FOR THE GARDEN
Specialising n Australian Native Plants

Greenbriar Drive-in Nursery
AUSTRALIAN NATIVE PLANTS
Large and Varied Selection

195-7 MOUNTAIN VIEW RD.
BRIAR HILL, VIC. 3088

Phone: 43-1468 — Open Weekends

BREAKODAY NATIVE PLANT

NURSERY
J. & M. McAllister
4! SWEETLAND DR, BOX HILL. VIC

PHONE: 88-3868
Established Native Garden Setting

MASON'’S KENTLYN NATIVE
PLANT NURSERY

Specialising in Australian Plants
Good variety, good quality
96c GEORGE’S RIVER ROAD.
KENTLYN, N.S.W. 2560
Phone: Campbelltown 21583
Closed Wednesdays

BELBRA NURSERY

in the heart of the Grampians
LARGE RANGE OF AUSTRALIAN
NATIVES

Closed Wednesday only
‘ BOX 12, HALL'S GAP, VIC. 3381

NAROOMA NATIVE NURSERY
(H. & N. RYAN, Proprletors)
15 TILBA STREET, NAROOMA, N.S.W.
2546 — Phone 132

Good varlety of natlve plants.
Catalogue Avallable 7 cents.

WIRRIMBIRRA

Hume Highway between Tahmoor and
Bargo, N.S.W.

AUSTRALIAN PLANTS

Wide Range — Phone: 841112 Bargo
OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

“CHIVERS’ NATIVE PLANT

NURSERY*’
26 Cowper Road, Black Forest, S.A
5035 - Phone: 93-7808

Open April-May — Catalogue Availabie
From March 1st—Send 7 cent stamp
No Interstate Orders

i{

Huge Selectlon from ground

. & o __cover to trees, rare and the
J NLAE common, slzes large or small
150 Australis ’

COLLECTORS NURSERIES ré\T/IIKIE EE‘E’BT SPECIALIST Open Saturday and Sunday
(Closed Mon. & Tues.)

Cnr BELLEVUE CRES and SEAFORD RD SEAFORD Viec. 3198

PRESERVATION BY CULTIVATION

FLORALANDS

KARIONG, via GOSFORD, N.S.W. 2250

A large variety of the most popular native plants at nursery
P

PHONE: Gosford 25-1142 J. PARRY

Clearview Nursery—W. Cane, Box 19 Maffra, Victorla, 3860. Speclalist In developed plants



@@@ 47 @@@



S

Sepl 1974 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—YOUR SOCIETY Page 395—Vol. 7

PAST ISSUES OF “AUSTRALIAN PLANTS” AVAILABLE

Because of the vast wealth of our flora there Is very llttle repetition.

VOLUME No. 1, Issues 1-12, no longer avallable bound but Issues 5, 6, 7 & 9 are
avallable at 60c each, $1.85 Incl. postage. However It Is proposed to reprint Volume 1 as a
fully bound book at a date In the future not yet declded upon.

VOLUME No. 2, Issues 13-20, all avallable only full bound at $8.00 plus 50c postage,
Including “A Descriptlve Calalogue of Western Australlan Plants’.

VOLUME No. 3, Issues 21-28, all avallable only full bound at $8.00 plus 50c postage,
Including also "Catalogue of Cultivated Australlan Natlve Plants” valued at $4.50.

VOLUME No. 4, Issues 29-36, all avallable only fully bound at $8.00 plus 50c postage,
Including ‘‘Western Australlan Plants for Hortlculture—Part 1" valued at $4.5

VOLUME No. 5, Issues 37-44, all avallable only fully bound at $8.00 plus 50c postage.
Includina *“The Language of Botany a valuable reference to words and terms.

VOLUME No. 6, Issues 45-52, avallable fully bound at $8.00 plus 50c postage Including
““Western Australlan Plants for Hortlculture—Part 11" valued at $4.50.

“Australlan Plants’” |Is produced as a contlnuing serles each Issue adding to the
information recorded over the past Issues. The most valuable and complete reference

OTHER BOOKS OF THE SOCIETY

West Australian Plants for Horticulture. Parts 1 & 2 each avallable at $4.50 plus 40c
postage from the Edltor. On the right-hand pages of these books there Is a full
colour plate of a W.A. wlldflower and on the page opposite Is a description of this
plant together wlth another plant or plants from the same genus. The descriptions are
clear and In simple terms with a speclal sectlon on propagatlon and hortlcultural treatment
and potentlal. Part 2 recently published carrles 42 colour plates never before presented—
excellent value.

West Australian Plants—A Descriptive Catalogue (2nd Edition)

This Is the only complete reference to the flora of Western Australla. Thousands of
specles are llsted and many shown In full colour. Agalnst each specles Is recorded the
helght of the plant, the flower colour, the perlod of flowering and the natlve locallty
Avallable from the Editor for $4.50 plus 40c postage.

Australian Indigenous Orchids by A. W. Dockrlll — Price $18.00 plus $1.00 postage

This Is the only complete reference book to all the eplphytic orchlds of Australla
and those terrestrlal orchlds found In the northern areas. Every specles Is shown In detall
with enlargements of the parts on a separate full page beautlfully drawn sketch. Opposite
the sketch Is a full botanlcal description with references, but for the non botanlst, the
description Is repeated In simple terms. No other book can match It for detall, accuracy
and colour. It wlll never be out of date as supplements are produced (two to date) and
sent free on request to each purchaser of the book. A price rise Is certaln so order
your copy now.

The Language of Botany by C. N. Debenham — Price $2.10 plus 40c postage

Do you know the meaning of the terms used by botanists, or the varlous forms of
plant life, or how they grow, or the meanings of the plant names. All this Is vital to the
understanding of llving plants and their adequate description. This book Is now the
prescribed reference at most Unlversities and Colleges In Australla but you need no:
be a student botanist to make good use of It.

THE SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS

“AUSTRALIAN PLANTS" IS AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL PRESERVATION JOURNAL
(A non-profit making venture, produced quarterly, dedicated to preservation by cultivation)
This Journal Is published by The Publishing Sectlon on behalf of:
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—N.S.W. REGION:
Presldent: Mr. H. M. Hewett, Railway St.,, Mt. Kuring-gal, N.S.W. 2080
Secretary: Mr. Ray Page, 21 Robb Street, Revesby, N.S.W. 2212
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—QLD. REGION:
Presldent: Mr. G. Thorpe, 32 Long Street, Camp Hill, QId. 4152.
Secretary: Mrs. D. Brown, 79 Birley Street, off Wickham Terrace, Brisbane, Qld. 4000
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REGION: INC :
President: Mr. L. Russell, 26 Chapman Street, Blackwood, S.A. 5051.
Secretary: Mr. C. J. Winn, Box 1592 G.P.O., Adelalde, S.A. 5001.
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—TASMANIAN REGION:
President: Mr. R. Wyatt, 7 Cedar Street, Lindisfarne, Tas. 7015.
Secretary: Mr. G. Peters, G.P.O. Box 1355P, Hobart, Tasmanla, 7001.
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—VICTORIAN REGION:
Presldent: Mr. T. J. Blackney, 23 Devon Street, Heldelberg, Vic. 3084.
Secretary: (Sister) E. R. Bowman, 4 Homebush Crescent, Hawthorn East, Vic. 3123
Please do not phone or call at private home—enqulrles by mall only
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CANBERRA REGION:
Presldent: Mr. Henry NIx, 22 Syme Crescent, O'Connor, 2601.
Secretary: Mrs. D. Fowler, P.O. Box 207, Civic Square. A.C.T. 2608
WEST AUSTRALIAN WILDFLOWER SOC. (Inc.):
Presldent: Mrs. M. Wittwer, P.O. Box 64, Nedlands, W.A. 6009.
Secretary: Mrs. K. Edmonds, P.O. Box 64, Nedlands, W.A. 6009.
Seed Is In very short supply—try the commerclal seedsmen, not W.A Soclety
Membershlp Is open to any person who wishes to grow Australlan native plants
Contact the Secretary of the Soclety for your State for information without obligation
PUBLISHING SECTION FOR SOCIETIES—Produced as a non-profit venture
Managing Edltor: W. H. Payne, assisted by P. D. Leak; Despatch by E. Hubner, H. Jones
with famllles. No phone enquirles please.
MAIL—Address mall to the Editor, 860 Henry Lawson Drive, Plcnic Polnt, N.S.W. 2213
Please do not phone or call at prlvate home—enquirles by mall only.
SUBSCRIPTION—Members: Apply to State Secretary above.
NON-MEMBERS: You may recelve the next 4 Issues direct to your home by
forwarding an annual subscription of $2.00. Overseas subscriptions $2.70 Aust., £1.60 In new
English currency or $4.00



@@@ 48 @@@



Page 396—Vol. 7 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS OF THE ALPS Sept., 1974

AN AUSTRALIAN ALPINE HEATH

EPACRIS SERPYLLIFOLIA—THYME HEATH

The mountaln heaths, of which there are more than half a dozen specles In the Snowy
Mountains, generally grow In damp and Infertile situations. The thyme heath, a small shrub
about one foot high, can be distinguished by Its small, polnted, stem-clasplng leaves. Its
white flowers are sweet-scented, and the follage turns red In autumn

Surrey Beatty & Sons, Printers